Under the watchful eyes of his family and an audience that couldn't anticipate the surprise, Alberto Cormillot decided to take on an unusual challenge for his 86 years (189 pounds): making his debut on a circus stage.
The renowned Argentine nutritionist donned a harness, performed tap dance, interpreted tango, and executed aerial acrobatics, all as part of a Servian, El Circo show, which also had a charitable purpose: half a hundred children waiting for adoption were specially invited to enjoy the performance.
The idea arose almost by chance. According to what Cormillot shared on Cuestión de Peso (Eltrece), in mid-July he attended the circus with his wife Estefanía Pasquini, his son Emilio, and his granddaughters Abril and Zoe—students of Performing Arts and Circus at the University of San Martín.
Fascinated by the skills of the artists, especially the jugglers, he did not hesitate to approach them at the end of the show to congratulate them and tell them that he also practiced some acrobatics.
The next day he received a call from the manager of the show, who had seen his videos on social media, with a direct question: "Would you dare?" The answer was immediate: "The only thing I was waiting for was to be called."
Within days, and with just two weeks to prepare, Cormillot rehearsed four hours a day. He had the guidance of tango teacher Nair Schinca, aerial instructor Paula Illane, and tap instructor Agustín Almirón.
The experience, he assured, allowed him to see firsthand the level of demand involved in working in a circus: "For the audience, it's fun; for those who do it, it's something extremely serious. Safety, checks, music, timing... the preparation is meticulous and demanding."
The debut had a special element: the artistic reunion with his granddaughters, 15 years after their first family performance at the Empire Theater. Abril and Zoe accompanied him in different routines, showcasing their skills in unicycle acrobatics, tap, and aerials. There were also moments of magic, in which Cormillot made one of them appear under a large cloth and the other inside a cage.
