Francesco Caballero has been rocking hard – literally.
When he’s not taking care of his online courses at California Virtual Academies, the 13-year-old boy can be found in the circus ring – throwing pins, straw hats, empty rings and rubber balls high in the air, all in one harmonious cycle.
But the bright-eyed teenager is also weighing something much bigger: an inheritance. The rookie showman proves his durability as part of the Caballero Circus, a five-generation family of performers, by delighting the audience with his exciting stage presence and sharp coordination.
“My family is a circus family.” That’s what they did as kids and it just rubbed off on me,” said Francesco, a few hours before Wednesday night’s game in Santa Ana.
Although Francesco is only a month into his journey as a traveling member, he ran to the ring on Wednesday with the confidence of a seasoned ringmaster. With his action, the young man combined five things at a time; As a few stray balls fell to his side, he quickly picked them up and threw them into the air, as if they were part of the script all along.
And, when the excitement was over, Francesco entered the center stage on a small motorcycle – locked himself in a room known as the “Globe of Death”: a mesh sphere where riders ride their bikes with great force to go around the Globe. He also blew the trumpet.
“To grow as a player and get better, you have to be patient,” said Caballero. “It’s not an easy thing, you’ll get better at it throughout the week.”
Francesco Caballero, 13, poses for a photo at the Caballero Circus on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Santa Ana.
As daring as Caballero appeared on stage, his acting in the family circus was not clear.
When he was 3 years old, he was diagnosed with leukemia: a cancer that causes the body to produce too many abnormal white blood cells. This makes it difficult for his body to fight infections, carry oxygen and stop bleeding. He was treated for four years, until he finally beat cancer at the age of 7.
That’s why his mother, Liliana, who was a flying trapeze artist, felt overprotective of him when he first showed interest in the world of singing – which started with a small role in the Cirque du Soleil show “The Beatles Love,” where he played one of the Fab Four in childhood.
At first, Liliana watched closely to make sure Francesco wasn’t tired or hurt. However, the doctors finally convinced him that exercise for a recovering leukemia patient can be beneficial to his quality of life.
“I was against it [at first]but he is very spoiled,” said Liliana.” He joked that his son, the youngest of his three children, was a “mimado”—a Spanish word used to describe someone who pays close attention.” Back in the ring, as Francesco prepares to rock another night of performance, he stands at a distance from the stands, an ever-vigilant trainer.
“When he told me that he wanted to be like my family, like his grandparents, I was very satisfied,” said Liliana. “After everything we’ve been through, and even now my son still dreams of being in the circus, it’s been a great blessing for me.”
The lineage of the Caballero circus dates back to the early 20th century in Guadalajara, and Adelaida Caballero was the first in the family to practice this joyous show. His daughter, Isabel, would be the first of the Caballeros to open her own circus, as a way to earn money during the Mexican Revolution. (It is said that they were entertaining Pancho Villa, known circus loverin 1916.)
During this time, circus families flourished throughout Mexico, aided by the appearance of spaceships and railroad systems, according to a circus historian. Julio Revolledo Cárdenas I can explain with the 2018 article of the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque.
However, the biggest part of the Caballero family’s game starts with Isabel’s son, 82-year-old Rubén: an apparatus expert who is well versed in high ropes, trapeze and hand balancing. Around 1981, Rubén will bring the entire Caballero family to the United States; all eight of his children performed for the prestigious Ringling Bros. circus. and Barnum & Bailey, with a flying skier as their special act.
Two members of the Caballero family, Rubén Sr. and Rubén Jr., were also recognized for being the first to land a quadruple somersault under the big top tent. 1985. It takes an extreme amount of faith in the opposite catcher, as it does in the person who flips multiple times – I mean filmed a groundbreaking stunt for posterity, and other home videos.
In 1995, this risky act helped the family secure the prestigious Payaso de Oro: the top prize at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, an award comparable to the Ballon d’Or of soccer or the Grammy of music. Other direct descendants of Rubén will also win the award After 30 years.
In 2000, Rubén would open his own white and purple tent circus, Caballero Circus, where Liliana now manages the concession stand. Sisters Maria and Judith run the circus and direct the details of the show, respectively.
“My father’s American dream was always to run his own circus,” said Liliana.
Rubén Sr., who continues to be the patriarch of the Caballero family, teaches his youngest grandson everything he knows. “He wants me to be better,” said Francesco.
Nicole Caballero, 15, from front left, Melody Caballero, 22, Francesco Caballero, 13, and Judith Caballero, 15, at the end of a show at Caballero Circus on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Santa Ana.
Now carrying the family torch is the fifth generation of tumbling acrobats who have mastered the art of balance and flexibility. Liliana’s 15-year-old daughter, Nicole, works for the Globe of Death, where she enters a locked cage with her cousin Judith, also 15; together they steer motorcycles around the globe in cross paths. This is a skill he prides himself on, as many listeners think there are men under protective gear.
“When we’re out, we take off our hats and let the girls see what they can do,” Nicole said before singing on Wednesday.
Melody, a bilingual host, competed as a host on Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent,” which aired in 2013. “We can have the worst day of our lives, but when we go on stage, we have to have the biggest smile in the world,” said Melody.
Rubén’s two older sons, who married Russian acrobats during the international stage, separated and founded their own group as Circus Caballero. They have their touring show set up at the Bell until May 25th.
Francesco Caballero, 13, gets ready on display inside a trailer at Caballero Circus on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Santa Ana.
Other members of the Caballero family also compete internationally such as the Flying Caballero – something Caballero’s youngest member, Francesco, hopes he can work on.
“I was told that they went to France, Italy, Germany, everywhere,” he said. “My primos just went to one of the prestigious festivals in Monaco and won first place. I want to be like my cousins and do what they do.”
Francesco may still be learning the ropes of the circus world – but before he can compete on the world’s glamorous stage, he must first win his school’s talent show. On June 8, he will participate in the national virtual academy competition K12, which will showcase the talent of students from all over the country.
Thankfully, you’ll have plenty of time to practice. The Caballero Circus will be in Lakewood between May 22nd and June 7th.
“Not many kids do what I do,” said Francesco. “It teaches us to communicate with the community, to communicate with other people.”
