Category: Here & Now

This Week – 12 November 2021

Published on by christiankloc

The weather might be cooling down, but opportunities to witness extraordinary feats of circus (or create your own world-class circus act) are heating up!

LIVE SHOWS

***Stay safe, and know before you go! Be sure to check out each venue’s Covid safety regulations prior to attending in-person events.

November 12

  • Visit The Yards (301 Water Street SE) for the return of Side Yards, an evening of open-air performances featuring jugglers, magicians, contortionists, aerialists, fortune tellers and more! Their event page describes these talents as ‘unusual,’ but if you’ve lived in the DMV for a bit, you know these habits are the ‘predictably exquisite’ practices of our proudly bizarre circus community. Comedic aerial duo Forever Marzipan will be making an appearance, so don’t miss it! The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

November 14

  • If you’re ready for a salaciously stellar line-up of burlesque artists to excite and enchant you, look no further than That Sunday Show, presented by HoneyBee Burlesque at 6 p.m. at The Lodge in Boonsboro, Md. Performers include Bearcat Betty, Delilah Dentata, Lipstick Lamarr, and more! This show is for ages 21+. Get tickets at this link.
  • UpSpring Studio presents In The Witch’s Woods, a heart-chilling tale of a lonely witch who uses magic to make friends. Catch their latest acts of sling, fabric and trapeze as you discover which mysterious characters inhabit the woods. This show is also part of a filmed production that will debut on December 5. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Get tickets at this link.
  • Omnium: A Bold New Circus will present a special performance at Gallaudet University‘s Elstad Auditorium at 4 p.m. While this circus’s tour at Tysons has been postponed, they are excited to share some of their talented performers on Sunday, including two deaf performers: Bailey Ann Vincent, a ballerina, and Anna Gichen, an acrobat and dancer. RSVP to mateo@omniumcircus.org if you’re interested in attending, as seats are limited.

EDUCATION

November & December

November 16

ONLINE EVENTS

December 4

  • If you missed the Gold Over America Tour during its trek across the U.S., fear not! The show will be livestreamed at 4 p.m. EST. This show goes far beyond an exhibition of elite gymnastics, delving into themes of empowerment, social media, mental health and positive body image in a series of electrifying routines. Buy a general admission ticket for 24 hours of video playback, or purchase a VIP ticket for access to a chatroom with Simone Biles and others. Get tickets at this link.

APPLICATIONS

  • The Atlas Intersections Festival will return to H Street from February 24 to March 6, 2022, presenting an array of performances that explore the ideas and issues of our time. Categories include movement, sound, story and family performances. Apply by December 10 at 5 p.m. As a former producer of an Intersections show, I highly recommend this festival to anyone seeking an opportunity to mount their work in a circus-friendly environment that covers many of your major costs. View the application at this link.
  • Circadium is now accepting applications for Fall 2022 students. Visit this link to fill out the application for this three-year program, designed to bolster your movement and performance skills and prepare you for a professional career in circus arts The deadline to apply is January 31, 2022. 
  • Circus artists who identify as persons of color living in the U.S. can now apply for CSAW‘s December $1,000 microgrant (deadline is Nov. 15). You can also consider applying for the upcoming tuition grant ($5,000), which can be used for any circus education related expenses. Find more information at this link.

JOBS

GALAS

November 13

  • In-person tickets to the 2021 Circadium Gala, happening from 7-10 p.m., are currently sold out, but you can still snag a virtual ticket (to view the live entertainment from the comfort of your own home) and participate in the online silent auction to support the first and only diploma-granting institution of higher education for circus artists in the United States. Visit this link to donate and get a virtual ticket.

GATHERINGS

November 14

November 17

November 18

  • 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. If you would like to help with the club’s newly required insurance expenses, email bsperling@cox.net.

Photo from the Palace of Wonders © 2008 by craig. https://flic.kr/p/4ZG1kf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

This Week — 29 October 2021

Published on by christiankloc

It has been a sad week for the circus world in the DMV, as we lost one of our brightest stars. As a community, we tend to be pretty good at chasing our dreams on this earth. This is another reminder that each day of this journey is a gift. Hold dear those who nurture your dreams, and seek out those who just need a little spark to feed their imagination.

IN MEMORIAM — ACOATZIN TORRES

Acoatzin Torres passed away on Saturday, October 23.

