This Week — 25 June 2021

Published on by christiankloc

My apologies for leaving you in the dark for a couple of weeks. It is incredible to see the DMV circus community gearing up for summer with a triumphant return to some of our old circus habits, and some drastic reevaluations of many ‘business as usual’ aspects of our world.

PRIDE

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT

June 25

  • Check out the third Central American preliminaries of Battle Night at 7 p.m. EDT to see eight club jugglers go head-to-head in a fun and engaging virtual competition. The audience gets a vote in each round, alongside two judges who will share their expert analysis. Join the Zoom at this link, or watch on the Unicirclo Laguna YouTube page.

IN-PERSON EVENTS

July 1

  • The Fairfax Jugglers will return to meeting on Thursdays from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Key Intermediate School Cafeteria (6402 Franconia Rd., Springfield, VA). All are welcome to join this fun and casual juggling meet-up, happening every Thursday that Fairfax County Schools are hosting evening activities. Check out this map for specific location information.

July 17

  • Irresistible Revolution: The Seeds We Sow is a full day event at the Olde City Garden in Northeast DC, offering space for BIQOC and LGBTQIA+ movement and flow artists to breathe, reflect and grow together. The day will include panels, performances, open mics, yoga, live art installations, and a Sunset & Chill jam (pending a fire permit). Find out more about this event and RSVP here. You can also sign up to volunteer at this link. Remember that this event is designed to allow marginalized groups to speak their truth, process pain, heal and cultivate a space of joy and healing. Those seeking allyship and solidarity in this movement are most welcome.

ONE-WHEELED EXCURSIONS

July 1

  • The DC Unicycle Meet-up is planning to host unicycle hockey at Freedom Plaza from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Take it from your listserv author — this event is serious fun and great exercise, even if your unicycling skills are a bit rusty. Join the Meet-up group and RSVP at this link. They will also be a part of the DC Bike Ride on September 25 at West Potomac Park.

VIRTUAL FESTIVALS

Streaming through June 28

  • Dance Place presents Gaze, a five-day virtual festival highlighting local and national LGBTQIA+ artists and companies running June 16-21. On June 17 at 5 p.m., watch Creep Cuts perform their piece FREEZE RESPONSE, which draws from the indecision and purposelessness of the global pandemic to reveal a surrealist, anti-fascist work of clowning. This performance uses dada drag, queer social media diatribes, original electronic music and sketch comedy to create a fever dream of rebellious imagination. Watch for free at this link.

July 12-18

  • Join hundreds of jugglers from around the world at the IJA Online Festival 2021, featuring shows, workshops, panel discussions, a prop raffle and much more. Last year’s online festival revealed just how fun and far-reaching a virtual juggling event can be. RSVP at the Facebook event page.

July 23-25

July 30-August 7

  • Enjoy the Virtual Aerial Dance Festival, with workshops in aerial theory, dance, juggling, flexibility, creativity, pilates, improvisation, burlesque and more. There will also be panel discussions on a variety of topics including aging in aerial arts, implicit bias of BIPOCs in entertainment, intersectionality in aerial dance and circus, and aerial and motherhood. Register at this link, and see scholarship information below.

COMMUNITY

  • The Baltimore Theatre Project has long been a haven for theatrical productions of all stripes. Support this venue’s 50th birthday by making a donation that supports the financial future of the performing arts in Baltimore, with a potential $5,000 match from the Baker Fund. The BTP is scheduled to reopen in September. Donate at this link.
  • Unheard Voices Juggling is an important Instagram account documenting misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other cases of inappropriate, abusive or discriminatory behavior in the juggling community. During pride month, they are inviting LGBTQ+ artists to submit their words and stories to be profiled on their page. Fill out this Google form to be featured!

Photo by Christian Kloc from the National Blues Museum in St. Louis, MO.