This Week — 25 December 2020

Published on by christiankloc

We wish you a winter season full of gratitude for the friends, family and circus freaks in your life. If you’ve experienced loss, pain, or ‘failure’ in 2020, our hearts are with you. In the face of incredible hardship, the DMV circus community has shown great resiliency. And even though the path forward is uncertain, we will go forth together, hand in hand (or hand-to-hand if you’re an acrobat). As always, get in touch to let us know how The Circus District can more fully support you!

This year, The Circus District was extremely proud to present:

Remember, the best way to support our future email updates, articles and projects is to sponsor us on Patreon. We are humbled by the love you’ve shown us thus far, and look forward to keeping this online community rolling, flipping, twisting and clowning into the new year!

WATCH

TOMORROW (12/26)

  • Acrobatic Conundrum will present their virtual showcase Volume 7 at 10 p.m. EST. This production is a collection of short films that use circus to convey the humanity behind the super-humanity of the artists involved. Tickets are at a sliding scale, starting at $5, and the show will be available through January 1. Visit this link for tickets.

TUESDAY (12/29)

  • The Circus Up Benefit Show is a virtual production appearing online at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Featuring a combination of live and pre-recorded acts, this show is a fundraiser for Circus Up’s youth circus programs based at Boston’s Commonwealth Circus Center. Buy tickets at this link.

ANYTIME

  • Witness global talent of epic proportions in Daydream of Circus, a collection of juggling, cyr wheel, waacking, spinning plates and more. Artists include Wes Peden (Sweden/USA), Ricardo S. Mendes (Portugal), Kouta Ohashi (Japan) and Bogie (Taiwan), as well as Hong Kong natives Patrick Pun, Lee Way Ne, Zara Asa and Ng Ping Nam. Watch this jam-packed 55-minute show at this link.
  • Fans of music, juggling and film-making will love the latest IJA Tricks of the Month video, starring Chilean juggler Cote Velásquez and musician Macarena Leiva Torres. Watch it now at this link.

GIVE/SUPPORT

  • Any time is a good time to buy handmade gifts, artwork and circus classes from the talented souls in our community. We’ve made it easy to find fabulous books, apparel, photography and more in our Circus Gift Guide, which will remain up throughout the year for birthdays, holidays and self-imposed celebration days. Are we missing your creations on this list? Message us at circusdistrict@gmail.com.
  • Circus artists have long enjoyed classes at Joy of Motion Dance Center during its 44-year history in D.C. and Maryland. In addition to the pandemic forcing Joy of Motion to close its Bethesda and Friendship Heights studios, their last remaining location on H Street recently suffered substantial damage when a car crashed into the building (luckily no one was injured). Please consider donating to Joy of Motion at this link, as well as to next-door Atlas Performing Arts Center (whose lobby also suffered damage) at this link. Donations to the Atlas will be matched up to $20k through December 31. Both of these places are havens for art, learning, performance and community. Let’s help them come back strong in 2021!

DO BUSINESS

  • Federally funded unemployment programs like Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (and state-specific extensions) are set to expire this week. If you have yet to file a claim but have been financially impacted by the pandemic, this is your last chance to throw your name in the hat! Even if you’re unsure of your ability to collect unemployment, it’s important to get your name in the system so you can advocate for yourself and get the benefits you need.

Happy holidays, and three circus cheers for a BETTER new year!