By Annika Egerstedt
During the Covid shutdowns, there has been an influx of home rigs. A home rig seems like a good idea to keep up strength and tricks or even to get some extra practice in between classes. However, if done incorrectly it becomes dangerous real quickly. I have a home rig and through my process of building my aerial space, as well as gaining my teacher certification, I have learned tips about rigging and safety I would like to share with anyone considering getting a home rig. An at-home rig is not right for everyone, and should be done with safety in mind. I am not a professional rigger nor am I claiming to be but I have taken a beginner rigging course through Circus Arts Institute. I would highly recommend taking a rigging training course before getting a rig. Here are some advice I give to my students when they ask about home rigs:
Knowledge: Before getting a rig, I recommend being at an intermediate level on a piece of equipment. At this point the aerialist is fairly familiar with the apparatus, and with their capabilities, and is less likely to do something they aren’t ready for. In addition to knowing aerial, I strongly recommend having at least a base knowledge of rigging. This way the aerialist will know how to check equipment and retire it when needed. All pieces of home equipment should be checked regularly.
Rigging: For any home rigging system, I always recommend using a portable rig, as it is built to withstand the force used during aerial. Portable rigs are specifically designed for aerial use and are a very safe option for a home rig. There is also the option to establish a rig point in a home or building structure. This is by far the more expensive option and leaves room for more potential flaws. The act of building a rig or adding one to a preexisting structure requires a structural engineer to ensure that the structure will be able to withstand certain levels of force, which are many times the weight of the aerialist. Creating a rig in an existing structure also requires a professional rigger to install the actual point.
Rigging from trees may seem like an accessible way to rig outdoors but even the most sturdy looking trees could be unsafe. It is practically impossible to know the weight limit and strength of a tree and even the smallest amount of force could end in disaster. Sudden Limb Drop Disease is when a perfectly healthy looking tree cuts off the nutrients of a branch and eventually drops that part of the tree. This means that not only is the aerialist falling but in a worst case scenario, a tree branch is coming down with them. It is also unwise to rig from places such as bridges, signs, or any other structure that hasn’t been inspected and approved by a structural engineer. The direction and amount of force placed on a structure during aerial is not what most structures are designed for.
Other Equipment: To practice aerial safely at home, there must be a mat. I am a firm believer of the phrase “better safe than sorry.” A crash pad is the best option of mat for most occasions. I have seen several posts on social media where people use yoga or thin folding mats. This is not a safe alternative when doing aerial.
The quality of equipment is also essential to a safe aerial rig. There are several different websites that sell quality rigging, my favorite being Aerial Essentials. Make sure to do extensive research about what is best for each specific type of rigging, and ask your studio or trainer where they buy their equipment. Amazon is not a good source for aerial equipment. The Safety in Aerial Arts Facebook group has a lot of information and advice on how to safely do aerial and is a good source for information.
Finally, there should never be an occasion where someone is performing aerial without someone else present in case of an emergency. This goes for at home rigs as well as studio learning.
I hope this is helpful to anyone considering at home equipment. Practicing aerial at home is a great way to keep up conditioning but should be done with caution, and only by experienced aerialists. Please consult a trainer before beginning the process of getting a home rig.
A circus legend’s story in quotes by Emily Fulton
When you think of Judy Finelli, what comes to mind? I’m guessing your response was either “Hold up; you didn’t tell me this was a test” or “I have no clue, tell me more.” Those are both completely valid responses, and probably how I would have answered that question just six months ago. Keep reading if you want to learn about this incredible woman.
You will notice that most of the article consists of quotes from an interview I did with her, with a bit of commentary from myself. I chose to do this because I wanted you to have the opportunity to hear her story in her words, to get a sense of her personality and texture.
As you read, I want you to keep in mind that I can’t capture even a fraction of her story in such a short article. It would be an overestimation to say that I even scratched the surface of all of her accomplishments. Because of that, I will be focusing on what I think you would be most interested in out of the many topics we discussed and thoughts she shared with me in our interview last November.
And now, Judy Finelli. Enjoy!
She Started Young:
“I saw the Beatles and Elvis Presley, but every week they would have some incredible circus acts from the international circus community.”
When Judy was a young girl, she would watch circus shows on television. These shows were her first exposure to circus arts, and she quickly fell in love with the art through the TV screen.
