A Day in the Life at Drawn to Life
Drawn to Life, the long-awaited collaborative production between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering, premiered in November 2021 at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.
The show blends the best from the three entities, creating a 10-act homage of calculated acrobatics and whimsical imagery to the art of animation. In this article, we take you behind the scenes into the daily lives of the circus professionals who breathe life and magic into the production every show day. Our interviews showcase different roles within the show. Enjoy these accounts from four “Characters” of Drawn to Life as they run through a day in their life at the most magical place on Earth.
Meet Our Characters
A Day on the Job
We asked our Characters what a typical day looks like, how they prepare for show time, and what they look forward to on the job. Needless to say, their schedules demand the utmost self-discipline and stamina.
Skills and Career
Even before Drawn to Life, our Characters were on paths that let them cultivate a wealth of knowledge and expertise, bringing them to this stage of their careers. Each one shared a takeaway they hold close, providing helpful reminders for any performing artist.
Advice
Lastly, we asked our Characters to answer one final question: What advice do you have for someone new to the industry?
All images courtesy of Cirque du Soleil
Em Holt (they/she/he) is a genderfluid mover, burlesque dancer, drag performer and acrobat based in Florida, US. With a background in high level competitive gymnastics, circus arts and multidisciplinary dance, their diverse capabilities allow them to meet a variety of physical requirements and personas on stage.
These days, Em independently travels and tours the US as burlesque and circus bombshell, Karma Carnelian. Karma's performance style seamlessly blends classic and neo burlesque choreography with dynamic acrobatic chair and floor work. Karma has performed coast to coast, from the Hubba Hubba Revue in San Francisco, CA, to the House of Blues in Chicago, IL, to countless productions in their home state.
Em received their BA in Advertising in 2019 and MS in Integrated Marketing in 2021 from Florida State University, where they also performed teeterboard, flying, swinging and double trapeze in The FSU Flying High Circus from 2016-2020. Em first joined CircusTalk first as a journalism intern in 2020, and currently serves as the team's Community Manager, creating written and digital content for the site, and managing the companies' social media channels.
These days, Em independently travels and tours the US as burlesque and circus bombshell, Karma Carnelian. Karma's performance style seamlessly blends classic and neo burlesque choreography with dynamic acrobatic chair and floor work. Karma has performed coast to coast, from the Hubba Hubba Revue in San Francisco, CA, to the House of Blues in Chicago, IL, to countless productions in their home state.
Em received their BA in Advertising in 2019 and MS in Integrated Marketing in 2021 from Florida State University, where they also performed teeterboard, flying, swinging and double trapeze in The FSU Flying High Circus from 2016-2020. Em first joined CircusTalk first as a journalism intern in 2020, and currently serves as the team's Community Manager, creating written and digital content for the site, and managing the companies' social media channels.
Stacy is a seasoned professional in the circus and performing arts industry. A former gymnast and circus artist, Stacy worked in marketing and communications before leaving it all behind to perform and teach circus worldwide on stage, at festivals, and on screen. Today she is a freelance casting director, career coach, and artistic advisor. In 2021, Stacy joined the small and dynamic team at the international online platform CircusTalk as CEO. Previously, Stacy was a talent scout and then the Director of Casting at Cirque du Soleil.
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