A circus is more than a circus, it’s a community. It’s people working together to create something larger than themselves. It’s also a place where we can leave our troubles behind and step into a dream world for a while where the magic happens and reality is blurred by color and music and activity.
The idea of what a circus should be has changed, a lot! Thanks to organizations such as Cirque Du Soleil and Burning Man, circus arts are making a very cool, very hip, and very grand resurgence into mainstream consciousness. Today’s modern circus model eschews the use of animals and focuses more on the great feats that the human body can dish out. From contortionists to aerials, fire dancing to burlesque, LED light dancing to clown comedy, all wrapped up in chains, ropes & silks, tattoos & piercings, and a lot of sexual innuendo & bravado.
The idea of what a circus should be has changed, a lot! Thanks to organizations such as Cirque Du Soleil and Burning Man, circus arts are making a very cool, very hip, and very grand resurgence into mainstream consciousness. Today’s modern circus model eschews the use of animals and focuses more on the great feats that the human body can dish out. From contortionists to aerials, fire dancing to burlesque, LED light dancing to clown comedy, all wrapped up in chains, ropes & silks, tattoos & piercings, and a lot of sexual innuendo & bravado.
 |  |  |
PoisnIvy: Marisa Gregory, Viva La Glam, Natalie Nelson
With all that said, a new circus has come to town! PoisnIvy, the Bay Area circus troupe that has been wowing folks since 2011, has found a permanent home in Marin County’s tiny hamlet of Forest Knolls, about 40 minutes from San Francisco. Founding member Marisa Gregory has created a new art and performance hub that will host yoga and martial arts classes, movie nights, live music, theater performances, and the famed circus.
May 29th, 2021 was ground zero for the first installment of magic for PoisnIvy in its new space. With an amazing assortment of talented folks culled from the vibrant Bay Area circus arts scene. Along with Gregory and co-producers Viva La Glam and Natalie Nelson, PoisnIvy pulled out all the stops and created a visually stunning night of entertainment. The show sold-out and the lucky crowd bore witness to such acts as physical comedian Snatch Adams, a hilariously talented gag-master, who loves to envelop herself inside a large balloon; aerialists Megan Gallagher contorting in a metal cube, Jo Kan elegantly flying on a hoop, and the massively amazing and dynamic aerialist Drago wrapping herself up in chains while suspending herself via a leather strap in her mouth. Slim Chance and Nathan Holguin were caught clowning around more than once while burlesque feather dancers got juicy amid the darkening skies.
May 29th, 2021 was ground zero for the first installment of magic for PoisnIvy in its new space. With an amazing assortment of talented folks culled from the vibrant Bay Area circus arts scene. Along with Gregory and co-producers Viva La Glam and Natalie Nelson, PoisnIvy pulled out all the stops and created a visually stunning night of entertainment. The show sold-out and the lucky crowd bore witness to such acts as physical comedian Snatch Adams, a hilariously talented gag-master, who loves to envelop herself inside a large balloon; aerialists Megan Gallagher contorting in a metal cube, Jo Kan elegantly flying on a hoop, and the massively amazing and dynamic aerialist Drago wrapping herself up in chains while suspending herself via a leather strap in her mouth. Slim Chance and Nathan Holguin were caught clowning around more than once while burlesque feather dancers got juicy amid the darkening skies.
 |  |  |
Due to local wildfire dangers, the troupe decided to eschew the grandness of their usual fire dancing finale but made a beautiful spectacle regardless. The statuesque La Glam and her metal grinder sent sparks flying into the night while the troupe wove choreographed light magic with sparklers around her.
Even though the night went off without hitch, events like this take months of prep. Between the performers honing their acts to the wonderful crew that gave their time to build the stage, organize music, create the ambient lighting, support the performers during the show, as well as all the huge tasks of set up and break down, it definitely takes a large family to put on a circus.
To randomly quote Princess Stephanie Of Monaco, “A circus is what real life should be like. It's sincerity, feeling, emotions. All real. There are no lies in a circus. There are artists working together to give a smile. It's a world where people help one another.”
Even though the night went off without hitch, events like this take months of prep. Between the performers honing their acts to the wonderful crew that gave their time to build the stage, organize music, create the ambient lighting, support the performers during the show, as well as all the huge tasks of set up and break down, it definitely takes a large family to put on a circus.
To randomly quote Princess Stephanie Of Monaco, “A circus is what real life should be like. It's sincerity, feeling, emotions. All real. There are no lies in a circus. There are artists working together to give a smile. It's a world where people help one another.”
 |  |
Check out all my photographs from the night:
While you're at it, check out the Still Photo movies I made:
RSS Feed
