You heard from their teacher. Now meet the student. Kei Nguyen trained at Vancouver Academy of Dance, attended one of our very first Accelerate conventions in Airdrie, and went on to perform with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. In Episode 132, Kei's here to tell you how it happened and what they want young acro dancers to know about making this a real career.

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About Kei Nguyen

Kei’s story began in Vancouver where, from a young age, they were trained in the disciplined arts of dance and rhythmic gymnastics. Forged further at the Circus School of Quebec, Kei developed a unique approach to staff manipulation. Over the years, Kei has added other circus disciplines under their belt, including hand to hand and aerial pole. Their diversity of skill sets is what sets them apart. Armed with a philosophy that every artistic experience is a feather added to their wingspan, they seek out adventure wherever it calls and leave a trail of sparkle under their feet. Now a traveler of cities and a multidisciplinary artist, Kei uses their learned skills and experience to evoke emotion in all those who witness their magic on stage.

Follow Kei on IG at @heyitsk._

Listen to the partner episode: Ep 130 What Acro Makes Possible with Anabel Ho 

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PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION

Loren  0:00  
Hey everyone, welcome to the acrobatic arts Podcast.

Loren  0:05  
I'm Loren, and I will be interviewing some of the top leaders and innovators from the dance and acrobatic industry. If you are a teacher, performer, student, or a lifelong learner like myself, you are sure to find these episodes intriguing and full of inspiration.

Loren  0:21  
Acrobatic Arts is passionate about providing current and relevant information for everyone, so please sit back and enjoy as we share our passion with you and the world

Loren  0:36  
Today, we have such a special guest joining us. We're chatting with Kei Nguyen, an incredible dancer and Acrobat whose journey began in the studio and has led all the way to Las Vegas in the Cirque du Soleil show Ka.

Loren  0:49  
Becoming a circus artist is something truly unique, a path that blends strength, artistry, versatility and fearless creativity. It's not just about mastering one skill, but about doing so many things at an exceptionally high level, it's an exciting, unconventional career and a huge accomplishment to reach that milestone, something to be incredibly proud of.

Loren  1:12  
From those very first dance classes as a young child to discovering a love for acro to now performing on one of the World's biggest stages, Kei's story is a powerful reminder of where passion, focus and dedication can take you.

Loren  1:46  
Now let's welcome our guest for today.

Loren  1:52  
Kei Nguyen, welcome to the acrobatic arts podcast. 

Kei  1:57  
Hi, hello, thank you for having me.

Loren  2:02  
It's so great to have you here. Let's start at the beginning. Where did you grow up and how did dance first find its way into your life?

Kei  2:12  
I was born in a small city called Surrey, and eventually we moved out to Vancouver. And I say that I'm from Vancouver because no one really knows where Surrey is. And I started doing dance because I was a really hyper child, and my parents just needed a way for me to expend my energy instead of bouncing on the walls at home, so they put me in a whole bunch of activities when I was young, but dance was one of the ones that really stuck with me, and I liked a lot.

Loren  2:43  
And I know you trained with Anabel Ho at the Vancouver Academy of Dance. I actually had Anabel on the podcast recently. What do you remember about those early days in the studio? Do you have any fun memories or any standout moments that still make you smile.

Kei  3:03  
I mean, I was there from when I was three until about 18, so that became my second home. Anabel was like my second mother and everyone else there kind of became my family. Growing up with all of them, there's too many memories to talk about, honestly, traveling for competition, going to all of the conventions, and even just like having dinner all together after like the last class of the night, those were all like wonderful, wonderful memories that I'll have forever.

Loren  3:41  
What was it about acro that caught your attention? Was there a specific moment when you thought, Okay, this is it. This is what I want to focus on.

Kei  3:52  
I think I really enjoyed being upside down, whatever that meant being doing some tumbling, doing some handstands, and I, I kind of had, like an affinity for it, I guess I remember, I mean, I was a child, handstands didn't come easy, but it was something that I enjoyed a lot, and I felt strong doing acrobatics.

Loren  4:20  
You actually attended the Accelerate Acro Convention as a student years ago, I believe it was our first one in Airdrie that you came to.

Loren  4:30  
What do you remember about that experience? Did anything from that weekend, spark or shape your goals as a dancer?

Kei  4:40  
I remember, like, that was a very long time ago. I remember I was like, wow, this is this is so cool. I've been to other conventions before, but those ones were very dance centered, and this is the first one that I went to that was very specific for acro.

