Northwest Arkansas runs away with contemporary ¡Circus Sites!
Springdale, Ark. - Downtown Springdale Alliance in partnership with Potluck Arts proudly presents ¡Circus Sites! in October featuring ticketed performances, Lunch with a Circus Artist events and circus skills workshops in surprising locations in downtown Springdale.
This Contemporary Circus brings to Northwest Arkansas thrilling and aesthetically sophisticated entertainment to enthrall arts newcomers, enthusiasts and connoisseurs, together.
¡Circus Sites!will present electrifying performances by world-celebrated acrobats, tightrope dancers and dance clowns in unexpected places in downtown Springdale. The project is designed to activate unique and surprising locations that will expand Northwest Arkansas’ concept of where the arts can be experienced. ¡Circus Sites!invites families from across cultural sectors to experience this sensational, daring and exhilarating art form in uncommon places performed by artists from Australia, Switzerland and Mexico.
“Contemporary circus is a growing world phenomenon, ripe for integration into Northwest Arkansas’ cultural scene,” says Potluck Arts’ Juggler of Ideas, Jenni Taylor Swain. “As a hybrid art, circus combines elements of theater such as storytelling, music and brilliant visual effects with dare devil acrobatics and other circus skills. The art form is incredibly physical and incredibly exciting.”
Today, circus arts are growing at an unparalleled pace worldwide, offering the world an international abundance of new works, new companies and new artistic perspectives. Forward thinking cities around the globe are looking to contemporary circus as a catalyst for neighborhood and arts district rejuvenation, cultural tourism and community engagement.
¡Circus Sites!MAIN EVENTS:
A Simple Space-Oct 6-9: A Simple Space delivers a playful, intimate audience experience. Through jaw-dropping athleticism and lighthearted competitiveness, seven exceptional acrobats include the audience within the camaraderie of their life-long friendship. Inches from the action, the audience is exhilarated by the acrobats’ physicality as they invite viewers into their contagious, spirited fun.
While the artists are in residence in Springdale, open rehearsals are planned in the First United Methodist Church gym as well as workshops and Lunch with an Acrobat at Arts Center of the Ozarks.
Gravity and Other Myths (GOM) is a multi-award winning Australian acrobatics ensemble. Formed in 2009 in Adelaide, South Australia, GOM creates and directs their own work with emphasis on an honest approach to performance, moving away from traditional circus and theater models towards a fusion of acrobatic physical theater.
Circus Man/L’Homme Cirque -Oct 11-23: Acclaimed Swiss circus artist David Dimitri will pitch his own tent and perform a breathtaking one-man show featuring an innovative combination of acrobatics, music and dance, including everything from a human cannon ball to a climactic high-wire act. Dimitri is internationally renowned for his unique virtuoso style of tight wire dancing celebrated at circuses, arts festivals and concert halls throughout the world.
Vagabond-October 28-30: Vagabond tells the story of three travelers wandering in search of happiness. An encounter with a dandelion transforms their view of the world. Vagabond offers families a fun theatrical experience with clowning, dancing and poetic images.
Mexico's Tricicolo Rojo (Red Tricycle) is a contemporary circus company with a mission to link the world of clowning with dance. Since 2006 the company has traveled the world and into rural and remote areas of Mexico bringing the art form of clowning to families new to circus arts.
For more information about ¡Circus Sites!, the event lineup, calendar and to purchase tickets, visit www.downtownspringdale.org or www.potluckarts.org.
The Gayly – September 27, 2016 @ 2 p.m.