Lady Circus is a

performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...

troupe in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

composed of eight ladies who perform solo, in small groups, or in a variety show setting in their entirety. The troupe was founded by Anya Sapozhnikova in New York in 2007. Lady Circus, self-described as "an intoxicating cocktail of riot and glamour," considers themselves to be, "a mix of sideshow, brooklyn grit, and 1920s gilded decadence finished off with a modern edge." Their performances use circus arts to entertain and address political and social issues. Members have been sighted using

stilts Stilts are poles, posts or pillars that allow a person or structure to stand at a height above the ground. In flood plains, and on beaches or unstable ground, buildings are often constructed on stilts to protect them from damage by water, wav ...

hula hoop A hula hoop is a toy hoop (rhythmic gymnastics), hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck. It can also be wheeled along the ground like a wheel with careful execution and practice. They have been used by children and adults since ...

s, fire fans, poi,

aerial silk Aerial silks (also known as aerial contortion, aerial ribbons, aerial tissues, fabric, ribbon, or ''tissu'') is a type of performance in which one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a specialist fabric. The fabric may b ...

lyra , from ; pronounced: ) is a small constellation. It is one of the 48 listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the modern 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Lyra was often represented on star ...

trapeze A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes, metal straps, or chains, from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or ...

contortion Contortion (sometimes contortionism) is a performance art in which performers called contortionists showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility. Contortion acts often accompany acrobatics, Circus (performing art), circus acts, street ...

, glass walking,

sword swallowing Sword swallowing is a skill in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus to the stomach. This feat is not swallowing in the traditional sense. The natural processes that constitute swallowing do not take place, bu ...

fire eating Fire eating is the act of putting a flaming object into the mouth and extinguishing it. A fire eater can be an entertainer, a street performer, part of a sideshow or a circus act but has also been part of spiritual tradition in India. Physic ...

rhythmic gymnastics Rhythmic gymnastics is a sport in which gymnasts perform individually or in groups on a floor with an apparatus: hoop (rhythmic gymnastics), hoop, ball (rhythmic gymnastics), ball, Clubs (rhythmic gymnastics), clubs, ribbon (rhythmic gymnastics), ...

and combinations thereof across a variety of venues including warehouse parties, galas, benefits, parades, art openings, and private events presenting a diverse skill-set. Lady Circus also participates in, and at times hosts, "circus skill share."

Circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicy ...

skill share is a free community effort where performers gather in a public place with their performance tools and share their knowledge and skills with people of the community and with each other. Teaching circus to children and adults that otherwise may not have exposure or opportunity to experience circus arts and providing fun opportunities to improve body strength,

coordination Coordination may refer to: * Coordination (linguistics), a compound grammatical construction * Coordination complex, consisting of a central atom or ion and a surrounding array of bound molecules or ions ** A chemical reaction to form a coordinati ...

, and

balance Balance may refer to: Common meanings * Balance (ability) in biomechanics * Balance (accounting) * Balance or weighing scale * Balance, as in equality (mathematics) or equilibrium Arts and entertainment Film * Balance (1983 film), ''Balance'' ( ...

Performers

* Anya Sapozhnikova * Jordann Baker * Kae Burke * Claire de Luxe * Ali Schmitz aka Ali Luminescent * Ellie Mio * Cassandra Siegler * Stephanie Radia * Vena Von Cava * Lori Barber * Ashley Perez

History

Lady Circus performed traditionally one gig at a time, tailoring their acts to each performance space and purpose. As their rehearsal space at the House of YES was rebuilt after a devastating fire in April 2008, their ability to create a full stage show came to fruition. The members of Lady Circus are often hired to perform at sophisticated Manhattan nightclubs,

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the American-based department store chain Macy's. The Parade first took place in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States ...

, concerts, large summer festivals, and corporate events. They also performed in warehouse parties around Brooklyn. In January 2009, Lady Circus completed its first full stage production for The Sky Box Aerial Theatre that operates at the new House of YES. The show was titled "Lady Circus and The Mickey Western Band Present: The Rusted Gun Saloon", and it was a tumultuous tale of love, jealousy, greed, and violence including live music and circus. The show was directed and produced as a collaborative piece between Lady Circus, Lauren Larken of Artistic Evolution, and The Mickey Western Band. In May 2009, Lady Circus collaborated with FUCT to produce its second full stage production, "Cirque du Quoi?!?", a twisted tale with acrobatics and sexual humor. The show was directed by Jeff Glaser. June 2009: Lady Circus joined the

Bonnaroo Bonnaroo (or Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival) is an American annual four-day music festival developed and founded by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Bonnaroo has taken place at what is now Great Stage Park, a 700-acre (280 ha) far ...

Buskers in Manchester Tennessee for daily parades and a midnight variety show. October 2009: Lady Circus teamed up with the creatrix of Desert Sin and the Mystery Bird Puppet Theatre to perform "Twitchers" A theatrical immersion of dance, puppetry, aerial, live music, spectacle, and pure emotion. A tour of birds, dreams, and women who take flight. November 2009: Members of Lady Circus entertained at the New York

MoMA The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...

Film Benefit : A tribute to

Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and producer. Known for popularizing Goth subculture, Goth culture in the American film industry, Burton is famous for his Gothic film, gothic horror and dark fantasy films. ...

December 2009: House of Yes Christmas Spectacular : Lady Circus and Friends. A festive, in-your-face holiday extravaganza! Overflowing with glitter, glamour, sex, comedy, matching costumes, synchronized dancing, and theatrics. Guest appearances include but not limited to Desert Sin Dance Company, The Love Show, Jenny Rocha and the Painted Ladies, Mike Richter, Graham Skipper of FUCT, Kayti Bunny, Pearl Pistol, and Band of Bicycles. February 2010: Members of Lady Circus partook in "The Wonderneath" a magical circus theatre adventure written and produced by Ali Schmitz and featuring Jordann Baker, Claire de Luxe, Ellie Mio, and joined by Kai Altair and Ateles Aerial. Music was performed by Tin Pan. May 2010: "The Horror Show" October 2010: Kae Burke of Lady Circus wrote, produced, and starred in "The Circus of Circus" a dramatic comedy based on George Orwells "Animal Farm"

Collaborators with Lady Circus

* Lauren Larken * Justin Lange * Aaron Goldsmith * Justin Aubuchon * Akim Funk Buddha * Mickey Western

References

# https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/nyregion/18circus.html "Three Rings (and Then Some)" The New York Times, September 17, 2008 # http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/essential-nyc/68621/new-york-essential-underground-venues "Essential NYC", Time Out New York / Issue 684 : Nov 6–12, 2008

External links

Official Lady Circus website

House of YES website
{{Authority control Culture of New York City Culture of Brooklyn Entertainers from New York City American performance artists American circuses Performance artist collectives