The legendary blue and yellow big top from Cirque du Soleil is back and it’s more exciting than ever! This time, the acrobatic entertainment company brings Kooza to the main stage. Kooza will be playing from now till August 20 2017.

Presented in a medley of song, dance and acrobatic displays, Kooza is all about taking audiences on a journey of self-discovery through “The Innocent” — a character that represents our inner child.
One of the many acts bound to excite and thrill viewers is the Teeterboard act. Essentially, the Teeterboard is a catapult that flings and flips acrobats in the air. These acrobats then execute somersaults and twists mid-air!
Here’s a sneak peek of what it looks like:
We spoke to Talita de Lima, a high-flyer — who did the flip in the clip above — in the Teeterboard act to find out a little more on how she copes with travelling, eating right and staying fit for the show. Having been part of the Kooza team for 8 years, Talita sheds light on what she’s learned from travelling with the circus.
Contrary to popular belief, acrobats and athletes don’t always have to adhere to restrictive diets.
“I eat whatever I want but I focus mainly on getting good protein and fibre into my diet,” she quips. “However, while I don’t restrict myself, I stay away from sugary drinks and foods high in sugar. I eat for energy, not to watch my body!”
Talita (right) with fellow Teeterboard performer.
Seeing as her act requires a lot of physical activity and coordination, Talita has to stay below 50kg in order to keep her balance and do flips more easily.
The petite Brazilian is currently at 48kg and maintains it with high intensity exercises. “I love doing high-intensity interval training instead of cardio on top of the weekly training we do. We have training twice every week,” she reveals, “But I exercise everyday. I really like doing squats with weights to work on my butt because, you know, I’m Brazilian!”
Talita (second from right) with fellow Kooza performers in Amsterdam.
“We get one day a week off and while I don’t go crazy on what I eat, once in a while, I do indulge in a McDonald’s burger. I love Japanese food like sushi and miso soup as well!”
Talita before and after makeup.
Travelling non-stop can take a toll on just about anyone’s skin and with the copious amount of makeup she constantly has to pile on, Talita relies a lot on coconut oil to remove makeup and moisturise her skin.
“I usually use organic coconut oil to remove my makeup. It’s free of chemicals and I like it because I already have a lot of chemicals on my face thanks to the makeup we have to put on. I also moisturise my face really often so it stays hydrated.”
Talita (above) with other Kooza performers.
Most importantly, Talita layers on plenty of sunscreen to keep her skin looking youthful and protect it from damage.
“I use so much makeup almost every day so, I need to really protect it!”
Kooza runs from July 12 to August 20 2017. Tickets start at $88. Get them here.