Introducing Portland's new all-star, all-women circus: Circus Artemis

Oct. 16-18, 2009 * A-WOL Warehouse Space * 920 NE Flanders (10^th and NE Flanders)

Taking a cue from a legendary “strong woman,” Portland’s most powerful, most talented female circus artists have united under a common goal. Their mission? To blow audiences away with amazing feats of strength, skill and beauty. Welcome to Circus Artemis, Portland’s new all-women circus.

Circus Artemis will debut Oct. 16-18 with a show featuring the absolute finest female circus acts Portland has to offer, not to mention live music and a raffle of ridiculously fun prizes. And it will all take place in a unique, supportive atmosphere where women artists can shine.

“I’m really excited by the variety of acts and the range of talent that will be on display,” says performer Shireen Press. “It’s going to be an amazing show. But this project is also about feeling empowered together and serving as role models for girls and young women. We want to highlight women performing amazing feats of skill and strength to help girls believe they can do this, too.”

Circus Artemis performers have trained with instructors from Cirque Du Soliel and the Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, taught at the renown San Francisco Circus Center, performed nationally and internationally – and keep Portland entertained while working locally with Do Jump! Extremely Physical Theater, A-WOL Dance Collective, The Nomadic Theater Company, Flamebuoyant Productions and more.

Our stellar lineup includes: A-WOL Dance Collective (aerial and dance), Brittany Walsh (contortion/hand-balancing), Daniela Steiner (single point trapeze), Heather Pearl (clowning), Indigo Tiewes (poi/acrobatics), Jack Lynn (clowning), Kricket Caffery (aerial/acrobatics), Kyoko Uchida (aerial fabric), Revolva (hula hoops), Shireen Press (aerial/poi/acrobatics), Sophie Bloch (music), Sy Parrish (single point dance trapeze) and Tera Zarra (clowning/comedy).

Can you bring your brother to Circus Artemis? Absolutely! Men and boys, friends and babies, politicians and chimney sweeps – everyone in the city is invited to this family-friendly show. In fact, since all-ages shows are a rarity in Portland circus, we encourage you to bring the whole crew. Contributing further to this being a show unlike any other is the venue. The new A-WOL warehouse space (located at 10^th and NE Flanders) is a circus artist’s dream: beautifully huge, with lofty ceilings, and perfect for aerial work. With other circus events often happening in bars and clubs, artists may find themselves unable to rig gear or perform for kids.

“Circus arts are building momentum in Portland,” says performer Kricket Caffery. “However, there are not very many locations which facilitate family-friendly shows, and even fewer that allow for this magnitude of aerial performance and variety of strong talents, abilities, and styles.”

With so much to offer, Circus Artemis is a set to become a bright new light in Portland’s entertainment scene. Grab a ticket to the October debut, and prepare to be dazzled and inspired!

Show times and dates: Friday and Saturday Oct. 16-17 at 8 p.m., Sunday Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10 advance, $15 door, kids up to 10 pay their age – purchase tickets at www.a-woldance.org

(please note that ticket sales will begin around the first week of September)