In 2016, Acoatzin founded the aerial studio Monarca in Flight in Falls Church, Va., building their aerial program from the ground up. Acoatzin did much of his aerial training at the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, Vermont, gaining a deeper understanding of aerial fabric, sling, lyra, trapeze and rope.

His upbringing in Tabasco, Mexico, exposed him to many different styles of dance — especially Mexican Folk Dance — and led him to dance professionally in his home country.

Acoatzin’s study of fashion design influenced the beautiful costumes he wore while performing aerial arts across the United States, and at his studio in Virginia, where he performed alongside his beloved students and staff earlier this month.

Monarca in Flight‘s namesake — the monarch butterfly — captures Acoatzin’s feeling that aerial arts are an embodiment of grace — of dancing freely through the air. 

Acoatzin’s husbands B. Keith and Chris are thankful for the outpouring of love and support they have received in the past week. In lieu of flowers, they recommend paying tribute to Acoatzin’s life by supporting your favorite local businesses at this time.

LIVE SHOWS

***Stay safe, and know before you go! Be sure to check out each venue’s Covid safety regulations prior to attending in-person events.

October 29 – November 7

November 11

November 18 – January 9

  • Omnium: A Bold New Circus lands in Tysons III for a long run of shows under the big top featuring a diverse and multi-abled cast of circus artists performing in an accessible environment. This production emerged in quarantine as a critically acclaimed virtual spectacle. The live version will offer ADA seating, audio description, braille and large print programs, integrated ASL interpreters, a calming area in the lobby, STEAM based study guides and more! Get tickets at this link.

SUPPORT

  • As circus performers, we treasure the props, costumes and other personal items that make our shows possible. Consider supporting local burlesque performer Eva Mystiqueat this time, as someone recently broke into her car and stole her suitcase full of costumes and a valuable makeup case. Visit her website to book her to perform or rent time in her studio. Alternatively, you can use her Venmo or CashApp to help her recoup her losses.

JOBS

EVENTS

November 7

EDUCATION

November 16

GALAS

November 13

  • The 2021 Circadium Gala will be an in-person spectacle to behold this year, with proceeds supporting the first and only diploma-granting institution of higher education for circus artists in the United States. Visit this link to donate and get a ticket. If you can make it to Philly, look forward to an action-packed evening including live performances on the ground and in the air accompanied by the West Philly Orchestra from 7-10 p.m. If you can’t make it in person, consider participating in the online silent auction happening live during the gala.

GATHERINGS

October 31

November 3

November 4

  • 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. If you would like to help with the club’s newly required insurance expenses, email bsperling@cox.net.

November 6

APPLICATIONS

  • Circadium is now accepting applications for Fall 2022 students. Visit this link to fill out the application for this three-year program, designed to bolster your movement and performance skills and prepare you for a professional career in circus arts The deadline to apply is January 31, 2022. 
  • Circus artists who identify as persons of color living in the U.S. can now apply for CSAW‘s December $1,000 microgrant. You can also consider applying for the upcoming tuition grant ($5,000), which can be used for any circus education related expenses. Find more information at this link.

This Week — 22 October 2021

Published on by christiankloc

Interested in getting your taxes in line while working in multiple time zones or international jurisdictions? Want to apply to circus school starting next fall? Have a dynamite idea for a geeky burlesque act but don’t know where to start? The Circus District has your answers below!

EDUCATION

October 23

  • Give yourself the financial base to empower your artistic work across the globe at the Taxes for Professional Development Workshop presented by Hamiltonian Artists in D.C. This virtual program is led by Dunia Best Sunnreich, a musician, composer, and enrolled agent designated by the U.S. Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS. She is here to address the unique life situations of artists and address the complex issues of local and international artists alike. Register at this link.

October 27

  • Interested in learning the nuanced, entertaining and extraordinarily fun art of Nerdlesque? Look no further than the Hitchhiker’s Guide to Nerdlesque presented by Maki Roll at The Nest at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Building at 6:30 p.m. This workshop will focus on character-building and how to engage audiences through your favorite icons of nerd-dom through burlesque. Get tickets at this link.

APPLICATIONS

  • Circadium is now accepting applications for Fall 2022 students. Visit this link to fill out the application for this three-year program, designed to bolster your movement and performance skills and prepare you for a professional career in circus arts The deadline to apply is January 31, 2022. 
  • Circus artists who identify as persons of color living in the U.S. can now apply for CSAW‘s December $1,000 microgrant. You can also consider applying for the upcoming tuition grant ($5,000), which can be used for any circus education related expenses. Find more information at this link.

