Carolina Circus Festival will be Sept 14th, 2024 at the Downtown Cary Park!
2020 virtual festival
Check out our 2020 line up!
In 2020 we released stunning and beautiful video clips of our circus performers throughout North Carolina! Check out last year's virtual festival below!
If you love them, consider leaving a donation on our donation page, or sharing them with your friends! This will help us get up and running in person for next year after covid ends!
2020 Videos
Fire Conclave
Check out some of our featured fire performers from around North Carolina that participated in our Virtual Carolina Circus Festival show! All acts were self choreographed and were a depiction of the performers' 2020 experience while showcasing their talent with fire! Fire Performers got to have music performed live by One Tribe.
More videos will be coming soon!
Videography by: Paul Cory
Music: One Tribe
Location: North Carolina
Cara Frantz - Silks
Cara Frantz is the star in our first self shot aerial performer video! Due to Corona some of our performers shot their routine's at home! Cara has been doing silks for 5 years and is performing on the rigging in her living room!
Cara will be performing silks to Howling at the Moon by D Fine US.
Constance Boahn - Aerial Loops
Our next performer is Constance Boahn! Constance is the owner of Ambition Aerial Arts in southern wake county. Here she is performing on the loops.
Constance is performing to Criminal - Instrumental by Benj Heard.
Priscilla HoopMore - Fire Parasol
Priscilla HoopMore is a talented performer from NC who specializes in Fire, LED and aerial Lyra performances. Priscilla gives a fun and electric energy when she performs. Check out Priscilla’s fire parasol performance for this years Carolina Circus Festival.
Priscilla is performing to music by One Tribe Rhythm.
Videography by: Paul Cory Photography
Ella Sauls - Sling
This is Ella Sauls' debut performance on the sling! She has been training at Ambition Aerial Arts for about 1.5 years. Ella is performing to Runaway by Veshza
Melanie Donny-Clark - Lyra
This lyra act is performed by Melanie Donny-Clark. The act is entitled "Repurposed" and is emblematic of how in 2020 we have had to find new uses for the things we already have.
Melanie is performing to Rhea by Yehezkel Raz.
Location: Triangle Circus Arts
Erin Campbell - Cyr Wheel
This act is performed by Erin Campbell on the Cyr Wheel. Erin says"This act reflects my quarantine cyr experience: sometimes joyful, sometimes timid, sometimes awkward movement exploration in Durham's Central Park."
Erin is performing to Kolorful by Oran Loyfer; Choreography by Christine Morano
Kaity Granda - Sling
Kaity is a dancer/choreographer/aerialist, and also works as a Physician Assistant in Durham, NC. This sling act reflects her 2020 experience, mask and all!
Song: “Joking Together” by Michele Nobler
Videography by: Justin Porter from My Friend Teresa Studios Location: Pura Vida Studio in Cary North Carolina
Sarah Richardson - Dance Trapeze
Sarah Richardson is a student physical therapist and aerial artist living in Asheville, NC. Despite COVID-19 travel restrictions, this song scratched the little itch of destination desire and reminded her of France.
Sarah is performing to Lever de la Lune by Dan Zeitune & Loren Noyman
Lisa Marker - Silks
Lisa Marker said this about performing during a pandemic: "With working full time in health care and virtual learning with two elementary schoolers, I am just trying to keep it together. One day at a time. We all are. Thank you for watching; I hope it gives you a brief moment of joy."
Lisa is performing to "Trying to Keep it Together" by Nora Jones
Katja Wise - Fire Poi
Katja Wise loves flow arts and circus performance! In 2020 she coordinated socially-distanced circus performances for private family functions, and more! When she isn’t on the ground spinning LED and fire, you can find Katja stiltwalking and hula dancing with Mesmerizing Arts!
Katja is performing to drumming and music by One Tribe Rhythm
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Brooke Murgitroyd - Sling
This beautiful sling act is performed by 13 year old Brooke Murgitroyd! She wrote and sang the song "Anymore" when she was about 9 years old with her songwriting teacher, Carrie Marshall. It is about the stresses of everyday life, and the need for a “safe place”. This piece was choreographed with her instructor Alicia Jurado at Pura Vida Studio. 2020 has been really stressful for everyone, and she does aerials to escape and feel free.
