In the astonishing acrobatics and slinky aerialists and feats of strength, in the modern showgirls and strongmen of Australia\u2019s Circa Contemporary Circus, you can sense their traditional circus roots\u2014even as the cast of 10 is dressed in subdued beige and black striped, form-hugging costumes of contemporary dance and moving to Ori Lichtik\u2019s pulsing techno nightclub beats. There are also strongwomen, carrying, as if it’s nothing, two people atop their shoulders to form human towers. And there are men dancing belly-to-belly until a third wrestle-wedges himself in between, which becomes a whole motif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Circa grew out of the Rock \u2019n\u2019 Roll Circus, for which Yaron Lifschitz was the first artistic director in 1999. He transformed the troupe into Circa in 2004. Currently based in Brisbane, Australia, it\u2019s circus and dance and physical theater. And acrobatics akin to cheerleading, though Circa mostly eschews the sparkle and explosiveness of cheer for performances more fascinated by slowing things down, showcasing steady strength and control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Circa researched the movement patterns of wolves for inspiration, Pamela Tatge, executive and artistic director of Jacob\u2019s Pillow, told the crowd before the curtain went up for the opening night of company\u2019s run there in Becket, Massachusetts, from July 22 to 26, 2026. It was the United States premiere of \u201cWolf\u201d in the Pillow\u2019s Ted Shawn Theatre<\/a>, which Circa debuted in 2020. \u201cFor director Yaron Lifschitz, the wolf is a symbol of our untameable selves: liberating, anarchic, and savage,\u201d Pillow\u2019s announcement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n