Duo Eterno brings together a circus artist and a telecommunications specialist who changed his profession for the sake of love. Today, they are successful circus performers working on the world’s largest cruise ships. Their love story has already gone viral!
In this exclusive interview with Kristina Potopalska, learn about Duo Eterno, the most important decision of her life, and the advantages and challenges of working on cruise ships.
Kristina, you are a circus artist performing as part of Duo Eterno. Tell us how your partnership was formed. We know that you are not just artistic partners but also a couple in real life.
Our story is not typical because artists usually form pairs in training halls. My partner and husband, Andrii, and I met at my home. At that time, he was working in a telecommunications and internet company and came just to switch the internet provider.
Wow!
I’ve been in the circus arts since I was eight years old, and when we met, he was 20, and I was 18. It was love at first sight. At first, we were just a couple in love, living a normal life.
I worked as an aerial gymnast in Konstantin Tomilchenko’s show House of Mysterious Adventures in Kyiv, and later I was offered a contract abroad. Then Andrii came up with the idea of trying something together.
But did he have any sports or acrobatic experience?
Not at all. He used to box as a hobby, but boxing has nothing to do with acrobatics or gymnastics. His suggestion to try something together seemed really funny to me at first. At that time, his weight was about 65 kilograms, we were almost the same height, and visually, we didn’t look like an artistic duo at all.
Previously, I had a partner who was 95 kilograms and two heads taller than me. So when Andrii suggested it, I replied that it was almost impossible. But he insisted on coming to my training hall to see where I train.
At that time, I was studying for my master’s degree at the Kyiv Academy of Variety and Circus Arts. When Andrii came to my training hall, he was like a child who had never seen anything like it. I introduced him to my coaches, and during training, we tried some tricks just for fun.
But Andrii was very serious about it. I told my coach about it, and she advised him that if he wanted to, he could try coming to the hall for a week or two, practice, and see if such an idea was realistic. After all, at that time, there were examples of guys who had literally come from the street and become acrobats.
Over a few weeks of joint training, Andrii showed such great desire and persistence that my coach asked if I could spend about a year training with him—doing something not too advanced, but something we could start with and gradually improve. However, this required me to give up my contract abroad. And I made my choice—I turned down the solo offer.
It’s very unusual, what do you think motivated your husband to change his profession so drastically?
I think it was love. We wanted to be together, and I didn’t see long-distance relationships as an option. We were young then, and it was impossible to hide our love—everyone saw and understood it. Andrii not only changed his life because he fell in love with me, but later, he also fell in love with acrobatics and the circus.
However, you also made a drastic change to your plans, as you were initially planning to work as an independent artist. Did you feel the burden of responsibility for someone who completely changed his life to devote it to you? And did you feel restricted or even obligated to work your whole life in this pair since your partner put in tremendous effort?
I can say frankly that I was afraid—afraid to take this step. I was not concerned about the responsibility for another person; perhaps it sounds selfish, but I was afraid for myself.
I was 18 years old, and my career as a solo artist in the professional circus was just beginning. After graduating from the academy, I had already worked under contract in Bali and later received another contract. Would this change in my life benefit me? I knew I could already reach incredible heights on my own. And here, I had to take a few steps back, return to training, and start working with someone who had never done this before.
There were many questions in my head. Will it work out? What if he doesn’t want to continue? What if he doesn’t like it? What if he finds it too difficult at some point and says he’s giving up?
In such a case, love won’t help because it’s a huge commitment. He’s 20 years old. He’ll have to learn acrobatics from scratch, lift me, gain weight, and train for five hours every day—in short, completely change his way of life. Yes, I was worried that my hopes might not come true and that all of this would fail.
But we see now that it wasn’t in vain and didn’t fail; everything turned out great. During your joint work, what has transformed your understanding and awareness of your professional life, especially as part of an artistic duo?
I’ll talk about my feelings. Since I’m a circus performer from childhood, my main genre was aerial gymnastics, and my first contracts were as an aerial gymnast performing on silks. With the act I performed upon graduating from the Kyiv Academy of Variety and Circus Arts, I was invited to a festival in Monte Carlo. So, this was a discipline where I felt like a fish in water.
But we are an acrobatic duo. When I decided to become an acrobat, it was a challenge for me—something new, an interesting challenge, and a path of constant self-improvement. There are moments when something doesn’t work out, and you have to work much harder on it. For me, it’s like a roller coaster, but very exciting because I’m constantly doing something new. And when it’s a shared dream and both are in love, it’s a very strong motivation.
It’s not just about being a star, so to speak, and simply enjoying what I do. It’s about working on our daily improvement, setting new challenges, and achieving them together.
Why did you choose acrobatics for your duo?
