Backstage photos at Zumanity in 2017.
When Cirque Du Soleil has closed a show in the past it had little effect on me. But as we say goodbye to Zumanity, it has given me some pause for reflection. During this tumultuous time, when no one is sure what the future holds, the world of performing arts feels particularly precarious.
Zumanity opened at New York-New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in September 2003 and it was an extraordinary deviation from the typical show that Cirque presented. It was tantalizing, sensual, erotic, and presented in a cabaret style in which each act got to be featured in a way that no other Cirque show allowed.
I signed my first contract with Cirque du Soleil in 2017. After passing on me for a role in the touring show OVO, the casting department submitted my act for an opening in Zumanity. I got the email notifying me of my contract offer early one morning and Alan Ascencio (the owner of EMCirque) was the one there to help me celebrate. I was elated. The first time that I had heard of the show was when I was still training at Le Studio in Los Angeles. One of our coaches, Jason Berrent, had mentioned that it was a show he thought I would like to be in. Together we began to develop an act that we thought would fit well into the show. After my time in that program was done, my act went through many different iterations until forming into the version that finally landed me the role in Zumanity.
Many circus artists aspire to work for Cirque du Soleil, but to have my own act hired by them was an honor entirely unto itself. I could not have asked for a better version of what I had hoped, for my act to come to fruition. It was truly a wonder working in my dream show, having so many resources at my disposal and, more than that, having it truly matter what my opinion was on how my act was presented.
My time was very short in Zumanity, and I unfortunately spent a great deal of it feeling a sense of imposter syndrome. I couldn’t allow myself to believe that I actually belonged on that stage. Which, upon reflection, brings me to this: We never know when something may end and what may happen tomorrow, on stage or in life. As we performers are told, “You never know who may be in the audience, so always make it your best performance.” You also may never know which show will be your last so give it absolutely everything and love every moment.
Goodbye Zumanity, and thank you for the dream come true!