This Week — 4 December 2020

Published on by christiankloc

December is rife with opportunities to give and receive circus inspiration. Our key takeaways — party online, shop small and juggle more!

ATTEND

TONIGHT-SUNDAY

  • Prop-aganda: The Circus of No Tomorrow is an online flow festival featuring live DJs, showcases, competitions and workshops organized by EPIC Spin Jams. The latest schedule includes flow battles, prop giveaways, and a full line-up of workshops in flow, juggling and more. Sure to be a salve for any chaos the world throws at you. Check out this event on Twitch and Zoom, with more information at this link or on the Facebook event page.

TOMORROW

WATCH

TONIGHT

  • The first graduating class of Circadium, a school of contemporary circus in Philadelphia, will be performing their year-end thesis presentations (aka circus acts) tonight at 8 p.m. EST on Facebook live. Performers include Delaney Bayles, Luna Deasy, Alexandra Feit, Zak McAllister and Stephen Doutt. RSVP and watch at this link. Speaking of circus school, Circadium applications are now open (through 1/31/21) for future students, with application fees waived for the first 25 applicants.

THROUGH SUNDAY

  • Watch Grand Théâtre de Genève’s rendition of Einstein on the Beach by Philip Glass and Robert Wilson, with circus staging and choreography by Daniele Finzi Pasca. Stream this beautiful work at this link.

MONDAY (12/7)

  • The Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show: Quarantine Edition starts at 8 p.m. EST. Watch on Facebook or YouTube. You can donate during the show at the links provided, or support their fantastic feats of circus anytime via the donation page on their website.

DECEMBER 15

  • Cirque Us presents an online screening of One Man’s Trash: A Repurposed Circus from 6:30-9 p.m. EST. Featuring a fabulous junkyard adventure conveyed through aerial, acrobatics, tumbling, juggling and clowning, this show is sure to please all ages. Proceeds go toward a scholarship fund for BIPOC individuals to attend Circus Smirkus camp in 2021. Get tickets at this link.

LEARN

  • American Circus Educators is hosting a training program titled Growing Stronger Communities Through Racial Equity and Liberation Health next Monday (12/7), Wednesday (12/9), 12/14 and 12/16. This program is available to members and non-members at a sliding scale. Register at this link.
  • Modern Vaudeville Press front-man Thom Wall stopped through D.C. recently to deliver the gift of juggling! Find out how Circus District is making and distributing juggling ball kits in Little Free Libraries across the district, with updates appearing on The District Ringer.
  • Janelle Peters of Cirque Psych is running another Mental Health First Aid for Circus workshop on December 21. Register at this link.

SUBMIT

  • D.C. art space Rhizome DC has an open call for artists to submit work to reflect our present circumstances, and find creative ways to connect and take (Covid-safe) risks during a pandemic. This work will include exhibitions, residencies and workshops in the first half of 2021. All mediums and performance genres will be considered. Visit this link to apply.

SHOP

  • As holidays come and go, supporting circus artists should always be in fashion! This year, we’ve seen many industrious circus artists marketing their talents for the giving season, from handmade circus stationery to virtual circus programs. Keep an eye on our website for a ‘gift guide’ page, which will provide a dazzling array of online vendors you can throw your money at with a good conscience this winter. Are you a circus artist interested in being on this list? Email us at circusdistrict@gmail.com. Also, shameless plug if you don’t limit your giving to Tuesdays: did you know we have a Patreon?

STAY IN BUSINESS

  • Are you an artist/independent contractor struggling to access full unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits in DC? Local leadership is currently seeking short (30-second) video testimonials about your experiences to build awareness and problem-solving around these issues. You can also file for legal aid to advocate on your behalf. Email ctkloc@gmail.com to find out how to connect with local officials and strengthen the movement to support artists at this critical moment.
  • The Main Street Lending Program recently reduced its loan minimum from $1M to $100,000 in an effort to support small businesses (and hopefully put its remaining $595 billion budget to good use by the December 31st deadline). If your business can benefit from this loan structure, visit this link.