This week is all about traveling without moving. Visit Seattle for a community circus update, drop through Brooklyn for a Valentine’s Day showcase, and fly to Japan for an innovative dance/juggling performance!
READ
NEW SERIES
- Check out today’s issue of Dispatch (formerly The District Ringer) for Dispatch from Seattle, Part One. This original article series highlights local circus communities across North America, providing insight into our shared experiences and adaptations in the past year. This work is possible thanks to our monthly Patreon sponsors. We appreciate you!
WORK
- Verona, Pennsylvania, is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this September. Event organizers are seeking fire artists, stilt walkers, acrobats, aerialists, contortionists and other circus performers to do roaming and spotlight entertainment. Contact Rhea (Rae-yuh) at rhea.sunshine.pgh@gmail.com if you are interested in this opportunity.
LEARN
- Monarca in Flight is hosting two upcoming workshops with aerialist Kylin Trussell. Take ‘Spansets on Lyra’ tomorrow (2/13) from 5:30-7:30 p.m., or check out ‘Splits on Sling’ on February 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sign up for both workshops at this link.
ATTEND
February 12-14
- Enjoy circus workshops, panels and shows as part of the MONDO Juggling and Unicycle Arts virtual festival. On Friday, watch a donation-based juggling show at 8 p.m. EST on the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus YouTube page. Saturday activities include a panel about how to build juggling community, an all-levels kendama workshop, a ‘six Michael Karas tricks you haven’t learned yet’ workshop and more! Sunday will feature a 2 p.m. EST presentation about the ‘Golden Age of Victorian Circus.’ Get all of the details at MONDO’s Facebook page.
WATCH
February 12 and 13
- Witness an incredible collaboration between two Japanese artists, juggler Teruki Okamoto and dancer Chiharu Kuronuma, in I/O Double Bill: Dance & Juggling. This unique performance incorporates the performers’ expertise in computer programming, calligraphy, choreography and movement. Showtimes are Friday at Midnight and Saturday at 11 p.m. EST, with a 50-minute runtime. You can purchase the streamed performance as well as an archival recording at this link.
- The Fleecing by Almanac Dance Circus Theatre is a multi-platform digital performance piece where the audience plays a key role in the ultimate outcome. Choose your path with a private Zoom fortune-telling, an aerial performance that unravels the mystery of the Bumblefish, or search for a friend lost to a cult. A desktop of laptop computer is necessary to view this performance. Get tickets at this link. Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
February 13
- Appeal to all five senses this Valentine’s weekend during My Synesthesia Valentine, which explores the many expressions of love through science, gastronomy, puppetry, music, poetry and more. This 8 p.m. streaming show is brought to you by the Once Virtual Venue of Somerville, Massachusetts. Get pay-what-you-can tickets at this link.
- Nimble Arts, a collective of circus artists based in Vermont, created their show Circus in Place as a walk-through experience for audiences. This edition allows you to experience their talented line-up virtually. Performers include aerialist Elsie Smith, rola-bola artist Jan Damm and juggler Tony Duncan, among others. Get tickets for the 7 p.m. performance at this link.
February 14
- ABCirque Presents: My Heart Beats Circus: Infuse joy into your ‘celebration of love’ night with this spectacular evening of entertaining acts and wondrous feats from The Muse in Brooklyn. VIP ticket holders get access to an exclusive show starting at 7:30 p.m., while the broadcast for the general public starts at 8 p.m. Get tickets here.
February 15
- Bindlestiff Family Cirkus presents Open Stage Quarantine Edition: Season 3 at 8 p.m. EST on Facebook and YouTube. Want to perform in future editions of this weekly show? Fill out their act submission form at this link.
February 19
- The Crown is a short circus film produced and directed by aerialist Veronica Blair that documents a young girl’s journey of self-discovery. The film boasts a stunning all female cast of circus artists of African descent. Watch this video premiere on YouTube at 7 p.m. EST. Performers include Summer Lacy, Copper Santiago, Shenea Stiletto, Susan Voyticky and Darielle Williams.
February 20
- Afrotease: The Black Label is a burlesque showcase for BIPOC performers based in Richmond, but currently hosted in cyberspace! This edition stars Alotta Boutté, featuring special appearances by Bebe Bardeaux, Gigi Holliday and many more exceptional performers. This event is 18+ and will be ASL interpreted. The show goes from 9-11 p.m. EST. Tickets are sliding scale. Visit this link for more information.
- Bill Irwin returns to your computer screen with his playful and inquisitive production of On Beckett/In Screen. In this virtual show, Irwin utilizes his mastery of physical theater and his lifelong fascination with Samuel Beckett’s writings to great effect. This is a production of the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City. Reserve free, donation-based tickets at this link.
February 12-21
- Discover the world of a lonely clown quarantined on an old theater’s stage in A.Lone, a one-man theater show produced by the Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center out of Troy, NY. Get tickets to watch the production at this link (the stream is viewable for 72 hours once purchased).