One of the highlights of the 13th edition of the Circus Festival for the summer, Circuba 2014, was the presence for the first time in Cuba of Spanish Javier Urbina, internationally known as The master of Bubbles, Guinness Recordfor creating the largest chain of bubbles in the world.
He is a thin young man, short but charismatic. He steals the show the moment he sets foot on the stage. The name of the group he leads is quite original. It is called Made in Jabon (Made in Soap –a similar word to Japan in Spanish) because he doesn’t rely on juggling or balance acts, nor physical strength to get the public’s attention.
Javier Urbina, internationally known as The master of Bubbles, performed for the first time in Cuba and the main attraction of his show is precisely bubbles: small, large, colored, in the shape of stars, etc.
Those who recently visited Trompoloco’s Big Top, located in the municipality of Playa, in Havana, had the chance to enjoy a fresh and fun show spiced with a touch of humor, performance, magic and intelligence.
Urbina majored from theater in Spain and won a Guinness Record for linking ten giant bubbles. Now he aims at winning another award in this 13th edition of the Circus Festival during the summer, Circuba 2014.
In an exclusive interview OnCuba talked with this young man who has been obsessed about bubbles since he was a little child.
“I started by chance in the art of bubbles. One day I started researching with soap to see how I could bring the theme of bubbles into a theater story for a participation show rather than just an exhibitionbecause the audience plays an essential part in what I do”, Urbina explained after his performance last Sunday at Trompoloco’s Big Top.
Your bubble show is not included among circus art, how did you created it?
“It is quite new; it is an invention of mine from the mixture, in situ, of eight different soaps. This allows me to make bubbles up to five meters long. One of the key ingredients, in addition to soap, is glycerin, which can be replaced with sugar”.
“I prepare steam bubbles, fire bubbles. Colored giant bubbles are achieved by means of a light trick because when they carry steam on the inside and they are lighted from the outside, they get different color shades”.
“I have been on this job around the world for seven years. I have travelled all Europe and I have been travelling through Latin America for three years now. I have performed in Argentina, Mexico, Costa Rica and now in Cuba”.
Your show has been recognized with several international awards, including a Guinness Record, do you think you will receive an award in Circuba, 2014?
“Last year I was nominated to the best show in Argentina and I got the revelation award in Mexico. Awards are always recognition to one’s work but that’s not the purpose of my visit to Cuba. I’m looking forward to sharing my art with Cubans because I knew a show like this would be a hit because they have never seen anything like it”.
“I’m always fond of experiencing that first impression in people. I think the Cuban audience is very warm and affectionate and they have welcomed my proposal. I’m thankful for that. I’m pride of performing in Cuba”, added this nut scientist as he has been described in some stages scenarios in the world.
