Circus Cities with Shenea Stiletto – Dubai
“Circus Cities” is a CircusTalk Original Video Series by “Think Like an Acrobat” host Shenea Stiletto. In each episode, Shenea will explore a city with a vibrant circus community by sitting down with artists and service providers who reside there. The conversations will range from basics to specifics, from job opportunities and training space to living opportunities and conditions, including visas and work permits. This series is designed to equip you with everything you need to know about these cities, so you can see what’s out there and feel confident in your decision to permanently or temporarily relocate…or not! The first four episodes will cover Las Vegas, Montréal, Berlin, and Dubai. What other cities do you want to see on the list?
This episode: Dubai! Meet the guests of this episode…
Melina Druta, born in Bucharest, Romania, started artistic gymnastics at the age of 4 and a half years old, and became part of the Romanian Junior Olympic team at age 11. After 12 years of elite artistic gymnastics, she moved into the acrobatic entertainment field where she still works today. Melina has performed all around the world and close to home, from the Romanian National Theatre, Operetta Theatre of Bucharest, and Romania’s Got Talent to various variety productions and clubs in Romania. In 2008, she and her partner laid the groundwork for their artistic agency in Bucharest which currently serves numerous acrobats nationally and internationally. In 2012, Melina moved to Dubai, where she performs and produces entertainment programs for various events and shows, as well as serving the local industry as a supplier.
Born in London and former National Artistic Gymnastics Champion, Rob Winch started his entertainment career as an acrobat and aerialist, performing in OVO at the Millennium Dome. Over a 12-year performance career, Rob has experienced many different types of entertainment, including cruise ships, stunt shows, musical theatre, live events, television, and film, such as Tarzan La Rencontre at Disneyland Paris. In 2005 he joined Cirque du Soleil for their new creation The Beatles LOVE which included other special events such as The Tonight Show, The 50th Annual Grammy Awards, America’s Got Talent Finale, and Cirque’s Worlds Away 3D Movie. During this time, Rob co-founded his company Production Lab, which is also the parent company to BNTA, A British themed production company.In 2011 he retired from the stage and was asked to return to Disneyland Paris as Head Coach for Tarzan. In 2014, he was also recruited as an acrobatic and stunt specialist to re-choreograph the acrobatic act in “The Festival of the Lion King” at Disney World, Florida.Rob was then invited to Macau in 2015 as Head of Coaching for Franco Dragone’s The House of Dancing Water and in 2019, La Perle in Dubai where he is currently the Resident Artistic Director.
Kleber Conrado Berto is a highly skilled acrobat and dancer with a background in martial arts and 20 years of experience on stage. Discovered by Cirque du Soleil at the age of 19, Kleber has performed all over the world primarily as an acrobat and dancer. Starting in Las Vegas with Cirque as one of the main faces of Kà, Kleber also served as a representative of Cirque du Soleil on numerous TV shows, such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Seattle’s Morning News with Dave Ross. His career continued, working in Tarzan La Rencontre at Disneyland Paris, The House of the Dancing Water directed by Franco Dragone in Macau, China, and touring the globe with Cirque’s Toruk- The First Flight. From 202o to the present, Kleber is the main character of La Perle directed by Franco Dragone in Dubai, performing stick manipulation, capoeira, acrobatics, and dance.
Shenea was also a finalist on America’s Got Talent and has continued to be a featured artist with prominent circus entertainment companies worldwide.
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