Our third annual Hand to Hand Circus Festival would have kicked off on May 29, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s festival will not be taking place as planned. 

You can still get your circus fix though! Check out our round-up of performances, podcasts, and classes from our friends and partners in the contemporary circus world. 

First, get some background on contemporary circus arts…
A Look Back at the History of Contemporary Circus | FringeArts
The FringeArts team gives you an introduction to nouveau cirque, or contemporary circus, complete with videos!

Performances to check out…

A Simple Space | Gravity & Other Myths
Gravity & Other Myths is an Australian company known worldwide for pushing the boundaries of contemporary circus. GOM’s work utilizes an honest approach to performance to create shows with a focus on human connection and acrobatic virtuosity. Their piece A Simple Space would have been a part of Hand to Hand 2020.

Circadium Presents: Autopilot | Circadium Circus School
Circadium School of Contemporary Circus is the United States’ only accredited, degree-granting circus school and is headquartered right here in Philadelphia. Alexandra Feit and Maya Zuckerman, two students from the inaugural class at Circadium, joined current students, Kevin Flanagan, Elan Reuven, and Copper Santiago, to create and produce Autopilot for the 2018 Fringe Festival. 

Station Master | Compagnia Baccalà
The humor, virtuosity, and charm found in Compagnia Baccalà’s clowning have won them a number of honors and legions of fans around the world. Last year, the duo brought their award-winning show, Pss Pss, to our Hand to Hand Circus festival. Fall in love with them for yourself in their short video Station Master.

Through Cracks in the Walls — An Almanac Exquisite Corpse | Almanac Circus Company
Frequent FringeArts collaborator and Philadelphia-based company, Almanac and its Company Members are staying connected despite the pandemic. Each Company Member and Associate Artist developed a short movement phrase, to create an exquisite corpse dance film in the style of Mitchell Rose.

Hear from the experts…
Happy Hour on the Fringe with Ben Grinberg
Ben Grinberg, the Artistic Director of Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, an instructor at Circadium Circus School and Pig Iron Theatre School, and the curator/ host for FringeArts’ circus Scratch Night series, Test Flights, stopped by our podcast. Ben chats about how he found his way to circus, the growth of contemporary circus in Philadelphia, and Almanac’s 5 year anniversary!

Monkey See, Monkey Discuss | CircusTalk
Brought to us by CircusTalk’s keystone podcast, Circus Voices, Monkey See, Monkey Discuss is a new podcast series helmed by circus professionals Rosie Kelly and Ruby Burgess. The two chat about the impact of COVID-19 on the circus industry. 

Your turn…
Circus at Home Guide for Older People | Upswing
Upswing has created this guide of simple circus skills that can be done solo at home and with minimal equipment. The activities in this handbook can be a great way to stay mobile and mentally active. They can be done seated, and as your confidence and skills improve – and if you feel like it – you can develop your skills standing up.

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts Classes for All Ages | Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
PSCA is offering free classes via Zoom during the quarantine. They have classes for everyone, ages 3 and up (no aerial equipment or circus experience required). Check out the schedule here: https://bit.ly/C1rcus

Weekly Training classes | Almanac Dance Circus Theatre
Almanac is offering three weekly classes online for free! Registration is required, and check out the schedule here: https://www.thealmanac.us/.

Youth Circus Home Edition | Circomedia
Keep the kiddos busy! Circomedia has been releasing instructional circus videos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Topics covered include juggling, handstands, and more, and the videos are available at Circomedia’s website, on Facebook, and on Youtube.