StageLync – The Power of Collaboration

This article appeared in  Juggling Magazine (Italy),  a long-running Italian circus and street arts publication—both in print and online—that has served as a key media, community, and cultural platform for juggling, contemporary circus, and outdoor performing arts in Italy for over 25 years.

Translation:

Anna Robb, founder of TheatreArtLife, and Andrea Honis, founder of CircusTalk, embody one of the most strategic lessons in today’s business world: transforming competitors into collaborators. TheatreArtLife and CircusTalk were originally designed as distinct online platforms serving the performing arts sector, each offering resources and services tailored to their respective audiences.

Reflecting on their journey, Anna Robb explains:
“When we began to understand our platforms better, we realized that we weren’t actually competitors at all—our services complemented each other deeply. That realization marked the moment when we started imagining a strategic alliance.”

TheatreArtLife was founded to connect people who shared a need to collaborate within the global live performance community. It quickly established itself as a leading multimedia platform, offering high-quality content, courses, webinars, and exclusive conversations for performing arts professionals. CircusTalk, on the other hand, built its foundation on a strong database focused on circus talent and circus arts, combined with multimedia content. This specialization allowed CircusTalk to grow beyond its initial scope.

With 30,000 registered users, Andrea Honis explains:
“When CircusTalk reached around 30,000 registered profiles, we began noticing increasing diversification. Talent emerged that was no longer strictly tied to circus arts. This was a clear signal that the market was pushing us to expand into the broader vertical of performing arts.”

This shift aligned perfectly with an industry-wide trend: producers were increasingly seeking multidisciplinary talent, blurring the boundaries between circus artists, actors, and dancers.

This strategic partnership gave birth to StageLync—a new, ambitious initiative rooted in a shared vision. The merger of TheatreArtLife and CircusTalk took place at a symbolic moment: both platforms celebrated their seven-year anniversaries, marking the close of one chapter and the opening of another. StageLync expands the reach of both platforms, improves member visibility within the broader performing arts community, and fosters deeper connections and new opportunities.

“What made this merger so compelling,” Andrea adds, “was the future potential, combined with the shared vision that emerged through our conversations—a vision that goes beyond what our individual platforms could offer.”

StageLync offers an enhanced user experience and expanded networking opportunities for professionals, while also becoming an invaluable resource for audiences seeking detailed information about live performances and their creators—bridging the gap between artists and spectators.

“This fusion exists to invite audiences directly onto the platform and encourage active engagement,” Anna adds. “StageLync exists to inspire stronger human connections and greater creativity through the performing arts.”

While the founders continue aligning their platforms through StageLync Pro, they are also actively working on gradual updates that will move the platform toward a broader public-facing experience, primarily through a mobile app currently in development. In the meantime, the evolution of the platform can be followed on StageLync.com, as well as through its podcasts and social media channels.