Kei  5:01  
And I felt like I felt in a way that it was kind of like made for me. It was all the things that I was most interested in and that I just really enjoyed doing. And it was the first convention that I attended that was like, you are going to roll on the ground, you are going to be upside down. You are going to do flips, and also do like a dance choreo, but also have a lot more acrobatic elements in it. And it was so cool to be a part of that.

Loren  5:33  
As you mentioned, you love doing handstands. You loved being upside down. So I can see how that would really appeal to you, as the whole convention was based around acro.

Loren  5:48  
And now, Kei, fast forward. You're performing was Cirque du Soleil, 

Kei  5:55  
Indeed I am. Yeah,

Loren  5:58  
I don't know who's more excited, you or me, but how did that dream opportunity come about? What was the audition or casting process like for you?

Kei  6:10  
So me being the main character in a Cirque du Soleil show has a very long story to it. Cirque du Soleil is a circus company, and throughout the years, they started to hire dancers and gymnasts and people with all sorts of backgrounds. I think the way that I finally got to where I am now was after high school, I auditioned for the circus school of Quebec, and from there, it just opened my world to like, there's so much more. Like acro isn't just acro. Acro plays a part in circus as well. And after I graduated my three years in circus school, I now consider myself a circus artist with a dance and with make gymnastics background, and that really helped me do what I do now. 

Kei  7:05  
So I was on tour for a different show with a different company. We were in Europe, and I saw that everyone was sending me this casting call on Facebook, and I was, what is this? And it was for Cirque du Soleil. And because I was on tour, it was very difficult for me to find the time and the people to help me create this audition tape, basically to send out to them. And somehow, on tour in Europe, I managed to send it out, and at some point I had to find a gym to do some trampoline, and that was really difficult. But, I mean, eventually it all worked out. And the day after I got back from Europe, I got onto another plane to Vegas to do an in person audition, and then I have to fly back again. And then I got an email saying, Hey, you got the job.

Loren  8:08  
That's amazing. And when I was talking with Anabel, she said that when you came back from Accelerate, you told her that you wanted to be in a Cirque du Soleil show. Do you remember that?

Kei  8:23  
I don't, but that sounds like something I would say.

Loren  8:27  
She also said that your passion and dedication and perseverance really made you quite a special student. Did you ever feel that growing up, that you had maybe more perseverance than someone else?

Kei  8:49  
I always knew that I liked to be on stage, and I knew that every time we did competitions, it was never about how I placed or what my score was it was always just, I wanted to give my all and show my passion on that stage. And I think through discovering circus, through dance and through acrobatics, it gave me another opportunity to be like, Hey, you like this thing so much? Did you know that it could be your job, it could be your career, and that's something that, like, I love, I just, I just love being on stage.

Loren  9:31  
Do you remember the first moment that you stepped on stage with Cirque? 

Kei  9:36  
Oh yeah, oh yeah. I really did.

Kei  9:39  
I mean, throughout my career, I've I learned how to like meditate and center myself before stepping on stage, and when I go on the stage for the show that I'm in now, no one sees us. We're at the like below, where the audience can see and there's this platform, and there's some stairs to walk up. And I remember walking those stairs and taking a big deep breath and saying, This is my first show with Cirque du Soleil. And then I stepped onto that stage.

Loren  10:09  
Chills I'm getting...

Kei  10:11  
yeah, I remember that very, very clearly. 

Loren  10:13  
Wow!

Loren  10:17  
Cirque shows are such a mix of artistry, storytelling and incredible athleticism, how has your acro background and your foundation in dance help prepared you for the physical and creative sides of this work?

Kei  10:33  
Being a circus person with a dance and mythic gymnastics background is kind of unique, especially with Cirque du Soleil, because, again, I mentioned that they hired people from all sorts of backgrounds, and these are things that I discovered after working with them. So to be a circus artist that has a background in dance and the gymnastics I have, I feel like I have lots of awareness in in my body and in my movement, and even just like spacing, like I on stage, I am aware of who is where in my vision and in my vicinity and being

Kei  11:18  
what's the word? Multidisciplinaire? Multi disciplinary, I don't know, how do I describe this?

Kei  11:25  
Able to do, like, just many things. You know, being in circus, there's a thing of like, you're either a generalist, meaning that you do a little bit of everything, or you're a specialist, which means that you're, you're very specialized in one thing. And I say that I am a generalist, because I just want to do everything. And being able to count music is is a skill, and being able to learn choreography is a skill. 

Kei  11:54  
Learning to again, have awareness about of people around you in the space that you're in is also a skill that I use on the search stage today, that I have learned through all of my past experiences.