“I understood what the jugglers were doing as I watched them.” As a circus artist, I can say that is a true gift. She was very talented from a young age, despite not receiving a formal circus education. She even self-taught herself how to juggle when she was only six years old.
“So it was kind of a secret little thing that I did because back in those days, I’m sure it wasn’t proper for a girl to juggle.” Wow, could you imagine having to juggle secretly at six years old? It makes me grateful that the youth circus movement has sprung up to give us a place to showcase our skills!
Theater School:
“In ’66, I went to theater school, and the first day we supposedly learned to juggle, but I could already do it…. And, it was kind of funny because I liked acting, but I was much more taken with the circus.”
Luckily for Judy, her acting program had a circus component, and, as you can imagine, she took to it quite readily. At that school, she met Hovey Burgess, whom she was married to for a time. Together, they traveled and sought to bring their abstract “New Circus Movement” to life.
Discovering an Undiscovered Artform:
“If you cut away all the junk surrounding Ringling Brothers, all the filler and all the spectacles, and just focused on the good acts and even kind of got rid of the animals, there was something there that was basically an undiscovered art form” Judy firmly believed that there was much more to circus than animals and flashy costumes. This belief prompted her to set out with Hovey Burgess to discover that art form, which later became known as the New Circus Movement. The New Circus Movement became what we now call Contemporary Circus. “Hovey was one of the fathers of the new movement, and I played my part.”
International Inspiration:
Judy and Hovey traveled around the world to see how circus was used and performed in other cultures. These travels greatly influenced and inspired them to develop the New Circus Movement back in America.
She specifically spoke about the incredible circus artists of Russia. “They were very wise; they told folktales. They were very inventive with their use of the circus, and it was like being in another world.” She went on to say, “the artistry that we found was something that we wanted for the United States.”
Another fascinating vignette that she mentioned about her time in Russia is that the circus itself was used as a force for political change. “If there was a government official whose name was Zelenyy (pronounced ze-len-i), which means green in Russian, and they didn’t like him, they painted a pig green and had him run across the ring.” While this action may seem small and indirect, it would have been considered a daring act of protest in the Soviet Union. Keep in mind that when she visited Russia, it was called the Soviet Union, and there was much less freedom of opinion allowed in those days than there is now.
They also “saw the Chinese acrobatic troupe and a Taiwanese troupe early on.”
Starting Off In America:
“In the beginning, it wasn’t so easy.” At first, they struggled to book events in America. Hiring circus artists to perform at events or functions was a very new concept at that time because many people were used to only seeing the circus when it came to town as part of a touring show, and they were surprised that Judy and Hovey wanted money to show their skills. They eventually decided to form a troupe and performed in Central Park, making money by passing the hat. I found this video online of them performing. Check it out; you’re in for a real treat! https://www.vdb.org/collection/browser-artist-list/circo-dellarte-circus-arts
“Nobody had ever seen circus activities up that close before, and the response was quite positive….. It was for adults, for kids, old people. Everybody seemed to like it.” The nature of their performance was up close and personal, a stark contrast from many shows of the time where the audience was far away from the performers.
Branching Out:
Judy had no idea the New Circus Movement would spread so quickly and grow to be large as it is today. “I never could have predicted that in 2021 there would be this tremendous number of youth circuses, circus schools, informal recreational training sessions, people teaching juggling to corporations… using it to help with depression.”
She went on to say, “It kind of kept branching out and branching out… I think it spread very quickly.”
Thoughts on Clowning:
“I think that people underestimate how difficult it is and how rare it is to be truly funny, and when you see it, it’s great.” You may be surprised to learn that it wasn’t common for girls or women to clown back in the day. I mean, how weird is that!? Judy, being the trailblazer she is, hired female clowns anyway. When I asked her if she was concerned that people would steer clear of her show because of the female clowns, she replied in her typical spunky fashion, saying, “I didn’t care.”
The Future Of Circus? Us:
Judy coaches circus to kids now and loves to watch youth perform tricks, saying, “I don’t get tired of that…just kind of watching their discovery.” She thinks it is “beautiful in its way, and it can transform people; you can see them change.”
Her Message to the Youth:
“Just work hard. And trust your instincts even if they might seem to you wild and crazy or who knows what, because you have to break the rules and that’s how innovations happen. By breaking the rules and understanding – maybe for safety you don’t break rules – but for other things, for ideas you might have, try ’em out. When you’re young, try things out because you never know. And really pay attention to the audience, and the audience will tell you a lot; you’ll get a lot of information from them.”
