From Cirque Polynesia to Cirque School LA

On Maui, back in June, I was dining with Sarah Burns aka Ohana Mama at Japengo restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. The photo above was the tiki-lit view from our table. To say it was heavenly would be an understatement. We wanted nothing more but to linger over the view. Alas, we had theatre plans. And not just any theatre. Maui Moon Theatre, home to Cirque Polynesia. Wistfully bidding the remnants of our meals adieu, we set off for our next stop.

As if a mirage, the Maui Moon Theatre appeared in the offing. The unmistakable sounds of the circus lured us in its direction. Lights popping into the sky urged it was safe to run away from the day-to-day and escape to the circus, at least for the length of the 60-minute show.

Though speaking no words, Pepe the Clown’s (aka Peterson Jardim) presence was full throttle as he poked the audience into participating through his antics. By night’s end, he’d gotten several attendees to perform in a bell symphony. I must admit, I was a bit envious. Ringing those bells looked like a blast.

Pepe wasn’t the only performer to take the stage. Indeed, I’d already heard about the Wheel of Death and was anxiously awaiting for its appearance. First, though, there was a contortionist, Odgerel Oyunbaatar –

Ohana Mama and I turned to each other more than once questioning, “Can you tell if that’s her back or her front?” Teeth were involved in one move. I still shiver at that move, but won’t reveal what took place. You’ll just have to catch a show. As Oyunbaatar continued, I determined I’d give a few of the moves at a later date. More on that to follow…

There was still much to see in the show, including Morgan Oldham doing a bit of hand balancing.

As someone who can’t balance when standing with both feet on flat ground, I was astonished by the poses Oldham could strike. Again, the thought came on… could I do that? The thought reoccurred when an act came onstage with a flurry of hoops. My favorite moment — when she transformed herself into a human Slinkee with said hoops.

Next up, the silks. I’ve been transfixed by the silks ever since seeing Pink perform from them during an awards show. Beauty in motion.

Such was the case when Antoly “Toly” Huaman took to the silks. My heart beat a little faster. The little girl inside me insisted the adult Bekah could pull this off. Yes! I would be running away to join a cirque!

Finally, the moment I’d been waiting for arrived — the Wheel of Death.

Here’s a close-up of Enrique Valencia as he performs this death-defying feat. And don’t take those words lightly. Death-defying would be an apt description.

At one point, Valencia decided to jump rope his way around the Wheel of Death. When his foot got caught in the rope, Ohana Mama and I grasped each other while holding our breath. Had he really almost plunged to his death, or was this part of Valencia’s act? We’d soon find out…

After the show, Sarah and I were introduced to the performers, a troupe from around the globe from such far flung places as Mongolia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Hawaii, of course. Waiting for us backstage was Valencia, who, beyond performing on the Wheel of Death, is the producer of Cirque Polynesia. As Valencia chatted with Sarah and I, the troupe wasn’t packing up and heading home. Instead, they were honing their skills before calling it a night.

Valencia, a seventh generation circus performer, gave us insight into the workings of Cirque Polynesia. What I wanted to know, though, was this — had he ever fallen from the Wheel of Death. I was surprised by his answer, “Yes.” In fact, he’d just come back to Cirque Polynesia after a three-month recovery from knee injuries. The jump rope portion of the act came back fast and hard to my memory, Valencia doubly brave in my eyes now.

And though Valencia frankly recalled his Wheel of Death accident, his enthusiasm for cirque life was infectious. I had to give it a try…

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, I GIVE YOU, CIRQUE SCHOOL LA

Valencia wasn’t the only cirque performer I met while on Maui. Rick Andreoli and Steve Thompson were members of my media trip. It was love at first sight for me. Especially after seeing photos of their aerial feats from Cirque School LA.

Rick, who teaches at Cirque LA, assured me that I, too, could be a cirque performer. Weeks of stretching commenced. I attempted some contortion movements. Did I mention I fall even when standing on two feet on flat ground? Yep, that was disastrous. Finally, my first day of Cirque School arrived!

Upon seeing the red curtains at the entrance my heart sped up in excitement. Would I be a natural as Rick had been? Should I give up my computer for a bag of rosin? Would my name someday be above these red curtains in lights?

Rick, my friend now teacher, gave me the biggest hug in the world. The message it was telegraphing, “You can do it, girl!” Steve assured me he’d been nervous his first day, too. Not to worry, I thought. I was born for this.

It was during the warm-up that I realized I was in trouble. Um, those knee problems I’m always dealing with kept reminding me of their existence. “Cut it out! I’m going to fly high like Pink and you’re not going to have any say so in the matter!” I warned them.

My knees weren’t the only problem. Turns out, I have no upper body strength. Core muscles? What are those? And didn’t know my hands had muscles that hadn’t been flexed in a while. Ouch!

You’ll note there are no photos of me below. I did attempt this move, the Mermaid…

…and Mermaid Angel.

Thought all those years of spinning would have done more for my gluteal muscles. Nope, I slid right off the bar. Still, the silks awaited. I could still spin above a crowd and sling water from my wet hair (left intentionally soggy from my morning shower for this very purpose).

Steve was merely stretching here.

Sigh. I am no Rick.

I am no Steve.

I am no Pink. According to Rick, though, just being Bekah is okay. Of attending Cirque School LA he says, “All it takes is a willingness to try.”

Look out Cirque School LA! I’ll be back to try again!

To learn  more about Cirque Polynesia visit http://www.cirquepolynesia.com/. Ready to run away and join Cirque School LA? Visit http://www.cirqueschoolla.com.