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Interview With Emilie Livingston: Contortionist, Aerialist, And More!

Chhaya Nene |
April 3, 2013 | 1:58 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Livingston in action. (Chhaya Nene / Neon Tommy)
Livingston in action. (Chhaya Nene / Neon Tommy)

The door closes and across the room Emilie Livingston opens her eyes and begins to get out of bed. She turns to the man who’s just opened the door and begins to speak when the director yells, “cut”. 

Livingston is not your typical actress. Throughout her life she’s learned that sometimes life itself requires you to be flexible. At the age of two, after watching her older sister attend ballet classes, Livingston knew she wanted to be on stage.

“While my sister was headed to dance class and my mom was helping her get ready, I would sneak into other class rooms and it became sort of a problem. People were looking at my mom and were like control your child!” says Livingston laughing. 

Ballet classes were only the beginning for the young performer. By age 11, she was participating in rhythmic gymnastics competitions---that is until the day her coach was hired by “the Russians”.  Livingston was offered the chance to join her teacher so she could train and compete in the upcoming 1999 Olympics

“I knew as soon as my teacher asked me, that I wanted to compete, my mother didn’t want me to go, I was only 11!  She really didn’t really have a choice though, I told I would stop eating and I’d die, I was so dramatic then,” says Livingston. 

Livingston’s stubbornness prevailed and she began training at the famous Novogorsk camp in Moscow.  Life went from simple ballet lessons to daily instruction of two-hour ballet lessons followed by three hours of technique lessons, an hour and a half for lunch, four hours of creative elements and apparatus technique, and routine training by strict Bolshoi ballet teachers. 

“I don’t know how I survived it, but I am really glad I did. I think it made me a really strong and courageous person.  One thing about the Russians, they have no mercy. I wasn’t around my family, there was no one there to coddle me but it helped bring my skill level up tremendously,“ said Livingston. 

Livingston continued to train until she was 20. 

Contortion

After nine years of intensive training, Livingston moved from her home in Canada to Los Angeles to study theatre at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. Post graduation however, Livingston began to struggle with obtaining her visa and a green card. It wasn’t until she was sponsored by a dance agency, and began booking aerialist and contortionist acts that Livingston moved away from a life of sole rhythmic gymnastics.

At a little French bar (‘Pour Vous’) tucked away at the intersection of Melrose and Gower in Hollywood, Livingston performs weekly as a contortion and aerialist.  

“I come out of the ceiling so it’s mysterious and mystical, people are like ‘what?! There’s a girl coming out of the ceiling!’,”  said Livingston.

Elizabeth Newton, a good friend of Livingston has known the performer for the past four and a half years. The two girls are business partners, circus performers, and even co-workers at Pour Vous. Newton has seen Livingston perform at several times.

“The audience is always incredibly excited and incredibly transfixed when Emilie performs,” said Newton. 

Training  

Newton and Livingston train daily on a rig in Livingston’s backyard. 

“I am so fortunate, my boyfriend bought me a rig and it is in the backyard so I can train there. I have a really safe mat, so I can do everything!” said Livingston smiling. 

Livingston’s training includes apparatus and gym workouts 5-6 a week. The intensity and frequency of Livingston’s workout show on the performer’s lean swan-like frame. Although Livingston is petite, she says eating frequently is a key part of her lifestyle. 

“I’ve had to learn that eating a little carbs is okay, especially after my training in Russia. When I said I didn’t know how I survived it, it was partially because they didn’t always promote the most healthy eating habits. Now I eat constantly, things like apple slices with peanut butter, even some pasta,” said Livingston. 

Accomplishments and Reflections

Livingston has performed as a contortionist and aerialist alongside artists like Jennifer Lopez at the American Music Awards, Taylor Swift at the Grammy’s, and Justin Bieber in his music video, ‘Beauty and the Beat’.  

Livingston is grateful for her training in Russia and says it led her to become who she is today. 

“For me, it was do it or go home [to Canada] and there’s no way I’m going home, so I’m happy I did it!” said Livingston.

 

Reach staff reporter Chhaya Nene here.



 

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