Art Nak
Don Baltha
Afro-surrealist circus solo
Capacity: 300
- Circus
Accessibility
Public Landmarks
Times and locations
At the age of three, he was dressed up as Balthazar for the first time… he would have preferred to be the cow, but his skin and unruly hair had cast him in the role of the black wise man from the biblical stories. As if caught in a loop, every year—as the only Black child at a Catholic school in Ecuador—he had to play this character again in the live nativity scene held at Christmas. Over time, this circumstance became a powerful force that motivated him to confront inequalities and celebrate diversity. Don Baltha is a surrealist Afro-circus solo blending juggling, dance, and acrobatics in an autobiographical narrative with provocative humor to question, transform, and transcend the absurdity found in all forms of dehumanization and stigmatization.
At the age of three, he was dressed as Balthazar for the first time… he would have preferred to be the cow, but his skin and unruly hair cast him in the role of the black king from the biblical stories. Like a recurring cycle, every year, as the only Black child in a Catholic school in Ecuador, he had to portray this character in the Christmas nativity play. Over time, this experience became a powerful force, driving him to confront inequality and celebrate diversity. "Don Baltha" is an Afro-surrealist circus solo that blends juggling, dance, and acrobatics into an autobiographical narrative with provocative humor to question, transform, and transcend the absurdity found in all forms of dehumanization and stigma.
Art Nak
Don Baltha
Written and performed by: Christian Padilla / Dramaturgy collaboration: Joel Marti, Yacine Ortiz / Choreographic consultation: Dima Emelianenko / External consultation: Leandro Mendoza, Yacine Ortiz, Françoise Lepoix / Juggling consultation: Cristobal Bascur / Music and sound design: Volodia Lambert & Christian Padilla / Set design & apparatus design: Christian Padilla / Stage management, technical direction & rigging: Nicolas Fonseca & Fenja Siebels / Costumes: Arianna Marti & Sofia Eremina / Concept art and comics: Guillermo Valladares & Christian Padilla / Production: Amélie Gumy / Distribution: Iris Kneubuhler.
COPRODUCTION: Circusnext. RESIDENCY GRANTS: L’Espace Périphérique, Paris-La Villette / El Invernadero Circo, Madrid / FOCON - Esacto Lido, Toulouse / Le Plongeoir- Pôle National Cirque, Le Mans / 2r2C - Coopérative de Rue de Cirque, Paris 13th arrondissement. RESIDENCY HOSTS: L’Académie Fratellini, Saint-Denis / La Générale, Paris 15th / L’Espace Périphérique, Paris-La Villette / Espace Renaudie, City of Aubervilliers / Maison des Jonglages - Scène Conventionnée, Bondy / Maison de la Danse et du Théâtre, Epinay-sur-Seine.