Maita Ponce, a Philippine actress, is making persistent efforts to realize her dream of acting in Hangzhou, Hangzhoufeel reported.

Having moved to Hangzhou in January 2019, Ponce was among the cast of Cirque du Soleil's production X: The Land of Fantasy, a resident circus show that reopened to the public in June 2020.

"I have never seen a circus show before, but now I've acted in one," Ponce said.

Her opportunity to join Cirque du Soleil came during a vacation in the Philippines, when an old friend sent her an audition ad about the circus' new show in China.

A typical day for Ponce in Hangzhou starts with a Chinese or ballet class. She then has lunch, takes a nap, works out at the theater gym, and prepares for the show by doing sound checks and putting on makeup.

For her role as The Queen, Ponce said improvisations have left the biggest impression on her.

"We speak gibberish rather than actual words in this show, which requires us to improvise," Ponce said.

"If something goes wrong in an act and there's a certain time for music, it can go on until they get it right. So, we're required to improvise, and that's something new for me," she added.

The brand-new culture and landscapes in Hangzhou also fascinate Ponce.

Her favorite tourist spot is West Lake and the Longjing tea plantation next to it. She also loves traditional Chinese foot and scraping massages, during which she can fully relax with help from different types of herbal soak.