Nikita Sukhanov is a professional hand balancer from Russia who spent six years with Cirque du Soleil.
Below is his training session from about a week ago with tons of cool one-arm stuff that require massive amounts of strength, skill and coordination. Enjoy!
Check out Nikita’s website here and don’t forget to Like his facebook page if you enjoyed the performance.
What does it take to become a performer in Cirque Du Soleil?
16×9 crew followed Cirque Du Soleil members for four months in order to show you just how tough their training is and how good you need to be in order to become a part of the most popular theatrical production company in the world.
Even though this video is not entirely focused on subjects relevant to this website, like hand balancing and gymnastics, it’s well worth watching the entire episode. Enjoy!
P.S. If you’re not quite ready to become a part of Cirque Du Soleil, check out these resources and take that first step in the right direction.
Went to Cirque du Soleil this past weekend. The shows title was Kooza.
As expected I was amazed. But I have to say it even exceeded my expectations.
The show is touring through the eastern States now. If it’s coming nearby to you, Go and See It. But the same can be said for any Cirque du Soleil performance.
Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed otherwise I would love to share with you a few of the amazing feats performed.
From the synchronized contortionists to people on stilts being launched in a double back flip. From jumping over people on high wires to the best juggler I’ve ever seen. My favorite was the Wheel of Death. Every single thing was astounding.
Not to mention the funniest clowns ever. I’m not usually a big fan of the clowns but these guys were good.
One great thing was the answer to a question I had posed just a few weeks ago was shown in full force.
I’m talking about the Chinese acrobats hand balancing on chairs.
The hand balancer stacked one chair on top of the other. When he got high up, assistants would hand him chairs by using long poles.
Mind you these are not your average chairs but very sturdy things. They’ve got to be because he went up over 10 chairs high.
By standing on each chair he would place the next on top and press up to get into position. Every couple of chairs he would do a new feat.
A head balance on one. A handstand on another.
To top it off the last chair was not laid flat but tilted to be at a diagonal angle. On top of this the acrobat performed a one arm half-planche or elbow lever.
You could see the chairs wobble and shake.
After he was done they took the chairs done one by one and the act was over.
One thing I realized at this show is that you tend to have great respect for the people practicing the things you know. I could see the contortionists using their hands to balance. I understand how they do what they do (not so much their ungodly flexibility).
Same with some of the acrobatics.
But unicycling or balancing on the tight wire I have no experience with. Not to say I didn’t respect these people, because I did.
But when you know how hard it is to do something it makes you appreciate it more.
Not a lot of people understand the patience and effort over the long haul it takes to accomplish this kind of thing. But you do.
Are you looking for a quick fix or are your prepared to go the distance? The time is going to pass either way so why not become a master at a few things.
Good Luck and Good Hand Balancing,
Logan Christopher
P.S. For less than the cost of a ticket, you can get your hands on The True Art and Science of Hand Balancing, to see a bunch of similar feats and learn how to do them.
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