Baton twirler Jennifer Marcus has always admired Cirque du Soleil’s surreal and colorful shows. She was dazzled by La Nouba when she watched it at Orlando’s Disney Springs.
But beyond the vibrant stage decor and mesmerizing acts, Marcus was intrigued by the elite athletes who put on the show.
Little did she know that one day, she’d become one of them.
The Florida State University alumna is an athlete herself — a professional baton twirler. She twirled with the FSU Marching Chiefs for four years as an undergrad. She’s also a world champion, having acquired 33 world championship medals, 16 gold.
Eleven years ago, Marcus was performing at an international baton competition in Orlando when she was scouted by Cirque du Soleil who invited her to audition. Surprised and elated, she agreed. They then added her to the talent bank, since no spaces for baton twirlers were open at the time.
Years went by, and Marcus forgot about that day.
So much happened in the meantime: She continued competing, earned a master’s in sports management, twirled at the Orlando Magic games with the step team, and worked for sportswear company LuLuLemon. And this past spring, she got married to her best friend.
But her March honeymoon in Hawaii became even more memorable. The talent scouts called to offer her a job in Cirque du Soleil’s show, “VOLTA.”
After her return to South Florida, the baton twirler packed her bags with warmer clothing. She was bound for Montreal two days later to start her new circus job.
“I was always so fascinated watching those shows,” Marcus said. “I can’t believe I’m part of it.”
The newlywed did have her qualms about leaving her husband at home to join the circus — but, “everyone reminded me it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” including him.
The show is about a famous game-show host, Waz, “who has lost touch with his inner self in the pursuit of fame.” Marcus, 33, plays one of the characters called “free spirits,” which help Waz “open doors to his inner soul” he’s long-since shut. The show follows his search for meaning and true identity. Warm amber color palettes blaze the stage along with a powerful score.
Donned in a vibrant yellow costume laced with blue and red geometric patterns, Marcus twirls up to four light-up batons, showing Waz the magical world of her kind. Drummers float overhead, suspended, as the stage turns during her solo act.
Marcus channels her own free spirit in the show. She joins unicycle riders and rope skippers, bungee jumpers and ballerinas, to weave a tale about being authentic to oneself.
“I love performing and it’s just so beautiful,” Marcus said about the show.
The cast is now in Miami, Marcus’ hometown, for the next several weeks, performing the show.
VOLTA is as vivid and dreamlike as any Cirque du Soleil show, with a theme of blazing one’s own trail. The show is inspired by the fervent fury of action sports, bringing the speed of BMX riders indoors on stage ramps — one of Marcus’ favorite scenes. The riders do back-flips and land close to the audience. She knows how capable they are, but, “It still makes me so nervous,” she said with a laugh.
For Marcus, those high-energy artists have become more than just fellow performers.
“It really is a family,” she said. Together, they train their bodies to withstand 10 performances per week and celebrate downtime by relaxing at a quaint coffee shop in whatever city they’re performing.
But her blood family is where she first kindled her passion for twirling.
She comes from a clan of baton twirlers: Her mom is a master-level judge at world championships and regional competitions. She enrolled her sister in classes, and Marcus would pick up her baton and try her hand at it as a curious 3-year-old. Years later as adults, the duo would teach baton twirling clinics and classes together.
On her own, Marcus loves practicing outdoors to catchy, upbeat tunes in the Top 100 list. Right now, her favorite is “Swish Swish” by Katy Perry and Portugal. The Man’s “Feel it Still” — but anything by Bruno Mars or Taylor Swift she’s fond of too. The twirler loves performing any trick with illusions and wields fire baton and fans.
Coming from the world of competition, Marcus says she’s had to come to terms with occasionally making mistakes. She’s a performer who is hyper-aware of every movement, a quality that landed her all those medals. But when performing in VOLTA, she was too hard on herself — 10 performances a week likely will yield some mistakes.
“Artists are going to make mistakes. It’s OK, and you’ve got another show,” they would tell her.
She looks back on her journey, incredulous, as she remembers that fateful audition 11 years ago and where she is now.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” Marcus said.
{ SOURCE: Tallahassee Democrat | https://goo.gl/jV4AoS }