CIRCUS BOOKS BY CIRCUS FOLKS

LIVE SHOWS

***Stay safe, and know before you go! Be sure to check out each venue’s Covid safety regulations prior to attending in-person events.***


October 23 & 24 Final Weekend!

October 27 – November 7

November 11

November 18 – January 9

  • Omnium: A Bold New Circus lands in Tysons III for a long run of shows under the big top featuring a diverse and multi-abled cast of circus artists performing in an accessible environment. This production emerged in quarantine as a critically acclaimed virtual spectacle. The live version will offer ADA seating, audio description, braille and large print programs, integrated ASL interpreters, a calming area in the lobby, STEAM based study guides and more! Get tickets at this link.

GALAS

November 13

  • The 2021 Circadium Gala will be an in-person spectacle to behold this year, with proceeds supporting the first and only diploma-granting institution of higher education for circus artists in the United States. Visit this link to donate and get a ticket. If you can make it to Philly, look forward to an action-packed evening including live performances on the ground and in the air accompanied by the West Philly Orchestra from 7-10 p.m. If you can’t make it in person, consider participating in the online silent auction happening live during the gala.

GATHERINGS

October 27

October 28

  • 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. If you would like to help with the club’s newly required insurance expenses, email bsperling@cox.net.

This Week — 8 October 2021

Published on by christiankloc

The circus world is abuzz with thrilling new offerings in print, on stage, in our hearts and (just as importantly) in our wallets. Look no further for excellent opportunities to SUPPORT LOCAL CIRCUS.

CIRCUS BOOKS BY CIRCUS FOLKS

SOLIDARITY

  1. Shows can’t happen without stagehands (with the Kennedy Center’s scheduled production of the Tony-award-winning Hadestown currently in jeopardy).
  2. The plight of stagehands overlaps with the plight of all performing artists in their reasonable demand of living wages for the professional and culture-shifting work that they do every day.
  3. Esteemed art houses and organizations with grand reputations frequently hide behind their big names to exploit artists, employees and staff at all levels. When we as artists or consumers stand in solidarity with technical crews and administrative workers, we fight this broader battle for the good of arts everywhere.

If you’re interested in supporting IATSE members during this difficult time, fill out the mutual aid form at this link.

LIVE SHOWS

***Stay safe, and know before you go! Be sure to check out each venue’s Covid safety regulations prior to attending in-person events.***
October 9

October 9 – 24

October 16

October 27 – November 7

November 11

November 18 – January 9

  • Omnium: A Bold New Circus lands in Tysons III for a long run of shows under the big top featuring a diverse and multi-abled cast of circus artists performing in an accessible environment. This production emerged in quarantine as a critically acclaimed virtual spectacle. The live version will offer ADA seating, audio description, braille and large print programs, integrated ASL interpreters, a calming area in the lobby, STEAM based study guides and more! Get tickets at this link.

GALAS

October 16

November 13

  • The 2021 Circadium Gala will be an in-person spectacle to behold this year, with proceeds supporting the first and only diploma-granting institution of higher education for circus artists in the United States. Visit this link to donate and get a ticket. If you can make it to Philly, look forward to an action-packed evening including live performances on the ground and in the air accompanied by the West Philly Orchestra from 7-10 p.m. If you can’t make it in person, consider participating in the online silent auction happening live during the gala.

EDUCATION

October 18

  • Listen to a free discussion hosted by the American Circus Alliance between a second-generation circus performer and a professional rigger for insight into aerial rigging from the performer’s perspective. This conversation will explore how to develop mutual trust between performers and riggers to create an innovative and fun working environment promoting ‘safe danger.’ Register at this link.

CONFERENCES

October 9-10

GATHERINGS

October 13

October 14

  • 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. If you would like to help with the club’s newly required insurance expenses, email bsperling@cox.net.

APPLICATIONS

  • Circus artists who identify as persons of color living in the U.S. can now apply for CSAW‘s November $1,000 microgrant. You can also consider applying for the upcoming tuition grant ($5,000), which can be used for any circus education related expenses. Find more information at this link. The deadline to apply for the microgrant is October 15, but a new grant will be available every month for the next year.

