The Farflung Farfans

Armando Farfan, Jr., nicknamed “Tato” when he was the focus of Jill Krementz’s A Very Young Circus Flyer in the 1970s, still works in show business. But he spends more time behind the scenes now.

As the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2011:

Farfan currently works as a rigger for one of the Cirque du Soleil shows…and said his schedule allows him the time to work on his sculptures and art.

Farfan said he also has designed aerial arts for venues around the world, including projects for MGM, Mandalay Bay, Treasure Island, Bellagio and Studio 54.

He also designed wings for the models in a Victoria’s Secret show.

Farfan still occasionally performs, as in the Broadway Bares XX benefit. As recently as 2008 other members of the family were performing as the Flying Farfans in Germany.

As I recall, the book said Tato’s older brother Gino wanted to be the first flyer to land a quadruple somersault; he instead holds the record for youngest ever (fourteen) to catch a triple, and worked his way to a three-and-a-half before another teenager managed the quad. As of 2011 Gino was teaching at the Circus Warehouse in Long Island City, New York. The tradition carries on.