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A clan made up of brothers, cousins, wives and brothers-in-law, followers of the traditional Chilean circus, were the stars of the day. Jesús González and Amaro Aguirre received a standing ovation when performing a historic quadruple somersault.
The Chilean circus family made history by winning first place in the 12th edition of the Elefant d’OR International Circ Festival, held between February 22 and 27, by completing the biggest challenge of their lives: a troupe of three flying trapezes in parallel with 15 trapeze artists and a quadruple somersault.
The festival annually attracts around thirty thousand spectators and is in the top 5 international circus festivals in the world, making it the largest circus event in Europe.
On this occasion, the Big Tent of the Campo de Marte de la Devesa hosted 70 artists from 15 countries, to present 24 attractions; With which he broke the record of participating countries and world-class artists, including trapeze artists, acrobats, jugglers and clowns who came from all corners of the planet to captivate with their exploits.
In addition to the presentation of the Golden Elephant award (which gives its name to the festival), the Gonzálezes received the invitation to participate in other galas and related international events, one of them to be held in Las Vegas, USA.
“With this important merit in the industry at a global level, the family will continue to be the most important in this matter in Chile and the world, providing foundations for the future and the new generation that comes stronger than ever,” said the representative. legal of these great Chilean trapeze artists, Angela González.
Chilean circus: intangible heritage
This excellent news will not only mark a before and after in the circus tradition, but also in the intangible cultural heritage in Chile. All of this, since the Traditional Circus entered the Registry of Intangible Heritage in April 2019, since it considers a wide variety of knowledge, techniques, practices and traditions, which have been transmitted from one generation to another for more than two centuries.
Unlike other forms of modern circus, the circus with family tradition reflects its own identity that is structured in a unique spatiality, associated with the tent, the track, the mobile homes, and other elements. Function and life in general take place in these spaces, defining a cultural site understood as transhumant. It is a community whose collective way of life – they are grouped around family clans – translates into a protective body of their traditions and values, in addition to being strongly supportive.
Career outside Chile
In winter 2013, three Chilean brothers: Elías, Liborio and Jonathan “Tatán” González performed for the first time outside their country, with their flying trapeze act in the second edition of the International Circ Elefant d’OR Festival, which was held in Figueres, Spain.
Although their participation was not successful enough due to technical reasons (props rented in Europe and strong wind that moved the dome in one of the performances), that trip would change their destiny: Line Giason, casting director of Cirque du Soleil and who was also part of the jury, prepared an internal report for his company that would conclude with the hiring of “Tatán” as a trapeze artist for the show “La Nouba” (Disney Park, Orlando, USA). And so, during his season in the United States, “Tatán” achieved the trapeze artist’s golden dream: regularly presenting the quadruple somersault.
Thanks to economic effort and family unity, Los González transformed their modest circus into one of the most luxurious and modern tents on the American continent.
While Elías, the porter, left the trapeze to concentrate on directing tasks, the two younger brothers joined the trapeze attraction: Pedro Javi and David. In the 2023 season, they are launching giant exterior arches to support the tent so that it enjoys total visibility.
The Gonzálezes unite the family and as main flyers they have the leader: “Tatan” González along with Liborio, Jesús, Pedro G., Amaro, Elayne, Anna, Irina, Isaac, Patricio, David H., David G. and Pedro Díaz . All of them directed by their coach Elías Salomón González and making history once again inside and outside Chile.
And they are also applying for the Guinness Awards for three great feats: Quadruple somersault performed by Jesús González, in Girona; the presentation with the most trapeze artists in the history of the circus in Chile and the world (with 15 artists in action with 3 flyers) and a quadruple somersault performed by Jonathan Gonzalez, at Cirque Du Soleil.