Circus X YouTube: Creators Wanted – A Panel Discussion Hosted by Veronica Blair
YouTube isn’t only for pranksters, beauty gurus and musicians! Artists from other performing arts genres have started to see the benefit
Read more
Veronica Blair is a professional aerialist with over 15 years of performing and teaching experience. She is currently Aerial Director for Celebrity Cruises Entertainment
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. She’s also worked with the African-American Art and Culture Complex to stage "Entrapment to Entertainment: A Celebration of Blacks in American Circus", a three-month exhibition that ran from October, 2013 – January 2014 with over 1,000 attendees.
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. She’s also worked with the African-American Art and Culture Complex to stage "Entrapment to Entertainment: A Celebration of Blacks in American Circus", a three-month exhibition that ran from October, 2013 – January 2014 with over 1,000 attendees.
New Release The Crown Features Black Women in Circus
In celebration of Black excellence in circus, Veronica Blair has produced a video premiere featuring Black women aptly named The Crown.
Read more
The Uncle Junior Project–Episode 6, Bernice Collins
The Uncle Junior Project is a sharing of research on the African-American circus community sparked by respect for the work
Read more
The Uncle Junior Project–Episode 5, Paris
The Uncle Junior Project is a sharing of research on the African-American circus community sparked by respect for the work
Read more
The Uncle Junior Project–Episode 4, Zanda “Zeke” Charles
The Uncle Junior Project is a sharing of research on the African-American circus community sparked by respect for the work
Read more
Circus and Changing Realities 2020: Abuse and Assault in Circus – Normalizing the Conversation
This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series. In this episode titled Abuse and Assault in Circus–Normalizing the Conversation we
Read more
Exploring the Lives of Sideshow Performers with The Uncle Junior Project
This week The Uncle Junior Project takes a break from its regularly scheduled content to present new historical research called Entrapment
Read more
The Uncle Junior Project–Episode 3, Danise Payne
The Uncle Junior Project is a sharing of research on the African-American circus community sparked by respect for the work
Read more
Wake Up Call for Inclusion 03 – Institutional Barriers and Individual Biases in the Performing Arts for Women of Color
This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Wake Up Call for Inclusion series. In this episode, titled Institutional Barriers and Individual
Read more
The Uncle Junior Project–Episode 2, Susan Voyticky
The Uncle Junior Project is a sharing of research on the African-American circus community sparked by respect for the work
Read more