Some Argentinians thrive on tango—but for Sebastian Gutierrez a different kind of rhythm is his passion.
Born in a small town 50 miles north of Buenos Aires, Sebastian now performs to big crowds in cities across Britain in silver skin tights with a reptile-like texture. A sash round the waist and bare chest completes the outfit of his routine, when he performs 30 feet above the ground.
“For me, I listen to the music – it’s a metaphor,” the 30-year old told G-Scene. “There is no music but you have to have rhythm and to know your partner by his hands. It’s very physical.”
Sebastian is an artiste and performer on the High Trapeze, a member of the Flying Aces in Billy Smart’s Circus that is pitching the Big Top in Brighton’s Preston Park on Tuesday May 21 during the Brighton Festival.
Always climbing trees as a child when the other kids were playing football in a country that’s fanatical about the game, Sebastian moved to the Argentine capital to study psychology at university, but quit before graduating.
“I took a first class with a static trapeze once a week,” he recalls. “I got an addiction and then went to do it more and more. We put together our first show and I haven’t stopped since then. This was my passion. I get an adrenalin rush—it’s a mix of fear and adrenalin like being on a rollercoaster. You want to get back on again.”
At six feet, Sebastian, favours a similarly androgynous look to his hero David Bowie complete with strong make-up and dramatic costumes. Because of his size he’s the catcher, doing anything from 10 to 40 shows a week. He has traveled with circuses from Japan to the US.
As an Argentine he loves working for a British circus with a lot of history (Smart’s performed at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977), and especially as the traditional circus was born in England, he says.
“You’ve got to trust your partner,” Sebastian explained. “My job is to catch the flyer doing the tricks with somersaults. You have got to have a good relationship. Like a physical relationship. You have to trust them and they you. It’s like dancing. My trainer said, ‘listen to the music, it’s a metaphor—there’s a rhythm involved. You don’t have to use force. Every element of the swing on the High Trapeze has its own timing. You don’t have to use strength. It’s necessary, but it’s more than that. You have to understand your partner’s hands and they yours.”
You can check out Sebastian and his Flying Aces in the Big Top at Preston Park from May 21 until Sunday June 2.
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Sebastian is a high flyer with his Latin rhythm at Billy Smart’s Big Top
Some Argentinians thrive on tango—but for Sebastian Gutierrez a different kind of rhythm is his passion.
Born in a small town 50 miles north of Buenos Aires, Sebastian now performs to big crowds in the cities of Britain in silver skin tights with a reptile-like texture. A sash round the waist and bare chest completes the outfit of his routine, 30 feet above the ground.
“For me, I listen to the music – it’s a metaphor,” the 30-year old told G-Scene. “There is no music but you have to have rhythm and to know your partner by his hands. It’s very physical.”
Sebastian is an artiste and performer on the High Trapeze, a member of the Flying Aces in Billy Smart’s Circus that is pitching the Big Top in Brighton’s Preston Park on Tuesday May 21.
Always climbing trees as a child when the other kids were playing football in a country that’s fanatical about the game, Sebastian moved to the Argentine capital to study psychology at university but quit before graduating.
“I took a first class with a static trapeze once a week,” he recalls. “I got an addiction and then went to do it more and more. We put together our first show and I haven’t stopped since then.
“This was my passion. I get an adrenalin rush—it’s a mix of fear and adrenalin like being on a rollercoaster. You want to get back on again.”
At six feet, Sebastian, favours a similarly androgynous look to his hero David Bowie, with strong make-up and dramatic costumes. Because of his size he’s the catcher, doing anything from 10 to 40 shows a week, travelling with circuses from Japan to the US.
As an Argentine the circus artiste loves working for a British circus with a lot of history (Smart’s performed at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and especially as the traditional circus was born in England, he says.
“You’ve got to trust your partner,” Sebastian explained. “My job is to catch the flyer doing the tricks with somersaults.
“You have got to have a good relationship. Like a physical relationship. You have to trust them and they you. It’s like dancing. My trainer said, ‘listen to the music, it’s a metaphor—there’s a rhythm involved.’
“You don’t have to use force. Every element of the swing on the High Trapeze has its own timing.
“You don’t have to use strength. It’s necessary, but it’s more than that. You have to understand your partner’s hands and they yours.
Sebastian has also performed on the Chinese poll, where he has to shin up a 7-metre stick.
We can see Sebastian and his Flying Aces in the Big Top at Preston Park until Sunday June 2.
Pull-out quotes:
“For me, I listen to the music – it’s a metaphor. There is no music but you have to have rhythm.”
“It’s like a physical relationship. You have to trust them and they you. It’s like dancing.”
“I get an adrenalin rush – It’s a mix of fear and adrenalin like being on a rollacoaster – you want to get back on again.”
Online tickets adults £9-£21 children (2-12) £7-£15. Box Office 0844 415 522, or £3 discount online at: www.billy-smarts-circus.co.uk
Press contact Allis Moss 07850 973532
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