Photo by Bill Lane © 2013. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ https://flic.kr/p/ez1puK

This Week — 2 Oct 2021

Published on by christiankloc

You’ve got a surprising number of ways to enjoy live performances in the next 7 days, from thoughtful clowns to flaky follies. Remember to check with the venue for vaccine or Covid-19 testing requirements before heading to the show! 

IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES

October 2

October 3

  • Watch recent graduates of the Essential Tease burlesque performance program strut their stuff during the student showcase. Watch online or in person at 7 p.m. The show will be hosted by dynamo guest MC Lillian Bustle from Jersey City. Get tickets at this link.

October 2 – 24

October 6

  • Pie Shop DC will once again host Pies ‘n Pasties, a delicious and dynamite line-up of local burlesque artists with a mission to amaze you and awaken your senses. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. at 1339 H St NE. Get tickets at this link. Masks and proof of vaccination are currently required to attend this event.

APPLICATIONS

  • Circus artists who identify as persons of color living in the U.S. can now apply for CSAW‘s November $1,000 microgrant. You can also consider applying for the upcoming tuition grant ($5,000), which can be used for any circus education related expenses. Find more information at this link. The deadline to apply for the microgrant is October 15, but a new grant will be available every month for the next year.

CONFERENCES

October 9-10

GATHERINGS

October 6

  • The Baltimore Jugglers will meet from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Locus Point Recreation Center. Assuming good weather, the gathering will begin outside and then head indoors when it gets dark. Join the Baltimore Jugglers page on Facebook for the most up-to-date information about future meetings.

October 6 & 8

October 7

  • 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. If you would like to help with the club’s newly required insurance expenses, email bsperling@cox.net. 

This Week — 17 Sep 2021

Published on by christiankloc

This weekend brings you opportunities to throw things on campus, activate acrobats virtually for charity and nerd out on all things aerial. Go out (or stay in) and seize the circus!

WORKSHOPS

September 19

  • The American Circus Alliance is hosting an online workshop titled Employment Safety for First of Mays. This discussion is geared toward those who are new to the industry, but provides great advice for any working professional about signing good contracts, spotting inappropriate behavior by an employer, pre-empting bad experiences and finding external help in difficult situations. This session will be led by Elsie Smith (NECCA) and Polly Solomon (Young Adult Circus Arts Mentorship Program). Free registration is available at this link.

GATHERINGS

September 17

September 22

  • The Baltimore Jugglers will meet from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Locus Point Recreation Center. Assuming good weather, the gathering will begin outside and then head indoors when it gets dark. Join the Baltimore Jugglers page on Facebook for the most up-to-date information about future meetings.

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT

September 17

IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES

September 18 – October 24

September 25

  • DC Art All Night is scheduled from 7 p.m.-Midnight. Enjoy live art activations in various neighborhoods of D.C. including Tenleytown, Dupont Circle, Shaw and more! The schedule is pending, but you can find me juggling in Tenleytown from 8-10 p.m. 😉 See the schedule here, or keep an eye on the website for updates.

October 6

  • Pie Shop DC will once again host Pies ‘n Pasties, a delicious and dynamite line-up of local burlesque artists with a mission to amaze you and awaken your senses. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. at 1339 H St NE. Get tickets at this link. Masks and proof of vaccination are currently required to attend this event.

CAUSES

September 19

  • Urban Evolution is hosting a Community Jam for Charity from 4-8 p.m. EDT to support The Education Trust, which works to close opportunity gaps for low-income students and students of color. This event will be live-streamed, and viewers can redeem certain rewards (backflips, silks climbs, costumed foam pit jumps, etc.) by making donations. There is no admission fee, so apart from donations the event is free to view. Visit this link for more information.

RETREATS

September 24-26

  • Snag a spot in the ShellyFLEX Athletics contortion, flexibility and handstand retreat at the DoubleTree Hilton in McLean, Virginia. Whether you want to increase your range of motion, improve your handstands or reach your contortion goals, Shelly has the winning combination of expert coaching and fun relaxation time to get you there. Visit this link to register. You may have to add yourself to the waitlist, but spots are still open!

JOBS

CONFERENCES

September 17/18 & 24/25

October 9-10

Photo circa 1949 from the National Archive (Fotocollectie Anefo) of the Netherlands. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Circus_Mikkenie._Acrobatiek,_Bestanddeelnr_903-4033.jpg