Autumn 2021, about eight years ago, I begin what I am still doing today: circus. I am originally from Ukraine, and my experience starts in a traditional circus. During my training, I take part in shows for children during school holidays. From that moment on, I know that my future will be in circus.
On February 24th, 2022, Russia launches its full-scale invasion, and I am forced to leave.
April 2022, I am able to choose any country. I meet a stranger; I know nothing about what he does, but he suggests the Centre National des Arts du Cirque. I decide that this is where I will go, without really knowing why or what I will do there. One month later, I am in Châlons-en-Champagne. I discover both contemporary circus and a new language.
My first months are full of doubt and tension. The change of culture and circus style often unsettles me. But over time, I begin to understand and adapt. It is at this moment that I find my own path on aerial straps.
My work on this apparatus is not limited to a single style; I mix different forms of expression—traditional circus, contemporary circus, and even theatre. On stage, I speak, I share my thoughts, I tell stories while moving in the air. By combining these different genres, I create something that resembles me.
Recently, I have started speaking more often in French on stage, which has opened new perspectives for me. Although it was difficult at first, I notice that the more I express myself in this language, the more confidence I find. Over time, I begin to feel more at ease, not only in my movements but also in my words. Little by little, I discover my own rhythm and a natural ease on stage, where gestures and speech come together to create a form of expression that is truly mine.
Слава Україні — Героям слава!