Interview with Our Lead Performer, Maria

Maria Sanchez has been captivating audiences as Arodrome Show's lead performer for the past eight years. Known for her extraordinary grace, strength, and emotional expressiveness in the air, Maria has become the face of our company and a beloved figure in the world of aerial performance. I sat down with Maria to discuss her journey, artistic process, and what keeps her reaching for new heights.

Finding Her Wings: The Beginning

You've been with Arodrome Show for eight years now. How did your journey in aerial arts begin?

It's actually a rather unexpected path. I was a competitive gymnast until I was 16, training intensively with Olympic aspirations. After an injury sidelined those dreams, I was devastated and stepped away from physical performance entirely. I went to university to study architecture and thought my performing days were behind me.

During my second year at university, a friend dragged me to a circus arts workshop that was visiting campus. They had aerial silks set up, and something just clicked when I saw them. I tried it once and was immediately hooked – it combined the physical discipline I knew from gymnastics with an artistic freedom I'd never experienced before. Within a month, I had dropped out of architecture school and enrolled in a professional circus arts program.

Was it a difficult decision to change your path so dramatically?

My parents were horrified! [laughs] They had supported my gymnastics because it came with the structure of Olympic training and clear goals. Suddenly announcing I was leaving university to "join the circus" was not in their plans for me. But there was something so compelling about aerial arts – the freedom, the expressiveness, the way it blended athleticism with artistry. I knew I had to follow that feeling.

The first few years were incredibly challenging. I was starting relatively late compared to many aerial artists, and I had to unlearn certain habits from gymnastics while building entirely new skills. But I've never regretted the decision. Not for a moment.

The Artist's Evolution

How would you describe your evolution as an artist since joining Arodrome Show?

When I first joined the company, I was technically strong but still developing my artistic voice. Elena [Petrova, Artistic Director] saw something in me that I couldn't yet see in myself. She pushed me to go beyond executing tricks perfectly and to find the emotional truth in each performance.

The biggest evolution has been in how I approach creating a performance. Early in my career, I would think: "What impressive moves can I put together?" Now I start with the feeling or story I want to convey, and the technical elements serve that narrative. It's a complete shift in perspective.

I've also learned to trust stillness and simplicity. Some of the most powerful moments in a performance can be the smallest gestures or even moments of complete suspension – both physical and emotional. Finding that confidence to be simple took years.

"In the air, I found a freedom I never experienced on the ground. There's a moment in every performance where time seems to slow down, and I feel completely present – not performing, just being."

— Maria Sanchez

You're known for your emotional performances. How do you connect so deeply with the audience while executing such physically demanding movements?

That's the central challenge of aerial performance! The physical demands are enormous – you're controlling every muscle in your body, often while supporting your entire weight with just your hands or a foot lock. But if the audience sees that effort, the magic is broken.

I prepare extensively so that the technical elements become automatic. Then I can focus on the emotional journey. Before each performance, I spend time connecting with the character or feeling I'm portraying. I visualize not just the movements but the emotions behind them.

There's also something about being suspended in the air that creates a unique vulnerability. When you're twenty feet above the ground, supported by just fabric or a hoop, there's no pretending. That authentic vulnerability resonates with audiences – they can feel it even if they don't consciously recognize it.

The Creative Process

Walk us through your creative process when developing a new routine.

It usually starts with music. I'll find a piece that moves me, and I'll listen to it hundreds of times until it lives in my body. I visualize shapes and movements that express what I feel in the music.

Then I go into the studio and improvise with the apparatus – silks, hoop, whatever I'm working with for that piece. I record these sessions and review them, looking for moments that capture what I'm trying to express. It's a very intuitive process.

Once I have some key elements, I work with our choreographers to refine and structure the piece. This is where the technical precision comes in – figuring out transitions, making sure the pacing works with my stamina, ensuring everything is safe while still looking effortless.

The final stage is what I call "inhabiting" the piece – performing it repeatedly until it's not just memorized but embodied. By the time it reaches the audience, I should be able to perform it while remaining fully present in the emotional narrative.

Do you have a favorite apparatus to work with?

Silks will always be my first love – there's something about the flowing fabric that feels like an extension of my body. But I'm particularly drawn to apparatus that allows for both dynamic and static moments. The aerial hoop (lyra) gives me that balance, allowing for powerful drops and spins but also beautiful held poses.

Recently, I've been exploring aerial straps, which are physically the most demanding but offer incredible possibilities for momentum and flight. Each apparatus has its own personality and vocabulary of movement. That's what keeps aerial arts endlessly fascinating.

