Aerial Circus Performance in Brazil Highlights Gender Violence Awareness

Performers took to the skies in Niteroi, Brazil, to raise awareness about gender-based violence during a striking aerial circus performance. This event, held on a beach across from Rio de Janeiro, featured six women and two men showcasing their skills in a piece titled “Alone we are petals, together we are roses.” The performance aimed to spotlight the urgent issue of violence against women in Brazil.

The show unfolded against the iconic backdrop of the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain. It began with a woman in a pink bodysuit, confidently navigating the stage on stilts. As the performance progressed, male artists knocked her down, representing the struggles faced by many women. However, she ultimately reclaims her strength through physical expression and solidarity with other women, culminating in her return on even higher stilts.

Rosa Caitanya Hamilton Azevedo, 31, who portrayed the victim, shared her personal connection to the theme, having experienced gender-based violence herself. She expressed how the journey of overcoming such trauma can lead to empowerment: “After we go through all of this, we grow even more. We become stronger.”

The project was initiated by Juliana Berti Abduch, also a survivor of gender-based violence. She founded the Suspended Circus Acrobatics project in 2020, with the goal of addressing domestic violence through performance art. While the latest piece does not continue the narrative of their earlier work, it serves as a further exploration of violence in its many forms.

Berti Abduch noted the therapeutic aspect of participating in the project, stating that many artists begin with fear and trauma but gradually overcome their limitations through the experience. “From the moment they start the classes, they begin to overcome their limitations. This helps a lot in life in general. I’m certain that the project helped make the women feel much more secure,” she said.

The performance attracted approximately 100 spectators, including beachgoers who stopped to witness the captivating aerial acts involving hoops, trapezes, and silks. Audience member Fabiane Curione de Medeiros remarked, “I found it impactful. I think the message — that women need to unite and expose the violence — needs to become a reality.”

The statistics surrounding gender-based violence in Brazil are alarming. According to a report by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety, more than one in three women experienced sexual or gender-based violence within a year, marking the highest figures since records began in 2017. The report highlighted that a woman was raped every six minutes last year.

During the performance, a series of statistics regarding gender violence were broadcasted from an amplifier, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Despite the heavy atmosphere, Hamilton Azevedo emphasized the performance’s dual purpose: to acknowledge the challenges while simultaneously promoting hope and resilience.

“The show generates a heavy atmosphere, because we talk about the situation. But we also show that there are paths and strategies to fight against it,” she explained. “We wanted to move away from that place of sadness and hold onto hope that the future will be better. And build that future through art, sport, and the empowerment of women.”

This aerial circus performance not only entertained but also served as a vital platform for dialogue about the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Brazil. As the artists continue to share their stories through their art, they inspire others to join the fight against gender-based violence.