Photo courtesy of Kevin Burns
Kevin La’Don Burns, 26 years old, born in Chicago, but living in Atlanta, Georgia, is a senior at Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama. Currently, he’s a tumbler/performer for Cirque du Soleil’s “Cirque Dreams Holidaze.”
This is Kevin’s first experience tumbling for a globally recognized entertainment brand. Kevin explains, “This has been a very mind-opening experience for me with all the traveling across the country and working with different people from different countries with different backgrounds. Some of them have the same interests as me, as far as liking the same tv shows and music choices. We all learn from one another, whether it’s culturally or helping each other helping them make their set for the show look perfect.”
GO BANG! Magazine: When did you first get started in tumbling?
Kevin Burns: I started tumbling at the age of three. My mother put me in gymnastics.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Burns
GO BANG! Magazine: When did you first start with Cirque du Soleil and how did you react when you first found out that you had been selected to perform in their upcoming national touring production, Cirque Dreams Holidaze, which hits Chicago on Thursday, December 22 – Saturday, December 24, 2022 @ The Auditorium Theatre, 50 Ida Wells Dr.?
Kevin Burns: I first started the 22nd of November of this year. I was excited and nervous, all at the same time. Just a bunch of mixed emotions really. I’m happy that I can finally get paid to do something that I love to do.
WATCH A PREVIEW OF CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obhTsVtWfZA
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE CHICAGO SHOW HERE
GO BANG! Magazine: Your parents, family and friends must be extremely proud of you because of this great opportunity you have been blessed with. Your father, Donald Burns, is one of my best friends, and he is so proud of you, being his only child. How does it feel to have your family and friends seeing you do what you love doing, professionally?
Kevin Burns: It’s an exciting feeling really. My family already knows that I tumble, but they’ve never seen me tumble fully, and in person. So, I’m ready to give them a show to remember!
Kevin Burns Summer 2014 Tumbling
Video courtesy of Super Kami Guru/YouTube
GO BANG! Magazine: For our readers that plan to see Cirque du Soleil’s Cirque Dreams Holidaze when it comes to their city, what exactly are you doing in the show and what characters are you portraying?
Kevin Burns: The show is Christmas themed, so they’re different acts that correlate to the theme. There will be gingerbread men, penguins, etc.
( INSTAGRAM VIDEO SNIPPET OF KEVIN’S CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMANCE: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClxYe_WsA-r/ )
GO BANG! Magazine: Your family, friends and GO BANG! Magazine will be attending Cirque Dreams Holidaze when it hits Chicago December 22nd – 24th. How does it feel to be performing in your hometown in front of your family and friends and does that make you feel more nervous or more confident knowing they’re out there in the audience watching?
Kevin Burns: It does indeed make me nervous, but I’ve been tumbling in front of people all my life. I used to get nervous, but now I just get hyper, the bigger the crowd.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Burns
GO BANG! Magazine: In conclusion, I want you to know that GO BANG! Magazine and I are so proud of all that you have accomplished thus far. You’re like a nephew to me and you’re a very intelligent and talented young man. You’ve done so much already and the future is so bright for you.
Thank you for granting me this interview Kevin. You have now been officially BANGED! GO BANG!
INSTAGRAM VIDEO SNIPPET OF KEVIN’S CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMANCE: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClxYe_WsA-r
WATCH A PREVIEW OF CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obhTsVtWfZA
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE CHICAGO SHOW HERE
You can follow Kevin Burns and witness his tumbling performances on:
(click) Facebook @Kevin Burns and Instagram @LuhFlip_96.
Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the Owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions and the Owner/Publisher of GO BANG! Magazine. Follow him on Facebook @Pierre Andre Evans, Twitter @Playerre, and on Instagram @Pierre_Andre_Evans.