Furthermore, she says that “It’s all great to watch; it’s all been great to watch what’s happening in circus.”
Throughout this entire article, I never brought up that she was the first female president of the International Jugglers’ Association, co-founded the San Francisco School for Circus Arts, was the artistic director of the Pickle Family Circus, performed on Sesame Street, or any of the countless other accomplishments she has had. I didn’t mention that she now has Multiple Sclerosis and had to sit in a special chair with a voice-activated computer throughout the duration of our Zoom interview. This woman casually talked about how she could pass ten clubs only after I asked her specifically about it and was careful to tell me she never performed ten clubs and had only done it in practice. I didn’t mention all of these things in the body of the article because it was clear from my conversation with Judy that they are not what define her. She isn’t one to brag or ask for favors. If I remember one thing about this interview, I will remember how humble she is.
Thank you, Judy. Thank you for your contributions to the art form that has stolen my heart and those of many other youth. Thank you for being one of the kindest, humblest circus artists I know. It isn’t easy to believe that I didn’t even know that you existed just a year ago, and now I have had the honor of interviewing you.
When I think of Judy Finelli, I think of her charisma, ingenuity, and grit. I think of someone with a great imagination who wasn’t afraid to use it and changed circus forever. She is a person who has significantly contributed to the progression of circus, a true modern legend. Now let’s return to our original question: What thoughts come to mind when you think of Judy Finelli? Let me know in the comments!
Here are some fantastic internet resources where you can learn more about Judy Finelli or Hovey Burgess if you are interested:
http://stilljudy.com/still-judy/
http://historicaljugglingprops.com/judy-finelli/
https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Judy_Finelli
https://www.vdb.org/collection/browser-artist-list/circo-dellarte-circus-arts
By Jocelyn Bridges
We know that the internet can be very beneficial for many things: publicity, getting discovered, making friends/connecting with people, and widening your knowledge. But, what about the downsides? For example, getting publicity from unwanted people, viruses, and other potential dangers are all problematic. Here are 3 ways to protect yourself from these unwanted problems.
1. Password protected – As technology progresses and gets more advanced, so do hackers and scammers. Do not share your passwords with anyone (not even your friends)! Make sure you have hard enough passwords that no one can guess but also not so hard that you will forget them.
2. Be nice! – Treating people the way you want to be treated isn’t just the Golden Rule, it’s true and important to remember. Annoying, rude, and hateful people have higher chances of getting attacked for their behaviors anyway. If someone is annoying you, just block them! You don’t have to put up with them, engaging in bad behavior just gives them satisfaction. If it does get really bad, make sure to tell a trusted adult or friend.
3. What’s their motive? – All of the social media compliments and love can definitely feel flattering. However, it’s important to ask yourself, “Do they truly like me and find me impressive, or do they have other intentions?” Having a huge fan base of supportive people who find you and your talents “impressive” is not always ideal. Not all the likes, comments, and follows are from the kind of fans you want to have.
I hope this was helpful and gave you some more ways to be safe on the internet. Good luck as you continue on your circus journey!
Congrats to the February #AYCOPhotoContest winner Kirkos from Circus Up’s community troupe! Kirkos was so excited to perform in Commonwealth Circus Center’s student show! Thank you to Tess Scheflan for capturing this moment. Kirkos is continuing to work hard, stay curious about each other’s differences, and celebrate each other’s unique strengths.
AYCO Monthly Newsletter
AYCO Youth Membership costs $35 per year and is for anyone 21 and under and college students who are passionate about circus arts. This is your chance to plug into the national circus community, network and show off your circus pride.
Membership benefits include:
Surprise swag mailed to your door three times a year
Eligibility to perform in AYCO event showcases
Discounts on events and merchandise
Monthly email AYCOgram newsletter filled with circus opportunities, news, and videos just for you!
Want to join? Grab an adult and click the button below!
