Antonio Drija joined Cirque du Soleil in 2002, becoming the first Venezuelan to be part of the world’s leading performing arts company. For 14 years, he served as a principal artist, showcasing his talents in various roles within Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity. Antonio’s influence extended beyond the stage, as he became the voice of Cirque du Soleil for prestigious international events, including One Drop, the AVN Awards, The Soul of Cirque, Run with Cirque 5k, Vegas Pride, LasVegas.com, and the Choreographers Showcase in collaboration with the Nevada Ballet. He has also shared his expertise by conducting acting and dance seminars for all Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas.
In 2015, Antonio was invited to join the cast of Cirque Éloize in Montreal, where he performed a monologue he wrote in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco. He also took on the choreography and artistic direction of Misochic, a production by the Miami Symphony Orchestra under the direction of maestro Eduardo Marturet. Antonio’s creative work has influenced renowned artists such as Celia Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cami, Paloma San Basilio, Juan Gabriel, and Antonio Banderas, among others.
In addition to his impressive career on stage, Antonio has been passionate about discussing subjects like creativity, developing talent, and maintaining a positive attitude to embrace wellbeing, themes that resonate deeply with his personal and professional experiences. In 2020, Antonio published his book, My Life is a Cirque, in both English and Spanish. In 2023, before making his debut on Disney+ as an actor in the series 4ever, he served as artistic director for NBC’s project Así Se Baila. Currently, Antonio is a choreographer and artistic director in the Miami theater scene, with notable projects including Afterglow, an off-Broadway play that has achieved significant success in London and Spain.