We have been juggling, tumbling, and acro-balancing together for years, from the very first day we all met at Hampshire College’s freshman orientation. Tara and Molly met in 2005 on the first day of orientation, when Tara explained that she was a trapeze artist and attempted to teach a skeptical Molly basic acrobatics. The following year, Tara and Molly led a circus orientation group, and welcomed orientees Victoria and Lindsay to the circus folk family.
Upon visiting his friend Kristian at Hampshire in 2008, skilled fire spinner Corvus met up with the circus folk and found a like-minded community. He returned to lead circus workshops and was invited to join our performing troupe.
Our love of circus has taken us to train at circus spaces all over the world, from Melbourne and Berlin, to London and New York City. We’ve performed at venues all across America, from public parks and community centers to festivals and nightclubs.
Tara - the handlebars
+ From: Yonkers, NY
+ Circus skills: flying trapeze, tumbling, partner acrobalance, juggling, stilt walking, poi spinning
+ Non-circus skills: video editing, crocheting, baking, planning and leading group games
Molly – The pedals
+ From: Bothell/Everett, WA
+ Circus skills: juggling, staff spinning, acrobatics, stilt walking
+ Non-circus skills: graphic design, digital media, photography, baking muffins
Victoria – The wheels
+ From: Bethel, CT
+ Circus skills: juggling, acrobatics, trapeze, stilting (bouncy and non-bouncing stilts), dance
+ Non-circus skills: working with kids, psychology, arts and crafts, a remarkably convincing French accent
Corvus – The gears
+ From: Port Townsend, WA
+ Circus skills: poi, juggling, staff, fire spinning, acrobatics
+ Non-circus skills: typography, building things, boating, zookeeping
Lindsay – The streamers
+ From: Natick, MA
+ Circus skills: handbalancing, acrobatics, trapeze, gymnastics
+ Non-circus skills: contagious laughter, interplanetary travel/research, rocks, German, space
Kristian – The panniers
+ From: Port Townsend, WA
+ Circus skills: tech, costuming, feeding the troupe, willingness to experiment, goat herding
+ Non-circus skills: bones, art, comics, cephalopods
Rotating guests – The fenders
+ From: All over!
+ Circus skills: Creativity and excitement
+ Non-circus skills: Eagerness to embrace and enjoy the unexpected
Our Other Ventures:
Circus Folk Unite! – circus collective @ Hampshire College
the Criss Cross Circus – Summer 2008 post-apocalyptic cross country tour in a vegetable oil powered school bus
What people have said about us:
“Many of the Hampshire students take circus seriously and have ventured off to receive training when they can with NICCA [National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne, Australia], the Circus Space in London, as well as working in Hawaii with Hiccup Circus. Others delve deeper in fire spinning, juggling and character theatrics. While the Hampshire College Troupe may not be working in the same way as Gamma Phi Circus, what they may lack in higher level skills, they more than make up for in vision, gusto, creative spirit, and a true connection with the community building potential of circus.
In that spirit, 11 of them have set off this summer in a Veggie Oil fueled School bus they collectively purchased as the Criss Cross Circus “to spread the imaginative spirit of circus along with a message of environmental concern.” They are relying much upon the kindness of strangers and friends, visiting towns with a strong circus presence like Chicago, St. Louis, Boulder, San Francisco, Seattle, etc. While in San Francisco, they connected with 826 Valencia, a creative community writing center which hosted their free workshops for the neighborhood youth. The following day they staged an impromptu performance in Dolores Park.
I commend them on their energy and enthusiasm to connect with the communities they visit, perform their show, and discover for themselves the various faces of our country.”
-David Hunt, President, American Youth Circus Organization
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