Interview with Acrobat and Aerialist Julie.

Julie, a 18 year old acrobat and aerialist from Berlin.

The interview with Julie was held by phone in 2026, transcribed, approved by Julie, and then translated from German.

Hi Julie, please introduce yourself briefly.

I’m 18 years old and attend the Staatliche Artistenschule (State Circus School) in Berlin.

What kind of training do you receive there?

I am training to become a state-certified circus artist. The basic program lasts four years, during which we are trained in practical subjects like strength, coordination, handstands, tightrope, juggling, trapeze, dynamic tumbling, dance, and group performance. This is followed by a four-year specialized program with a fixed focus. I specialized in dance trapeze. In subjects like “Show Development”, we learn how pure training turns into a full stage performance, which we then rehearse for our graduation show.

What does the graduation show look like?

At the end of our training, we put on a major graduation show as part of a tour through various variety theaters across Germany. For us, this tour is an important stepping stone for our future careers and a chance to showcase ourselves, get discovered, and build valuable industry contacts.

What does your daily routine at school or a typical training day look like?

It’s a mix of regular school (preparing for the Abitur / high school diploma) and professional circus artist training. That means I have standard academic classes alongside my acrobatics training. We have a six-day week with four to six periods of training every day. So my days are very long, and we don’t have much free time.

During the first few years of your training, you lived in a boarding school and only went home on weekends. What was that like for you?

I moved into the boarding school when I was only ten years old. At first, it was a big adjustment not living with my parents anymore because I was still so young. But it was a great time during which I made very close friends whom I’m still close with today. They are very intense friendships because you spend so much time together, share the same passion, and go through the demanding school and training days side by side.

Do you miss your time at the boarding school, or do you feel more comfortable in your own apartment?

I’d say I do miss the boarding school, but more so the time spent with my friends rather than living at the boarding school itself. It’s just something really special to be around your friends all the time. It feels a bit like being on a school field trip all year round. Living at the boarding school taught me to become independent early on, which also helped me manage well in my own apartment.

Is there a specific discipline or style in circus arts that you enjoy the most?

Yes, I enjoy dance trapeze the most. You’re not just presenting a choreography; it almost feels like telling a story through it.

How does it feel to soar high up on the trapeze? After all, it’s not entirely risk-free. Do you still feel fear, or does the adrenaline rush take over?

Good question! I actually don’t think about the height all that much because once you’re up there, you are extremely focused on the tricks. During regular training, my trapeze doesn’t hang as high as it does during exams or performances. Especially during exams, you have so much adrenaline anyway that the height doesn’t really matter to me anymore.

I mostly feel the adrenaline with new tricks or things I haven’t done as often. As for the height itself, I’ve gotten pretty used to it by now.

What has been your biggest achievement as a acrobat so far?

My biggest success so far was performing at the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin in the Young Show “Spiel mit der Zeit” during the winter season.

Are there any other performances that particularly stand out in your memory?

Recently, we performed as a show act at the Lollapalooza music festival.

What originally brought you to acrobatics?

I joined a acrobatics group when I was just three years old and then switched to gymnastics at five. But because I missed the artistic elements in gymnastics, I decided to train as a circus artist.

Tell us, what do you do in your free time when you’re not training?

Because I have very long school days, I don’t have much free time left. But I make the most of my time during the holidays — usually by flying off on vacation. On weekends I go home, and if I happen to finish early, I meet up with friends or hit the gym.

We first met when you were twelve years old. Do you still remember our first photo shoot?

Yes, it was at an abandoned location (lost place) in Hannover, near old railway tracks and skip containers.

Is there a photo shoot with me that particularly stands out in your memory and if so, why?

The shoot with makeup artist Sylke Rudolf, because it was something really special for me that I had never done before.

Which other shoot did you find special?

Especially the shoots on top of the Tempodrom and in front of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. And, of course, the shoots in Mallorca!

You’ve also been booked quite a few times for photo and video productions. What kind of projects were those?

I was the “Face of Britzer Garten”, modeled for the brand GOLDTALER, and did a stock photography shoot focusing on healthcare and airport security. But what really stuck with me was my role as a stunt double for rapper Badmómzjay in a Zalando music video for the launch of the new Nike Air Max Dn8.

Is there a specific visual concept or setting you’d love to capture in a photo shoot?

I’d love to be photographed on the dance trapeze one day. Ideally outdoors at a particularly spectacular location.

If you could share one final piece of advice with everyone out there dreaming of circus arts and performing on big stages, what would it be?

If you truly want to do it: Go for it! The journey isn’t always easy, but if you stick with it and keep enjoying it, you can make it to the big stages one day.

Thank you Julie!