Eight acrobats organized by Puja Group, including Adán García from Alicante, touched the sky during the Berlin opening of the Special Olympics World Games, a monumental event billed as the largest sporting and humanitarian gathering on the planet. A steel structure elevated this aerial scene, creating a dramatic centerpiece in the show that unfolded high above the arena floor.
The performance carried a tight six-minute window, yet those moments were packed with impact. From a height of 70 meters, thousands of spectators filled the stadium, while a core crew of just 40 people managed the production on the ground. The organizers viewed this as the world’s largest inclusive sporting event and treated the acrobatic theatre as a landmark moment, literally lifting performers with an 80-ton hydraulic winch to keep them aloft in harmony with the music.
Demonstrating the scale of the production, the stadium witnessed a seamless blend of synchronized movement and live music, a kind of aerial choreography that felt like a floating ballet. Adán García joined Puja Teatro in 2002, a group founded in 1998 by Luciano Trevignani in Argentina. García relocated to Alicante to recruit talent and establish a base there, with the company later moving its headquarters to Torrejón de Ardoz in Madrid.
Demonstrations
Since the inception of the company, more than 2 million people have witnessed its performances, with appearances in about fifty countries across roughly 300 cities. The production team emphasizes that height comes with responsibility. It is essential to manage fear while prioritizing safety and environmental awareness. Every show includes a thorough review of harnesses and safety protocols among the crew to ensure a secure operation at every height and angle.
In Berlin, the company undertook a comprehensive demonstration with four acrobats who bring functional diversity to the stage. The team planned, proposed ideas, and then collaborated with Puja’s artistic leadership to shape the opening act, a process that highlighted the collaboration between creators and organizers in large-scale aerial theatre.
International Comparison
Puja is regarded as a benchmark in large-format air theatre on an international scale, with awards and nominations recognizing its achievements. The ensemble adapted the Chaos show to fit the event’s needs, including a reworked musical track performed by a choir created for the ceremony.
Rehearsals began with meticulous timing, coordinating with the crane operator to align every cue. The day of the ceremony was charged with energy as the team waited in the starting tunnel alongside the athletes. The experience underscored the emotional gravity of performing in a global event that celebrates inclusion and athletic excellence, and the company used the moment to showcase technical mastery and artistic integrity.
Festival Circuit & Philosophy
As a traveling company, Puja engages with international theatre, music, and circus festivals, presenting work that challenges traditional stage language and explores a total theatre concept. The creators consider the physical, artistic, and aesthetic dimensions, while also leveraging the architectural and technological resources of each city. The aim is to push audiences to rethink what live performance can be, blending gravity-defying motion with immersive storytelling.
Currently touring in Franca, the troupe plans to bring its signature shows to new audiences. In the near future, the company intends to bring Quixote and the asteroid B-612 to the stage, an airy, poetic production that interprets the Little Prince’s world through light, movement, and sound—an experience designed to feel both magical and visually arresting.