LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas is a one-of-a-kind spectacle featuring mind-bending illusions, music, dance, and puppetry.
Reporter Dani Masten chatted with one of the artists in the show about his one-of-a-kind act and how he is representing the Asian American and Pacific Islander community on stage.
Combining magic, circus and dance.
“Levi Wand is my specialty act, and it originated from the magic trick called Dancing Cane,” said Awakening artist, Ehrlich Ocampo.
Ocampo’s journey to the Awakening stage started half a world away.
“I flew here from the Philippines but before that, I started with cheer dancing school,” said Ocampo. “Then I saw Levi Wand, tried it and fell in love with it.”
Casting for Awakening came at just the right time for Ocampo, right after a national TV appearance.
“They were in the process of creation and casting and awakening is going to be a dance and illusion show,” said Ocampo. “They wanted martial arts for the show, but when they saw me on Americas Got Talent, they said that’s perfect, let’s get that act in the show.”
Another act from Ocampo in the show is called Rope Dart.
“The rope dart is a soft weapon from the martial arts,” said Ocampo. “By soft, it is because of the rope, but the original dart itself is made of steel. Our amazing technicians came up with a design that looks scary but is actually 3D printed inside our own workshops here.”
What happens after Rope Darts and his Levi Wand act is what he really loves most.
“The end, when we do our bows,” said Ocampo. “It sounds like a joke, but I can smile and wave at the people and give gratitude to them and wave at the kids.”
As an AAPI performer, he knows every bow is also a moment of visibility.
“I didn’t think I would ever be here,” Ocampo. “Visibility on a stage like this, where people from my community can see that someone from their community is on a stage like this means there is space for us.”
Awakening has shows Friday through Tuesday.
For more information, visit, www.wynnlasvegas.com.
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