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Act in a Moment—Showcasing Cirque de Demain Talents

So much can happen in a moment, and so much can be conveyed! With circus, the art is usually left to speak for itself, and discussions with the artists about their creation is a rarity often reserved for talkbacks and after-parties. Circus Talk’s series “Act in a Moment” explores the idea that circus artists have more to share about their work and the process of creating works that can be conveyed with a little explanation and a lot of visuals. Explore the essence of an act or a show, the idea behind a new apparatus or the circumstances that led up to a great moment in circus with us as we speak to circus artists about their favorite topic, their art form!

As we eagerly approach the 43rd Festival Mondial de Cirque de Demain, we’re thrilled to present a special edition of our Act in Moment series! Last year, I had the privilege of interviewing three remarkable acts who were part of the official selection for the 42nd edition. These artists and their acts were:

Quentin Signori | Aerial Straps

Carmen by Trio Tête-bêche | Hand to Hand

Duo 121 | Cordelisse + Hair Suspension

What struck me about these acts was the intense emotion that came from the each performance. Each act had its own story to tell – a tale of two different worlds colliding, one of self discovery and triumph, and another of complicated and intertwined passions. Circus certainly does have a way of communicating such storytelling through movement and physicality on its own, but getting to hear from the artists themselves makes the experience all the more captivating. Enjoy!

Mark your calendars! The 43rd Festival Mondial de Cirque de Demain is set to take place at Cirque Phénix in Paris from January 25 to 28, 2024. Stay tuned for the exciting announcement of this year’s jury, which will be shared across our social media channels.

The Official Selection of The Festival

All interviews were conducted at the 42nd edition of Le Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in January 2023. Footage courtesy of the artists.
Em Holt
Burlesque Dancer, Acrobat, Community Manager -UNITED STATES
Em Holt (they/she/he) is a genderfluid mover, burlesque dancer, drag performer and acrobat based in Florida, US. With a background in high level competitive gymnastics, circus arts and multidisciplinary dance, their diverse capabilities allow them to meet a variety of physical requirements and personas on stage.

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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Em Holt

Em Holt (they/she/he) is a genderfluid mover, burlesque dancer, drag performer and acrobat based in Florida, US. With a background in high level competitive gymnastics, circus arts and multidisciplinary dance, their diverse capabilities allow them to meet a variety of physical requirements and personas on stage. 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.