Can you introduce yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Hello, I am Itzel Salvatierra, I am from Mexico and I'm 36 years old. I'm a mother of two, I'm a circus artist, choreographer and Aerial Hoop coach.
How did it all start? How did you get into aerial arts?
I always knew I wanted to be an artist. If someone asked me what I want to do when I was a little kid, I would always say 'AN ARTIST'. I didn't really know what, but I know I liked it. I really wanted to do gymnastics, but my mum took me to ballet when I was 7, so I did that. After, I really appreciated it because it really helped me with my lines when I started artistic gymnastics. I did gymnastics from when I was 8 to 13, then I stopped for a little bit, and then went back and did it until I was 16. After gymnastics I did two years of Musical Theatre, which was amazing, I loved it! I really love acting because it comes very naturally to me. Yoga has always been a very big part of my life, it helps me a lot with many things, like strength, flexibility, focus and breathing. After Musical Theatre, I did Capoeira for four years which I feel really helped me with my spinning. After that I found circus!
When/How did you decide to make it a profession?
I moved to Puerto Vallarta, which is where I live now, and there was no circus at all. I started teaching in a gymnastic complex, where I met 5 dancers who were trying to make a circus show to sell in hotels and they asked me if I wanted to be a part of it. And I looked at them, thinking "This looks so hard, I don't know. I don't know if I want to be a circus artist." And circus had always had a bad rep, but I decided I needed the money, so I did it. So we started teaching ourselves Silks and Hand-to-Hand, which I fell in love with straight away. After one month of teaching ourselves, we started the shows in the hotels and I haven't stopped performing until now. So I basically learnt on the job!
You've performed in many amazing shows, can you tell us what your process was like for joining Cirque du Soleil?
One of the guys I was working with found out I had never seen Cirque du Soleil, and was so shocked, so he gave me all of these videos to watch. The first video I saw was 'Quidam' and I was mind blown, because it was so theatrical and dark and dramatic and very real. This is when I decided that I wanted to be part of Cirque du Soleil. So I sent all of my information and videos off to them in 2009, and I got a call the next day! Which - at the time I didn't know - wasn't very common. They asked me to come and audition in Las Vegas, which I couldn't afford at the time, so I had to say no, but luckily they came to Mexico City the next year, so I got to audition then. I made it to the end of the audition, where you get added to the talent books. After that I was asked to perform in a special event for 45 Degrees, which is Cirque du Soleil's special events company, which was a dream come true. I remember thinking "I did it! My dream is done! If I don't go further than this I'm super grateful." I hoped to get into a show, but I did it! I was there. Then the year after that I got asked to perform in 'Quidam' which was the show that inspired me to become a circus artist. It was a lot. It was very, very exciting.
Out of all the shows you've performed in, what was your favourite and why?
Le Noir was my favourite project, because it was a sexy show, which is my favourite style. I also met my husband on that contract. It was a great show; the company was so cool to work with and the cast were amazing.
Do you choreograph your own routines and if yes what is your inspiration?
The music. It's always about the music. It inspires me on what my character will be, or what type of movement I'll do. When I do my own acts, I really like the dramatic side: the darkness and a sexy style. Either something very warrior-like, or very dramatic, or something very sexy. My combos usually come off one shape that I have seen or been thinking about and it just unfolds from there. I don't know how, it just unfolds. It's a talent that I'm really grateful for. It just comes and suddenly I have a whole sequence.
What has been the most terrifying/funny moment in a performance to date?
I fell while performing my hoop act in 'Joya'. That was a big one because I was like 22 feet high. I think the scariest part was that I watch the video and still can't work out what the mistake was. I think I was just not as focused as I usually am, and I remember feeling very weird before going up. Considering the height from which I fell, it was a miracle: I broke my hand and dislocated my wrist. It was a mess, but the rest was pretty much okay. It took me about 9 months to recover from that, but I think I started to get much better after that. I took my preparation, warm ups and conditioning much more seriously.
What would you say is the toughest part of the job?
One of the toughest things, I would say, is the body pain. If I didn't have body pain I would do this forever. But also being a circus artist is quite unstable; as the seasons change, the income fluctuates, which you have to be prepared for. Also, I have two kids and sometimes I have to travel without them, which is super hard.
How many hours do you have to practise in a week and what does your typical training day look like?
It changes quite regularly and, for me, coaching is training as well, as I am demonstrating a lot. If I'm in a show then I don't have as much time to train, so it's always changing, but I would say it's usually between 2-4 hours a day. And I always make sure I'm doing my conditioning every day, even if I'm not training on Lyra.
COVID-19 has been tough on the entire entertainment industry. How has your experience been and how are you coping?
At the beginning of COVID, I was in the United States and I was living my best life, I got to rest! I didn't have anywhere to train, but I just kept doing my conditioning. Luckily, I had already filmed a lot of things for the online program, which was great because I could still work as an online coach as a lot of people had rigs in their homes. Then after quarantine period I got to come home to Mexico and be with my kids who I hadn't seen for a while, so my whole family was together again, which was lovely. Then I got COVID at the end of the year. I said goodbye to 2020, and hello to 2021 with frickin' COVID!
You have a new coaching program out and an app! Can you tell us about it?
After seeing how well my coaching program did after moving online, I decided to create an app to make it more formal and easier for everyone who takes it. So, I have just released the app, it's called 'Aerial Hoop Online', and it's available to download on Android devices or on all computer web browsers, which is great! I have students from 25 countries now. I have an introductory program for Aerial Hoop, the Beginner's Bundle, Intermediate Bundle, Advanced Bundle and I have Tornado, which is my newest program, all about spinning. And soon, there'll also be the Air Goddess Challenge!
If we asked you to provide a training tip or advice to our readers, what that would be?
First of all, consistency. It's so important. I say this to all my students, especially those in my Tornado program. You have to do it and do it and do it until it doesn't feel like you're dying after, or like you're going to puke! Also, your conditioning is so important. Especially your core and shoulders. You need to strengthen your core to avoid back injuries, and your shoulders, because as an Aerialist you are constantly using them. Always do conditioning in your training, never skip conditioning. And of course, stretching, it's all so important.
