Uniquely innovative
Cirque Italia fuses circus tricks with aquatic theme
Cirque Italia isn’t your grandpa’s circus. The traveling group is keeping it innovative and unique by being billed as an aquatic spectacular. The idea came to life all thanks to its imaginative creator Manuel Rebecchi, along with invaluable direction and production management by Chanté DeMoustes.
Rebecchi was born and raised in Milan, Italy, and spent the early part of his adolescence traveling through Europe with his late aunt Moira Orfei, the founder of the largest and most famous circus show in Europe: The Moira Orfei Circus. This is where he developed the foundation of his adoration for the circus.
Cirque Italia’s brand new theme show is an artistic blend of human abilities, technology and the element of water, which combines water fountains, jet-skis and pirates. Not to mention that the circus travels with a 35,000-gallon water tank and climate-controlled tents.
The cast is made up of performers from all over the world and their merger of astonishing skills with the poetic element of water has led to the creation of a truly unforgettable experience.
Samantha Kulinski is one of the dozen performers on staff.
She performs the Lollipop Lyra Aerial Act.
“I got involved through a friend who was in the show,” she says. “It’s been fantastic to travel.”
Cirque Italia will set up in the parking lot of the Cottonwood Mall for two weeks of performances beginning Friday, Nov. 23.
Kulinski has been with the group for less than six months and is enjoying her time performing.
“I wasn’t in gymnastics, but I was in dance and theater productions,” she says. “I also am into rock climbing and white water kayaking. It wasn’t until college that I got involved in aerial. It’s exciting for me because it fused the extreme athleticism that I was used to. I fell in love with it immediately.”
During her performance, Kulinski is a butterfly and has a pair of fiber optic wings.
“I perform an acrobatic dance over the water,” he says. “The lights are projecting on the wall. It’s a very unique show. I’m also in charge of making my outfits, so it’s a challenge to make something that can move well and be striking, as well. It also has to hold up as we perform numerous shows some days.”