Goodbye 2020!–An Upside Down Year for Circus
2020–it’s been a year! Whatever role you play in the performing arts world, your work has likely been heavily impacted by the events of this year. We know because we’ve been reporting about it all along, and have had meaningful conversations with our panel participants (all 146 of them!) about how we’re all doing. From mental and physical health, to social issues, to finances and politics–we delved deep into 2020’s challenges in the circus sector. Overall, we spoke to cirus professionals from 25 countries, representing our diverse community.
As CircusTalk and the circus sector prepares to enter 2021, it is time to look back on the year behind us and to consider what we learned about our industry, our art form and ourselves. How have we adapted? Who have we stayed connected with? Has the circus world grown closer in times of difficulty and struggle? As artists turned inward to find new creative angles of expression, and companies scrambled to keep circus relevant or even partially funded during a year of no shows, we also are looking ahead with hope for the return of live, in-person performances to tents and stages worldwide. But even when the pandemic fades away at last, the circus will be forever altered by the events that caused us to pause in 2020. We take a look back in this video.
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Many thanks to our moderators and panelists in 2020!
Aaron Marquise–Founder ofContemporary Circus & Immersive Arts Center (CCIAC), Ecole Nationale de Cirque Graduate, Clown, United States
Abigail Williams-Joseph–Dancer, Pole Artist, Aerialist, CSAW grant recipient, United States
Adolfo Rossamundo-Founder of INCAM (the International Network of Circus Arts Magazines) and Juggling Magazine,Italy
Adrian Berry-Artistic Director and Joint CEO Jackson’s Lane, UK
Adrian Porter (he/him)-Director of Higher EducationNational Centre for Circus Arts (NCCA), London, UK
Agustin Rodriguez Beltrán–Circus Artist, graduate from ENC in Canada, from Mexico
Alexandra Royer-Circus Artist Barcode Circus Company, Canada & France
Alisan Funk–Head of Bachelor of Circus Arts at DOCH,Sweden
Alsenny Sylla–Circus Artist, Guinea, Africa
Amy Chen (she/her/hers)-Independent Circus Arts Teacher and Performer, currently working with Primrose Hill School and,Bindlestiff Family Cirkus After School,New York, USA
Anahareo Dölle-Founder of St. John’s International Circus Fest in Newfoundland, Canada
Andréane Leclerc–Artist, Director Nadère Arts Vivants, Montréal, Canada Antonella
Casella–Curator of Circus Arts Hub, Circus Advocate, Producer, Director, Dramaturg and Artist, Melbourne, Australia
Atte Niittykangas–Physiotherapist, Finland
Aurora Villarreal-Covarrubias, Social circus trainer, Mexico
Betka Ticha–Circus graduate from Codarts in the Netherlands, from the Czech Republic
Bruno Costa-Co-organizer of LEME Contemporary Circus Festival in Ílhavo, Portugal
Busty Beatz–Music Director and Co-creator at Hot BrownHoney,Meanjin/Lands of the Jagera People, Australia
Cecilia Echevarria Morales–Circus artist & graduate from ESACin Belgium
Charlotte Pescayre–Circus Researcher in Mexico
Chris Berry–Journalist and Historian, Circus Historical Society Board Trustee, I Heart media, United States
Courtney Johnson–Former Gymnast, Doctor of Physical Therapy, USA Gymnastics Judge & Lecturer and Brown Girls Do Gymnastics Director of Sports Medicine, USA
Cox Ahlers–Chairwoman, Coordinator ofBundesverband Zeitgenössischer Zirkus e.V.(Federal association of contemporary circus) in Germany
Dan Roberts-Executive director CircEsteem,USA
Deb Wilks-Producer at Cluster Arts, a circus event and project management company in Brisbane, Australia
Delaney Bayles–Juggler, graduate from Circadium Circus School, United States
Delphine Cezard-Circus Artist, Canada
Diane Goodman (she/they)—Diversity and Social Justice Trainer and Consultant, Nyack NY, USA
Diego Salles–Cirus Artist, Brazil
Devon Taylor–Creative Producer, Women’s Circus, Australia
Dominque Jando–Founder and Curator of Circopedia.org, Former Associate Artistic Director of the – Big Apple Circus, United States/France
Donald Lehn, Director of Escuela de Circo Carampa in Madrid, Spain
Dr. Emily Scherb-the Circus Doc in USA
Dr. Fleur van Rens-Lecturer Sports Psychology, Academic Chair of the Elite Athlete Program, College of Science, Health, Engineering & Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
