Stacy Clark: Mentor and Creative Force Behind Diaries in Motion
With Diaries in Motion, the young Scenic Circus ensemble is bringing a new production to the stage that combines modern circus art and personal stories in a poetic way. A central role in this creation plays the Canadian circus professional Stacy Clark, who accompanies the project as a choreographer and artistic coach.
Stacy is an experienced figure in the international circus and show community. Her career began in professional gymnastics and as a circus artist, as a performer, she has travelled the world. Later, she moved behind the scenes – and played a decisive role in shaping the industry, including as a casting director at Cirque du Soleil. In 2021 she joined Andrea Honis, founder of CircusTalk, quickly establishing the online platform as a global network for circus artists.
Driven by the desire to share her broad experience and empower artists to realize their creative potential, Stacy now works freelance as a casting director, career coach, and artistic consultant. I first met her when we were both on the discussion panel at the professional session of Young Stage Festival 2022. When I learned at one of our meetings on the sidelines of international circus festivals that she would be spending the summer of 2025 in Berlin for a project, the idea rose to involve her in the creative process for the new Scenic Circus production “Diaries in Motion.”
Open to and interested in the task of developing and empowering four emerging talents, she agreed to the “side project.” During rehearsals at Berlin’s Pfefferberg Theater, she accompanies the artists on their journey. She helps them translate their stories and forms of expression into a common circus language.
Stacy acts not only as a creative source of inspiration, but also a mentor. She always succeeds in forming a creative space where trust, artistic curiosity, and professionalism go hand in hand. Her own experience as a performer is a key element in working on “Diaries in Motion”. Stacy knows what rehearsal processes feel like “from the inside,” and is therefore able to empathize with the four young artists particularly well.
The creation and rehearsal time for “Diaries in Motion” is quite limited – a challenge that could quickly lead to stress. Stacy’s many years of experience in large productions are a tremendous help, allowing her to bring calm and clarity to rehearsals even in tense moments. She ensures that energy and focus are maintained without stifling the creative process.
Another challenge, and at the same time a particular attraction, of this production is the diverse backgrounds of the artists involved. Some already have experience in creation processes common in contemporary circus, while others were more accustomed to working with a pre-produced act in classic circus or variety shows. In addition, the artists, who originate from Ukraine, Russia, and Austria, have had very different life experiences, which they bring into our lively diary, into the “Diaries in Motion.”
From the very beginning, Stacy recognized that she was dealing with four very different personalities – each with their own background, strengths, and stories. Instead of smoothing over these differences, Stacy sees them as a core element of the creation: “Diaries in Motion” thus becomes a collage of themes important to each artist, which are collectively translated into scenes.
The ideas always come from the artists themselves. Stacy provides the right tools, supports reflection, and gives precise feedback, so that individual impulses emerge into an artistically coherent whole. When you observe her rehearsals, you quickly recognize her philosophy: not to impose a narrow framework on the artists, butto empower them in their own authenticity.
This article was originally published at Scenic Circus.
Main Image: Feedback round after the rehearsal session (c) Daniel Burow
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