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Videography: Justin at My Friend is Teresea Studios
Song: Anymore by Brooke Murgitroyd
Heather Stafford - Silks
Heather said "I've been training on the aerial silks for a little less than a year, and half of that time has been since the lock-down. Installing an aerial silk in our living room has brought me and my family a huge amount of joy during an otherwise scary and stressful year!"
Heather will be performing to "Trampoline" by SHAED
FairyLoops - Fire Hoop
FairyLoops (Amelia Davis) is an insured fire, LED, and day hoop performer based out of Richmond, VA. She has been dancing on stage since she was 3 years old, and now loves to share her passion of movement through entertaining and teaching. In this fire act, she will dance with fire, manipulating and transferring the fire from one hoop to another.
FairyLoops is performing to Howling at the Moon by D Fine Us
Video Edited by: Paul Cory Photography
Annie Cunningham - Silks
Next up is Annie Cunningham performing on Silks! Annie is 16 years old, a junior in High school, and has been doing silks for 5 years!
Check out her beautiful act performing to “Once and for all” by Ian Post.
Jackelyn Maloney - Contortion
Next up we have contortionist Jackelyn Maloney giving you a fun quarantine performance!!! “After bing quarantined away from other people for so long, your form might stop looking quite so human”
Jackelyn is performing to Puddles By Stanley Gurvich.
Claire Stafford - Silks
Next up we have Claire Stafford performing on the silks! Claire is 15 years old and has been training on the aerial silks off and on for about 6 years now, with the last two years at Triangle Circus Arts being more focused. She is also a competitive gymnast and a self-taught juggler. She dreams of one day performing with Cirque du Soleil.
Claire is performing to Sleep to Dream by Fiona Apple
Scarlet Alvarez - Fire Cups
Our next performer is Scarlet Alvarez performing on Fire Cups. Scarlet says "I have been an aerial performer for over four years. I have performed with traveling circuses and the renaissance festival. I have been trained in many circus disciplines. Circus and visual performing arts have been my greatest passions since I can remember."
Scarlet is performing to One Tribe Rhythm
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Emily Horman - Silks
Emily Horman is a 12 year old dancer and aerialist at Pura Vida Studio! She chose this song because 2020 was a cruel summer and she loves to bend a lot. Check out her incredibly flexy routine.
Videography: Justin at My Friend is Teresea Studios
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Song: Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift
Emily Stafford - Silks
Next up is Emily Stafford on Silks!
Emily is 11 years old and just started on the aerial silks about a month before the lock-down began, so she is very new to this. She is a competitive gymnast, though, so she started with lots of strength and flexibility, which always helps! Her act includes every skill she knew up to that moment, although she's learned a few since then!
Emily is performing to I Want To Be Your Mother's Son-In-Law by Macy Gray
Alissa Ashburn - LED Hoop
Up next is Alissa Ashburn performing LED hooping!
Alissa says “I chose this song because the title "How Did I Get Here" had seemed to be a reoccurring thought that has gone through my head this year. At the start of the year I was so excited to be finishing my Dietetic Internship, sit for my RD exam, and then get a job. I had a time frame to complete this in my head and then March hit and everything changed and fear and anxiety took over. Somehow, I was able to stay on track in spite of our world being completely changed and there being multiple wrenches thrown into my plan. I am forever grateful for the support of my friends, family, and community to help me get through and finish what has been a long 3 year goal of mine. I got here because of you.”
Alissa is performing to How Did I Get Here by Odesza
Emily Trotta - Silks
Emily Trotta is an aerialist, instructor, and performer. She has been teaching sling and silks for almost 2 years at Pura Vida Studio. Emily had a hard time getting back into the swing of things after quarantine, but working on this act brought all her motivation and love for performing.
Videography: Justin form My Friend is Teresa Studios
Song: Crazy by Daniela Andrade
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Katja Wise - Fire Hoop
Our next fire performer is Katja Wise performing with her beautiful Fire Hoop🔥
Katja loves flow arts and circus performance! In 2020 she coordinated socially-distanced circus performances for private family functions, and more! When she isn’t on the ground spinning LED and fire, you can find Katja stiltwalking and hula dancing with Mesmerizing Arts!
Katja is performing to drumming and music by One Tribe Rhythms Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Jennifer Pries - Pole
Next up we have Jennifer Pries performing on the pole! Jennifer says "This routine exemplifies the experiences I've gone through in 2020. Between the ups and downs, and having to stretch myself. Regardless, in the end I am still looking forward. I hope you enjoy!"
