It is just another Tuesday evening downtown - quiet and hot, the sun toying with the idea of calling it quits. But don't be deceived.
Behind that facade of another ho-hum night, a vivid new world awaits in an old warehouse that is home to Cirque Roots Studio.
Art-lined walls, stacks of hoops, colorful aerial silks, landing pads and funky couches welcome those attending Circus Jam - an open night to practice skills once reserved for the Big Top.
A baker, a biochemistry doctoral student and a 9-year-old girl were among the 20 or so people who attended last week's jam. Most greeted one another with hugs and laughter - all ready to help each other learn new skills or to hone the ones they have.
Once the music started, a few took turns pulling themselves up the silks. Some started swinging poi and staff, while others took turns on the aerial rings, danced with hoops or tumbled on the mats - all at their own pace.
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Circus Jam is part of the growing community of circus artists in Tucson. Several groups offer classes, workshops and performances.
According to Paul Weir, who founded Tucson Circus Arts in 2003, the scene "is exploding in the U.S."
"We have students from all over town, county and state," he said.
"We also teach when we go on tour and do residency work that has been deep and gratifying for both us and the communities we interact with," he said.
Stephanie Cortes co-owns Orbital Evolution: Tucson's Modern Hoop Troupe and manages Cirque Roots Studio. She said she's definitely noticed more interest since she started six years ago.
Attendance is up in the classes she offers and has become more consistent in the last year and a half, she said.
The hoops are a major draw.
"People are so attracted to the hoop when we perform," Cortes said. "I really think the hoop is such a powerful prop and just has a lot of energy, and it really reaches across the audience well."
Becky Renfrow is one of the founders of The Wonderfools, a group of circus artists, clowns and educators. "There has been a tremendous growth in the Tucson Circus scene of late, but more importantly, a coming together of the various circus arts," she said.
She said that when she moved to Tucson in 2009, "jugglers and hoopers would meet in the same park on the same day at the same time, but would not interact."
Now, she said, you'll see a juggler "standing on the shoulders of a hooping hooper."
The youth programs have also grown. "It fits all the kids who can't necessarily hang with traditional team sports, but still have a sense of teamwork, support and camaraderie," Weir said.
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How to get involved
Here are some places you can take classes or private lessons:
Orbital Evolution: Tucson's Modern Hoop Troupe
Cirque Roots Studio, 17 E. Toole Ave., 261-4667.
• What: hula hoop classes. Performances combine hooping with stilting, juggling and comedy.
• Class to try: mixed-level hoops
• Cost: $10 a class. Punch cards available.
• Why you'll love it: "The classes we offer are alternative ways to be active and express oneself. They are good exercise for the body and the mind alike," troupe managers Stephanie Cortes and Brittany Briley said in an email.
• See it next: Raw's Mixology, starting at 7 p.m. today at Plush, 340 E. Sixth Street.
Tucson Circus Arts
Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave., 481-8003
• What: Conceived in 2003, the community-based, non-competitive circus arts and performance training program offers classes and workshops in aerial silks, hand balancing, poi and stilt walking. There is also a youth circus gym and summer camp.
• Class to try: aerial or stilts
• Cost: $15 a class. Pass books available.
• Why you'll love it:
"One of the cool things about circus is that there is so much to choose from and everyone connects differently," said Katherine Tesch, aerial instructor at Tucson Circus Arts.
Elemental Artistry
Cirque Roots Studio, 17 E. Toole Ave., 261-3468
• What: a fire-arts performance troupe offering classes and private lessons. Performances combine fire arts with juggling, stilting, hula hooping and fire eating.
• Class to try: poi.
• Cost: $5-12 per class; $35 hour-long private lessons. Punch cards available.
• Why you'll love it: "Fire dancing allows us to dance with our fears, and learn how to move beyond life's most challenging moments. It is dangerous and scary, but once you try it you believe, 'Wow, if I can do that, I can do anything!''' said Michelle Baas, who has directed Elemental Artistry since 2008.
• See it next: Performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at Sky Bar, 536 N. Fourth Ave.
Flight School Acrobatics
Cirque Roots Studio, 17 E. Toole Ave. 329-2276. www.flightschoolacrobatics.com
• What: Founded in 2009, Flight School is a group of performers with backgrounds in performance art, dance, springboard diving and yoga. It offers public performances and acro yoga classes.
• Class to try: acro yoga.
• Cost: $10 per class, or $80 for a 10-pass pack.
• Why you'll love it: "It's a lot of fun, challenging, different and a great opportunity to work on communication and trust," said Aaron Farber. "I really love how fun it is. I get to be creative in a very unique way, and that's really cool."
The WonderFools
Cirque Roots Studio, 17 E. Toole Ave., 955-8095. www.wonderfoolarts.com
• What: a Tucson-based group of circus artists, clowns and educators. It offers classic family entertainment including juggling, clowning, dance and stilting.
