Jessica Ritchie could n't even stand up when she put on her roller skates for the first time . But just three months after her first skating lesson , the determined 24-year-old from Mackay in Queensland was performing high-intensity tricks in cirque shows across the world with her real-life partner . The former dancer met her Mexican boyfriend Jeronimo Garcia , 40 , when they were both working as entertainment staff on a Norwegian cruise ship in 2010 . Scroll down for video . Jessica Ritchie and real-life partner Jeronimo Garcia perform high-intensity tricks in cirque shows across the world and a currently performing across Australia in Le Noir . The pair had been dating for two years when the strain of not seeing each other for six months at a time became too much . 'We basically started to see each other and after that one thing led to another , but we had that lovely big ocean between us , ' Jessica told Daily Mail Australia . While they were luckily based on the same cruise ship several times together , they repeatedly had to go their separate ways with different contracts . 'He was in the cirque show and I was working for Nickelodeon - they were two completely different things . The 24-year-old from Mackay in Queensland met her Mexican boyfriend when they were both working as entertainment staff on a Norwegian cruise ship in 2010 . Jessica had never even skated before when the couple decided to start their new routine - and three months later they were performing high intensity tricks on stage . 'It started to become a lot trickier . I went to Mexico to see him because I had n't seen him in six months and we decided we did n't like being apart . ' The couple were thinking of unique routines they could perform as a duo so they could tour together when Jeronimo suggested roller skating . ' I 'd never skated before - he bought me knee pads , a helmet , wrist guards . He took me to the park and taught me . He knew how to stand on skates but I did n't , ' she said . 'The first step was me trying to move on the skates , but then we progressed to spinning and aerials . The couple were thinking of unique routines they could perform as a duo so they could tour together when Jeronimo suggested roller skating . The couple , who met on the cruise ship , decided to create an act together when the strain of not seeing each other for six months at a time became too much . It took three months for Jessica , 24 , and Jeronimo , 40 , to create a routine they could perform together and learnt new tricks by watching YouTube videos . 'When we were putting it together it was trial and error . We did n't have a trainer so we basically learnt from YouTube . ' Jessica and Jeronimo put their act together within three months and landed their first performance contract soon after . The couple , who have been together for five years , now travel the world together performing as a roller duo and they are currently touring Australia with Le Noir - a circque show with a dark twist . 'It 's been amazing getting to travel the world . We started over in Germany on the cruise ship , then we went to ( places like ) London . We 've been to the US and China - this is our second tour in Australia . ' The couple , who have been together for five years , now travel the world performing the aerial roller skating act . They have a strict cardio and endurance training regime they stick to - only having one day off a week to do nothing and eat what they like . While the couple spend their time travelling across the world , they do have a house together in Mexico where they spend most of their downtime . The couple have an intense and strict exercise regime to stay in shape for their aerial skating routine . 'This particular act is extreme cardio ... I spend most time in the air , ' Jessica said . 'We do a lot of cardio and endurance training to keep in shape . We give ourselves one day off to do nothing and eat what we want . 'Before shows we will practice the tricks or maybe work on a new trick . ' Le Noir - The Dark Side of Cirque is currently touring across Australia until April 18 . Jessica and Jeronimo , who mostly spend their free time at their house in Mexico , practice their high intensity tricks everyday before a show . The couple have now been together for almost five years after first meeting on the cruise ship in 2010 .
Jessica Ritchie performs high - intensity tricks in cirque shows worldwide . year - old Aussie combines skating and aerial skiing with real - life partner . She met her boyfriend Jeronimo Garcia working on a cruise ship in 2004 . They created new routine when strain of not seeing each other for six months at a time became too much . she had never danced before he started teaching her . They are currently touring Australia with a cirque show called Le Noir .