Good question. While studying at the Kyiv Academy of Variety and Circus Arts, I trained in pair acrobatics. I was offered to partner with a base acrobat because he needed a partner. We trained together for two years. When I introduced Andrii to the training hall, my coach suggested working with him as I did with my previous partner.
Without realizing it fully, I sensed that after collaborating with my previous partner, acrobatics intrigued me and presented a fresh challenge—something I wanted to explore further. Until then, everything seemed straightforward—at 18, I was an aerial gymnast, fresh off a contract, with another one already lined up. I could simply continue pursuing my dream of becoming a solo performer.
But then I found a partner, a man I loved and wanted to build my life with. And I realized, or rather felt, what I really wanted—to combine love and work, to create a family, and to perform together with the person I love.
If you ask me if I miss my solo career, I do, but I’ve never thought I made the wrong choice in life. On cruise ships, we also perform in the air: as a duo on straps, and I do my solo aerial routines on silks and hoop. So, aerial gymnastics is still part of my life. I never had a moment when I truly regretted this choice.
And what about your partner? Can he already be called a circus artist, and doesn’t he regret it?
He definitely doesn’t regret it. Even when we argue, he jokingly says he’ll find another partner and keep working in the circus. The truth is, he’s already in love with acrobatics.
His journey as an artist wasn’t just about learning tricks—it was about stepping onto the stage and embracing the performance aspect. That was the hardest part for him. For someone who’s never performed before, standing in front of an audience is intimidating. It’s a huge responsibility because people don’t just expect tricks; they expect a ‘wow effect’—as if everything comes naturally and effortlessly.
Andrii is a true professional, though. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I always believed in him. Now, he steps on stage with confidence, executes every trick precisely, and gets the job done. We put a lot of work into his stage presence, and I can say he’s grown tremendously. He’s not just an acrobat anymore—he’s a circus artist.
On your social media, we can see quite passionate performances, love stories, and even kisses. Does being a real-life couple limit your choice of images on stage?
We’ve been working on cruise ships since 2019. Here, the company creates the shows and hires us as performers to fit into pre-designed characters. Of course, we execute our own tricks, develop unique concepts, and choreograph our own movements, but the overall image is already set.
Over this time, the characters have been really diverse. There were passionate ones and very romantic ones. Interestingly, even the romantic roles were a challenge for us because we’re naturally a very passionate couple. Portraying light romance and subtle flirting felt unusual. Some characters we’ve also embodied are warriors , statues, and other characters with no hint of love at all.
So, I wouldn’t say our real-life relationship limits us. If anything, it allows us to explore new and unexpected dimensions in our performances.
Do you think it’s easier to work as a couple in real life, or is it better to be just two professionals who’ve teamed up?
When Andrii and I started working together, we set one main rule—we could discuss anything related to our personal life up until we reached the training hall doors. But once we stepped inside, we had to forget that we were a couple and focus entirely on work.
We’ve followed this approach from the very beginning, even before we knew we would reach such a professional level, start a family, and build a life together. In general, we try not to let any work-related problems or challenges from training affect our relationship. And after more than seven years, I can say this approach has worked well for us.
I won’t lie — it doesn’t always go perfectly. There are moments of misunderstandings. After all, we are human, with emotions and different personalities. Some training sessions can be tough, and sometimes we face challenges in our personal lives as well. But open discussions always help us reach mutual understanding.
Your couple’s story is truly fascinating. Another thing that caught our attention is that you have chosen large cruise liners instead of a stationary or traveling circus. Could you share your experience on how to get “on board” and what the specifics of such work are?
Our journey began with a contract in Turkey, where Andrii and I performed in hotels. From there, we moved to the Emirates, specifically Abu Dhabi, where we worked at Ferrari World. After completing our contract, we returned to Kyiv, where I was finishing my studies at the academy. During this time, an agent who had our contact details reached out with an opportunity to work on a cruise ship. Performing on ships had always been part of our plans, so as soon as I defended my master’s thesis, we didn’t hesitate—we headed to Berlin for rehearsals for our first ship contract with TUI Cruises.
What’s so exciting about working on cruise ships? It may seem like it could get quite boring for artists.
Traveling is incredibly exciting because each day brings you to a new country, a new destination. Before our first contract on a ship, we heard rave reviews from artists who had worked in similar conditions. Since childhood, I’ve dreamed of seeing the world. I vividly remember my first trip abroad at the age of 17 to the Sultanate of Oman, followed by visits to Bali, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Traveling has always been my passion, and working on ships allows me to combine it with my favorite job. What’s more, working on ships offers artists a manageable schedule and free time.
Is there any difference in routes or work schedules on ships?
In general, cruise experiences vary widely, from the routes they take to their duration. During our current 6-month contract, the ship embarks on journeys across different continents, including transatlantic voyages from America to Europe. For instance, our recent 3 months were spent cruising around the Caribbean islands. Each cruise typically lasts 7 to 9 days, allowing us to visit 4 to 5 ports along the way.
