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Updated 7/1/2020

Cirque Us

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Performing Group

After touring with the internationally acclaimed youth performance troupe Circus Smirkus, eight friends held onto a dream to create their own powerful circus shows that would connect audiences to each other, the stage, and the world. With support from family, friends, coaches, mentors, and the greater circus community, a circus collective was formed. Since its founding in 2016, Cirque Us has developed into a multifaceted organization that not only produces original full-length works, but also provides educational resources, such as camps and workshops for people of all ages and abilities. Based in New England, the Cirque Us team now draws performers, directors, educators, technicians, and choreographers from all over the United States. Over the past three years, Cirque Us has toured four theatrical circus shows, curated five benefit shows, hosted more than 20 workshops to the public, established a circus camp in New England, and performed with Circus Smirkus at the Smithsonian FolkLife Festival in Washington D.C. Our circus collective seeks to bring the most passionate, committed, and talented circus artists to the hearts of local communities, whether it’s through a performative or educational lense.

 

With every show, event, and production, we are creating our own genre of circus by fusing elements of both traditional and contemporary circus. While we don’t travel with a tent, we do incorporate other fundamental features of traditional circus, such as balancing our cast with aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, and clowns, writing clown gags with audience participation, and ending our shows with an uplifting message. However, unlike traditional circus, the Cirque Us cast collaboratively writes ensemble-based shows that are centered around a motif, and that rely heavily on character-work. This approach stems from contemporary circus, an artform that developed in the late 20th century, which combines technical circus skills with a character-driven approach. Our shows blur the line between traditional and contemporary circus by intertwining fast-paced, traditional acrobatics with soft, meaningful moments of ensemble interaction. We don’t shy away from clown bands, nor do we shy away from storylines that include complex characters that create a narrative arc. Thus the medium in which we work is “circus”, wherein we combine the heart and passion of traditional circus with the theatrical elements of contemporary circus.

 

We choose to tell our stories through circus because this multidisciplinary approach to performance not only inspires our audiences, but also inspires our company members. Training and performing circus requires immense discipline, commitment, and passion. Every member of the Cirque Us team embodies these characteristics, which helps fuel a collectively strong work ethic to create content of the highest caliber. Circus enables us to express ourselves both physically and artistically. Through this unique medium, we are able to emphasize the necessity of human connections and relationships in order to uphold community. Moreover, through circus we demonstrate that the impossible is possible, that through trust and communication we can hold one another up literally and figuratively, and that with an open mind and heart, we can be the best versions of ourselves, both on and off stage. Circus has profoundly impacted our lives, and we want to spread the “circus magic” wherever we go. 

Find Me

Nina Gershy
Job Title: Business Manager
Phone: 3473877107
Address:
4 Arrowhead Road
Walpole, MA 02081

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Performing Group

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2016

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Performing Group

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2016

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Theater - Circus

Additional Disciplines:

  • Theater - Variety / Vaudeville

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Art Sales
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Community Arts
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Theater Technical Production
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
Seasons Active: spring, summer, winter
Events Per Year: 30

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Immigrant Populations
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Nonprofits
  • School Groups
  • Teens

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • N/A

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • N/A

Awards

Awards:

  • N/A

Education

Education:

  • N/A

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Healthcare Facility
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Physical Education
  • Dance
  • Theater

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Healthcare Facility
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Physical Education
  • Dance
  • Theater

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • 24’W x 27’D x 20’ Visible Height

Fee Range:

$2,000 - $15,000

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

6

Maximum Number of Performers:

10