Spanish-language circus runs through Sunday in Oakland
THE FIRST first time Rubensito Caballero III dangled from a trapeze, he was 3 months old. Two years later he was doing somersaults with his dad.
When he turned 5 he also became one of the youngest clowns in circus history. But that's not surprising to the Caballero family, who for six generations have lived and died the circus life.
Rubensito is merely following family tradition. Their circus — Circo Hermanos Caballero, or the Brothers Caballero Circus — originated in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2002.
"It runs in our blood," said father Ruben Caballero II, 33.
"The circus is not aboutthe tent, it's something we carry inside. It's the talent we put in day to day, and it doesn't die."
The Caballero talent extends as far back as the day their great-grandfather entertained the likes of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in 1916. The family's talents also include being the first trapeze act in the world to successfully complete a quadruple somersault.
In 1998, one of the eight Caballero siblings, Veronica, was also recognized as the second woman in the world to complete a triple somersault. They were presented to Ronald Reagan and twice to Prince Rainier of Monaco, and they've toured the world a few times.
This legacy of talent now exists within the confines of a hot-pink tent off 66th Avenue, hous-ing one ring and bleachers. The circus isn't on the scale of enormity of more corporate operations such as Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Cirque du Soleil or the P.T. Barnum shows.
"We don't have to compare," Caballero said. "Cirque du Soleil doesn't have one generation of its people that comes from families, their people learn from a school, and they perform for the money. For us who carry the circus in their blood, we have generations and generations of our families in the circus, and it's a source of pride and magic."
With a staff of more than 50 people — half of them family — the Circo Hermanos Caballero falls into the tradition of Mexican circuses dating to 1852 that used the "carpa" (tent circus) to provide an unpretentious form of entertainment to the poor.
The tent shows were often run by one family and incorporated various forms of entertainment such as Mexican dances, traditional songs and modern circus elements such as vaudeville, burlesque, dog and pony shows and "maromeros" (acrobats) and comedy routines among others.
They often engage the audience in political scenarios or scandals with such characters as the "pelado" (the underdog), who stumbles through these political boundaries and often symbolizes struggles with race and discrimination.
Many of the acts also have culturally specific references intended for a Latino audience. Their "Los Perritos Baillarines"(Little Dancing Doggies) features three dancing poodles dressed up in different outfits that include a traditional Mexican florclorico outfit, and then bride and groom outfits, in celebration of the wedding of the millennium between singer Luis Miguel and Univision news host Mirka De Llanos.
"We use these outfits because people recognize them and laugh," said Bill Mendoza, coordinator for the Circo Hermanos Caballero. "It's part of their culture, and people always laugh and clap."
Rubensito happens to be the "pelado" who on a recent evening captivated the audience with the gyration of his hips to "Mesa Que Mas Aplaude"(That Table That Calls For You by Grupo Climax) while rebelling against everyone who tries to hold him back from the trapeze.
Even though the performances are conducted in Spanish, they are entertaining and accessible to non-Spanish speakers.
On the road until December through a total of 40 cities, the Circus Hermanos Caballero also functions as its own small business, meeting payrolls, getting city permits and maintaining equipment and purchasing supplies. They are continually replacing tent parts, costumes and concessions. One afternoon the brothers were replacing the bulbs on all the circus lights.
As a family-run circus, it maintains the traditional structure of the Mexican family, where everyone is responsible for keeping the show running.
"My father is a scout, my mom helps to make costumes," said brother Luis Caballero, 30. "My brother cleans the tents and horses, my cousins back home help set tour cities, and everyone does something.
"There's a place for everyone to find their place," he said. "People say we only work two hours a day, but we work so much more. The day has 24 hours, but if we had 48, we would work. It's only when we perform that we rest."
In fact it is not uncommon for Natalia and Albina Caballero, wives of the two brothers, to perform functions as trapeze artists, to be mothers and also to help make decisions about the maintenance of the circus.
"It only takes me five minutes to do my act," said Natalia Caballero, "and then I come back and take care of Judith (her
2-year-old daughter) or make sure she's OK."
Natalia and Albina are Russian and met their husbands in the circus. They became part of the larger Caballero family and its enterprise when they married. Both liked the idea of the family-run circus where they could raise their kids speaking English, Spanish, Russian, German, Japanese and in the tradition of the circus and its enduring roots.
"I give my heart and soul to this circus," Natalia said. "It's part of my life, and when I work I know it's going to my family and not to a large company like Cirque du Soleil.
"I would like my daughter to stay with the circus," she said. "I know she likes it because she knows all the acts and dances along (with them)."
For Janet Davis, author of "The Circus Age: Culture and Society Under the American Big Top," there's a reason why these smaller-scale circuses not only have outlasted the more established circuses but have gained in popularity in the last decade.
"One-ring shows cut across intergenerational," Davis said. "It provides an intimacy that other forms of popular culture don't offer. The intimacy of the ring show is an emphasis on individual athleticism and artistry, and it's also a community experience."
More importantly for the Caballero family, since their entire show is in Spanish and promoted bilingually on the radio and through other venues, it provides a space for Latinos to identify with their culture and feel a sense of belonging.
"Everywhere we go we perform only in Spanish, and I think it's important because it helps us and the audience remember our roots and our culture," said Ruben Caballero. "But that doesn't mean people who don't know Spanish shouldn't come. The circus is visual, not about words. It doesn't need to be explained."
As the eyes of the audience bounce with the trapeze artists, Ruben's words reverberate through the tent.
"As long as there is a kid in the world, there will be a circus and a clown to make him laugh. We carry that kid in all of us."
The circus runs through Sunday. Performances are Monday-Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 5 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. $15 for adults, children ages 2 to 10 are free with each adult admission. For more information on tickets, call (702) 241-6468.
No comments:
Post a Comment