Miami’s Circus School in Allapattah Puts On A Show

Experience all the ways performer Milena Straczynski can use a hotel luggage cart in “In the Heart of Miami.”  The Les Ailes du Désir Foundation (LADD), which trains aerial and circus performers, has its Soirée des Arts on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Manuel Artime Theater. (Photo by Victor Jaramillo)

The circus is coming to Miami. Actually, the circus is in Miami. The Les Ailes du Désir Foundation (LADD), which trains aerial and circus performers, has been operating out of Allapattah since 2017.

Founded by former dancer-turned-financer Claudine Choquette, the nonprofit is dedicated to training performers in the circus arts. Choquette first moved to Miami in 2004 from London. While her career shifted to business, her passion remains in the arts.

Its teaching programs mainly skews for children under the age of 18 but they also offer classes for adults all led by circus professionals. Many of their students have gone on to perform professionally – with Cirque de Soleil, The 7 Fingers contemporary circus show, based in Montreal, and Dragone – while some return to LADD as instructors.

LADD’s upcoming Soirée des Arts is taking place Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Manuel Artime Theater.

This year’s theme and performance title is “In the Heart of Miami,” giving a nod to LADD’s home turf.  The annual showcase is an opportunity for both students and LADD instructors to share a new or old piece in front of a live audience. It’s another chance to perform on a stage.

Marcela Duarte performs the hair suspension: a form of aerial acrobatics where the hair is tightly braided and secured to a special rig. Watch her spin, hang and perform other feats “In the Heart of Miami.” (Photo by Victor Jaramillo)

As part of “In the Heart of Miami,” there are choreographed pieces, a new aerial pole duo act, a hair suspension artist, a flying hotel luggage cart act, and an entertaining emceeing. Audiences will be treated to performances by the best in the game — from Cirque du Soleil performers to Olympians to former America’s Got Talent participants, and, of course, current LADD instructors.

Dancer Milena Straczynski, who has been with LADD since its inception, is one of the school’s instructors. However, for “In the Heart of Miami,” she’s wearing multiple hats: performer and the show’s creative director.

Born in Moscow, Straczynski moved to Miami when she was 10 years old. She was a ballet dancer and choreographer before she fell into the circus. She first discovered the circus arts performing scene through her now husband, an aerialist who performs with Cirque du Soleil. “I strayed into the whole circus world and became an aerialist and my husband, Hampus (Jansson), and I started working together and creating together.”

Straczynski finds working with LADD fulfills her creativity. She volunteers her time as an instructor at the school.

“It’s important to contribute to the community even if you don’t make any money with it. For me, the work is more about bringing the community together. Art is so important for everyone — for families, for dreamers, for children who want to grow up and be singers, dancers, or even circus performers.”

As the title suggests, “In the Heart of Miami” is structured as a bit of an homage to the Magic City. In her role as creative director, Straczynski ensures each performance flows neatly into the next – and they all tie back to Miami.

Teresa Cesario is the emcee for LADD. She’s been with the group since its founding in 2017. (Photo by
Victor Jaramillo)

“Miami is an eclectic city, a world of cultures, and a lot of people have come here from different places and made Miami their home,” says Straczynski. “A lot of people in the cast share a similar story… I feel like within the cast it really does feel like we’re a little family that comes together and performs what we love for the people. The audience will be able to feel that energy.”

While the aerialists will be a sight to see, the emcee of the evening is meant to be equally as charming.

The self-appointed mouthpiece for LADD, Teresa Cesario has been hosting nearly all of their events since the nonprofit originated. A singer and actor herself, she understands the value of the arts and the awe-inspiring nature of the circus arts.

“I really love telling people that I’ve run away to the circus,” says Cesario.

Cesario first met Straczynski and her husband while they were performers at the former El Tucán nightclub in Brickell where Cesario herself worked as an event host. Straczynski one day approached the emcee and told her about LADD.

“She brought me in and I’ve been their mouthpiece ever since,” says Cesario.

Performers of the Les Ailes du Désir Foundation (LADD), which trains
aerial and circus performers, take a bow at a past show. (Photo by Victor Jaramillo)

Although she’s not a circus performer, she reveals she’s tried a few of the adult classes at LADD and admits they’ve been harder than anything one would find at a traditional gym. “It’s amazing all the things you do as a circus performer, it’s not a traditional fitness… you don’t realize the physical exertion that these performers are doing when you’re watching circus arts.”

And there’s one other layer, she says, that adds to the mastery.

“They’re doing this while wearing bedazzled outfits and spinning from their hair. To me, it’s one of the most incredible sights to see what the human body is capable of,” shares Cesario.

WHAT: Les Ailes du Désir Foundation’s Soirée des Arts: In the Heart of Miami

 WHERE: Manuel Artime Theater,  900 SW 1st St., Miami

 WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.

 COST: $25 general admission, $10 for children and seniors. Tickets via eventbrite.com.

 INFORMATION: (786) 478-5891 or laddmiami.org.

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