Today, we’re diving into her circus journey and life experiences. We’ll talk about how Darya stayed strong when she learned about the war in Ukraine. Plus, we’ll hear about her exciting new adventure in free diving, a new passion that captivated Darya’s attention during her stay in Cancun, Mexico.
Join us as we uncover the inspiring story of Darya Vintilova.
Hello Darya, my first question is very simple. Our media is quite young. You are a true circus star. Why have you agreed to talk to us?
Because we’re Ukrainians, we must support each other and be there for each other. That’s why.
That’s a pleasure! You are Ukrainian, and we saw many videos titled “Darya Vintilova from Ukraine”, but we know that you moved to Canada with your parents at 5 years old. Your artistic debut with Cirque Du Soleil was at 7 years old! Then, you had a long-standing career. When was the last time you visited our country?
Last time I was in Ukraine… In September 2021, I visited my grandparents, my uncle and my cousins in Kyiv for 10 days. I wanted to visit my family in Ukraine, I said to myself “I better do it now when Covid calmed down a little, and because of everything that is happening in the world, now is my chance.
Also, my grandmother had two heart surgeries. I did not know when I would be able to visit them next time. Unfortunately, I only saw them the first day I arrived and got severely sick with Covid and had pneumonia.
Do your parents live in Kyiv now?
My grandparents and uncle live in Kyiv. My mother and brothers live in the USA, and my father lives in Mexico.
You’ve been a top-level circus performer for years but have spent most of your time outside Ukraine. In this context, what does being Ukrainian mean to you?
It’s definitely a pride, and not because of the war, but even before.
Ukrainians are very talented and very passionate people and have a lot to share culturally and artistically, and I have always been very proud of that.
We have so much power as humans, creativity, and so much to give to the world. So, it has always been something unique for me representing Ukraine and being a Ukrainian artist outside of Ukraine. I would even say something very magical and unique.
So, I always had pride in saying, “I’m from Ukraine”.
That’s a pleasure to hear, and it was a pleasure to see how you were swinging the Ukrainian flag and congratulating Ukrainians on our country’s Independence Day. When you first knew that the war started, what did you feel? Do you remember that first emotion that you can share with us?
Yes, of course. You know, we don’t always want to believe that the war is going to happen. I don’t like politics. I’m not into politics. Make art, not war. I’ve never paid too much attention to what was happening politically between countries. And… When it actually started, I called my uncle and asked, “Is it real?”.
He told me: “I have no time to talk. We’re gathering our belongings right now, and we’re going to our grandfather’s house outside of Kyiv for shelter and protection. I’ll call you when I can and if there is a connection and signal”.
It was a shock because when my uncle finally called me, he said: “the bombing began… it was at four o’clock in the morning when the whole city was peacefully asleep. The bombing began. We… We have to survive. It’s real”, I could hear the missiles in the background.
And I had to perform that evening. I had so much anger and frustration and sadness and fear, most of all because my grandparents are in their old age and my cousins are so young; they don’t deserve this; no one does. I felt helpless even though I could have helped them get out of the country, but they are very patriotic, and they said, “No, we will stay in our country; we’ll stay and fight”, so you come back to a country that belongs to us Ukrainians.
I felt helpless and sad that I was not there with them to help them in anything I could.
Many Ukrainians who were outside the country had similar feelings…
I remember the first month; I had so many nightmares. When performing on the stage, I could only see the colors of blue and yellow. Despite the numerous lights illuminating the stage, my eyes were fixated on the shades of blue and yellow.
Every loud and sharp musical notes in the show reminded me of flying missiles and falling bombs on my city.
As I performed, it was not just for the audience but for the Ukrainian nation and my family in Ukraine. I dedicated every show to them, through my flights above the stage I would send them my energies and powers. Sometimes, I even cried on stage. I tried not to show it, but I felt as if something had exploded inside me. I was very disappointed in our society, human kind. I would think to myself; Come on, world, did we not learn anything from the past? Mass murder, genocide, cruelty, it’s 2022; why is this happening again?
I even brought the Ukrainian flag with me to work, and that’s when I created the first video of the Ukrainian flag flying on the trapeze. I wanted to stand proud for my country and swing with this flag held high in the air, anything to support my national from far. I remember a few of my work colleagues teared up seeing me flying in the air holding the Ukrainian flag.
Darya, thank you for sharing your emotions with us! That’s very important. Sometimes, we deal with the obstacles that we can’t change. Was that the most difficult period of your performance life?
It was very hard because people around me did not grasp the idea of the war, not understanding what was actually going on and how deeply it affected my family in Ukraine. If one did not go through that, one could not relate to the feelings, emotions, and pain. When you come to work and hear, ‘How are you?’ I did not want to answer that question. I was feeling horrible. My family is suffering. My country is at war. I was restless. I was thinking, how would you feel if your family was in danger? Going to sleep every night, not knowing if you will wake up the next morning and still have them alive.
It was frustrating; I had an emotional rollercoaster and battle inside me. I had to remain professional and go on stage with a smile.
