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Farewell 2021!–Another Strange Year for Circus

2021, we didn’t know what to expect from you. Now, here we are reflecting on another strange year. In many ways, the year brought a delicate balance of hope and challenge into our community. Many of us were able to go back to work, but coming back to an industry that had changed so drastically to survive felt like returning to a whole new ball game. We had to be flexible, adapt, and relearn practices we’ve honed for generations. As we approach yet another new year in the pandemic world, we want to take the knowledge we gained in 2021 and bring that wisdom with us into 2022.

We invited circus professionals from around the world to share their advice and help guide the community into a prosperous new year. With input from artists working in disciplines from stunt to presenting to aerial acrobatics, and boasting an average of seven years of experience in the industry, we hope you find a few words to take with you into 2022. Here’s a quick look back as we push forward.

Thank you to all the CircusTalk members who took the time to share. We leave you with some quotes from our PRO members who participated and shared their voices. Cheers!

Thank you to all who contributed to this video!

Bryan Fulton
Cyrus Pynn
Amancay CT Kugler
Martin Frenette
Heidi Bowie
Carly Schuna
Jon Hicks
Botond Dajka
Jake Silvestro
Danise Payne
Nino Wassmer
Cosmo Hardy
Pihla and Marjukka (CircEntropia Circus Duo)
Adrian Schvarzstein
Owen Leonard

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.