We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mathieu Bolillo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mathieu , thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

After 6 years of Performing with Cirque du Soleil for the Show Ka in Las Vegas, i decided to give myself the time to rest and create a unique act; I came back to France and … 3 weeks later I contracted chicken pox. At 30. It was the most challenging moment of my entire life. I almost died from it and lost everything I build for my body and my mind: Muscles, skills, motivation, dedication, sensations with muscles memory, drills that I learned since the age of 8 and so on…

Mathieu , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Mathieu Bolillo, I’m a performer and fitness coach specializing in handstand and calisthenics using holistic way. I started to be fascinating by movement at the age of 8. Gymnastics became my passion.
After 16 years of high level gymnastics and 2 French champion titles on floor exercises, I decided to try the adventure of becoming a performer. Making my passion a living. After a successful audition for Cirque du Soleil, I’ve got called for a contract in Las Vegas! My dream came through.
My body, mind and spirit couldn’t ask for more! But after a bad injury on my right leg – Broke my plateau tibia during a rehearsal – I saw this negative event as a chance to make it in another way: with hard work and dedication, I became a handstand master. The impossible became my routine. And my creativity was enhanced… I traveled the world performing and came back to where it all began: Las Vegas. Since 2018, I help people overcome their fears and challenges in life using fitness and channeled through handstand. I had to go through all that to know that one of my mission in this life, is to help and heal people with my performances onstage and the way I coach them using the 5 components and aspects of the human being: physical, Emotional, Social, Spiritual and Intellectual.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It’s to feel and observe that with what you created, the people are inspired, motivated and gives them hopes in their journey.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After I broke my leg, I had to relearn how to walk… as an acrobat, it’s devastating, specially when you see your friends doing acrobatics.. but for some reasons my mind switched into a different way… “if I can’t use my legs… then I will use my hands!” And this is what I did and still doing it, challenging myself like never before.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bolibalance.com
• Instagram:@mateobolillo
• Facebook: Mathieu Bolillo
• Youtube: Mathieu Bolillo
• Other: www.mathieubolillo.com