Meet “Poppet” Chris Abolio of Detroit

Today we’d like to introduce you to “Poppet” Chris Abolio

Hi “Poppet” Chris, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, my father was a mime. He would perform for small events and parties and I would watch, fascinated and enthralled by the make up, the performance, and how he was able to create whole worlds and stories for people. He encouraged this interest in me, and we would choreograph clown skits to perform in the living room for my siblings and mother. I performed in my first play when I was six and that cemented my love for performing. As a teen, my interests diverted towards street dance and I fell in love with Popping (a funk style dance from Fresno, California). Popping utilizes many of the same concepts as miming so it felt natural to pursue. As a young adult I started exploring other disciplines like contortion and hand balance.

Currently, I am an international performer and professional coach. Much of my work has been towards giving back to my community in Southwest Detroit; Teaching dance, hand balance, contortion, and adult fitness classes. I also teach online and in-person lessons in these disciplines. I have performed for notable events such as Theatre Bizarre, Electric Forest, and was part of the opening number for PitBull, as well as toured with multiple circus companies as a contortionist, clown, hand-balance artist, and show girl. With my skills, I work with various talent agencies and have started pursuing my certification as a Physical Therapy Assistant.

I am so grateful for the experiences I have been blessed to have and the incredible people I’ve met on this journey and I cant wait to see what comes next!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I was a child, There also were not very many opportunities for me to grow and develop as an artist. I remember going through the Sunday paper trying to find something—anything—about theatre productions and acting opportunities. I looked for stunt schools, circus schools, and gymnastic programs, but they were all either non-existent or were much to expensive for our family of 9. Because of this I was primarily self taught. This is one of the reasons why I try to make my programs accessible to my community–From group classes to online tutorials I work with Motor City Street Dance Academy, Vámonos Cafe and Studio, 359°Yoga, and other organizations.

I’ve also had two complete reconstructive knee surgeries on both my knees. As an incredibly active teen, and at risk of being over-dramatic, this felt like a death sentence and a complete loss of identity. At the time, the surgeries required to repair my knees were still very new, and the physical therapy was still being developed. Learning how to train my body, and how to listen to my body, and to be confident in its abilities took a long time. Learning to get over the fear, and what my new limitations were also took a few years.

As artists, one of the things we have to learn is how to adapt and how to take a hit. I have been told “No” more times than “Yes.” I have had poor auditions, there have been performances where everything seemed to go wrong… I have to dust myself off as best I can in order to do it all again tomorrow. Do I Love it? Absolutely. A hundred times yes. But it is also a job and it is hard. Plus, the toll on your emotional and mental health can destroy you if you don’t learn how to take care of yourself early on.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a variety entertainer.
You want mysterious and enigmatic? No problem. Wild and Zany? I got you. Something for a bigger production? I can do it all!
Did you want a roaming interactive performance, a single choreographed piece, or a full show? With me you’ll get an experience that you’ll never find anywhere else! I can perform on festival stages, for high-end events, music videos, corporate events and large theatrical productions.

I am known for providing high energy and and interactive pieces. Reviews from viewers have stated that I “give them goosebumps,” “made them cry,” but my favorite is a text from my brother stating “What the heck did I just watch and do you need to go to the hospital???”

I am most proud of my ability to provide something for everyone, for every type of event. I strive to create an environment where everyone can be part of the magic–like how my dad did for me when I would watch him perform as a child.

The things that set me apart from others–other than my emotional energy and great sense of humor– is my willingness and hunger for growth. I strive with every fiber of my being to be a better and stronger performer than I was yesterday. Recently I have added Bottle walking to my skill set and will be performing a one-of a kind contortion trick later this summer at Black River Tattoo Convention June 28th, in Port Huron, Michigan.

I always try to stay connected to my chicano roots in my performances, whether it’s through music, makeup, or costuming. I feel this not only pays respect to my ancestors who made my life possible, but also gives my shows a unique and authentic look and feel.

When you book “Poppet” you are booking a journey into a bizarre and delightful world where– in the best way possible–you never really know what’s going to happen next.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Being a physical artist, an adult one at that, is probably one of the riskiest things you can do. I have to understand that when I am learning a new skill–no matter how careful I am—I could get seriously hurt. But if I don’t take those risks, then I rob myself of experiencing everything I could be capable of.

There’s also the risk of financial instability. When the Covid shut down happened and I lost the shows and my work, I was fortunate enough to have family and my partner and their family who were there to keep me from drowning. But I also had to get creative in how I worked; I did online shows, classes, and I hosted a live stream.

At the end of the day, no matter what you decide to do, there is going to be some kind of risk. You to decide if the reward is worth it. For me, I’ll take the greater risk and wake up in love with my life and excited for my work over anything else.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chrisa.crevado.com
• Instagram: @dancepoppetdance
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poppingpoppet
• Twitter: @dancepoppetdance
• Youtube: www.youtube.com@chrisabolio6853

Image Credits
Christopher Moeller Photography
7 Stone Detroit
All American Circus
Lucha Detroit
Theatre Bizarre
359° Yoga Studio
CrossFit HCS