Although the pandemic may have slowed it, the Winnipeg Circus Club has reached its decade milestone, celebrating its 10th annual Circus Showcase last Sunday.
Karrie Blackburn has been a part of the board for 10 years and has coordinated and performed in the showcase for 7 of those years. Despite the showcase and the club having to pause during the pandemic, she says it has bounced back stronger than ever.
“So when the pandemic was here, you couldn’t even leave your bubble. It was very isolating, and sometimes, people got into a skill during that time. Once everything opened up again, they wanted a place where they could practice with other people. So, a quick Google search led them to our doors. And so that has caused the community to grow. I’m a total nerd for numbers, so I’ve been tracking our growth over the years. We average about 36 to 40 people at Circus Club weekly, whereas pre-pandemic, maybe around 20 to 25.”
The Winnipeg Circus Club was first formed 13 years ago when the fire-spinning community needed an indoor practice space during the harsh winter months. The event has grown considerably over that time, moving from the smaller Gas Station Arts Theatre, which seated around 300, to a larger 600-seat venue.
Blackburn says Circus Club and the showcase have evolved into a space for performers of all skills, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
“They may be children. They may be adults who are just picking up a new skill and want to share it with their friends and family. But then it could also be total professionals who do this for their living, but they want to develop a new act that they can’t develop yet for being paid for. They want to do it like, let’s try it, see how it looks on stage and be able to tweak it from there. So it’s a really great creative outlet and a really safe space to do it.”
The showcase itself is a fundraising event to help keep membership costs affordable at the Circus Club. It’s also a chance for members to perform on a stage and share what they’ve worked on in the past year. Louis is a unicycle performer and has recently returned to the Circus Club after several years. He says returning has been a special experience.
“Showing up to Circus Club again and seeing people who were there a decade ago when I was, I was going regularly. So that’s been really cool to connect and, and start to plan with each other just really and realizing that we all really enjoy this and trying to make room outside of the two hours on Sunday to practice together has been a fun, meaningful thing for sure.”
Roxana “Rox.C” Castillo is a musician and a circus clown. She says it was Blackburn who inspired her to join Circus Club after watching a hula-hoop performance. She adds she couldn’t wait to become a part of the performative arts community.
“I love it, and there’s so much talent here. I’ve taken some workshops. I’ve learned how to use stilts. I’ve learned how to juggle with scarves. I see people doing poi and acrobats and unicycle, and it’s just really amazing to be around, having so much fun and playing.”
That aspect of play is crucial, says Blackburn, with circus arts bridging the gap between all generations.
“It’s one of those spaces where you walk in, and it’s a big open gymnasium with lots of things going on. We have a table set up that has lots of different props that people can use. And what I always tell people is if you see somebody doing something super cool. Ask them how they do it, and they’ll gladly share it. And if they can’t share that skill set specifically, they will tell you where to begin. So it’s a very friendly, very sharing space that anyone can come and join. We get the question from parents, ‘Can I drop off my kids?’ And we’re like, no, absolutely not. You come and play with them.”
According to Blackburn, the 10th Winnipeg Circus Showcase was a resounding success, bringing together 21 performers and 18 dedicated volunteers. With an audience of 451 and 585 tickets sold, along with bake sales, a raffle, and a 50/50 draw, the Circus Club raised over $10,000.
– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural
