CRISTINA BEAN-JONES: SWEDISH EFFECTIVITY TO WORK

Cristina Bean-Jones & Cirque du Soleil

Cristina Bean-Jones. Snake enchanter. Sweden.

I was born in Marstrand, Sweden, the country of Ingrid Bergman, Anita Ekberg, Greta Garbo, Max von Sydow, Andres Celsius, Alfred Nobel, Stieg Larsson, Björn Borg or ABBA. Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County. It had 1,319 inhabitants which despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a city, however, Statistics Sweden, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities. Although Marstrand is a very small place, Sweden is a large country with small density and great famous people. The secret is culture, effort, innovation and knowledge. I'm a snake enchanted, a person who can control snakes only with her mind. I have been working in a lot of Circus companies and they're like a large family, although I must accept that there isn't a better family than The Jones, my family.

-Good morning, Cristina Bean-Jones, and thanks to attend us.

-Good morning. It's a pleasure.

-Well, you don't represent the typical Swedish profile: blue eyes and blonde.

-I don't believe in topics. There isn't a Swedish profile because we've received lots of influences and you can find different people living in the same place. From the Vikings to the last immigration movements, the Swedish population has changed and we haven't got this profile. Take the monarchy as an example. Moreover, in my case my ancestors were Scottish and this is the cause of my red-haired colour.

-Sweden is always an example of great and perfect country. Which is your opinion?

-There isn't a perfect country. It doesn't exist. All countries have lights and shadows, diamonds and rust but it's true that here, in Sweden, we're a liberal community and we can talk about whatever you want without danger, censorship or fear. For other hand, we have suffered dark moments like the murders of Olof Palme and Anna Lindh. We mustn't forget them.

-What's your reaction in front of a case like these murders?

-When you believe that you live in a perfect society, with perfect neighbours and in a perfect family who lives in a perfect city, this fact affects you more because you don't believe that it can happen next to you. These facts attempt against our lifestyle, our culture, our manner of understanding world. We're the country of Alfred Nobel. We talk about Science, about Peace, about Progress and violence is against all these things. Violence is the failure of dialogue.

-How can a Swedish snake enchanter arrive to success?

-Well. You must work very hard every day but not only for being an excellent snake enchanter, you must work very hard in all your jobs. If you allow me, today is a very important day for women and I want to express a personal opinion about it.

-Of course…

-Sweden is one of the most developed countries in equality of genre and women rights but it's not enough. Women's fight is universal, not only a Swedish cause and meanwhile we don't arrive to achieve the same rights for all the women around the world, this fight must continue. It's not a genre cause, it's a human cause. It's not a women's fight, it's a human fight and this is the reason because of men must be involved in this cause, too.

-Tell me someone that you admire thanks to this cause.

-There are millions of anonymous women who work very hard every day to try to help their families. All of them must be admired. Later, some of them can arrive to be popular because of their actions have had visibility but in that case, every little victory represents the entire collective.

-Michelle Obama, Angela Merkel, Theresa May... have high quotes of power.

-They are exceptions that we must convert in realities. We only demand respect and recognition and in equal conditions, equal salary. It's not easy to change this mentality because is a question of culture and education. This is the main reason because of the school is so important: work together, learn together, play together without distinction of genre, race or economic power.

-How do you feel being a member of The Jones family?

-I feel very well. We're a good family. We work together to reach the same objective and we don't surrender easily. The Jones are a good example of equality in work, in respect and in achieving objectives together.

-How is a normal day with The Jones?

-There isn't a normal day because is impossible. Have you got a normal day in your life? Every day is different and you must enjoy it as time as you can. We try to enjoy as time as we can because we know that this family is not an eternal present and someday every one of us will take a different path far away the family. It's life.

-How long have you been studying English?

-In Sweden there's only an official language, Swedish, a North Germanic language, related and very similar to Danish and Norwegian but there are four other languages also recognised: Meänkieli, Sami, Romani, and Yiddish, and of course, Swedish people have a great level of knowledge of English. Then, a Swedish citizen can speak, at minimum, three languages. This is very important because as languages as you speak, as easier learning another will be.

-Then English is not difficult to learn for a Swedish?

-Swedish and English become from German. We have different alphabets and writing but phonetically, we're very similar.

-What can you explain about your life with The Jones?

-Well. I enchant snakes but The Jones have enchanted me. They're incredible people, very hard workers and with a great sense of humour, something very important to survive in difficult moments. Irony and jokes are always with us.

-Which is your best memory with the family?

-It's impossible to choose only one but I especially remember when we played together. I'm very competitive and I always like to win. I enjoyed a lot playing Bingo and Scattergories. The level was very high and you must offer your best to win. Especially, I remember the day when we left the family to join Cirque du Soleil. They supported me and it was an important moment for me. Amazing!

-How can you control an animal as dangerous as a snake?

-Mental power. You must project positive things. If you project negative ones like fear, confusion or nerves, you will lose. Positivism is something very important in our lives and although sometimes all seems to fall down without reparation, it's not true. There's always a way to rise up and continue fighting for your dreams.

-What about the future of the circus?

-I don't know but I believe circus must change, improve and renovate its offer. Circus had a mission during the Middle-Age with the gypsy communities. Later, circus was very important during the Great Depression in the USA but now we're living different times and you need a different offer. I like companies like Cirque du Soleil because they have changed the classical circus to beautiful art. I think this is the way to follow in a closer future. For other hand, I'm a hard defender of animal’s rights and I don't like circus where animals are treating badly.

-But, you're a snake enchanter. This is a contradiction, isn't it?

-No. I work with animals that have some problems to live in their environments. Hurt snakes that suffered some kind of damage and if they would live free, probably, they wouldn't survive a lot of time. Then, they have a second chance to have a different life. We take care of them. We offer to them another life. Everybody needs a second chance. I work in collaboration with special centres that take care of this kind of animals. Moreover, one part of my benefits is destined to help these centres and their workers: vets and volunteers.

-Are you an eco-friendly?

-Yes, definitely. Everyone must be eco-friendly because we only have one planet and we are using it and destroying it as if we had another place to live. It's insane. I come from a country where is too difficult to live because of the weather conditions and we understand that human must adapt to the nature, not nature to us.

-Thank you very much, Cristina Bean-Jones.

-You're welcome.

The winner takes it all, the loser standing small.
Beside the victory, that's her destiny.

ABBA