Kerren McKeeman was born to fly. And as a trapeze artist with Cirque du Soleil, she gets to. The gravity-defying athlete admits she was lucky to discover her passion at an early age, thanks to an inspiring gym teacher at her elementary school in New Hampshire. “She offered an after-school program called the Hilltop Circus that taught beginning circus skills, so I’ve been involved with this type of performance since the age of 12,” she says.
Even though she had little experience at the time, when she was just 14, McKeeman earned a spot in her first big-top tour for Vermont’s International Youth Circus, in which she participated for five summers. “The next step to becoming a professional trapeze artist was pursuing my own training in Chicago and L.A.,” McKeeman explains.
She joined Cirque du Soleil in 2010 with the Las Vegas show O, and is currently on tour with the show Varekai, which tells the story of an enchanted world with whimsical creatures who guide a young man on a journey through the forest. “I perform a solo act on single-point trapeze, which is three ropes in the shape of a triangle that allow me to spin and fly,” she says. “A team of spider characters are part of my act, too.”
Traveling is a large part of the gig since the tour takes the performers around the country in the course of a year. Wednesdays are arrival days, when the cast and crew step into the arena for the first time for that night’s premier. “We unload everything and check to make sure we have what we need,” McKeeman says. “I set out my clothes (I change costumes throughout the show), and go through my act to make sure all the technical aspects are working. In the afternoon, I warm up and train backstage, do Pilates and stretch. And then it takes me about an hour to do my makeup.”
McKeeman trains every day during the show along with rehearsals. It is truly a family, she notes, with the coaches, performers and even the catering company working together to create the best show possible. “Varekai is a great story,” she says. “Audience members will find some really great moments about overcoming a challenge.”
[the routine]
People always ask me how I train and what I eat, but it’s really just a lifestyle; there is not a certain diet or training schedule that makes it right. Rather, it’s a 24/7 commitment. Getting the right amount of sleep is a huge part of it, so I try to get good rest and maintain an even schedule. I eat lots of greens and choose a light option for my protein, like fish or chicken. I constantly train on the trapeze and do aerial conditioning for my shoulders. I also do Pilates every day to strengthen my core.
Photo Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil