^{*includes every performance of that night}

SYNOPSIS

Standing on his feet…this is how the world runs. But a hand balancer defies gravity, goes against human nature. And yet, handstand is happiness, freedom, bliss. The floor for him is gravity, despair. But there is never a permanent state. Never a perfect number and a perfect ending. He is reaching for happiness. But he is never in one sole place in his life…

Standing on his feet, spinning, going against conventions. Experiencing the relationship between himself and society. The pressure, the centrifugal force of forces working against him. Finding his own voice, creating a space, breathing new air… Feeling comfortable with who he is. Happy that he is not stagnant. Happy that he is always changing and evolving.

BIO

Nicolas Montes de Oca is a professional circus performer who has dedicated his life to handbalancing and circus arts. He began to develop his self-taught skills and started a journey around the world. This led him to China where he met Liu Laoshi, a handbalancing coach who won the gold medal at the Olympics in 1986 in Mexico. After spending many years of training with Liu Laoshi in China, Nicolas traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine where he received professional training from Vitold Antonovich Kuvshinov, considered to be one of the best handbalancing coaches in the world before he passed away in 2016.

ARTISTIC RIDER

Direction and choreography: Nicolas Montes de Oca
Performer: Nicolas Montes de Oca

AWARDS

Special jury prize at 40th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain