the Downside-Up Circus » gigs

Busy busy Bellingham

Victoria — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:07:24 +0000

Phew, we sure had a busy few days! As Tara mentioned, we had quite a haul up to Bellingham from Bothell (and back) loaded down with everything we’d need for the week. We stayed with a lovely friend of a friend, Margaret, and had the chance to show off our acts! We also stayed at the quarry with circus folk and saw a wonderful fire show by Vulcan Studios from Oakland, CA. Vulcan Studios is a self described “artist’s colony” consisting of painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, musicians, film makers, actors and performers of all types.

The next day we went to (and better yet, performed in!) Vaudevillingham, which was incredible! Tara, Lindsay, Victoria and Molly (with Kristian as our loving stage mom) opened the first show with an acro-based 5 minute act that was received really well. As the night went on, the acts got considerably less family-friendly, but hilarity abounded. It was wonderful to see such a wide variety of skills and acts; some acts were polished, shiny and nearly perfect, while others were thrown together with about 24 hours notice. Still, the audience hollered long and loud for everything from housewife acro (by yours truly) to toy room contact juggling, to mustachioed silks, pirate aerials, character guitar, dance trapeze, and Dresden Doll cloudswing.

Now we’re back in Bothell for food, showers and laundry, but soon we’re headed down to Seattle for the Solstice Parade!

We’re back!

Tara — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:21:38 +0000

We’ve been having some technical issues with our website over the last two months, which meant that we weren’t able to post or update during that time. We do apologize for the unintentional hiatus, and are very pleased to be back thanks to the combined magical internet powers of Molly and our circus/IT friend Chris.

But we’ve been busy in the meantime! On Saturday, February 27th, The Downside-Up Circus made an appearance at the Primate Fiasco first ever Kid’s Concert at First Churches in Northampton, MA. We painted small faces with all sorts of stars, hearts, kittens, and robots, turned upside-down, juggled in the aisles, and boogied on down with the half-size but double-energy audience!

As graduation in May rushes closer, we’re still busy booking and researching routes for the INTERROBANG tour, making travel plans, and training circus skills. The tandem bicycle has been purchased and shipped, and Victoria and myself have been adjusting to bicycling for two. As the stoker (the back rider) I have a lot of fun waving at passers-by with both hands as they goggle at the sight of us. Pictures to come soon!

First Night Photos

Tara — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:32:05 +0000

First Night Boston was a blast! The Princess, The Monster, and The Hero tumbled, juggled, fought, and made friends (twice!) for the entertainment of festive family revelers.

(More pictures soon on our Flickr account!)

Happy New Year everyone! May 2010 be full of confetti, polka dots, bike rides, juggling balls, handstands, and attempting the impossible…

Happy New Year!

Tara — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:43:27 +0000

Get your New Year celebration started early… come see us perform in the FedEx Family Festival, part of First Night Boston! We’ll be doing two short three-person shows at 2.15pm and 3.30pm at the Hynes Convention Center, room 302. (Buttons for admission to the entire event – BMX displays, music concerts, puppets, storytelling, dance, and circus, all day and night! – are $18.)

Happy 2010, everyone!

First Night gig covered in Hampshire College Family Newsletter

Tara — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:56:27 +0000

A Downside-Up View of the World
By Taliesin Nyala 07F

Three Hampshire College students, Tara Jacob 05F, Victoria Quine 06F, and Lindsay Barbieri 06F are going to ring in the New Year by performing with their group, The Downside-Up Circus, at First Night, Boston’s annual citywide celebration of community through the arts.

For First Night, Jacob, Quine, and Barbieri will perform a skills-based show full of acrobatic tricks, juggling and comedy at the Hynes Convention Center as part of the FedEx Family Festival. Now in its 34th year, First Night brings local and international artists to Boston to showcase their talents in over 200 performances and exhibitions for the public.

The rest of the article is here.

First Night Boston

Tara — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:00:39 +0000

The Downside Up Circus will be performing as part of the FedEx Family Festival at First Night Boston 2010! We just confirmed that we’ll be doing two sets at the Hynes Convention Center in room 302 from 2:15-2:45pm and 3:45-4:15pm. First Night is a huge, well-extablished community arts event that showcases performers, visual artists, musicians, ice sculptures, a parade, and fireworks to ring in the New Year. We’re really excited to be a part of the celebration, though some of the troupe will be on the West Coast. Buttons (festival passes) are just $18 – get yours soon!

Get your button!