Dressed in her regular clothes you wouldn’t know it, but Jessica de Bont certainly doesn’t have an everyday job. She is a fire artist and works with swords. These days, visitors to the Palasso winter circus in Den Bosch will get a taste of her skills as a fire breather when they enter the circus.
Her tools are a torch and a bottle of oil. “I am in love with the fire. You really have to concentrate, because it remains dangerous,” says Jessica, who lives in Boxtel, about her performance. With the burning torch in her hand, she waves her arm around: it gives a spectacular image.
Jessica has been on stage since she was six, but eventually went on to study business management. However, that did not make her happy. She wanted something different. And because there is no fixed training to become a fire artist, she opted for a different solution. She was looking for a good fire artist and asked if he would teach her the trade: “And when you’ve finished learning, you look for another fire artist. Everyone has their own approach and way of working.”
She works with torches, but also with burning swords. She really enjoys life as an artist. This year she participated in combat shows, among other things Castlefest in the Keukenhof. “This makes me happy. I had the character of Snow White, who changed character halfway through the show and started fighting with swords,” she says about the role she had at the time.
“Next year I want to work with a burning chainsaw.”
Fire breathing is a profession in itself. “All the oil you spit out also goes down into your esophagus, so if you use the wrong technique it is bad for your health. So you have to practice a lot on the right technique.” She also burned something regularly. “For example, we had a burning shield at a show. I wanted to try it out the day before. It went wrong because of the wind; my eyebrow was scorched.” It doesn’t deter her: “We fire artists are doers, we want to try new things. For example, I want to work with a burning chainsaw next year.”
Jessica has now changed and the show can begin. “We’re going to the front,” she says enthusiastically. She takes several torches from her bag. She takes a sip of oil and spits at the fire. A large flash of flame occurs. The first visitors watch with fascination. There is loud applause, although some children are clearly a bit scared.
“Welcome, welcome,” she calls to the visitors who then quickly enter the warm circus tent. The guests can also participate in her act. “I ask people if they dare to stick their tongue out towards the fire. Not everyone dares to do that. You have to let go of the Peter Pan in yourself a little.”
The winter circus can be seen until January 5.