We hope that this war will come to an end soon. It’s insane to have it in the 21st century. Thank you for sharing your position, being Ukrainian, and expressing genuine emotions. We have to move on!
We all know who Darya Vintilova is. If Cirque Du Soleil decides to create a hall of fame, your name will definitely be there. Despite that, there are not many publications about you and other circus stars. While Cirque Du Soleil has a super strong brand, the media’s attention to circus artists is much lower. Is it fair?
We represent a brand. Yes, we are individual artists, but at the end of the day, we work for a company, we represent the company, and we work as a team. We support each other, work as a team, and are the brand. We are the Cirque du Soleil.
I was watching your Instagram page. One of the last stories you published had the words ‘success and goals.’ With over 27 years of performing in the circus, you’ve achieved everything that could be reached—working in different shows and participating in festivals. What does success mean to you now, and what are the goals for Darya Vintilova?
Well, your only limit is your mind. If you explore more, there is no limit. You can go as high as the sky, and the Quantum field of opportunities is limitless. So, you should never settle. Never stay in a comfort zone. Never stop exploring. Always stay curious in life.
You know, it’s like a game. You go to one level, get all the points, and then level up on to the next level. I love creating. For me, it’s a never-ending story. When I finish a project, I look for more. That’s what keeps me alive.
And what about that “WOW” moment when you get the job? Do you still feel the joy after the thousands of shows performed?
It’s a never-ending process of improvement and striving for perfection. Perfection does not exist, so there is always something to polish and work on.
Even after working for 27 years and dedicating 22 years to the trapeze, I still find flaws in my movements. It’s like when you’re drawing; you might think the drawing is finished, but then you realize you can add something here and there, and it keeps expanding, never truly ending.
What’s beautiful about performing on the trapeze is that it requires staying in the present moment. Just like in life, you can’t fast forward to tomorrow. When the swing is happening, you have to be right there in the moment, unable to think about the next move because you’ve already lost the current one, defying gravity as a trapeze artist.
Staying in the present moment is crucial. With the gravity and physics of the trapeze, pushing too early can disrupt the timing of your trick, potentially causing a fall or an imperfect landing.
If you fall, it marks the end of the act, and you haven’t delivered the perfect performance envisioned in your mind. What’s beautiful about this discipline is that it forces you to live in the present moment.
During those 10 minutes on stage, I am completely in the moment. No thoughts about tomorrow’s meals, bills, or calls. It’s pure presence. That’s the happiness I derive from flying—not just the feeling of freedom in the air and the adrenaline rush but also the bliss of having my mind switched off.
It is a form of meditation.
Sitting and meditating without any thoughts can be challenging, but the trapeze provides a unique meditative experience.
Do you experience that ‘matrix moment’ when you perform the triple swing?
In some words, as soon as I touch the trapeze, everything just disappears… You can talk to me, and I can even respond, but I am one with the trapeze, and it’s like we fuse together. And there’s such an internal feeling of being so aligned, ideally, as all your molecules… Oh, look, I even have goosebumps while talking about it!
That’s very close to the concept of many martial arts, meaning staying 100% in the moment. It could be provocative. Have you thought about performing without a safety line while swining? Would it change the way you approach the trapeze?
Well, I have thought about it many times. Many, many times. And I have thought of trying it, but that would be suicidal because it’s not a grand volant trapeze. The grand volant has two trapezes, and there is a net underneath. Even if you don’t catch the catcher, you’ll land on the net.
With the trapeze as a discipline, it is impossible to do it without a safety line. In fact, I would not be here sitting with you for this interview. First of all, the trapeze is 25 kilos. Second, there are more chances of not landing on a trapeze compared to a grand volant trapeze, let’s say.
If you do fall on the ground you die immediately, there is a chance of the bar hitting you, causing a concussion, and your organs, you know, coming inside out. So, at this point, I would be playing and looking very closely into death’s eyes, you know?
Yeah. So, the risk is too high. But I knew that you thought about that…
Of course.
And it seemed to me you did find a kind of response. That’s freediving. How did you come to your new passion? Why freediving?
So, I have been very fortunate to find trapeze at a very young age. I started trapeze at 12 years old, and it became my passion. Throughout my life, I always wanted to find a second passion because I told myself, ‘Trapeze is nice, but Dasha, you won’t be flying until 80 years old.’
I was desperate to find another passion. Unfortunately, last year, I had a very severe injury that left me unable to perform for a year. Knowing myself, I can’t just sit in one place and do nothing because I’m always in search of creating, of exploring and creating adventures. I remember the first month I was injured, I was at home and wanted to watch a movie. I came across a film called ‘No Limits,’ and it was like ‘Wow, that’s nice.’
It was about freediving, a world I knew little about. I was familiar with scuba diving as my father is from Sevastopol, and he is very passionate about the ocean, diving, and exploring sea creatures. On some holidays, we went to the Black Sea and spent much time in the water with him.
I remember watching this movie and thinking, ‘I want to do this. I’m a little bit crazy. I want to do this. I don’t care if the actress dies at the end, but I want to do this.
