Today's conversation is with one of the most interesting humans I've ever met: my longtime friend Maria Tate! Our personal history goes way back to when we met working with the same Chicago dance company in 2009. I'll let their professional bio speak for itself!

Maria recently returned to the US  after spending two years with the internationally recognized Phare Ponleu Selpak Association, home of Phare The Cambodian Circus. During their time in Cambodia Maria directed, produced and choreographed a world premiere circus for Phare, toured Cambodia with Circo Inzir, led a tour and performed with Spark! Circus in Thailand, and served on the board of Caravan Circus Network based in Brussels, Belgium. Maria is a member of the Professional Training Program at Aloft Circus Arts, where they also coach kids classes. Once an elementary music teacher, Maria has been teaching music, dance, circus and theatre to kids since they were 13 and assisted with their little sister's ballet class, dressed up as a baby elephant. Maria's other skills include clowning, choreography, opera, ballet, contemporary dance and reading too way many books at the same time. Maria also REALLY loves tacos. 

On this episode we talk about:

• Their "Eat Pray Love" style journey of getting divorced and running off to join the circus.
• Their adventures performing overseas and how it's shifted their perspective and worldview around so many things.
• How she got into circus and how it compares to their previous experience as a professional dancer.
• Breaking age and body standard barriers in the circus.
• Discovering your true gender identity and living as your most authentic self.
• So many other good things!



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