Between port days, there are sea days when the ship sails from one port to another. Shows are usually scheduled on sea days, so when we’re at port, we have free time for rest and land excursions. Even on sea days without shows, we keep busy by training in the gym or theater, sometimes both, twice a day. We can also unwind on the open deck, pursue personal activities, or catch up with friends over coffee. Being artists on ships gives us enough of time to relax.
Throughout our tenure on ships, we’ve had the opportunity to explore 40 countries and islands worldwide. This is our fourth visit to the Caribbean, and frankly, we don’t disembark anymore on some islands due to our familiarity with the area. This is especially true if we have a show during the day, as we prefer to rest and prepare for work.
So, is the same entertainment available to artists on ships as to passengers?
It depends on the cruise line. On Celebrity Cruises, where we currently work, artists have certain privileges: access to the complimentary passenger restaurant, shops, bars, cafes, spa, sauna, and gym. Exclusive restaurants are also available at an extra cost with a discount for employees. There’s also a chance to join passenger excursions for free if it fits within the work schedule.
So far, everything looks very pleasant and comfortable, but have there been any pitfalls you’ve noticed while working on ships for five years?
Some artists from certain disciplines refuse to work on ships because performing on water can be more challenging than on land. Although ships are huge, they’re still constantly moving, and you can definitely feel the motion, especially when the weather is rough. Modern ships have stabilizers to minimize this rocking, but it’s still something you need to adjust to.
For us as acrobats, this adds extra difficulty. We have to focus more on balancing and use more energy to perform the tricks. On days with rough seas, we might need to adjust our routines for safety, and that’s a priority. Safety is always the top priority on ships.
Another challenge could be communication within the team. There are many of us on the ship, and we all come from different backgrounds. When communication isn’t good, the contract can feel much longer and harder than it needs to be. Additionally, being away from family for long periods can be an emotional challenge for many people.
Some people might see the ship’s rules as limitations, but these are in place for safety, according to international maritime law. We don’t see them as a problem and have no issue following the guidelines.
In the context of an artist’s pursuit of advancement and recognition, often aiming for international acclaim through festivals, awards, and similar avenues, do you not perceive working on ships as less prestigious for a circus artist compared to working in a renowned circus like Cirque du Soleil?
For me, personally, working on ships holds just as much prestige. It’s all about your perspective on life. I’ve had success participating in numerous circus festivals, starting as a teenager, continuing through my academy studies, and even after graduation when I auditioned for Cirque du Soleil. But at that point in my career, I made a different choice – to work as a duo with my partner.
I won’t deny our interest in joining Cirque du Soleil, as almost every circus artist dreams of being part of it. We’ve received offers from renowned circuses in Europe, though we weren’t available at those times. Right now, we’re content with where we are, what we’re doing, and how we balance family life with our artistic career.
We remain open to other opportunities, of course, not limited to ship performances. It’s also a dream of ours to work in various prestigious venues.
On ships, there’s this cool experience called the Backstage Tour. Passengers come to the theater, and the artists take them on a tour of the stage, backstage, dressing rooms, and more. The audience then asks us questions, allowing us to share our stories directly.
It’s a great feeling to connect with the audience who has just watched our performance. They ask us interesting, personal questions, and their curiosity captivates us. We’ve been told many times that our story is exceptional – and it’s spreading not because of us, but because people are sharing it. It’s amazing to know that through our journey, others realize that anything is possible with determination. It feels like our story serves as an inspiration.
We’re encouraged to engage with guests on the ships, and it’s especially rewarding when people learn we’re from Ukraine. Many passengers pause, ask questions, and offer their support.
A passenger once gave us a Ukrainian painting. He had bought it from women from Mariupol while cruising in Canada. He approached us during breakfast, handed us an envelope with the painting and 100 dollars, along with a note in Ukrainian expressing his support for Ukraine. It was his way of contributing.
This gesture deeply moved me; we cried together because the topic is so personal to me. The 100 dollars went to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, for a car fund for our acquaintance serving near Bakhmut. Through this, we, as artists, continue to make a difference and touch people’s hearts.
In the future, would you like to continue working on ships, or will it be another direction?
For now we really enjoy working on ships; we’re thrilled with our work. But we’re also open to other invitations. Currently, we have TV invitations abroad. And now we’re trying to figure out if it will work with our schedule, as we already have a contract.
Is it a show like “America’s Got Talent”?
Something similar. We had an invitation last year, but it didn’t align with our contract at the time. This is another aspect that might not appeal to artists working on ships — when there are other work invitations, even short-term ones, it’s very difficult to plan them because of the ship contract.
But we enjoy working here; we’re developing, training, and having short events. However, television is also one of our dreams. During our last contract, we were invited to Ukraine before the full-scale invasion. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it there, but we know there’s still much ahead of us.
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