CreatripTeam

Ninjinn Altankhuyag, a contortionist in Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza, shared his deep connection to Korea and life as a touring circus performer at a press call in Seoul. Kooza, a large-scale production with 145 crew and performers, travels worldwide with massive equipment including a 42-foot (big top) and tall containers. Ninjinn performs contortion with two partners, creating striking sculptural choreography. He fell in love with contortion after watching it on TV at age five and pursued it despite a nomadic life. Having spent childhood in Korea because his father served in the Korean military, Ninjinn returned to Korea for cancer treatment after his family went back to Mongolia; he is now fully recovered and performing. He said the demanding discipline gave him pride and helped him achieve his dream as an artist. Kooza runs in Seoul’s Jamsil Big Top through Dec. 28.