Loren  12:11  
I love that you're bringing up skills that we as dance teachers teach in the studio to our students and Miss Anabel mentioned that herself and her students will be coming to see you perform. Yes, they will. How does that make you feel, knowing that your teacher and the next generation of dancers will be in the audience watching you do your thing?

Kei  12:39  
I think it's such a such a full circle moment, especially for Miss Anabel to come see me on stage. Because, I mean, she, she has seen me on stage my entire life, but this is such a it's the same thing, but in such a different way. Before it was like, it was like, Oh, this is, this is my students, and I'm bringing them onto this competition, or this this performance, but now this is like she's coming to see me at work.

Kei  13:09  
And again, to say that performing on stage and to say that being here and doing all these things is work is such a privilege, and it's it's so special to have Miss Anabel come see me on stage at work and for the next generation to see that if you, if you want to pursue dance or to pursue performing in any type of way, do it. It's it is possible. You can do it. You just have to really, really want it.

Loren  13:43  
You are living proof that it's possible, and if you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Yeah, for sure. For sure. What's something you learned from Anabel or from your time at the studio that's really stayed with you throughout your professional journey?

Kei  14:01  
I think something that I learned was that comparing yourself to others doesn't really matter in the long term or in the grand scheme of things. I think being a part of competitions and all those things, yes, that that is a part of it. You're being compared. You are being judged. But

Kei  14:22  
I think how I got through all of that again, as I mentioned before, it was never about the scores, it was never about how I placed. It was always about performing and putting my passion on stage, and especially the connections that I made during my time at the studio, just knowing that I had a very good support system, and I'm very thankful for everyone that was there. And be happy. It's it's simple, just saying that, but being happy and enjoying the things that I did was.

Kei  14:59  
Something that I had to learn. I had to learn how to enjoy. I had to learn how to find joy in doing what I do, because it was really hard to get caught up in in the scores and in the comparing of it all, but have confidence in yourself.

Loren  15:20  
Performing with Cirque is such a dream for so many dancers. What's one piece of advice you would share with young acro dancers who hope to follow a similar path?

Kei  15:33  
I'd say that for me, there was so much more that I discovered. For me, dance was a catalyst, I guess, for what I do now, again, I say that I'm a circus artist, but I always say that I have a background in dance and rhythmic gymnastics, because, because that is a part of my story and who I am, and it has really shaped how I was today. 

Kei  16:02  
And the advice I give to people coming up now is, if this is really something that you want to do, do your research. See what more there is that you could do with this passion of projecting yourself onto the stage, and that it is possible to make a career out of it and have this as a passion that drives you in life.

Loren  16:30  
Kei, I've interviewed a few Cirque du Soleil performers, and we know that working in a company like Cirque can be intense, physically, mentally, emotionally. How do you take care of yourself and stay grounded while performing at such a high level?

Kei  16:49  
I definitely have my little moments. I think being in that environment is a lot in physically and mentally, I am kind of an introvert, so I like to be alone

Kei  17:30  
and sometimes it's not all that serious, like I have so much fun on stage talking to people and like making jokes at people on stage, trying to make them laugh. It's, you know, have fun.

Loren  17:45  
That's fantastic. I love it

Loren  17:48  
When you think back from being that student with Miss Anabel to now performing on one of the world's biggest stages. What stands out the most about your journey?

Kei  18:01  
I think, in my industry, again, my uniqueness of my background and what paths I took to lead me here really, really stands out because I was, I was talking to some other people in the cast this show was the first time they had ever been on stage, and it was a shock to tell people that I've been on stage my whole life, and I think that that is something unique about me and in the job that I do now.

Loren  18:32  
And finally, what's next for you? Any new goals, roles or creative projects you're excited to explore in the near future?

Kei  18:41  
For sure, I would love to be a part of the touring show, whether that's with circle or a different company. I have always wanted to travel the world and perform, and that is something that I'm working towards, for sure.

Loren  18:58  
Kei, it's been so inspiring hearing how your journey has unfolded and how you've stayed grounded, creative and passionate through it all, I know so many young dancers listening will be encouraged by your experience and your advice. You've shown that with hard work and heart, anything is truly possible. Thank you so much for joining me today and sharing your story. 

Kei  19:23  
Thank you so much for having me.

Loren  19:34  
If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to subscribe and follow so you never miss an episode, and if you know a dance teacher, student or parent who would love to hear this discussion, send it their way. Sharing the show is one of the best ways to support the podcast.

Loren  19:52  
Until next time, find power in your strength, freedom in your flexibility, and know that we are here to support you on your Acro journey. 

Loren  20:00  
Thanks for listening everyone, and have a great day!