Circus Juventas Students Performing at Global Circus Competition
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Connie Shaver
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Circus Juventas Students Performing at Global Circus Competition
St. Paul, Minn., April 2, 2015 Four Circus Juventas students have been invited to train, perform and compete at the annual Waldoni Circus Festival in Darmstadt, Germany April 7 12. This international festival invites amateur circus performers from all over the world to participate in workshops, perform in front of a large audience and professional jury, and learn from each other in efforts to further their circus training and create international connections.
The Circus Juventas team will perform an act called spinning cube, which incorporates a large, hollow, side-less, three-dimensional cube upon and through which performers exhibit various holds and poses. Team member and high school senior, Charlotte Richardson-Deppe, has been training in the act for three years. (I like that) its very team based: everyone has to do everything, she said. We have to be very much in unison.
Jenna Ober, teammate and junior at Washburn High School, agrees. You have to work together to make everything sync. The other two team members are Highland Park Senior High School junior, Rabiya Sehgal-LaRocque, and homeschooled senior, Shayna Rutledge.
All of the students have spent several years training at Circus Juventas. Richardson-Deppe sees circus as a unique blend between performing arts and athletics. I like that its so disciplined and creative. Its not competition but is still very creative and super athletic.
The team has been accepted to compete in the above 16 category. This is the first time any of the young women have had the opportunity to perform and compete abroad. When asked how they felt when they got their acceptance letter, they all proclaimed in unison, Excited!
Their coach Chimgee Haltarhuu will accompany the team to Germany. The festival will take place April 7-12. The professional jury, who will judge the competitors, consists of professional artists and circus pedagogues as well as the director of a Nouveau Cirque. It awards innovative acts, which beyond technique, create pictures or tell stories.
International competition is not new to Circus Juventas. In 2010, the Circus Juventas Triple Trapeze team was awarded the gold medal at the International Youth Circus Festival in Norkopping, Sweden.
Executive Director and Co-Founder Dan Butler, is pleased that Circus Juventas students have been given the opportunity to travel to Germany to represent Circus Juventas on a global scale. We couldnt be prouder of this team and of our students in general, he said. Its a great experience to get out in the world and connect with the larger circus community.
Elizabeth Butler, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, agrees. Traveling internationally to festivals, such as this one in Germany, is one of the best opportunities for our young people to see how circus is represented around the world, she said. Competition aside, this is just a great way for them to make connections and share ideas with other amateur circus performers.
Circus Juventas is the largest youth performing arts Circus school in the country. Over the past 21 years, co-founders Elizabeth and Dan Butler have seen their dream grow into a year round program that serves over 2,000 children and youth up to age 21 with diverse array of circus arts training and performance opportunities. Circus Juventas mission is to inspire artistry and self-confidence through a multi-cultural circus arts experience. Students learn acrobatics, balance, aerial techniques, juggling and theatrical skills in a safe and noncompetitive environment. The focus is on discipline, hard work, and respect for their peers and themselves. Circus Juventas annual summer show features the schools advanced students and are elaborate spectacles in the tradition of Cirque du Soleil. Circus Juventas productions represent the best of contemporary circus arts, combining evocative music, extraordinary sets and costumes, and stunning theatricality, dance and athletic artistry with a global flair.
Circus Juventas
1270 Montreal Avenue
Saint Paul
651-699-8229 CircusJuventas.org
