A circus artist on rhythmic gymnastics, the Monte Carlo stage, and writing the book she wished she'd had
I was born and raised in Ukraine, where my journey in the performing arts began at an early age. I became a Master of Sport in Rhythmic Gymnastics before graduating from the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts with a degree in choreography.
Over the years, I built an international career performing throughout Europe in theaters, circuses, and television productions. My work has taken me to Das Supertalent in Germany, Buenafuente in Spain, and Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde hosted by Patrick Sébastien in France, and I reached the Top 20 finalists on the Ukrainian version of So You Think You Can Dance.
I was honored to receive a Jury Prize at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival while performing with the acrobatic group Bingo. Along the way, I also performed for renowned European companies and venues, including Roncalli, Flic Flac, Europa-Park, and Teatro Varieté, among other major productions across the continent.
Earlier in my career in Ukraine, I worked with well-known recording artists including Anna Sedokova and Lolita, appeared in music videos and television commercials, and collaborated with the acclaimed music video director Alan Badoev. Together with Anna Sedokova, I performed in the opening act before a Jennifer Lopez concert.
Four years ago, I accepted an invitation to move to Las Vegas to join the cast of ROUGE. I was invited because of my original pole act with a lightweight silk fabric, which combined pole technique with a unique visual concept and storytelling, making it different from traditional pole performances.
After spending my entire life creating performances, I realized something surprising. Although circus artists spend decades mastering technique, there are almost no practical resources explaining how to create an original act that audiences truly remember.
That inspired me to write one of the first practical books dedicated entirely to the process of creating original circus acts.
The book takes readers step by step through developing an idea, building a character, directing a performance, and creating a memorable act. It includes creative directing exercises, psychological exercises that help artists generate original concepts, analyses of famous and lesser-known circus acts explaining why they stand out, and a curated Spotify playlist with music to inspire different styles of performance.
Most circus artists begin their journey in childhood. Whether through gymnastics, dance, aerial arts, acrobatics, or music, a performing career is built over decades. My goal was to share the creative process behind that journey and give young artists practical tools to develop their own unique artistic voice.
It is not a strict textbook, but rather a creative companion: a motivational collection of ideas and notes meant to spark an artist's own journey, even without major resources. For me, this story brings together the things that shaped my life. Immigration, perseverance, the Las Vegas stage, and the belief that the creativity behind a performance can be taught, shared, and passed on.
About Yaroslava Slonova
Yaroslava Slonova is a Ukrainian circus artist, pole artist, dancer, director, and author. She spent fifteen years training in rhythmic gymnastics, earning the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine before graduating from the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts.
Throughout her career she has performed with renowned productions and venues across Europe, including Circus Roncalli, Flic Flac, Europa-Park, and Teatro Varieté. She has appeared on television, including Das Supertalent (Germany), So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine (Top 20 finalists), Buenafuente (Spain), and The Patrick Sébastien Show (France), and is a recipient of the Jury Prize at the Monte Carlo Festival, among other honors.
She is based in Las Vegas, where she currently performs in one of the city's resident productions. Her book, 5 Minutes That Pay, draws on years of practical experience creating, performing, and directing circus acts, offering artists creative tools to develop original and memorable performances.
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Recommended Reading: Performer Spotlight: Mauricio Vanegas of Cirque du Soleil