ACE Discussion Series 2022
| The American Circus Educators Association is excited to present a bimonthly online discussion series for continuing education and professional development for circus educators. Each session is based on a particular topic and facilitated by a community expert in that topic! Attendance is FREE to current ACE/AYCO members. Non-members pay a small sliding-scale fee, $5-20. Space per session is limited. Sessions are one hour long, every other month on the second Tuesday, at 12pm Eastern Time/11am Central Time/10am Mountain Time/9am Pacific Time. The sessions are not recorded, in order to create a space where attendees are comfortable participating fully in discussion – though some of the facilitator’s introduction may be recorded and made available to registrants after the session. Check out the upcoming events below! Tuesday March 8th, 2022: Legal Obligations & Preventative Practices – AbuseAll instructors, studio owners, and circus community leaders have a duty to prevent and respond to abuse. This session will summarize federal and state laws related to reporting, prevention, and response to abuse, and raise best practices to consider. Q&A and discussion opportunities will allow all attendees to get community and expert input on the most critical aspects of our jobs and identify the growth opportunities in your abuse prevention and risk management practices. Tuesday May 10th, 2022: Supporting Students with Anxiety and PanicThis discussion will start with an expanded excerpt from the longer training “Unafraid – Mental Health Tools for Circus Communities”. We will discuss elements of anxiety and panic as adaptive traits, and what happens when they become overwhelming or disordered in circus students. Participants will leave with concrete tools for supporting their students who experience anxiety and panic, as well as tools they can use to soothe and ground themselves as needed. |
| Hup Squad 2022! |
| Are you ready to meet the Hup Squad?!?! Check out the latest blog post to meet each of the insanely talented AYCO Hup Squad members and support them on their Circus Journey! |
Safety Spotlight
The Circus Project is a non-profit circus school located in Portland, Oregon dedicated to transforming lives through the circus arts. They offer camps, classes, and workshops in a variety of disciplines for all ages and levels, as well as intensive circus training companies for youth and pre-professional adults. The Circus Project also maintains thriving community partnerships, a robust scholarship program, and strives to infuse all programming with a commitment to equity and access. The Circus Project is also dedicated to supporting artistic development through training memberships, performance opportunities and artist residencies.
“Our experience with the entire process of ACE Safety Program certification was truly valuable to our development as a growing circus academy. We at The Circus Project are honored to be recognized as an ACE approved facility.” -Kari Hunter, The Circus Project
New Circademic Research Survey Needs Volunteers
| Are you an adult recreational aerial arts student?Your help is needed for an academic study to explore injury rates and types. This is a volunteer study for a graduate student project consisting of an online survey taken once a month for four consecutive months that should take less than an hour of your time. All data is anonymous and this project has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Concordia University St. Paul. The goal of the study is to establish injury rates and generate data that could be used to improve access to aerial arts along with the potential to improve safety for recreational classes. Open to persons who are 18 years old or above, taking aerial arts classes with an instructor, are not seeking to become a professional in the next year or have not been a professional for at least a year. To help become a valuable part of this “circademic” study or for more information, please follow the QR code or link at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IRAAconsent |
2022 Circus International Film Festival Tickets On Sale Now!
Tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Circus International Film Festival, which runs online from Pie Day (March 13) to World Circus Day (April 16), at https://filmfreeway.com/CircusInternationalFilmFestival/tickets
Please contact circusinternationalfilmfest@gmail.com for sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, and follow @circusinternationalfilmfestival on FB and IG, or visit http://www.circusinternationalfilmfest.com for more information.
Cirques Experience’s 2022 Wheel Weekend
| The 2022 Cirques Experience is hosting the annual March Weekend. Held in the north side of Chicago, Wheel Weekend is a great opportunity to expand circus artists’ skills and knowledge in the world of wheel. There are several workshops including Cyr wheel, Gym Wheel, Judging, Coaching and More! Whether the focus is performance, competition, physical fitness, or merely FUN, all are welcome! Whether a beginner or a professional this is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills. When: March 18, 8:00AM – March 20, 5:00PM Where: 5944 N. Magnolia Ave | Chicago, IL, 60660 | USA More information can be found below as well as registration for Wheel Weekend. https://www.usawheelgymnastics.com/wheel-weekends https://www.cirquesexperience.org/event-details/2022-chicago-march-wheel-weekend |
Circus Smirkus Camp Registration is OPEN!
At Smirkus Camp, kids develop new ways to challenge themselves, learn skills like teamwork and problem solving, get terrific physical conditioning, and enjoy fun summer camp traditions like singalongs, costume themed dinners, kickball, and more!
