Inside the Las Vegas production of “Awakening,” the spotlight isn’t just on the spectacle onstage, it’s also on the real-life parents who help bring the show to life every night. Behind the acrobatics, elaborate costumes, and theatrical storytelling are moms and dads balancing rehearsals, performances, and family life offstage.

Juggling a high-profile career that’s equal parts physical and mental with parenthood and trying to balance it all can be tough, but these “Awakening” performers have got it down, making it look easy. And as Mother’s and Father’s Day quickly approaches, The 702 Vegas wanted to spotlight some of the hardworking parents and share a little insight into their lives.

‘Awakening’ Aerialist Leysan Gayazova’s Daughter Is Following In Her Footsteps

Ensemble/aerialist Leysan Gayazova is mom to two – daughter Adelina, 14, and son Joseph, 11. She shared some insight into how she got into the business and how she’s noticing her daughter is following in her footsteps.

“I started performing at the age of 8, just for fun, and quickly fell in love with aerial. I moved away from my small village to train seriously, and everything changed when I saw my first Cirque du Soleil show. I knew I wanted to perform on a big stage. At 16, I won a silver medal in Paris, and that’s when my professional career truly began,” she told The 702. “I noticed early on with my daughter—she started circus at the age of 5 and immediately showed passion and dedication. It felt very natural, like she was drawn to it on her own.”

Her daughter Adelina is currently performing with the Aerial Demo Team at the Las Vegas Circus Center, where Leysan also coaches her. Adelina has also competed in circus festivals and figure skating competitions, and in the future, she hopes to be both a circus performer and doctor.

But it isn’t just Adelina that is into performing. Joseph has also performed at the Las Vegas Circus Center in a student showcase, and really enjoys being active, soccer, and trampoline.

As a parent, Leysan encourages her children’s interests and helps to guide them.

“I love seeing them on stage doing what they enjoy,” she said. “Being both a performer and a parent gives me a unique perspective. I understand the discipline, hard work, and passion it takes, and I try to pass that on to my children while making sure they enjoy the journey. Some of my favorite moments are watching them perform and seeing their confidence grow—it reminds me of why I fell in love with performing in the first place.”

Nikita Vasylenko Is A New Dad!

Performer Nikita Vasylenko, a member of the ensemble, brings a lifelong passion for dance to the Las Vegas stage, one that began at just six years old in his native Ukraine. Introduced to traditional Ukrainian folk dance by his mother, he later expanded into styles like contemporary, hip hop, and tap, drawing major inspiration from music videos and shows like “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Offstage, Nikita is also embracing a new and meaningful role: fatherhood. He and his wife recently welcomed their son, Mykhailo (nicknamed Misha), who is just a few months old. While it’s too soon to know if their son will follow in their artistic footsteps, they plan to introduce him to dance and gymnastics down the line and support whatever path he chooses.

“It’s a bit early to say if he’s going to follow in my footsteps but we definitely plan on introducing him to gymnastics and dance and see what works for him,” Nikita said. “As for his age he’s good at holding his head and smiling at the camera when we do family pictures. We will see what the future holds and what discipline he ends up having a talent for and wanting to pursue. Whether it be in the arts like my wife and I or another avenue.”

Oleksii Savitsky Has Been In The Circus World For 20 Years

With two decades in the circus world, Oleksii began his journey while still in school, balancing academics with intensive training at a circus studio. Early on, he took the stage at major city celebrations, representing a studio that earned widespread recognition across Ukraine and consistently won top honors at international festivals.

A pivotal influence in his career was an extraordinary coach whose strength lay in understanding each student and tailoring his approach. Performing in both slack wire and clowning, he led by example, captivating audiences, feeding off their energy, and creating moments of pure joy. Inspired by his artistry, the performer discovered their own passion for the stage, driven by a desire to connect with audiences and leave them uplifted with a sense of positivity.

“Every audience member comes with their own story, their own mood. But during a performance, something special happens—artists and audience become one. To me, that is real magic,” he said. “People forget their worries and immerse themselves in the story being told on stage. They leave filled with positive emotions. For me, that is the purpose of life—to make the world, even just a little, happier. And this is what I want to pass on to my daughter, Anastasia, who is now 15.”

Anastasia is already following in her parents footsteps. Oleksii’s wife Olga was a competitive gymnast in her youth, winning multiple international championships and entered the circus world performing across the world.

“Today, Anastasia is already achieving top results, winning first places in competitions among teams and across states. She looks up to her parents and dreams of one day performing in the world’s greatest shows,” he shared. “She is very lucky to have her mother as her coach. A mother always wants the best for her child, and Olga is ready to repeat a routine a million times to help Anastasia perfect every detail.”

He added, “As parents, we hope our daughter will experience the incredible emotions that come with performing on the world’s greatest stages and feeling the gratitude of the audience. These emotions are impossible to describe—you have to live them. And I truly believe that very soon, Anastasia will feel them for herself.”

Other Parents In ‘Awakening’

While there are quite a few other parents in the show, the few The 702 spoke with have expressed what most, if not all, of them would say about enjoying watching their children follow in their performing footsteps.

William Rodriguez, lead performer for Boo, is father to Deliam, 10. Williams shared, “Deliam has already performed as a character in the show ‘The Beatles Love.’ Now he trains in breaking, trampoline, and tumbling, as well as in musical theater.”

Ryan Bartlett, acro team and lead understudy to the role of Bandit, is dad to a newborn son, Jax.

“Advice that I hope my son carries with him as he grows up is to always work hard and take risks following your dreams. Also, that family is everything and to lead life with kindness,” he said. “My father taught me to always provide and look after your family first, and to give a hundred percent into everything in life.” 

For more information on “Awakening” at Wynn Las Vegas, visit their website.