Born and raised in the vibrant city of Vienna, Austria, by a single Italian mother, the strength and resilience of the women in my life have served as a guiding light throughout my journey. After completing high school, I embarked on a unique path, spending four years as a pastry maker, specializing in crafting edible sculptures. It was during this time that I discovered my love for creating special moments through wedding and birthday cakes, relishing the opportunity to deliver them myself and bask in the joy they brought to others.
However, my true calling emerged during my travels when I had the chance to climb a silk for the first time during an internship in Brazil in 2016 Despite having danced Rock'n'roll Acrobatics and Pole dance for years, it was the ethereal beauty of aerial silks that captured my heart and ignited a newfound passion within me. As I delved deeper into aerial arts, my studies in Environmental and Bioresource Management at the University of Vienna took a back seat, as I focused more on training and pursuing my newfound passion.
In 2017, I completed an aerial silks teacher training and began coaching adults and children, finding immense satisfaction in guiding others through their aerial journey. Eventually, I made the decision to audition for professional circus schools, leading me to the National Centre for Circus Arts in London in September 2019, where I specialized in Aerial Straps. However, unforeseen challenges brought about by the pandemic and Brexit forced me to reassess my plans, ultimately leading me to return to Italy, reconnecting with my mother's roots in Torino. In Torino, I continued my training under the guidance of Francesco Lanciotti until I was accepted at auditions for the artistic year at Flic, Scuola di Circo. Throughout my journey, I discovered that despite being an introverted person, I thrived when given the opportunity to shine on stage. Teaching also became a passion of mine, as I found immense joy in witnessing my students' growth and guiding them through their own journeys of self-discovery and mastery of aerial arts.
A pivotal moment in my journey occurred in Spring 2023 when a health setback due to overworking in Gastronomy led to a surgery, forcing me to reevaluate my approach to performance. It was during this time that I began collaborating with Viola Wild, exploring experimental circus techniques that embraced disabilities and celebrated the uniqueness of each individual's body.
Currently, I am pursuing a degree in Dramaturgy at Cambridge University, where I am applying my knowledge to circus production while continuing to teach courses and workshops across Europe. Looking ahead, I am thrilled to embark on a new chapter of my journey by pursuing a Master's degree in Performance Practices at ArtEZ in Arnhem, Netherlands, starting in September 2024. With each step, my goal remains the same: to push boundaries, challenge norms, and explore the endless possibilities within the realm of performance art. From pastries to performance, my journey to the circus has been anything but conventional, yet it has shaped me into the artist and educator I am today.
(c) Amina Riccetti Kummer
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