Martin Alvez
Martin Alvez
My Story
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, my journey into movement began at age seven with artistic gymnastics.
One of my first competitions when I started gymnastics
Early Roots:
From Gymnastics to the Circus Spark
At 14, my family relocated to Argentina, where I continued to excel, earning a place on the elite national team and later becoming the Argentinian National Champion in sports aerobics gymnastics. During this period, I also began coaching gymnastics to children and adults. My coach, Alexander Pozdniakov, a two-time world champion in sports acrobatics, became a pivotal mentor. After our training sessions, he would teach me sports acrobatics duo tricks. His invitation to work on a hand-to-hand act for a major corporate event, through his circus school in Buenos Aires, marked my first profound connection with the circus world, igniting a passion that would redefine my path.
My first Circus Event / Year 2000 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Forging a Path:
Professional Evolution & Early Coaching
Returning to Brazil, I fully immersed myself in circus, training intensely with Circo Vox, a leading contemporary circus company. Here, I deepened my skills in aerial straps, hand balancing, and hand-to-hand, gaining invaluable performance experience in live events and television. My pursuit of excellence led me to Montreal, Canada, to further develop my hand-to-hand act with Alexander Pozdniakov, a period which included my second audition for Cirque du Soleil. This period also marked my expansion into performing with diverse traditional and contemporary circus companies, alongside beginning my circus coaching career, guiding students of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to aspiring professionals.
At Circo Vox
At Circo Roda Brasil
Cirque du Soleil & International Acclaim
My international career quickly took off, leading to my first major contract with Madame Zingara in South Africa, where I performed aerial straps, hand balancing, and hand-to-hand in their iconic spiegeltent. This was followed by a silver prize at the prestigious Golden Circus Festival in Rome, and then, in 2009, my dream came true with my first contract for Cirque du Soleil's ZAIA production in Macau, performing duo and solo straps, and hand balancing.
On Lion's Head, Cape Town South Africa
Cirque du Soleil Zaia
Innovation, Partnership & Return to the World Stage
Post-Cirque du Soleil, I continued to refine my craft, collaborating with various companies and partners. A significant chapter unfolded with my partnership with Bethan Williams, leading to two years touring South Africa with Madame Zingara and creating one of the first flying pole duos, recognized with both jury and audience awards at the Artistika Festival in Switzerland. Our journey culminated in 2018 with a return to Cirque du Soleil's OVO, touring extensively across Europe, South America, Central America and the U.S. before the global pandemic brought our show to a halt.
Artistika Festival
Cirque du Soleil Ovo
A New Chapter:
World-Class Coaching in South Wales
The pandemic led me to settle in South Wales, Swansea, marking a new chapter where I now channel two decades of world-class performance and coaching expertise into empowering others.
My journey, from the rigorous discipline of elite gymnastics to the demanding stages of Cirque du Soleil, was often forged through immense dedication and, at times, self-guided training in disciplines like aerial straps where specialized coaches were scarce when I started my aerial arts circus career. This experience instilled in me a profound appreciation for precise guidance and meticulous preparation, and a deep understanding that true progress comes from hard work and a steadfast focus on achieving your goals.
This unique background has profoundly shaped my coaching philosophy. As an incredibly experienced, deeply passionate, and detail-oriented coach, I recognize that every individual is unique, with distinct physical capabilities, psychological needs, and personal aspirations. My approach is therefore deeply personalized and highly adaptable, drawing on my extensive background to provide approachable, inspiring, and tailored guidance. My commitment is to empower you to unlock your full potential and achieve your specific goals, guiding you with the same relentless pursuit of excellence that has defined my own lifelong journey in movement.