When I tell people; “I work as a circus performer,” I always get: “So you’re a clown?” or “So you’ve run away and joined a circus now, have you?” For me, I haven’t physically “run away” (unless if you count Mississauga as far from North York, then I run away at least four times a week) but I have metaphorically run “into” a circus.
Jennifer Fell - Silks
Through dance and school, circus came into my life and now I just can’t get enough. I have conducted these interviews to find out how some of the performers and artists of A2D2 ~ Aerial Dance Cirque Company, got started on their journey into the world of circus, why they do it, and what they recommend for new performers.
Questions:
1. How did you get started?
I saw some friends in a Fire Dance show and decided there and then I needed to learn. Same thing with Aerial. And once you start, you just can’t get enough!
2. How long have you been training/performing?
Fire dance for 9 years and aerial 5 years.
3. Do you perform/train on multiple apparatus’s and if so which is your favorite? (If you have one?)
Besides using various Fire Props for shows (of which using anything with Pyro for Circus Orange is my favorite). Silks is my favorite Aerial apparatus.
4. Why do you love circus?
What’s not to love? It’s the best job in the world; I’ve gotten to know and work with the most wonderfully talented circus folk over the years.
5. Did you have an athletic discipline prior to training circus arts? (What was it? Do you do it now? Why or why not?)
Dance was my life as a youngster. I’m still involved in the dance world and still love taking a good ballet class.
Jennifer Fell - Fire Dance
6. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
Performing, training, teaching and still loving my job.
7. Any recommendations for new circusperformers or trainers?
If you want it, work for it and it will happen.
8. Any other comments.
Often when stress starts to build, I take a moment to remind myself how fortunate I am to be doing what I love. That I am surrounded by amazing people and that life is too short to not love what you do.
Thanks so much to Jennifer for taking the time to do this interview. Stay tuned for the next A2D2 performers interview.