• Class to try: juggling, creative performance or improvisational comedy.
• Why you'll love it: "We inspire kids with uplifting and ridiculous humor, while reminding adults to delight in playfulness," said Becky Renfrow, a WonderFools founder.
• See it next: Fall schedule to be announced.
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Words to live by
The circus arts are not all about makeup and sparkly costumes.
Paul Weir said the artists live by the following philosophies:
• Well being- The feeling of being able to learn anything; the state of balance between body, mind and spirit.
• Participation - By engaging activity, one helps to create.
• Practice - The body learns through repetition; the dendrites are built through constant activity, creating pathways for the body to express freely what it has repeated. Through practice, we achieve prowess.
• Safety - The sense that risks can be taken without harm.
• Integrity - The sense, feeling and or realization that something is honest and as true as can be. The sense that something is infused with past moments - history, practice, grounding.
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What's that mean?
If you're new to the scene you may wonder what the heck is a lyra or poi. Find out here:
Acro yoga - A fusion of acrobatics, yoga and thai massage. It can be used therapeutically, or more performance-based, using acrobatic moves.
Hand balancing - A discipline that involves acrobatics while balancing on the hands.
Lyra - A circular steel apparatus, much like a hula hoop, used for aerial circus arts.
Poi - Swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi can be made from various materials with different handles, weights and effects, such as fire.
Silks - An aerial discipline made up of a large length of fabric folded in half to form two panels hanging vertically from a hooking device. The acrobat rolls and contorts inside of the fabric to execute various acrobatic moves and tricks.
Staff - A pole with a Kevlar wick on each end, usually between 4 and 5 feet long, often used in fire performances.
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Circus Jam
If you've ever dreamed of running off with the circus, you should try Circus Jam.
• What: For circus arts students and performers, Circus Jam is a place to get inspired, practice and learn in a friendly and safe place. For everyone else, it is a place to try something new and to get a taste of the arts. There are mats for acrobatics and landing pads for the aerial silks and lyra, hoops, juggling balls and rings, or you can practice poi, staff and more.
• When: 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays
• Where: Cirque Roots Studio, 17 E. Toole Ave. 329-2276. www.cirqueroots.com
• Cost: $5
Who's jammin'
Circus Jam draws between 20 and 30 people every Tuesday. Here are a few we met last week:
Peter Ramano
• What: spinning staff.
• Day job: photographer. He also performs with Elemental Artistry.
• Why staff: "Watching others play with fire makes you want to do it yourself."
Madeline Hall, age 9
• What: hooping.
• Day job: student.
• Why hoops: "It's really really fun. I like doing the tricks."
Coal Candelario, age 15
• What: poi.
• Day job: student.
• Why poi: "Poi is the coolest."
Sophia Montiel
• What: silks.
• Day job: kitchen staff.
• Why silks: "It's dance-inspired, but more vertical. Good energy. After competing in dance for so long, it is nice to just come here to have fun."
Sarah Wasserman
• What: silks.
• Day job: baker
• Why silks: "It's fun and really hard. I was excited to try it because it's what you see in Cirque du Soleil. It's a good workout. I think my abs are still engaged."
Ian Borukhovich
• What: hand balancing.
• Day job: biochemistry doctoral student.
• Why hand balancing: "It's just me against myself. It's filled with the impossible."
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Playing with fire
Kate DeMeester just expected to "learn a wacky skill" when she started taking classes with Elemental Artistry, a fire arts performance group in September 2009.
Instead, she fell in love. And as time went by, she got more opportunities to perform.
She'd never thought she'd end up being paid to play with fire.
The community and camaraderie is part of the attraction.
"Everybody is so nice and down to earth; kind and real," she said. "It's a nice drama-free way of learning and I always felt supported. I came for the tricks and stayed for the community."
People of all walks of life are involved in the arts. DeMeester is a full-time children's librarian during the day.
She said that one time she saw one of her students at a performance. The concerned child said "Miss Kate … you should not play with fire."
DeMeester said she reassured her that she is always very safe.
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Flam Chen
If you've been to the All Souls Procession, chances are you've seen Flam Chen Pyrotechnic Theater Company. The group was founded in 1995 by Nadia Hagen - a performance artist who had worked with Crash Worship and another project called Then Tingari.
"What's cool about Flam Chen is that we display unity - like a hive - we work together to create an effect, mood or story. Also, we make best use of limited resources to make a big impression," said Paul Weir, the group's technical director.
If you're interested in joining Flam Chen, Weir said "attending classes is an excellent way to get involved. Exceptional students are given opportunities to do custom created work throughout the year with the professional company."
The All Souls Procession on Nov. 4 is Flam Chen's next planned local performance.
Catch it sooner at the Rites OV Spring performance in Arcosanti, about 70 miles north of Phoenix, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 11.
Check out Flam Chen's website for updates: flamchen.com
