ITALIA

Wet and Wild: Cirque Italia Masters Water and Air at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds

 

from:  montgomerymag.com
By Pamela Schipper
Here’s something new. European-style circus arts—aerial acts, hand balancing, contortionists, hula hoops and more—performed above a stage of 35,000 gallons of water.
 While Cirque Italia’s “Aquatic Spectacular” is new (the company made its U.S. debut March 2012 in Venice, Fla.), its founder and many of the performers come from a long line of distinguished circus families. Manuel Rebecchi, president and owner, grew up traveling across Italy and Europe with his aunt, Moira Orfei, and the world-renowned circus that she founded in 1960. Rebecchi’s uncle is Massimiliano Nones, who was presented with the Gold Clown Award by Prince Rainier of Monaco. Nicolette Fornasari is an eighth generation performer whose family has performed for Pope John Paul II, earned the gold medal at the Circus World Championships in London and the bronze medal at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo.  Fornasari specializes in aerial work, hula hoops and a European musical comedy act performed with her family Doady and Tosca. Coco Kramer is a fifth generation circus performer. As Coco the Clown, he holds the Guinness World Record for riding the world’s smallest bicycle—only five-inches tall! Coco’s son Facundo is a sixth generation circus performer who has already traveled the world with his hand-balancing act. Vladimir Kim is a third generation circus performer from Russia. He began performing with bears and horses when he was seven. Adam Vazquez, who performs a hand-to-hand act with Anton Makukhin, comes from a family known since the late 1800s for its acrobatics prowess.

The talent may be Old World, but the impetus for the show sprung from founder Manuel Rebecchi’s pursuit of the American Dream. When he arrived here in 2003, he couldn’t speak any English and had only $1,000. He attributes talent, hard work and good luck for his current success, and is mindful of economic challenges facing families today. Front row tickets cost $36. All other tickets cost between $18 and $27, and children (ages 2 to 12) are admitted free with a paying adult for all seats not in the front row.

Cirque Italia’s “Aquatic Spectacular” will be at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds through Sunday, June 23. If you miss them in Maryland, you can take a short drive to Manassas and catch them at the Prince William County Fairgrounds June 28 through July 7. cirqueitalia.com