Choreography In The Circus

It may come as a surprise to some circus fans, but a choreographer is a huge part of the creative team.

While you won't typically see a kick line of chorus girls in the ring, there are many places in a circus where a choreographer can make all the difference, from the opening and closing group scenes to transitions and smaller moments throughout the show.

I will have the great privilege of working with a close friend and immensely talented choreographer, Antoinette DiPietropolo.

Antoinette DiPietropolo

Antoinette is the choreographer for this year's Big Apple Circus production of Metamorphosis. She'll be doing the same job for our production next season.  And I'm the luckiest first-time circus director ever, thanks to her having been through the process this year.

Like most of the team we've brought together, Antoinette has also worked with Parallel Exit, as co-creator and choreographer of our dance comedy POWERHOUSE in 2005.

Antoinette is going to be a second set of eyes and ears on everything we do.  And thank God.  She's smart, talented, and has personally tried just about every physical stunt the artists will be doing in the show.

Along with staging the big ensemble scenes throughout the show, Antoinette will also be working with me to ensure every act is played for maximum impact, focusing on energy, music, and most importantly, working in the round.  Even seasoned circus artists can be tempted to play their material out front, neglecting those audience members seated next to the bandstand.

I'm excited to see how Antoinette tackles the boundless creativity of the full team.  Just the other day, the man behind our concept - Joel Jeske - threw this video at us for inspiration.  Without giving too much away, the formations made by the dancers at the end of the clip are surprisingly appropriate:

All of the essential ingredients of a great circus - timing, energy, momentum, thrills, connection to the audience - are going to be foremost in our minds as we jump into this production.

I'm thrilled that Antoinette will be standing next to me as it happens.