Born just three years ago, Totem is one of Cirque du Soleil‘s youngest touring shows. Featuring performers from 18 different countries, Totem focuses on the evolution of mankind, as well as the individual potential each of us holds in the larger framework of the history of humanity. Totem features several acrobatic acts unique to this show, including Chinese unicyclists who catch bowls on their heads, a Blue Man Group-like act featuring a scientist juggling illuminated balls inside a clear cone, and a Native American couple performing a roller skating ceremony atop a giant drum. But bookending the entire spectacle are Totem‘s iconic and acrobatic frogs who hop around on a giant 2600-pound turtle skeleton, criss-crossing each other as they leap through the air. One of those frogs is portrayed by Brazilian gymnast Fabio Luis Santos, who takes a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his amphibious transformation.
Photo by Pouya Dianat/Cirque du Soleil.
When you were growing up training to be a gymnast, did you ever imagine that you’d end up portraying a frog?
Not really. I always thought I’d be a gymnast, then a coach. I did my physical education at the university, focusing on the sports side. After the opportunity came to audition for Cirque, which would be more structured and more well payed, I started to look towards the more artistic side.
Each Cirque performer has to do his or her own makeup. Is that something you had to learn specifically for Cirque or had you previously been involved in any sort of theatrical performances?
I never did my own makeup before or even used makeup before. But now it’s such a part of my life to wake up, come here, shave and do my makeup. You get used to it. It’s something new for me, but it’s part of my life.
How long have you been part of this show?
I started with its creation. I think I was the first guy arriving in Montreal in September 2009. The next day a few more frogs arrived and we started the creation. A little later, more people started to come throughout the month. But I’ve been doing it for a little more than three years.
Did you have any creative input on Totem since you were one of the first performers involved with it?
A little, yes. The director, Robert Lepage, is a genius. He was open to new ideas. We know that he’s amazing and we are just learning, so we didn’t try to give him a lot of stupid ideas. But he used to ask and we really participated in the entire evolution of this show as it was growing. Of course we helped with its creation, but it mainly came from his mind and he made the show.
Has the show evolved much since it started touring?
Oh, yes. A lot. Everybody has gotten more experience. I was new in this business and a few other people were, also. The acts have developed a little bit more. We opened with not a lot of problems and it was a great show already. Now we’re even better and I believe within a few years it will only get better and better.
Photo by Pouya Dianat/Cirque du Soleil.
Where all has Totem taken you so far?
We’ve done North America and Europe. Then we’ll move to Australia, back to Europe, Japan, South America. The show has a lifespan of 15 years, but will remain in the U.S. until at least 2014.
How do audiences in different cities and countries react to Totem? Do you tailor each performance to the location you’re in?
The Americans are really crazy. They scream a lot and clap a lot, and that’s pretty cool. In Europe they were a little more reserved, especially in London. They’re great also, but they just clap and keep a little more quiet. Here in the USA it’s amazing. I think USA is a great crowd and I love when people scream and clap and go crazy. It’s a great feeling.
Do you plan on being a frog in this show for the full 15 years?
Not really. It’s a long time and Cirque’s prepared to replace each performer when the artist decides to stop or change shows. I have a few plans for next year ,but for now I am with Totem until the end of my contract.
What are your plans after Totem?
I’m moving to another Cirque show in Brazil. After doing a show for three years, I’m looking for new challenges. I’m doing a show where there’s a lot more acting, so there will be a lot of new challenges. Everybody has their own timing. Some people stay with a show for five years, some people stay 15, some people stay 20. But it’s almost my time to move on, but I’m still with Totem and I will finish my work here before moving on to anything new.
Given your background as a competitive gymnast, what was the transition to this type of performance like for you?
I’m really competitive, so it was really hard for me to become an artist without the competitive side. I like to win, I like to be on a podium, I like people calling, “First place, Fabio Santos.” Now I try to use a similar feeling to being in first place when I am on stage every day with people clapping. It’s kind of a similar feeling, but it was hard for me in the beginning to not compete. But, for me, coming to the best company in the entertainment business, it gives me a new vision of life and work.
How did the opportunity to join Cirque originally arise for you?
Somebody from casting went to Brazil to find new talent. Cirque really likes Brazilian people because we’re really open to new things, we laugh, we have fun and we have something warm inside. So I did the audition at the end of 2008 and the next year they called me to offer me a job.
At this point in your life and career, do you think you’d like to continue doing this type of acrobatic performance or go back to competing at some point?
Photo by Pouya Dianat/Cirque du Soleil.
If I go back to competing someday, it would be just for fun and not really to win. My time has passed. Now I’m an artist and I want to keep doing what I’m doing. One day, when I decide to stop, I can go back to gymnastics just to have fun and enjoy my body and what I’ve learned and done all my life since I was eight years old. Acrobatics is part of my life, so I cannot let it go very easily.
With all the different nationalities, cultures and languages you encounter each day on a Cirque show, what is it like for you as a performer?
We learn a lot about other cultures. It’s great to see people who have grown up in a different way than I did. We have to respect each other. To be an artist in Cirque du Soleil you need to be a little crazy. So at the end, everybody’s a little crazy and we have a good life together. We’re a family even though everybody’s from a different place in the world. We try to understand and be cool with that so we don’t have any problems.