Jennifer is performing to Eclipse by Shahead Mostafafar
Asher Richardson - Fire Staff
Next up we have a Fire Staff performance for you by Asher Richardson!
Asher is 13 years old and has been spinning fire since he was 6. He loves making people smile through his performances and hopes you enjoy watching as much as he did performing. He is grateful to One Tribe for their amazing drumming and support!
Music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Lea Geddie - Sling
Lea Geddie is an aerialist and dancer. She has been training on sling for the last 4 years and teaching aerial sling for the last 2 years at Pura Vida Studio. Lea loves being able to take her 18+ years of dance and implement it into the air. Enjoy her creative low sling piece!
Videography: Justin Porter
Song: Lay Me Down by Sam Smith
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Irene Krohn - Fire Poi
Next up is Irene Krohn performing Fire Poi!
Irene is a world traveler that loves new adventures, she has lived in the US for almost 14 years. She is a circus performer in and around the triangle area. She also loves to spend her time helping animals, and has been a wildlife rehabber for almost 4 years now.
Irene is performing to music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Jennifer Thompson-Burke - Sling
Jennifer has been training on sling for 2 years, and this is her first ever aerial performance. She is grateful for her Pura Vida instructors and gives special thanks to Alicia Jurado for her choreography and coaching and also to Lea Geddie for her toe-point love. She dedicates this performance to her husband. They have shared an extraordinary year drenched with joy and heartache, but the journey only gets better. She says "I will dance with you in the dark always". Enjoy Jennifer's first sling performance!
Videography: Justin Porter
Song: Perfect Duet by Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Matthew Adams - Fire Poi
Up next is Matthew Adams performing Fire Poi!
Matthew is a computer programmer and fire dancer from Raleigh, NC. He has been performing locally for the past 6 years, often alongside One Tribe.
Music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory
Casidy Chandler - Sling
Up next we have Casidy Chandler on the sling! Casidy said “I choose my song because life changed a lot during quarantine and I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it alone, but I realized I have so many people that love me and that I love back, and I wanted to remind myself of that.”
Song: Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Alex Summers - Fire Belt
Check out our next performer Alex Summers dancing with her fire belt! Alex has been dancing professionally for almost ten years and loves experimenting with new dance styles. She works with Mesmerizing Arts as a belly dancer and hula performer and she teaches dance classes at Aradia Fitness. She's excited to continue exploring the world of fire performance.
Alex is performing to music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Mari Kearns - Silks
Up next we have a beautiful silks act by Mari Kearns.
Mari has been training circus arts (with a focus in vertical apparatuses and stilting) for nine years, and performing for seven. This act is an indirect reaction to the critical current events that have ruptured our communities; and particularly, how they affected her as a young POC.
Mari is performing to Show Me Love by Hundred Waters
Ian Thomas - Devil Sticks
Our next performer is Ian Thomas performing fire devil sticks!
Ian has been performing around North Carolina spinning fire and performing with flow toys for years and is a well known fixture of the community!
Ian is performing to music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Luna Lockhart - Mutli-hoops
Up next we have Luna Lockhart performing multi-hoops!
Luna has been hoop dancing for 10 years and just began exploring multi-hooping this year. This routine was inspired by the daily practice of grounding and living in the present moment. In the words of Chalk Dinosaur, "Every moment's once in a lifetime so we shouldn't wait".
Music is "Father Time" by Chalk Dinosaur
Katja Wise - Fire Staff
Up next we have Katja Wise performing fire staff dancing!
Katja loves flow arts and circus performance! In 2020 she coordinated socially-distanced circus performances for private family functions, and more! When she isn’t on the ground spinning LED and fire, you can find Katja stiltwalking and hula dancing with Mesmerizing Arts!
Katja is performing to drumming and music by
One Tribe Rhythm.
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Kristina Milionta - Dance Trapeze
Our next performer is Kristina Milionta performing on the dance trapeze.
Kristina has been performing on Astrid (her dance trapeze) for about 3.5 years, and studying all circus apparatus for 6. As a teacher and performer her aerial passion is the delicious infinite flow of choreography, combined with the clever problem solving of circus theory. She teaches at Ascend Flow Arts where she constantly warns students how awful the next trick they're learning is. Kristina's act encompasses both the heaviness of unexpected change, and how we let go to allow joy.
Kristina is performing to Altitude by Muted.
Anita Shek - Fire Poi
Our next performer is Anita Shek performing fire poi!