Dr. Jameta Nicole Barlow-PhD, MPH (she/her/hers) — Assistant Professor of Writing, Women’s Leadership and Health Policy and Management, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
Dr. Jennifer Crane–Cirque Physio in USADr. Kate F. Hays Ph.D.,C.Psych.,CMPC–The Performing Edge,Toronto, Canada
Dr. Kristy Seymour–Director/Head Trainer- Circus Stars,Lecturer- Griffith College, Adjunct Researcher-Griffith University, Australia
Dr. Louis Patrick Leroux–Founding Director of the Montreal Working Group on Circus. Professor at Concordia University and Associate Researcher and teacher at Ecole nationale de cirque, Montréal, QC, Canada
Dr. Stacey L. Mascia-Susice (she/her/hers)-Professor of English, Humanities Department, North Country Community College
Dr. Stephanie Greenspan–Circus Movement and Injury Research in USA
Dr. Tobie Stein-Sociologist and Professor of Theater Emerita at Brooklyn College, The City University of New York
Emily Loe–Circus Artist and graduate from NICA in Australia
Emmanuel Bochud-Former Manager of Public Affairs and Social Responsibility Cirque du Soleil, CRITAC Ecole National de Cirque, Canada
Eric Bates-Circus Artits, Barcode Circus Company, USA
Éric Langlois-Executive Director of Ecole nationale de cirque, Montréal, QC, Canada
Fanny Kerwich–Founder and Creative & Executive Artistic Director of Lone Star Circus Arts Center, Inc., USA/France
Fez Fa’anana–Founder, Creative Director, Artist, Briefs Factory, Australia
Fiona Bradley (they/them)-Circus Artist, Chicago, IL, USA
Gintarė Masteikaitė-Director,New Baltic Dance and New Circus Weekend in Lithuania
Harley Mann–Circus Artist, Australia
Ingrid Apgar–Circus Artist and graduate from New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study and Circus Warehouse,USA
Isabel Joly–Director at FEDEC in Belgium
Jafet Irizarry- Puerto Rico Educare National Circus Central American Network of social circus, Puerto Rico
Jamie Hodgson (she/her/hers)-Executive Director, New England Center for Circus Arts
Janelle Peters-Circus artist, Therapist LSW, USA Founder of Cirque_Psych on Instagram
Jennifer Miller (she/her/they)-Artistic Director of Circus Amok, USA
Jessica Hentoff-Artistic Director & Founder of Circus Harmony in St; Louis, MI, USA
Joana Dias–Circus Artists, UK
Joanna Haigood–Founder and Artistic Director of Zaccho Dance Theater, San Francisco, California, USA
Joe Pinzon–Artist (aerialist, silks) Writer and Director of Filament, Founder of Short Round Productions,USA
John-Paul Zaccarini (he/him/his)—Circus and Performance Artist, Director and Professor of Performing Arts at Stockholm University of the Arts Stockholm University of the Arts,Stockholm, Sweden
Joi Brown-Artistic Director and Vice President of Programming, Strathmore Hall Foundation,USA
Juanita Cardenas–Artist, Designer,from USA/Colombia
Julia Sanchez-Circus Artist, Mexico
Juno Nedel–Circus Artist and Founder of Grupo Companhia Fundo Mundo – Brazil, South America
Kate Kavanaugh-Editor of the Circus Diaries in the United Kingdom
Kevin Venardos-Producer at The Venardos Circus in the USA
Kiebpoli Calnek (they/them/theirs)–Artistic Director, Black*Acrobat in the USA
Krista Bradley–Director of Programs and Resources at APAP in the USA
Kyran Lee Walton— Ecole Nationale de Cirque Student, CSAW grant recipient, Hand to Hand Balancing, USA
Lauren Eisinger–International Development Manager, Circa, Australia
Laurence Estève-CEO & Co-Founder, Zip Zap Circus School, South Africa
Linda Catalano-Producer, Tour manager for Hot Brown Honey in Australia
Lisa Husseini-CEO of iCadenza and entrepreneur/creative coach, USA
Majo Cazares (she/her/hers)—Circus Artist, Production Manager, Coach, Mexico. Graduate from the Superior School of Circus Arts (ESAC) in Belgium and based in Brussels
Malik Cleveland (he/him)-Dancer/Aerialist,Los Angeles, CA, USA
Marcelo Troncoso–circus researcher in Chile Marco Motta–Circus Artist from Brazil & Spain Maria-Noel Rosas–Circus Director and Manager in Uruguay Marysia Walcerz–Circus Artist and graduate from NECCA in the USA
Mateo Castelblanco–Performing Actor in Colombia
Matt Horton–Independent Artist in Sweden
Matthew Jessner-Senior Artistic Director of Operations at Dragone,Brussels, Belgium
Maya Kesselman–Co-founder of Back Pocket, Acrobat,USA
Melvin Diggs-Circus Artist,USA
Michael Day-London Variety Organizer, Equity Circus Network Contact–London, England
Michael Hottier-Back Pocket,Belgium
Mikey Martins-Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive, Freedom Festival, United Kingdom
Mishannock Bruno Ferrero-Circus Artist,Sweden 