This summer, Circus Smirkus is offering the following sessions at Smirkus Camp, including placement-based camps that require a video submission, as marked with ★ below:
Smirkling Camp | 1 day | June 18 | Ages 5-11 Just Added
All Levels Circus Camp | 1 week | June 19-June 24 | Ages 8-16
All Levels Circus Camp | 2 weeks | June 26-July 8 | Ages 8-16
Intermediate Camp | 2 weeks | July 10-22 | Ages 12-18
★ Intermediate Skills Intensive | 3 weeks | July 24-August 12 | Ages 12-18
★ Advanced Ensemble | 3 weeks | July 24-August 12 | Ages 12-18
★ Advanced Individual Acts | 3 weeks | July 24-August 12 | Ages 12-18
Get more information and sign up at www.smirkus.org/camp-sessions
NECCA Presents: The Circus Spectacular
| Tickets are on sale now for the Circus Spectacular, NECCA’s dazzling fundraising show starring guest artists from circuses around the world! This is a unique opportunity to see some of today’s most renowned high flying aerialists, acrobats, and jugglers in Brattleboro, VT on the Latchis Theater stage, and a live stream option if you prefer to watch from the comfort of your own home. Don’t miss an evening of incredible, world class entertainment for the entire family! WHEN: Sat, March 5 at 7:30 pm (in person & streamed live) and Sun, March 6 at 1:00 pm (in person only) WHERE: Online and at The Latchis Theater 50 Main St. Brattleboro, VT 05301 COST: $15-50 (all sales benefit NECCA’s scholarships and programming) TICKETS: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/new-england-center-for-circus-arts/circus-spectacular-60657/tickets MORE INFO: https://necenterforcircusarts.org/about/circus-spectacular-2022 Share the Facebook event with your friends and schedule a watch party: https://fb.me/e/2WurrftxR Volunteer for a FREE ticket: https://necca.ivolunteer.com/event_cs2022 |
NECCA Youth Circus Camp
| In our youth camps for ages 3-17, your child will receive top-notch instruction in a noncompetitive environment. They’ll get a sense of pride and increased confidence as they learn communication skills, perseverance, and self-determination, as well as how to be a spectacular acrobat, aerialist, juggler, or clown. We honor the traditions of the circus by including activities to develop creative and performance skills, share the history of circus while passing along fun circus traditions. Students will work in groups by age and ability for the best learning experience. We work with the energy of our youngest students by including separate art activities and quiet time suited to their learning needs. Sign up for 1, 2, or 3+ days – each day will include a new and fun experience for each student. WHEN: February 21 – 25, 2022 from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Full-Day Camp Schedule: * 8:00am–8:30am: Drop off at NECCA * 8:30am–10:00am: Rotating activities including trapeze, fabric, lyra, juggling, mini-tramp, balancing, stilting, clowning, and acrobatics * 10:00am–10:15am: snack * 10:15am–12:00pm: Rotating activities including trapeze, fabric, lyra, juggling, mini trap, balancing, stilting, clowning & acrobatics * 12:00pm: Pick up WHERE: 10 Town Crier Dr Brattleboro VT 05301 COST: $50/day REGISTER: https://necenterforcircusarts.asapconnected.com/#CourseGroupID=42318 MORE INFO & COVID POLICIES: https://necenterforcircusarts.org/youth-camps Email: info@necenterforcircusarts.org | Call: 802-254-9780 |
Game of the Month: Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better – Conditioning!
Materials Needed: Just a partner!
How to Play: In partners, person A chooses an exercise, like squats, and performs one squat. Then your partner has to do two squats. Back to person A for turn, do three squats. Continue alternating 10 turns. Next time, let person B choose an exercise, like pushups, and start the challenge.
Variations: Play each round until one person can’t continue. Try in groups of three. Play with more people too, and have each person take turns doing the same amount of reps (everyone does one squat, everyone does two squats, etc.).
CSAW Microgrants for US Circus Artists of Color
CSAW – Connection Circus Students Around the World met their fundraising goal for the second year in a row and it means that they can provide another year of Microgrants! To be eligible to apply for a CSAW Microgrant for US Circus Artists of Color you must identify as a person of color who is a citizen, resident alien, or permanent resident of the United States looking to further their education in circus and/or fund their circus related projects and needs. All applicants must be 14 years or older to apply for and receive a Microgrant. Applications are open from the 1st-15th of every month. For more information click here.
Discounts for AYCO/ACE Members
Want to get discounts with these awesome Circus vendors? Discounts are just another awesome perk of being an ACE member. Become a member today!
