If you were fortunate enough to witness Fiji’s first ever flying circus during their tour last year, then you’d know just how electrifying and exhilarating the performance was. The idea was born after the dance group, Vou, had met with a few Cuban circus trainers that were persistent on turning the dancers into world renowned circus performers. “Fijians are just so naturally athletic and strong”, these were the statements of said circus instructors according to Vou Dance Fiji director, Sachiko Soro. Over the course of a year, the Vou dancers trained hard with trying to master a plethora of circus acts including “juggling, acrobatics, aerial silks, trapeze, and hair hang and even tightrope!”
Playing a major role and working behind the scenes of the “magic” was Sharleen Ali who can be described as the “powerhouse behind the festivals company.” She was responsible for setting up venues and securing sponsorships for the Vou Dance team.
After the success of the Vou Fijian Flying Circus, Soro mentioned that “It was just so awesome to be able to stage our show for Fijian audiences, because a Fijian crowd is just the best.” Noting on the fact that Fijians are responsive and invested in the characters of the stories.
Thanks to the circus instructors that came all the way from Cuba, the Vou Dance company was able to meet a family in Tahiti that was able to provide them the opportunity to take the act overseas. “Our main Tahitian partner Jacquot Tiatia is a very well known theatre director and comedian there. He has been our main point of contact in setting up all our shows and bookings.” This was stated by Mrs. Soro when asked about the conception of the flying circus going international.
The main focus for the travelling circus while in Tahiti is to connect with the hearts of people, to uplift their spirits and create a sense of regionalism and unity between the two nations. In addition to the team’s prime goal, “Eating cheese!”, joked Sachiko.
After answering a series of questions, Sachiko mentioned that all this would not have been possible if not for the support and overwhelming positive response from the Fijian community. The Vou Flying Fijian Circus expects to tour again in 2027 with “something very new (&) very VOU.”
As for the people of Tahiti, expect nothing less than “Energy! Spirit! and Mana! of Fiji.” The athletic stunts and aerial tricks along with impactful storytelling combined with humor and crowd interactions is sure to give you an unforgettable experience.