by Jennifer Jonassen

One of the best days of my life was spent last month at an audition for the Cirque du Soleil! It has long been a dream of mine to perform with them and I feel like I have finally taken a gigantic step to making that goal become a reality. My official New Year's resolutions have now become: 1- to learn circus skills and 2- to learn French really fast! True to Cirque du Soleil form the audition itself was quite magical. By the end of the day I was floating around on cloud nine, feeling invincible & left the audition feeling like I had been a part of an actual Cirque du Soleil show. For me, the powerful message I receive from the Cirque du Soleil is that anything is possible.  

I was particularly inspired after seeing an article about Zumanity with a picture of Licemar and Luciene Medeiros aka The Botero Sisters. The Botero Sisters are part of the racy Cirque du Soleil ensemble that comprise: Zumanity Another Side of Cirque du Soleil (performed in Las Vegas at the New York New York Hotel & Casino.) Clad mostly in feathers & fishnets, Li & Lu strut the stage showgirl style, positively bursting with sensuality and playfulness as they guide the audience through this super sexy show. Last month, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Lu & Li in between their Sunday night performances. Offstage, the sisters are equally exuberant and inviting, laughing a lot and clearly enjoying life with the Cirque du Soleil. I was immediately struck by their absolute confidence. They seem to be completely at home in their bodies! And it is my very great pleasure to share my interview with them to you...
 
JJ: You come from Eight generations of circus performers-What is it like growing up in the circus?
 
Lu: In a circus family you get to know everything- acrobatics, juggling, stunts, clowning- everything.
 
JJ: Is it as fantastical and romantic as it sounds?
 
Lu: It is a lot of hard work. Especially for the traditional families. Today it is better. Today they don't push the kids to do it. But before in my parent's life and my grandfather's life it was hard. But not for us. We loved it. But our family stopped traveling with the circus for us so we could be normal. Now we're in Cirque du Soleil so it didn't work! (laughter)
 
Li:  But when we stopped traveling with the circus we started doing theatre, tap dancing, dance and more. So as a result we grew more- especially for the Cirque du Soleil where you have to be a very versatile artist. One thing is not enough. You have to do more.