Challenges and Triumphs

What has been your most challenging performance to date?

Our production of "Tempest" two years ago pushed me to my limits. I portrayed Ariel, which required me to perform on five different apparatus throughout the show. The physical stamina needed was immense, but the greater challenge was the rapid character transitions. I had only moments offstage to switch not just apparatus but emotional states.

There was also a sequence where I performed on water-based silks – fabric that had been partially immersed in water. It created this gorgeous visual effect of water droplets catching the light as I moved, but it completely changed how the fabric behaved. I had to relearn all my techniques for that section.

And your most rewarding moment?

After a performance in Paris last year, a woman approached me backstage. She explained that her daughter, who was with her, had been struggling with anxiety that had kept her from pursuing her own passion for dance. They had come to our show as a distraction, but during my solo, her daughter had whispered, "I want to feel that free."

The mother was in tears telling me that it was the first time in months she'd seen a spark in her daughter. They had already found a youth aerial program back home for her to try. Moments like that remind me that what we do goes beyond entertainment – it can genuinely inspire and move people.

Life as a Lead Performer

What does your typical day look like?

Performance days are actually the easiest because they have a clear structure! On training days, I usually start with a 90-minute conditioning routine – a mix of strength training, flexibility work, and cardio. Then I'll have breakfast and head to the studio for technique training or rehearsals from about 10 AM to 4 PM, with a break for lunch.

Afternoons might involve choreography sessions, working with other performers, or developing new material. I try to end each day with some gentle recovery work – usually yoga or swimming.

I'm quite disciplined about sleep and nutrition because they directly impact my performance. This isn't a career where you can party all night and perform the next day – at least not safely or at your best!

How do you maintain your physical and mental health with such a demanding performance schedule?

It's a constant balancing act. Physically, I work with a team of professionals – a physiotherapist, a strength coach, and a nutritionist who help me stay in peak condition while avoiding injury. Recovery is as important as training in my schedule.

Mentally, I've learned to create boundaries. Earlier in my career, I was completely consumed by aerial work – every waking moment was focused on it. That led to burnout. Now I deliberately cultivate interests outside of performance. I paint, I study languages, I disconnect completely on my days off.

I also work with a performance psychologist who helps me manage the pressure of being the lead performer. The mental game is just as challenging as the physical one, especially when you're the face people see on the posters!

Looking Ahead

What are you most excited about for the upcoming winter show?

I'm performing a completely new apparatus combination we've developed specifically for "Crystal Flight." It's a hybrid of aerial hoop and silks that allows me to transition between the two seamlessly. The technical challenges are enormous, but it creates an effect like nothing I've performed before – a perfect expression of the winter spirit character I portray.

I'm also excited about the collaborative aspects of this production. We're working with some incredible guest artists who bring fresh perspectives. As much as I love my solo work, there's something magical about creating moments with other performers where our energies combine.

How do you see your career evolving in the coming years?

I'm 34 now, which is actually quite mature for an aerial performer. I feel stronger than ever, but I'm realistic about the physical demands of this career. I'm increasingly interested in the creative development side – choreographing for other performers and helping shape productions.

I've also begun teaching master classes, which I find incredibly fulfilling. Passing on knowledge to the next generation of aerial artists feels like an important part of my journey.

That said, I have no immediate plans to stop performing! As long as my body cooperates and I have stories I want to tell through movement, I'll be in the air. The beauty of aerial arts is that it's still a relatively young form – we're constantly redefining what's possible and what a career trajectory looks like.

A Message to Aspiring Aerial Artists

What advice would you give to someone dreaming of a career in aerial performance?

First and foremost: train safely. Find qualified instructors and respect the learning process. Aerial arts look magical, but they require methodical skill building. Rushing leads to injuries that can end careers before they begin.

Second, develop your own artistic voice. Technical prowess is important, but what will make you stand out is your unique perspective and expression. Study other art forms, expose yourself to diverse influences, find what moves you personally.

Finally, cultivate resilience. This career path involves constant challenges, setbacks, and reinvention. The performers who thrive are those who can maintain their passion through the difficult moments and see failures as opportunities to grow.

Oh, and take care of your hands! They're your most important tool. I have more hand care products than most people have facial products!

Thank you, Maria, for sharing your journey with us. Any final thoughts?

Just gratitude, really. I'm profoundly thankful to be able to do what I love, to work with the incredible team at Arodrome Show, and to connect with our audiences. When I'm in the air, sharing those moments of wonder and emotion, I feel exactly where I'm meant to be.