Ukrainian artist Yulia Mikhaylova plays the character Miranda, Prospera’s daughter, in Amaluna. The twenty-seven-year-old contortionist performs a challenging hand-balancing routine then glides into a water bowl and snakes through the water as her dashing suitor Romeo watches on.
Between two cities, we asked Yulia how she plans to celebrate the Holidays on tour with her mother and daughter.
You have been a circus artist most of your life. What is your experience of life on tour? What are the challenges and what do you like the most?
I was 15 years old when I joined a circus and started travelling away from my country. Although I miss my friends and family back home, I have made new friends on this tour, and now I get to travel with my seven-year-old daughter who goes to the Cirque du Soleil school and is training to become a contortionist like me. It’s a fantastic environment for her. These days, my mother is travelling with us to help out with my daughter, so it’s great for everyone!
How are you planning to mark the Holidays on tour with your family and with the cast?
Each holiday is an occasion to have fun, regardless of the culture! For instance, on Halloween — a holiday we don’t celebrate in the Ukraine — we all went trick or treating in the neighborhood and at the local shopping mall. My daughter had a wonderful time.
For Christmas, the Amaluna cast will throw a party, and I plan to hold a small, intimate get-together with my daughter and a few friends.
The 120 members of the Amaluna cast and crew represent 17 different nationalities. What is it like to celebrate the Holidays in a multicultural environment?
The more the merrier! Of course, Holidays vary from culture to culture. For instance, Russian artists celebrate Christmas on January 7 while our Chinese counterparts mark the New Year in February. We are all invited to each of these celebrations. But on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we will definitely take a break and celebrate.
What traditions from Ukraine do you bring with you on tour?
On December 31st, artists from Russia and the Ukraine will exchange gifts and on January 7th, we will prepare a festive dinner, have a drink and watch Russian movies from the 1940s.
How do you say “Happy Holidays” in Ukrainian?
We say Zrizdvom hrystovym!
What’s your favorite Holiday food?
My favorite Holiday treat is kholodets – a traditional Russian jellied meat dish. It’s delicious with potatoes!
What is your favorite Holiday song?
There are many! My mom used to sing me songs from the cartoons, and I catch myself humming them during the Holidays. My daughter, on the other hand, prefers Jingle Bells!
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{ SOURCE: CirqueClub }
