Former Cirque du Soleil performer brings flair to Latino pavilion at Regina's Mosaic
This story is part of a series from CBC Saskatchewan, featuring four stories from the 18 pavilions that are part of Mosaic 2024. For more, visit our Mosaic home page.
Romina Aurich has some tricks up her sleeve as the stage manager for the Latino pavilion at Mosaic 2024 in Regina. Performing is in her blood, after all, as the daughter of circus performers, and a tightrope walker and aerial artist herself.
"I really love it. It was always, 'this is my job,' right? I was born with this," she said, recalling years of working in circuses of all sizes, including with Cirque du Soleil's show Corteo. "It's a part of my life."
Her Peruvian father worked on acrobatic acts with horses, while her Colombian mother was an aerialist and a contortionist. The couple travelled Brazil together as performers.
Fear was never part of Aurich's vocabulary, as she grew up around elephants, lions and tigers, while literally learning the ropes as a tightrope walker right from the age of five.
From a young age, Aurich learned to tightrope walk from her mother and father. (Submitted by Romina Aurich)
"It was amazing because I had a chance to live with the different kind of animals and met a lot of people from different cultures," she said.
Aurich tried university for a while but quickly grew bored with it, going back to the intensity and thrill of performing with the circus.
She met her husband, who was from Regina and who was working as a head coach for Cirque du Soleil, while at a party in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
She may no longer be in the circus, but Aurich carried her flexibility and performance skills to cities around the world before settling down in Regina. (Romina Aurich/Facebook)
The couple ended up moving around the world, including to China, Australia and the United States, but eventually decided they wanted to settle down in one space.
"We decided to move here [to Regina] because we have a daughter and she needs to go to a real school," Aurich said.
She ended up connecting with the Latinos en Regina Association, which brings together people from across Latin American countries as part of the Latino pavilion at Mosaic.
"I like to show people more cultures," she said. She says the joy of the Latino pavilion is that it's like a jewel that has many facets of culture in each of the countries represented.
The Latinos en Regina pavilion not only features food, dances and music, but also a contagious energy, according to volunteer and pavilion organizer Ana Hernandez. (Latinos en Regina Association/Facebook)
She began working with the performers last year, bringing her expertise and showmanship to the pavilion in 2023.
"I love to work with them and I hope this year we're going to do an amazing show again," she said.
Ana Hernandez, a driving force behind the Latinos en Regina Association, said even she's in the dark about what Aurich has planned as stage manager for the pavilion, which is at the Mitâkuyé Owâs'ā Centre.
"We don't know what's going to happen, but we know it's going to be pretty good," said Hernandez, laughing.
Besides those top-secret plans of Aurich's, Hernandez said the pavilion will have a variety of acts including mariachi, a Spanish-singing rock band and performers showcasing dance from across Latin American countries.
"I think it will be out of [visitors'] expectations, because we've planned so many surprises for them," she said, adding people can also look forward to a feast of everything from tacos to pupusas and empanadas, as well as resort-style drinks.
The Latinos en Regina pavilion brings together people from various Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico, to name just a few. Pictured at centre are organizer Ana Hernandez and stage manager Romina Aurich. (Latinos en Regina Association/Facebook)
But most of all, she said people can expect "crazy" Latin energy.
"Once we hear the music, we need to sing, we need to dance and … I think it's contagious," said Hernandez.
While Aurich won't share details about what she has planned for Mosaic, there may be even more down the road beyond the stops she's pulling out this year.
After all, the thrill and love of performing still live within her.
"For now we don't have any circus, but maybe next year," she said with a chuckle.
