Caminaré, The echo of my steps.
A ONE-MAN CABARET BY MARIO ACOSTA CEVALLOS
(MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL, 2025)
For anyone passionate about life’s unique narratives, expressed through human movement or dance, this new Latin cabaret show at Gasworks is for you.
Venezuelan-born Director and Dramaturg, Clary Riven, used, “The fire of Latin dance blended with the soul of cabaret to form a tale of culture, rhythm, pride and pain” to shape this new piece, her motivation being “inclusive stories that connect deeply with audiences.”
Starring World Salsa Champ, Mario Acosta-Cevallos, who created this cabaret, we watch as Mario bares his soul, via his life’s memories, confronting personal revelations and dancing his way through the complicated discovery of ones’ identity, self-doubt, and finally, healing.
Through music and movement, Caminaré reveals episodes of Mario’s past, from his introduction to Latin music growing up in a migrant household, to the glitter of the stage, to embracing his truth as a queer Latino performer, each episode disrupted by one of Mario’s energetic, professional, technically perfect Salsa routines – a joy to watch – some which defined him as Number One, others which didn’t. This drew a clever analogy to the way our lives ebb and flow.
Mario Acosta-Cevallos’ choreographed the show with Laura Anderson, who also produced the show. Laura has worked with some of the industries’ leading artists and companies, across musicals, live music, television and, theatre, her motivation to “push the boundaries of dance as a powerful form of expression.”
The audience sees Mario’s amazing routines that defined him as a winner but more interestingly, we see Mario’s sense of humour, his vulnerability, his competitiveness and ambition, most of all, we see his heart.
Stage manager, Seamus Allan, set the stage like a dressing room or backstage area, including some of Mario’s past glittering costumes and accolades.
Lighting Designer, Tom Vulcan, warmed the stage rosy at times, but mostly in bright red lights, that gave off an intensity when required.
Handsome and physically gifted, looking every bit the leading man, while this star is an openly gay artist, I noticed Mario had as much admiration from multiple ladies in the audience as gentlemen. Many were holding flowers to present to him after the show. After all, Mario is a 10+ time World Salsa Champion, touring internationally and performing on some of the world’s biggest stages, including the acclaimed, ‘In the Heights’.
Mario shows us he has learned life is not always about coming first, rather, it’s a moving feast, a constant buffet of lessons and of growing wiser. He is obviously a giver, a teacher, and a friend to many.
I liked his lines, “Hurt people hurt people” and “Who are you dancing for?”
Also, another dance analogy to life and relationships with, “….the push and the pull.”
The brochure offers, “This show is for everyone who’s ever questioned where they belong – and for those who found the courage to keep moving forward anyway.”
Many of us could learn from that.
• Caminaré – the Echo of my Steps, is playing at Gasworks until 11th October.
To book tickets to Caminare – The Echo Of My Steps, please visit https://www.melbournefringe.com.au/whats-on/events/caminare-the-echo-of-my-steps.
