Let's Talk Circus: Veronica Blair ^expired Free

Join Circus Smirkus and special circus guests from around the world as we talk about circus adventures with new and familiar faces and learn about circus far and wide! Let's Talk Circus is a brand new Smirkus initiative to promote conversation and awareness amongst circus folks working across different genres and with different companies, and to engage multiple viewpoints on the circus arts and how circus has helped us grow as individuals and artists.

Our first guest, Veronica Blair will be interviewed by Smirkus alum Tristan Cunningham. Join us on May 15th at 6:00PM ET as we livestream this not-to-be-missed, inaugural meeting of the circus minds!

About Veronica Blair
Veronica started her acrobatic career at the age of 14 with Make*A*Circus, a community based circus. In addition she trained Chinese Acrobatics under Master Lu Yi with the San Francisco Youth Circus. Her first professional performance was at the age of 17, making her one of the youngest professional African-American trapeze artists in the U.S. Veronica was selected by Cedric Walker of Universoul Circus, as a single trapeze artist andwas the show’s resident aerialist for 5 years.

Veronica has since performed with several other renowned groups and productions around the globe such as AntiGravity, Universal Studios Japan and Warner Bros. Music. She has been a part of Germany’s most successful circus show, “AFRIKA! AFRIKA!”, and was the lead aerialist in KAMAU’s “BooDha” music video with over 100k views on YouTube.

Expanding her portfolio beyond performing, Veronica launched the development of “The Uncle Junior Project” in 2010. The ongoing documentary shines a light on the careers of African-American circus performers, including Emanual “Uncle Junior” Ruffin who remained largely uncredited for his contributions to American Circus until after his death. In 2017 she was invited to speak at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival about her experience as producer and director of “The Uncle Junior Project”, and served as organizer and moderator on a panel highlighting the African-American circus experience.