OH! Magazine - Australian Version October 2016 | Page 5

OOZA™ is a return to the origins of
Cirque du Soleil® that combines
two circus traditions – acrobatic
performance and the art of clowning. The
show highlights the physical demands of
human performance in all its splendour
and fragility, presented in a colourful
mélange that emphasises bold slapstick
humour.

K

In Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA, Aaron Felske
is one of the 50 international cast
members of acrobats, musicians, singers
and actors. Aaron performs in the Charivari
act and is also the backup Trickster. We
spoke to Aaron to find out what it’s really
like to be part of one of the world’s most
impressive performance troupes.

‘KOOZA is about human connection and
the world of duality, good and bad,’ says
the show’s writer and director David
Shiner. ‘The tone is fun and funny, light
and open. The show doesn’t take itself too
seriously, but it’s very much about ideas,
too. As it evolves, we are exploring
concepts such as fear, identity, recognition
and power.’
The show starts with the Trickster bursting
onto the scene like a jack-in-the-box in
front of The Innocent, and that’s just the
first of many surprises to come. The
Innocent’s journey brings him into contact
with a panoply of comic characters such
as the King, the Trickster, the Heimloss,
the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.
Between strength and fragility, laughter
and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA
explores themes of identity, recognition
and power. The show is set in an electrifying
and exotic visual world full of surprises,
thrills, chills, audacity and total
involvement.
The name KOOZA is inspired by the
Sanskrit word ‘koza,’ which means ‘box,’
‘chest’ or ‘treasure,’ and was chosen
because one of the underlying concepts of
the production is the idea of a ‘circus in a
box.’

What is the best and most challenging part
about each role?
The most important aspect of Charivari as
a house troupe member is trust. Formations
can change quickly depending on the cast
that day and we must keep alert and
attentive to ensure safety and avoid
collisions. One of the movements in the
number requires a person to stand on my
shoulders and we must train and be
trusting of each other every day. There are
several sections of dance and acrobatics
throughout Charivari and the artistic team
trusts that I can be placed into any part of
the routine at a moment’s notice. It is an
energetic and exciting start to the show
and the most challenging part is to
maintain that power and freshness nine
times a week.
As the Trickster there are other kinds of
challenges I face. The makeup is one of
the most elaborate of any Cirque du Soleil
character and so can take two hours to
complete. It involves intricate layering and

the precise brush strokes of a painter that
adds an incredible depth to the character
I portray. It helps shape the appearance of
an ominous creature that is beautiful and
frightening at the same time.
Character portrayal can be demanding in
many ways. Dance, acrobatics and acting
are equally essential in shaping the
identity of the Trickster. It is important to
have strong ballet technique and gymnastic
ability to fulfill the physical demands of
the character, but it is equally important to
utilise my acting skills to create different
emotional atmospheres in each scene.
The Trickster interacts in different ways
with other entities in the KOOZA world,
and it is important to convey those
relationships to the audience. He is
present in almost every act and must
portray a sense of power, curiosity, and
encouragement with the other main
character, the Innocent. It is a rewarding
feeling after a performance is complete to
have journeyed through such a complex
whirlwind of emotions and physical
explorations.
When you were a kid, did you ever imagine
this would be your job?
When I was a kid I never really thought
about what I wanted to do for a living. I
grew up in a loving home with encouraging
parents and my focus was on school and
gymnastics.
One of my goals as a boy was to go to the
Olympics, but as a teenager I started
shifting my interests to dancing, singing
and acting. At that stage in my life I
became curious about opportunities as a
performer, so I chose a great college that
helped me discover what employment
options were available. It was a natural
progression for me to jump straight into
the real world and find work as an artist.
I have been fortunate with my performance
career and extremely lucky to work with
the best circus company in the world.

OH! MAGAZINE (OCTOBER 2016)

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