Nadi, June 17, 2026.—Cuban circus artist Yosvel Cabrera Guerrero (“Yoyo the Clown”) is fostering Fijian talent alongside the VOU Dance company. What began as the dream of a Cuban circus family upon discovering that Fiji did not have its own circus has now become an unprecedented cultural phenomenon in the South Pacific. The “Fijian Flying Circus” celebrates the resounding success of 378 performances in Fiji, Tahiti, New Caledonia, and New Zealand, solidifying an international artistic partnership that is changing the lives of dozens of local youth.
This innovative production is the result of a collaboration between renowned Cuban circus artist Yosvel Cabrera Guerrero (known by his stage name “Yoyo el Payaso”) and Sachiko Soro, founder of the prestigious local company VOU Dance Fiji. Since its premiere in Nadi in 2024, the project has fused the rich tradition of Fijian dance and storytelling with the rigorous discipline of the international circus.
A Cultural Bridge Between Cuba and Fiji
For Guerrero and his family, Fiji became a second home. Noticing the lack of a circus tradition in the country, they joined forces with VOU Dance to train Fiji’s first generation of circus artists. Together with his wife Yordanka, Guerrero has trained graduates of the local Dance Conservatory in complex disciplines ranging from aerial acts (silks, flying pole, hair suspension, and trapeze) to floor skills such as balancing, juggling, and acrobatics.
“She opened the doors of VOU to us and gave us the opportunity to train local talent,” explains Guerrero, whose daughter Dalila and niece Nayeddy are also part of the technical and artistic cast.
Art as a Driver of Social Change
Beyond box-office success, the project is proving to be a powerful tool for social transformation. In a region where the arts have historically been viewed as a pastime rather than formal employment, this partnership is breaking down paradigms.
Navi Fong, VOU’s artistic director and choreographer, highlights the impact on Fijian youth: “For generations, young people have been told that the arts aren’t a real career, but what’s happening in Fiji today proves otherwise. Every day I see talented young people turning their passion into their profession. Art provides purpose, a sense of belonging, and discipline; that can change everything.”
Cuba’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Fiji, Nestor Enrique Torres Olivera, has praised Yosvel Cabrera Guerrero and his family for their contribution to Fiji's cultural sector through the Fijian Flying Circus. "Yosvel Cabrera Guerrero and his family are a model of hard work and a love for the circus arts, putting into practice what they learned in Cuba for the benefit and enjoyment of the Fijian public," Ambassador Olivera said. He said the Cuban community in Fiji was known for its strong work ethic, discipline, technical expertise and sense of responsibility, which contributed positively to the country's cultural and economic development. "Most work in the service sector and are known for their honesty, adaptability and unwavering professional ethics — qualities that allow them to integrate respectfully and smoothly into Fijian society," he said. "They are grateful and respectful of the culture and the people who welcome them so warmly."
VOU Dance Fiji is one of the most dynamic dance and performing arts companies in the Pacific, dedicated to preserving local culture through contemporary dance, arts education, and the creation of professional opportunities for young people in the region. Yosvel Cabrera Guerrero is a Cuban-born circus artist with an international career in teaching and performing circus disciplines. He is the technical director and co-founder of Fiji’s first circus training program.
(EmbaCuba Fiyi)