Mohamed Rabah-Executive Director, Palestinian Circus School, Palestine
Monique Martin–Director of Programming at Harlem Stage in the USA
Nathalie Delorme-Communications and Community Engagement OfficerEn Piste,National Circus Arts Alliance, Montréal,Canada
Nicki Miller-Circus artist, Artistic Director of Only Child Aerial Theatre and circus instructor located in New York
Noeleen Fries Neumann- Belfast Community Circus School, Northern Ireland
Noeli Acoba–Circus Artist, Video Editor,from the USA
Osman Khawaja-Executive Director, Phare Ponleau Selpak, Cambodia
Paul Valle–Company Director and Head Rigger, Mexico
Professor Vanessa Toulmin–Chair in Early Film & Popular Entertainment Research Professor and Founder National Fairground & Circus Archive University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Raffaele de Ritis–Historian, Author, Director from Italy
Rhen Molly Miles (she/her)–MSW, CSWA, Pathways Manager at Circus Project and Adjunct Faculty at Portland State University’s School of Social Work, Portland, OR, USA
Rico Jakk-Social Enterprise Re-Educator,Speaker, Coach, founder Dynamix Cic.,United Kingdom
Rodrigo Hernandez–Director ofDokuCirco and circus artist in Mexico
Rodrigo Mallet–Circus Researcher in Brazil
Romina Buscaglia–Circus Artist and Therapist in Chile
Ruby Burgess-Circus Artist, Educator and Writer,Author of Not My Monkey’s Podcast andMonkey See, Monkey Discuss Series on Circus Voices,United Kingdom
Ruth Wikler-Deputy Director of Programming, Circus Arts at La TOHU, andMontréal Complètement Cirque/MICC,in Montreal, Canada
Sean Lomax (he/him/his)—Whistling Artist,USA
Shana Kennedy-Director of Circadium andPhiladelphia School of Circus Arts,USA
Shenea Stiletto (she/her)–World Acrobatic Champion, USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Member and World Class Handbalancer, Instructor, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Sidney Iking Bateman-Circus Artist, WWE Wrestler, USA
Sopha Nem-Circus Artist, Phare Ponleu Selpak, Cambodia
Sosina Wogayehu (she/her/hers)—CEO of the Ethio Circus Entertainment PLC and Director of the Ethiopian Circus Center, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Stephane Segreto-Aguilar Coordinator or Circostrada the European Network of Circus & Street Arts,Paris, France
Steven Santos–Rigger, Fabricator from the United States
Tai-Jung Yu–International Affairs Manager, Resident Dramaturg at Formosa Circus Arts,Taiwan, ASIA
Tara Jacobs (she/her/hers)–Executive Director AYCO/ACE
Tilde Bjorförs–Artistic Director and Founder of Cirkus Cirkör from Sweden
Tim Roberts-Director of École de Cirque de Québec located in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Valentina Barone–Editor of Juggling Magazine in Italy
Valentina Solaris Vodanovic–Independent artist in the United Kingdom
Veronika Stefanova-Director of Cirqueon Center for Contemporary Circus, located in Prague, Czech Republic
Vicente Llorca–Publisher of Zirkolika Circus Arts Magazine in Spain
Victor Bobadilla Parra–Circus Researcher in Chile
Victoria Amedume–Artistic Director of the circus company Upswing, located in the United Kingdom
Vincent Messager-Director of Dolce Vita Spectacles touring agency located in Montreal, Canada
Vincent Poliquin-Simms–Director of Quatuor Stomp in Canada
Virginie Maloney (she/her)-Lawyer and Project Coordinator, L’Aparté Juripop Legal Clinic, Montréal, Canada
William Forchion–Multi-Disciplinary Artist, Speaker, Educator, Camp Director at Circus Smirkus,USA
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These days, Em independently travels and tours the US as burlesque and circus bombshell, Karma Carnelian. Karma's performance style seamlessly blends classic and neo burlesque choreography with dynamic acrobatic chair and floor work. Karma has performed coast to coast, from the Hubba Hubba Revue in San Francisco, CA, to the House of Blues in Chicago, IL, to countless productions in their home state.
Em received their BA in Advertising in 2019 and MS in Integrated Marketing in 2021 from Florida State University, where they also performed teeterboard, flying, swinging and double trapeze in The FSU Flying High Circus from 2016-2020. Em first joined CircusTalk first as a journalism intern in 2020, and currently serves as the team's Community Manager, creating written and digital content for the site, and managing the companies' social media channels.
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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