I have been a circus trapeze artist since I was fourteen. I even perform when I'm pregnant
A TRAPEZE artist who packed her bags and joined the circus as a teenager says her thirst for action knows no bounds.
Maria Lopez says that at the age of 14, she had to decide whether to stay with her mother in Chile and live a “normal” life, or go to Mexico and join the circus with her father, a trapeze artist.
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“She didn't want me to leave,” Maria told The US Sun. “But she knew I was going to do what I loved.”
Maria quickly packed her bags and began a less ordinary life, traveling the world, marrying a fellow trapeze artist who comes from a family with six generations of tightrope walkers, and even performing incredible stunts while three months pregnant.
“That was the limit,” she said. “I did that during all three of my pregnancies. I was fine.”
The US Sun took in the new Ringling circus show in Sunrise, Florida – the 150-year-old company forced to close in 2017 amid a firestorm of controversy before making a comeback this year – and can confirm Maria's thirst for heights – and danger – is not for the faint of heart.
Together with her husband Christian and his family members, Maria defied belief when walking along the triangular high wire, 7 meters high in the air, seemed as easy as walking through the park.
Seeing Lopez's daredevils jumping, riding unicycles and jumping around was something else entirely.
“We're not afraid,” she said. “We live to perform!”
We live to perform!
Maria Lopez
Ringling has tried to reinvent itself to move away from the traditional shows that outraged animal rights groups and led to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit.
It was investigated in 2004 when a lion died of a heart attack while being transported through the Mojave Desert, and in 1998 it was forced to pay a $20,000 fine after a sick elephant was forced to perform in a show.
The company closed its doors in 2017 and attendance fell amid a bitter battle with the Humane Society of the US and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Ringing ultimately paid $25 million for unproven claims of animal cruelty, but those responsible knew the time for change and a modern reboot had arrived.
Anyone who comes to the new look shows hoping to see these animals, or even traditional clowns, will go home very disappointed.
MODERN RESTART
But what's on offer is fast-paced, breathtaking family fun with enough suspense to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
“It's such a creative environment to be a part of,” says Maria.
She remembers being scared as a child when she saw Father Ernesto make a fantastic trip through the light, but said it felt like seeing “a superhero in action.”
Maria was able to complete her schooling on the road and even when she had children, she continued to travel and work, confident that the life experiences she gave her three children would provide them with a good foundation for life.
None of her children are in the circus, despite Maria saying it would be a “dream” to perform with them.
“They chose something different,” she continues. But they still want to be part of the circus.”
Her eldest son now helps out in the circus's marketing department, while her other two pursue careers in sports and entertainment.
When she started, Maria admits that her mother was “afraid something would happen to her,” until she was able to relax about the idea and let her daughter follow her passion.
“When I was a child, my parents supported me, and I want to be the same with my children,” she said.
Maria, who thrives on the creative energy of her fellow artists, wants to continue for at least another decade and remains happy to have turned her back on her routine life in Chile.
“I think my mom was worried because it can be a scary job, but I understand that,” she said, describing her job as a “workcation,” perfectly expressing the mix between work and fun.
“Still, being able to travel to different places and meet amazing people from different cultures is what keeps me going and motivated.
'MAGIC OF THE CIRCUS'
“The magic of the circus is connecting with the families on the show. I am still in love with that.”
When you watch Maria effortlessly cross the wire, whether on foot, on her husband's shoulders or even on a unicycle, you wonder how it's all possible.
She says that “practice, practice, practice” is the key, but when you put it all together, it's remarkable to think that their act is possible at all.
“I often say to people, imagine your entire body and your feet being supported by a wire that is only the size of your thumb,” she said.
“It's something unique. It's something amazing. It's something I can't express in words.”
Training as a child took place on a wire just a few feet off the ground and although her father was an expert and legend in trapeze running, he wasn't sold on following his little girl.
“He knew the risks,” she recalled. “And he wasn't happy.”
However, her desire to perform was enough to satisfy her father, who saw the raw talent required to perform at the highest level.
Although the Lopezes put on a flawless performance, other performers attempting similar death-defying stunts fell just short and flew into the net, accompanied by the audience's gasps.
The modern Ringling circus revolves around acrobatic performers like Maria, and she admits there have been some serious accidents in the past.
Once you've seen someone zoom around on a 30-foot unicycle or spin at breakneck speed on a terrifying contraption called the Double Wheel of Destiny, flying and jumping with every rotation, it's hard to believe that there are more serious injuries . have not suffered.
It comes with the territory, but there is a universal acceptance of the risks that come with it.
“This is the lifestyle we choose,” she said. “It may be scary for some, but I'm living my dream.”
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