Sister contortionists to appear in ‘Cirque Dreams Holidaze’ at Century II

At the age of 33 when most people are just reaching their career stride, Erdenesuvd Ganbaatar Dunn is already looking forward to retirement in a couple of years.

As a contortionist from the age of 10, Suda (as she calls herself for those not adept at her native Mongolian name) has been a working professional two-thirds of her life in a field – like Olympic gymnastics and pro sports – that is notoriously short-lived.

“Mongolian contortionists seem to last longer than others because of our training. The oldest still working are in their mid-40s. But you can only work as long as your body is limber. Some even stop at 21,” Suda says. “I think I am good for another few years, perhaps five at the most. I already teach 10 students in Mongolia through Skype. My dream is to have my own studio.”

Suda and her 27-year-old sister, Buyankhishig Ganbaatar – call her Boynaa – are featured performers in “Cirque Dreams Holidaze,” the holiday edition of the Cirque Dreams franchise of circus/dance/costume extravanganzas that have been touring the world for 20 years. “Holidaze” will make a one-performance stop in Wichita at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6,4 in Century II Concert Hall.

The holiday show, which features 30 international performers sporting 300 glittery costumes in a setting of giant ornaments and toys, is a bonus offering of Kansas City-based Theater League, whose official season begins later in December with “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” The League previously brought “Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy” – the first and so far only show of its kind to go to Broadway – in 2007 and “Cirque Dreams Illuminations” in 2010.

Suda, who has been a Cirque performer since 2005 and now lives with her husband near Orlando, Fla., may be familiar to fans of “America’s Got Talent” because she and her sister became known as the Contortion Sisters in last season’s shows.

“We were on television twice, but couldn’t make it to Radio City Music Hall because we had a (Cirque) contract,” Suda says. “It was a really great time. It was a great experience. But our priority is Cirque Dreams, which keeps us pretty busy.”

Suda is a veteran of the “Jungle Fantasy” tour that came through Wichita. For “Holidaze,” you’ll be able to spot her and her sister first as candy canes, twirling and twisting among giant ornaments. You’ll also be able to pick them out as they soar high through the air in matching red-and-purple dresses with gauzy full skirts and bejeweled tops.

“The skirts are a lot of fun because we never get to wear them any other time,” she says.

But the sisters are showcased in their trademark contortionist performance in which the two – dressed as Snow Bunnies in icy, glittery Spandex complete with jeweled wands – become mirror images of each other in elaborate, seemingly rubber-limbed movements.

What does she like to do when she has time off?

“Travel. I like to get away. Last summer, the producers paid for me and my sister to visit Mongolia and see family we hadn’t seen in 12 years,” Suda says, talking of her orchestra-conductor father, her classical music composer brother who studied in Russia, and a younger sister who got a degree in accounting in Boise, Idaho. “Boynaa and I are the only performers. Our father encouraged us to be who we are. I was glad the trip was in summer because Mongolia is very cold in winter. ”

Neil Goldberg, the visionary behind the “Cirque Dreams” shows, says that plans for the holiday show began 10 years ago, but didn’t actually make it to the stage until 2009. It was such a hit, that he sent out two identical tours in 2010. And this year, there are three simultaneous tours, which run from November through New Year’s. Wichita is getting a peek before it goes to Broadway, Goldberg says.

The inspiration for the look of this extravaganza comes from Goldberg’s personal ornament collection, which he began as a kid from a strict Jewish home who began salvaging colorful ornaments left on discarded Christmas trees he found along his way home from Hebrew school in his native New York City.

“Some people collect tea cups, some people collect T-shirts. I was drawn to ornaments for their artistry, not so much about their connection to Christmas. When I started traveling, I would buy ones as souvenirs. I probably have 10,000 now,” Goldberg says.

Where does he display them?

“Well, the only ones I display are the really elegant ones, like Faberge or Baccarat. There are just so many, there isn’t room,” he says.

But he took ornament colors and shapes to his costumers for inspiration for “Holidaze.”

“That’s where it all started. I wanted a kaleidoscope of color. I wanted a really powerful Santa that had never been seen before. I wanted it to snow on stage. This is theater, not circus. This is Broadway,” Goldberg says. “Once I figured out the business end, I knew we could do it. I had in mind a true stage spectacular and that that’s what I got.”

Performers represent 12 different countries, mostly Mongolia, Ukraine and Italy. But about 10 of them are Americans this time, Goldberg says.

“In past years, almost all came from Europe and Asia because of the long circus traditions that went back through generations. Americans didn’t have that,” Goldberg says. “But in recent years, with America’s growing interest in gymnastics, mostly thanks to the Olympics, it’s becoming easier to find American performers. Americans are catching up.”

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Sister contortionists to appear in ‘Cirque Dreams Holidaze’ at Century II."