AYCO News Article Submission
Interested in including your news or events relevant to the national circus community in AYCO/ACE’s newsletters? Send your submissions to communications@americanyouthcircus.org by the 2nd Friday of the month to be included in our monthly newsletter. Submissions should be no longer than 150 words, written in the third person, and include appropriate links and contact information if relevant. We cannot include PDFs or images, but we can link to them. Please also indicate if you would like your submission included in the AYCOgram (directed towards youth), ACE News (directed towards organizations and educators), or both.
Thank You to our Gold Members!
We Are The American Youth Circus Organization!
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EMILY!
Hi! My name is Emily Fulton (she/her), and I am a 15 year old circus artist from New Hampshire. I fell in love with circus arts and set my heart on performing professionally ever since I attended the Silver Lining Circus Camp in the summer of 2017. Now, I perform with the Flying Gravity Circus Blue Troupe. I have enjoyed taking advantage of the many fantastic online classes offered from all over the world thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and am grateful I have the opportunity to learn from even more coaches than before. My aerial passion is lyra, but when I’m back on earth contortion and hand balancing are great substitutes. Outside of circus you will most likely find me snuggling with my cats, nerding out about circus fun facts, or staying up way too late reading books. I am honored to be joining AYCO Hup Squad for a 3rd year and am excited to step into the role of AYCO youth Social Media Intern!
LYRA!!!
My name is Lyra, I’m 15 years old, and I live in Culver City California. I started circus when I was 6. As a kid, I was always on top of play structures instead of inside of them, leading my parents to decide that I needed to do my crazy shenanigans somewhere safe.
I practice circus at Le Petite Cirque in LA. It’s quite hard for me to pick my favorite thing to do in circus because I love a wide variety of circus arts, but I’d say duo straps or aerial hoop are probably the most fun for me.
Outside of circus I am on my school track team; I play soccer; I play piano, guitar, ukulele, and sometimes drums; and I also love to surf!
JOCELYN!!!
Hi! My name is Jocelyn Bridges, I will be 12 years old on February 19th and my pronouns are she/her. I live in Williamsburg, Virginia. I have been dancing since I was 2, I started doing acro/contortion when I was 5, and I have been training in aerial since I was 9. I train at Transcendence Aerial & Dance and Trapeze School New York (D.C.) My favorite circus skills and specialties are lyra, contortion/hand-balancing, acro, and dance.
My other hobbies are reading, video games, playing with my dogs, and hanging out with my friends!
ANNIKA!!!
My name is Annika and my pronouns are she/her. I am 17 years old and have been doing aerial since I was 5. I live in Atlanta, Georgia and train / teach at Challenge Aerial and The Artists Asylum. My main apparatus are silks, hammock and Lyra.
I also do CrossFit, weightlifting and recently ran my first half marathon!
DAISY!!!
Hi there! I’m Daisy, 16 years old, and my pronouns are she/her. I live in Chicago and train at Aloft Circus Arts, MSA, and Chicago Center for Dynamic Circus. I started doing aerials when I was about 3 and absolutely fell in love with silks. My favorite skills to train are silks, straps, and trampoline, but I work on a lot of other skills as well, including handstands, clown and teeterboard. Even though I love my circus community in Chicago, I’m grateful to have trained in the summers with Circus Smirkus and San Diego Circus Center.
Outside of circus, I really love to read and I recently learned how to cross stitch for fun! On Instagram I’m @tweedledaisy
OLIVIA!!!
Hey my name is Olivia (she/her) and I am a 17 year old from Atlanta, Georgia. I specialize in silks and hammock but also do lyra, juggling, and hooping. I have been doing aerial since I was 5 and mainly train and teach at Challenge Aerial and The Artist Asylum.
Outside of circus I love to weight lift, do CrossFit, and I just ran the Disney half marathon! My Instagram is @circus_twins_atl.
MARAH!!!
My name is Marah (but Mars is my nickname), my pronouns are she/her, and I am 14 years old. I live in New York on Staten Island. I’ve only been doing circus for about three years but I’m so passionate about it. My favorite circus skill is probably contortion because a like seeing the progress I’ve made.
I also love love love reading and artsy things. I’m so glad to be a part of this!
AUDREY!!!
Hi! My name is Audrey and I just turned 16. I live In LA and am a part of Le Petit Cirque, and I’ve been doing circus on and off since I was about 8. I really love exploring all types of art subjects and mediums and it’s really become one of my passions.
I also have always loved music, and I’m currently in a band that I sing in. I’m excited to be a part of this community!
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