Body & Movement at MIFA

Antonio Drija joined Cirque du Soleil in 2002, becoming the first Venezuelan to be part of the world’s leading performance company. As a principal artist for 14 years, he played various roles in Zumanity, while also serving as a prominent representative for Cirque du Soleil at major international events, including One Drop, AVN Awards, The Soul of Cirque, Run with Cirque 5k, Vegas Pride, and others. His expertise extended beyond performance to teaching acting and dance seminars for Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. In 2015, Drija was invited to join Cirque Éloize in Montreal, where he performed a self-written monologue for Prince Albert II of Monaco. His versatility as both performer and director is evidenced by his more recent work, choreographing and directing Misochic for the Miami Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Eduardo Marturet. His collaborations span artists such as Celia Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Juan Gabriel, and Antonio Banderas, further illustrating his extensive impact in both the Latin music world and the broader entertainment industry. In 2020, he published his bilingual book Mi vida es un Cirque, offering a personal look into his extraordinary career. His most recent endeavors include acting in Disney+’s series 4Ever, as well as serving as artistic director for NBC's Así se Baila. In Miami’s theater scene, he has helmed projects like Afterglow, which premiered off-Broadway and has seen success in London and Spain, solidifying his reputation in the theatrical arts. Drija’s trajectory exemplifies his multifaceted contributions to global entertainment, from avant-garde circus performance to mainstream television and theater direction.