When Ryan Shinji Murray heard about Juanita Cardenas’ unique arrival at the Montreal Complètement Cirque festival in 2015, he was intrigued. As a performer with Cirque du Soleil, Murray had been touring as an acrobat and was immediately drawn to the idea of hanging out with people who had ridden their bikes from Brooklyn to Montreal. Murray, now 35, had dropped out of New York University to pursue gymnastics and acrobatics, eventually finding himself at the global circus company.
One of the crew members who had biked to the festival from New York was Juanita Cardenas, a multidisciplinary artist and performer from Bogotá, Colombia. Cardenas, who prefers the gender-neutral pronouns Mx. and courtesy title, graduated from the Cooper Union in 2008 with an art degree and later studied circus arts in Buenos Aires. While living in New York, Cardenas had previously crossed paths with Murray during performances at venues like the Muse and House of Yes, although they were only acquainted casually.
However, something changed when they connected in Montreal. After enjoying the famous poutine at La Banquise, Murray surprised Cardenas with an unexpected kiss. Cardenas described it as a “nice surprise” and noticed Murray’s shy and polite nature in regular life. They spent several passionate days together in Montreal, but neither of them expected their romance to go anywhere.
Due to Murray’s touring responsibilities as an acrobat, their contact gradually faded as they both traveled the globe. However, just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, their touring schedules coincided in Australia. Although Cardenas was in a relationship with someone else at the time, she and Murray were thrilled to reconnect. Although it was a special reunion, Cardenas emphasized that it wasn’t flirty.
After a year of intense long-distance communication and with the rollout of Covid vaccinations, Cardenas persuaded Murray to visit her in Brooklyn. In May 2021, Murray cycled for 19 hours straight from Washington to Cardenas’ apartment in Bed-Stuy, where he rejuvenated with a shower and fell asleep. They woke up together, and both agreed that it was a wonderful experience after a year and a half without physical contact with someone who wasn’t family.
Their relationship progressed, and through many deep conversations about their future, they made the mutual decision to get married. On June 4, they held an afternoon ceremony at the Slipper Room, a performing arts theater on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The ceremony was led by their friend James Habacker, a Universal Life Church minister who owned the venue. Habacker had initially offered his club for rent but also took on the role of officiant.
Around 100 guests attended the theatrical wedding, including renowned burlesque stars from New York. The Slipper Room, known for hosting bold and whimsical performances, provided a perfect backdrop for Cardenas and Murray. The couple showcased their own acts during the ceremony, with Murray singing Beyoncé’s “Love on Top” while building a stack of chairs. They performed a special act in costumes designed by Cardenas, featuring her in a floral dress and Murray resembling a rotisserie chicken, symbolizing nourishment and lust.
After exchanging vows in giant hand-shaped costumes created by the bride, the couple was hoisted into the air on an aerial hoop to exchange rings. The unique ceremony did not include a dress rehearsal, but fortunately, aerialists and acrobats among the guests helped ensure their safety during this daring moment.
For their final act, the couple donned custom handmade Western-style outfits, with Murray showcasing his lasso tricks that ended by tying them in a knot. Afterward, an impromptu after-party at Arlene’s Grocery, a live music venue, kept the celebration going late into the night.
Although they had forgotten to order a marriage license amidst all the theatrics, they quickly resolved the issue. Mr. Habacker signed the marriage license the following Wednesday, between previews of their latest collaboration, “Day of the Dead Live!” The show’s pianist, Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, served as their witness.
After spending their wedding night at the Sixty LES Hotel in New York, the couple is planning a honeymoon trip from Barcelona, Spain, to Genoa, Italy. And in keeping with their adventurous spirit, they will be riding their bicycles throughout the journey.
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