Today we’d like to introduce you to Zenett Bernal.
Hi Zenett, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started as a hobby with hula hoop dancing back in 2011, I gained a passion for this art form that I would practice every day for hours! I got so good at it that I started posting online of my practice videos and it started gaining recognition which soon led me to my first gig in 2013. I first started off gogo and flow art dancing with small dance teams for concerts. I eventually made connections with a circus entertainment company in 2014 that introduced me to fire dancing and lyra performances. After a while, I started to notice I wasn’t really being paid the amount I should be making from my performances so I decided to work independently. That’s when everything really started to move fast! It’s funny because I started off with fire fans that I built with my dad out of old bending metal and ripped up jeans! I earned money from the gigs I performed with those fans to eventually pay for expensive professionally made fire fans. I was finally able to represent myself and my business. I worked on my stage name which at first was Zen Wildfire to suit my fiery performances that I was known for all around South Texas. I started to book big festivals and was beginning to have my schedule full! I picked up new techniques and performance skills along the way such as sideshow which includes fire eating/breathing, bed of nails, and broken glass walking to name a few. Sideshow really gave me another motivation to push my performing career in solo choreographed acts rather than freestyling alongside a dj. I wanted to grow more and challenge myself so I moved to Austin to continue my performance career there. Now performing more than just fire dancing, I wanted to revamp my brand and pick a new stage name that wouldn’t limit me to just fire performances. Since friends call me “Zen” as a nickname from my actual name “Zenett” I used this as a single word stage name and created “PoiZen” which describes my persona perfectly! It’s dark yet down to earth. I also wanted an easy name that can be chanted during my performances. I’ve grown to love performing so much and seeing the audiences faces so shocked as they see this small 4’11 woman perform some dangerous outstanding performances! I’ll never get sick of hearing the crowd go wild after every extreme stunt! I am very fond of traveling and performing has taken me to some great places, the stage has become my second home no matter how big or small, I give it my all.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely, the road to success will not be smooth and sometimes, you need to count on yourself to be your biggest supporter. I’ve been knocked down many times from fire breathing accidents landing me in the hospital to bad business relations that put my confidence level at an all time low, but none of those obstacles kept me from moving forward to build the life I always wanted. Just know, no matter what you put your heart into, you will face rejection and sometimes feel as if you will be overlooked by your peers or big companies. But dust yourself off and keep creating the magic you enjoy because the moment you stop, you give up on yourself and you’ll never find out that you were just inches away from landing that big break you were waiting for.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to consider myself a Performance Artist Extraordinaire because I don’t just label myself to one specific genre of performer. My skills range from fire performing, sideshow, LED flow arts, aerial, circus acts, gogo, model and burlesque. I’m always eager to learn more so my skills keep growing throughout the years. I would say people most know me as that “fire girl” because I get my most bookings for fire performances. I’m honestly most proud of my sideshow acts the most because I love hearing the reactions from the audience after I perform a dangerous act. I believe what sets my performance apart from others is my stage presence! I love to interact with the crowd, stay in character with my facial expressions and I have a wild energy that possesses me as soon as I hit the stage. I like to think that embodiment is my alter ego, PoiZen.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would definitely like to mention my parents for putting up with all my crazy ideas and still helping me out finding the materials I need to create the next prop for future acts. Lya, founder of Flow Foxies for introducing me to a great group of women that gave me a sense of belonging and helping me explore more into gogo dancing. Sergio, my boyfriend who has been the one to ground me whenever I start feeling overwhelmed right before a performance and making me feel a lot cooler than I actually feel. My best friend Marlyn who is a great photographer for helping me market myself with great photos and videos for my promos. And all the new performer friends I made in ATX and SATX who inspire me to be more creative!
Contact Info:
- Email: pickyourpoizen@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/poizen
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zen.poizen
Image Credits:
KoolMe Artist Sequin Spotlight Imagery Bound By Image Photography Rick Zales Rudy Mendez Fernando Aguirre
