From Competition to Circus: Building a Career Beyond the Podium

By Joseane Martins
Cirque du Soleil performer | Founder of Cirquenastics

For many athletes, there comes a moment when competition is no longer the main path.

Sometimes that moment comes early. Sometimes it comes later.

The timing is different for everyone, but the question is often the same:

What comes next?

In my first Cirquenastics interview, I sat down with Ramarni to talk about his career, how he found his way into Cirque du Soleil, and why circus became the path he wanted to follow after competition.

You can watch the full conversation here:
From Team GB to Cirque du Soleil

Competition gives you a foundation

Competitive sport gives athletes a lot.

Discipline.
Work ethic.
Body awareness.
Resilience.
The ability to train even when motivation is not there.

Those qualities are extremely valuable in the performance world.

But circus asks for something different as well.

It is not only about how high you can jump, how strong you are, or how perfectly you can execute a skill.

It is also about presence, connection, artistry, adaptability, and the ability to make an audience feel something.

Performance is not the same as competing

In competition, you are often working towards a result.

A score.
A placement.
A medal.
A ranking.

On stage, the goal changes.

The audience is not watching you to give you a number. They are watching to feel something.

That shift can be challenging for athletes, because suddenly technique is not the final destination. Technique becomes a tool.

A tool to tell a story.
A tool to express something.
A tool to connect.

That is one of the reasons circus can become such a beautiful next chapter for athletes who still want to use their physical ability, but in a more artistic way.

Growth never stops

One of the things I loved about speaking with Ramarni was hearing how much he still wants to grow.

Even after reaching big stages, his focus is not only on what he has already achieved, but on what else he can develop artistically and professionally.

That mindset is important.

A long performance career is not built only by landing one contract. It is built by continuing to evolve.

Learning new skills.
Improving your artistry.
Understanding the industry better.
Becoming more adaptable.
Becoming someone companies want to keep working with.

There is no single path into circus

Some performers come from gymnastics.

Others come from dance, swimming, martial arts, diving, skating, cheerleading, parkour, or many other backgrounds.

Some start young.
Some transition later.
Some find circus after years in another sport.

There is no perfect timeline.

What matters is learning how to translate your background into something the performance industry can use.

Your athletic experience can be a huge advantage but only if you learn how to turn it into performance.

My biggest takeaway

What I enjoyed most about this conversation was not only hearing about Ramarni’s achievements.

It was hearing someone who genuinely wants to keep becoming better.

That is what separates people who simply reach the stage from people who build long careers on it.

If you are an athlete or aspiring performer wondering what comes after competition, circus might not just be a second option.

It might be the place where your physical training becomes something even bigger.

Something artistic.

Something expressive.

Something that can connect with people all over the world.

Watch the full interview with Ramarni here:
From Team GB to Cirque du Soleil  

If you are working towards a professional performance career, Cirquenastics is here to help you understand the path more clearly from training, auditions and demo reels to the mindset needed to grow in this industry.