How did you become interested in a hair suspension act?
The inspiration to explore hair suspension came after working with a hairhanger in a show in Australia. Witnessing the discipline live for the first time deeply moved me. I had known about it before, but seeing it in person made me truly understand its unique duality—it looks so painful that you almost can’t bear to watch, yet it’s so beautiful and graceful that you can’t look away. I was also incredibly curious about what it would feel like to hang by my hair.
Joining Cirque du Soleil has been a dream of mine since childhood. Growing up in a small village in Austria—where circus schools were nonexistent, and many people didn’t even know being a circus performer was an actual profession—it felt like an impossible goal. But seeing that live performance inspired me to pursue this extraordinary art form.
How did you train for this?
I am entirely self-taught. I knew I wanted to be a circus performer from an early age. Since there were no circus schools where I grew up, I trained myself. My background in various aerial disciplines provided a strong foundation for hair suspension.
Unlike most other circus arts, hair hanging is one of the few disciplines that shouldn’t be overtrained. It requires a balance between preparation and rest to ensure safety and sustainability in performance.
Does hanging from your hair hurt, or did it in the beginning?
It hurt more than I could have ever imagined the first time—and even after years of practice, it still hurts a lot. The level of pain can vary depending on several factors, such as temperature, hormones, and other physical conditions. You learn to manage it, but it’s never completely painless.
How long did you train for this kind of act?
My original duo partner, Charlotte O’Sullivan, and I came up with the idea of creating a duo hair suspension act during the pandemic. We developed and refined it together in a small studio in Mexico before bringing it to Cirque du Soleil. We revamped the act on January 25, and I’m so excited for the audience in Houston to see it.
Have you had any hair mishaps?
Thankfully, no!
Do you do anything to keep your hair strong and healthy?
Yes, it is so important to take great care of my hair. I see a hair specialist regularly and use hair and scalp oils to keep it strong and healthy. Maintaining my hair is just as important as the physical training for this act.
You are the first-ever hair suspension act in Cirque du Soleil history, which is quite a feat given the abundance of acts they have performed over the years. How does that make you feel?
It’s an incredible and almost indescribable feeling. Not only are we the first-ever hair suspension duo in Cirque du Soleil’s history, but knowing that we created the act ourselves makes it even more special. I’m grateful every time I get to perform this act on such an iconic stage.