Anita has been performing around North Carolina spinning fire and performing amazing belly dancing for years and is a well known fixture of the community!
Anita is performing to music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Cassie Kerr - Dance
Next up we have Cassie Kerr performing a dance piece.
This year has been heavy and a lot of people have died alone. This song was not written about a Covid patient, but the heartbreak is almost the same. This routine was created to be an outlet for sadness and I hope that you are able to heal through your tears.
Cassie is performing to "God Went North" by Nothing More.
Alex Summers - Fire Cups
Our next performer is Alex Summers performing fire cup dancing!
Alex has been dancing professionally for almost ten years and loves experimenting with new dance styles. She works with Mesmerizing Arts as a belly dancer and hula performer and she teaches dance classes at Aradia Fitness. She's excited to continue exploring the world of fire performance.
Alex is performing to music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Asher Richardson - LED Poi
Our next performer is Asher Richardson performing LED Poi!
Asher is 13 years old and learned to spin poi when he was 5 and has been spinning fire since he was 6. He loves making people smile through his performances and hopes you enjoy watching as much as he did performing. He is grateful to One Tribe for their amazing drumming and support!
Music by One Tribe Rhythms
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Katja Wise - LED Hoop
Our next performer is Katja Wise performing with her LED Hoop!
Katja loves flow arts and circus performance! In 2020 she coordinated socially-distanced circus performances for private family functions, and more! When she isn’t on the ground spinning LED and fire, you can find Katja stiltwalking and hula dancing with Mesmerizing Arts!
Katja is performing to music and drumming by One Tribe Rhythms Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Kristen Scaccia - Sling
Up Next we have Kristen Scaccia performing on the sling!
Kristen is a teen performer at Pura Vida Studio. She has been practicing aerials for 2 years and primary on sling. Life has been stressful lately with high school and her sister moving out to go to college. Aerial helps her express what she is feeling in such a beautiful way. Kristen has learned through aerial that she is capable of a lot! When she is in the air, it’s like no one can get to her! Enjoy her sling piece!
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Song: Night Changes
Videography by: Justin Porter with My Friend is Teresa Studios
Betsy Stover - Sling
Up Next we have Betsy Stover performing on the sling!
Besty is a teenage student that has been training aerial sling at Pura Vida Studio for almost 2 years. This song and this act really touched home for her. She felt it was relieving to be able to perform this special piece and share it with the world.
Videography: Justin Porter with My Friend is Teresa Studios
Song: Two of Us by Louis Tomlinson
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Irene and Anita - Fire Dancing
Up next we have Irene Krohn and Anita Shek fire dancing together for a doubles fire performance! Both Irene and Anita have been performing fire dancing for years and are integral to the Triangle fire dancing community!
Music By: One Tribe Rhythms music and drumming
Videography by Paul Cory Photography
Alicia Jurado - Sling
Up next we have Alicia Jurado performing on sling!
Alicia is the owner of Pura Vida Studio in Cary NC and is also one of the co-founders of Carolina Circus Festival! Alicia has been training aerials, ground acrobatics, and yoga for almost a decade. Her piece represented her hardship of being a small business owner that was forced shutdown for 6 months in her second year of business. Alicia also had to postpone her wedding during the pandemic. All of these hardships had her feeling in an incredibly lost and lonely place. Alicia shares her story through her aerial dance piece that helped her through the challenges of 2020.
Videography: Justin Porter of My Friend Teresa Studios
Location: Pura Vida Studio
Song: Lonely by Noah Cyrus
Stephanie Hunsaker - Lyra
Up next we have Stephanie Hunsaker performing on the Lyra!
Stephanie says her routine is inspired by life during quarantine. "I feel like I rewind my day and repeat it all over again."
Stephanie is performing to Erase/Rewind by The Cardigans
Videography by Justin Porter of My Friend Teresa Studios
Carlie Huberman - Trapeze
Up next we have Carlie Huberman performing on Trapeze!
Carlie has been performing trapeze for 20 years, is one of the founders of CCF and is a professional aerialist living in Raleigh, NC. Carlie is also a physical therapist and specializes in treating circus acrobats through her company Elite Arts PT. This piece represents the trials and triumphs that people have faced throughout this past year.
Videography by Justin Porter of My Friend Teresa Studios
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Site Photography by: Rob Miracle Image, Image That Photography, Natasha Johnson Photography, and Paul Cory Photography
Event sponsored by VAE Raleigh & the Town of Cary