Elena Vives and Diego García are a pair of multidisciplinary circus artists from Spain, specializing in aerial techniques. In their work, they aim to use circus techniques to tell a story or evoke emotions, often exploring other art forms in the process. This multidisciplinary approach has become one of their distinctive trademarks. They are advocates of simplicity and poetics as tools for creating a connection with the audience in a way that is approachable, especially in today’s sometimes tense environment.
With a solid partnership of 17 years (since 2007), they have earned numerous accolades. In 2018, they won the Audience Award and the Roncalli Award at Newcomershow in Leipzig for their act “Memories”. This act led them to receive the Mandrakes d'Or in 2020 (Paris) and to participate in season 8 of Fool Us in 2021 (Las Vegas). They have also been featured in prestigious magic festivals, including the International Magic Festival of Madrid (2021 and 2025), Magialdia (Vitoria, 2022), León Vive la Magia (Spanish Tour 2022-2023), Les Maîtres de l'Illusion (Bordeaux, 2023), Hanzhou Magic Festival (China, 2024), and Les Mandrakes (2025).
Beyond their solo projects, they have been part of major international circus and performance companies. Elena played the lead female role in Monaco ou les amants du Rocher by Cirque Eloize (2015, Canada), while Diego performed at Kristallpalast (Leipzig, 2018). They have also performed with Recirquel (Budapest, 2017), Roncalli’s Apollo Varietté (Düsseldorf, 2019-2020), Wintergarten Varietté (2019, 2023, 2024 in Berlin and German tour), The Hole (2015-2017, Spain), Casinotheater Winterthur (2021), Benidorm Palace (2017), Clandestino Cabaret (Madrid, 2017), Yllana (2017-2018, Spain), and many more. They have also toured with magician Jorge Blass in multiple international productions (2008-2023).
In 2016, they co-founded the company La Gata Japonesa with two other performers, premiering their first show Lumières Foraines in 2017, directed by Leandre Ribera. In 2021, they premiered Los Viajes de Bowa, a one-woman show directed by Lucas Escobedo, which has won several awards. Currently, they are working on two new productions under the direction of Sergio López and Leandre Ribera.
Their training began in a self-taught manner, later supplemented by coaching from renowned artists and trainers such as Sebastián Afonso, Cristiano Mailhos, Adil Rida, Jonathan Fortín, Nadia Richer, and Michael Lanphear. Their collaboration with Jorge Blass and other magicians sparked their interest in magic, leading them to premiere the first aerial quick-change act at the International Magic Festival of Madrid in 2015. Their ongoing research into quick-change techniques culminated in the act “Memories”, which premiered in 2018.