Brazilian Universidade Livre do Circo trains circus artists and exports them to the world

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Universidade Livre do Circo (Unicirco) – a project created by actor, director, and circus educator Marcos Frota – has announced that one of its students, trapeze artist Julio Cezar, will be a permanent member of the Mystère troupe of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas (USA).

Unicirco was founded in Brasília in the mid-2000s and is a social project aimed at educating children and young people, focusing on the arts of the ring. The association offers courses and workshops focused on the performance, implementation, and design of circus shows.

“We have a living circus school. Today, 22 years later [after the creation of Unicirco], it is a great reality. We have more than 1.5 thousand students who can attend our workshops for free. This is education through culture,” said Marcos Frota in an interview with Agência Brasil.

According to Frota, a circus is a tool for human transformation and promoting culture through citizen participation. The creator of the Unicirco project believes that the circus is a gateway to new training and employment opportunities and fosters concentration and discipline among young people from poor regions.

“The circus overcomes the language barrier and exports our values. I believe that the circus is something like soccer for a young Brazilian. The Brazilian circus performer is highly valued.”

“The circus boy can’t waste time. His head stays light. He is almost like an Olympic gymnast, a high-performance athlete. He participates in family conflicts healthily and becomes a reference in his community,” he added.

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING

Large circus companies, such as Cirque du Soleil, constantly use Unicirco professionals for performances and presentations in Brazil and abroad. According to Marcos Frota, Brazil is a pioneer in training professionals for the industry, especially acrobats and aerialists.

“The Brazilian circus is experiencing a spectacular moment. A new generation has emerged: a generation of entrepreneurs, technicians, and circus artists. This has shaped a new audience and awakened a new look.

Today, the circus stands side by side with all other artistic fields, such as theater, television, and the Internet. The circus is discussing the manifestation of popular culture in our country. This is my great pride,” said the circus artist.

Frota, who has a long career in soap operas, plays, films, and circus, was interviewed by journalist Marina Machado on the Sem Censura and talked about the Unicirco project and details of his personal life and career.

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