mimi ke aerial
The Circus of Tensegrity
Overview
A Circus Attuned to Landscape:
to cultivate public interest in new forms of live performance, helping to elevate and enrich Iowa’s arts and culture.
An experiment of collaboration and deliberation with the landscape, phase 1 of The Circus of Tensegrity was built onsite over the course of a week in residency at Windy Goat Acres. Directed by Mimi Ke in collaboration with Elaine Mc Cague, the project strives to construct unique site-responsive work that weaves together the physical nature of circus with collaborations of live sound and rigging installation. By designing an experience conceived to the landscape, the project encourages audiences to engage with their surroundings in new and meaningful ways, forging deeper connections between body, space, and community. Read more...
Featuring artists: Mimi Ke, Elaine Mc Cague, Tanis Sotelo, Kate Gylten
Event Details
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Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 4:00 pm
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Location: Windy Goat Acres, Chelsea, Iowa
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Rain date TBD
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Program:
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Work-in-Progress Show
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Artists Q&A 30 minutes
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Public Workshop 30 minutes
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The artists will guide participants through movement prompts with guided imagery, as part of their creative process-- designed to spark creativity and deepen connection with their body, senses, and surroundings. Open to all ages.
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Project Inspiration
The Circus of Tensegrity is inspired by the architectural term tensegrity, an elision of ‘tension + integrity’ and the internal sensation of tension and compression:
islands of compression floating in a balanced sea of tension.
The show’s theme is driven by the concept of tensegrity—structures held together by a balance of tension and compression. Aerialists move through a suspended network of ropes, where each shift in weight impacts the entire system.
Pushing the boundaries of circus performance, the project moves beyond the proscenium and tent, evolving dynamically with its landscape. Artists will explore the use of multi-ropes, corde lisse, counterweight rigging, and installation to create an immersive, tapestry-like performance set to a pulsing and meditative soundscape.
Working session highlight video with musician, Tanis Sotelo:
For reward-free contributions to The Circus of Tensegrity, you can donate directly HERE.
Your donation is immensely appreciated. This performance is the product of over a decade of training, research and support from friends like you. Your support goes towards everything from paying artists to documenting the project and ensuring it's future.
The Circus of Tensegrity
is a sponsored project of
Fractured Atlas, a non-profit
501(c)3 arts service organization.
Fractured Atlas will receive grants for the purposes of The Circus of Tensegrity, provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the purposes of The Circus of Tensegrity must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Thank you to the following individuals and organizations for their patronage and financial support:
Andrea Parks, Toula Yoga
Ashlynd Jones, National Dance Academy
Jessica Kettler, Windy Goat Acres
Cara Viner, Hothouse Yoga
Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
Lora Daily, Casey Reyner, Mike Kelly, Angie Chaplin, Kellie Conner, Sue Protheroe, Darcy LeFevre, Misha Matchette, Kristin Lee , Scott Monroe, Susan Radke, Scott Cochran, Loreen Curley
Support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
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