This Week — 18 February 2022

Whether you’re ready for a night on the town or an evening at home with a cup of tea, the Circus District has offerings to keep you entertained, informed and engaged.

SUPPORT

February 19

Clowns Without Borders USA is hosting a benefit show at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, performed live in Portland and streamed virtually to your home. Acts include ‘juggle mania’ by Rhys Thomas, circus strongwoman Tera Zarra, and much more. Support the extraordinary work of this organization by purchasing a virtual ticket to the performance.

LIVE SHOWS

***Be sure to check out each venue’s Covid safety regulations prior to attending in-person events.

February 25-27

Witness a triumphant reimagining of the mythological tale of Eurydice at Songs From the UnderWorld, created by Baltimore artist ellen cherry. This show opens with a Jim Henson Foundation-sponsored work of puppetry by Anna Fitzgerald, and follows with multimedia storytelling inspired by ellen cherry’s recovery from a car wreck a few years ago. Show times are 8 p.m. (2/25 & 2/26) and 3 p.m. (2/27). Get tickets at this link.

February 26

Omnium Circus presents their long-awaited performance of I’mPossible at Capital One Hall in Tysons at 2 p.m. This electrifying show features artists of many backgrounds in an environment accessible to all audiences. Visit their website for tickets.

April 3 – second show added!

If you missed buying tickets to ¡Porque Si! the first time around, don’t fret! Collaborators Yolit Flamenco and Gwynne Flanagan have added a second (earlier) show. This exciting new work combines aerial choreography with flamenco, accompanied by live music. Visit this link to get tickets for the 4 p.m. performance in Rockville.

NEWS

Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) is putting great ideas into action. Artists in New York can apply for a guaranteed $1,000 income per month for 18 months, with 2,400 spots available in the program. CRNY Is also setting up an Artist Employment Program, which partners with various organizations to provide solid employment to artists ($65k per year + benefits!), allowing creatives to fully devote themselves to their craft.
This program stems from the not-so-revolutionary idea that if you provide for the most basic needs of individuals, they can prioritize acquiring gigs, creating valuable work, educating themselves, and building generational wealth. It’s important to think about the power of a guaranteed income when we evaluate the institutional support for artists in our region. While grant programs and residencies enable some growth in the creative sector, guaranteed income can remove many barriers to entry/continuance for artists to survive and thrive in our communities.

GATHERINGS – VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON

February 18 & 23

The UMD Juggling Club will meet on Mckeldin Mall (or in the Art/Sociology building if it’s cold/rainy) from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. All are welcome to attend. Join the club’s Facebook group for updates and follow them on Instagram for fun content.

February 23

The District Rope Group will hold a Virtual Rope Jam via Zoom from 8-10 p.m. This is a great place to share your skills, ask questions, and suggest topics for discussion/education. You are welcome to join this gathering however you feel comfortable (camera/audio on or off), but recording of any kind is not permitted. RSVP by joining the group and responding to the Facebook event page.

February 24

The Fairfax Jugglers will meet on Thursdays from 7:30-10 p.m. in the Key Middle School cafeteria. Visitors must wear masks and sign a liability waiver.

EDUCATION

March 13

Urban Evolution in Alexandria will host an Aerials Routine Workshop from 10 a.m. to Noon. This workshop will help you build a silks routine around a piece of music of your choosing. Sign up at this link.

APPLICATIONS

Circus artists who identify as persons of color living in the U.S. can now apply for CSAW‘s April $1,000 microgrant. The deadline is March 15. Find more information at this link.
If you’re interested in applying to a circus school in the U.S. or abroad, check out CSAW’s application mastersheet, with a comprehensive list of deadlines and school ambassadors, who are available to answer your questions and guide you through the selection process. Whether you’re currently applying to schools or considering applying in a year or two, this list is an invaluable resource.

NYC HAPPENINGS

Through February 19

Delve into 4,000 years of juggling history through the innovative and playful mind of Jay Gilligan in his show REFLEX, presented by Hideaway Circus. This intimate show uses unique props, inventions and robots to reveal a mesmerizing world of object manipulation. Appearing at Theater Mitu580, with tickets at this link.

Through March 6

We are over the moon to report that Happenstance Theater is debuting their show BAROCOCO at 59E59 Theaters in Manhattan. This production transports you to the late Baroque era and its lavishly adorned characters whose lifestyles are on the brink of extinction, told through exquisite physical comedy and seamless ensemble work. Get tickets at this link.