The story is without the happy ending.
I was fascinated by the story, but my interest was in understanding how one can descend all the way down to 100 meters in a single breath. After some research, it turned out that there might be no better place than the Caribbean for freediving, with its vast seas, deep holes in the earth, and crystal-clear water.
I found a school, and it was perfect timing as I was in the midst of performing. I called the school, and they informed me that a three-day course was starting in two days. I immediately signed up. The course involved a lot of theory, followed by a physical exam where we had to hold our breath for two minutes and then dive down to 14 meters.
Many years ago, I had a bad scuba diving accident that left me with a fear of going deep into the water. So, there was an internal struggle. I told myself, ‘Dasha, you have to do this. You have to start facing your fears. It’s your moment now. Life is giving you a chance, even though you’re injured. Start confronting things instead of running away from them, like your emotions.’
Upon passing the course, I wondered what I would do with this diploma. At that time, my focus was on rehabilitation and physiotherapy. With the rest of the day free, I called the school and said, ‘I’m ready for trainings.’ I aimed to push myself and work on my technique.
I trained four times a week for eight months, and the school remarked, ‘You’re crazy, right? You sound like an addict.’ I replied, ‘It doesn’t matter. I want to be in the water because, due to my injury, water became my happy place.’
After two months of freediving, I had an idea: ‘Why not incorporate the trapeze?’ I couldn’t fly, but what if I combined my two passions and do trapeze underwater? I didn’t know what would come of it, and I knew nobody in the world had done it. It felt beautiful because I could do trapeze without pain.
In freediving, there’s a saying, ‘The destination does not matter; enjoy the ride.’ It aligns with the concept that you have to be completely in the moment. You can’t be thinking about how many meters you still have to go to reach the platform because that takes you out of the moment. Thinking about the destination causes stress, pumping your heart, and accelerating your blood flow. Then the dive is over, and you haven’t achieved what you went for.
You see the line; the line is here. The second pool there became a new piece of art for me.
What happens when you come to the surface? What’s the kind of feeling – emotional explosion?
Explosions happen more when I’m in the water, holding onto the ropes and the bar, not breathing, and feeling how the water pushes my body around, slowing down everything. Down there time dose not exist.
Darya, I congratulate you. You have a new addiction. What’s your deepest dive?
I can go down to – 30 meters.
And what’s the deepest dive in the history?
I believe – 214 m.
So you have much work ahead.
All my friends around “You’re crazy, 30 m is enough”.
I agree with your friends. By the way, have you analysed the reasons behind the injury?
So, the injury was initially simple. It occurred during a show, and although I had always experienced a bit of back pain throughout my career, it eventually turned into chronic pain. Chronic pain is like a giant monster because it’s something you learn to live with; it’s not a temporary discomfort that fades away with a pill or a visit to a physiotherapist. You have to adapt to it and find ways to work and live with it.
As a professional circus artist, I offer advice to young performers starting their circus careers or those in the middle of their journeys. Prioritize your health – sleep well, eat well, warm up adequately, perform prevention exercises after your act, cool down sufficiently, and take care of your body. Remember, your health should be your top priority because health is wealth.
If you love what you do, if it’s your passion, prioritize your health. Instead of rushing to a party, take 30 minutes to stretch before going to bed, and do those extra exercises. They may seem repetitive, but they are crucial.
Listening to your body is essential because it’s your tool. While my body has always responded to what I asked it to do, giving it the respect it deserves is equally important. Additionally, be patient with yourself.
As circus artists, we love pushing our limits…
And go to the swimming pools. Darya, for my final question: when we achieve our victory, the most desired victory in the lives of all Ukrainians at the moment, can you promise to come to the first large festival of circus artists organised in Ukraine to celebrate that victory?
Absolutely.
I will be there. I’ll be flying high in the sky, holding the Ukrainian flag and celebrating with all the Ukrainians. You can count on me.
Before our victory, where can Ukrainians see you now?
I live and work in Riviera Maya, Mexico, and I’ve been here for the last six years. I work on a Cirque du Soleil show called JOYA, the only Cirque du Soleil dinner show. The show lasts one hour and a half, accompanied by a four-course meal. The theatre was purpose-built for the show, featuring decorations that align with the storyline. It has even won an architectural prize.
The story revolves around a young girl exploring her grandfather’s naturalium, uncovering his knowledge. Throughout the journey, knowledge is passed from the grandfather to the granddaughter. The theater’s interior decorations reflect the storyline, creating a captivating atmosphere.
In this show, I perform the role of a “Master of the Night”— a night creature that is half bird, half human. I embody a mysterious, sophisticated and confident character that gracefully flies through her nocturnal ambience.
I plan to continue my role here for a few more years. For any Ukrainians interested in experiencing this, the show is located in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It’s a beautiful and unique experience that nobody should miss
Darya, thanks a lot. It’s a lovely conversation. Thank you for being so… open to responding to all my questions.
It’s my pleasure. Thank you for contacting me. I really appreciate it. And Slava Ukraini!
Heroyam Slava!
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