What We Are
Circus Folk Unite is a collective of jugglers, acrobats, unicyclers, poi-spinners, staff-twirlers, stiltwalkers, fire spinners, clowns, musicians and admirers of the circus arts who come together to practice, share skills and learn from each other.
Our History
Circus Folk Unite was founded in the autumn of 2005 at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.
The first Circus Folk were called together by a message scrawled on the dining commons white board by a circus-crazed first-year, Tara Jacob:
Several people showed up - both the experienced and the curious. They made friends, exchanging tricks and showing off. Everyone wanted to meet up again, and the seeds of a student group were sown. A second meeting was called, and then another. By this time the Massachusetts fall had grown cold, and so the group began to meet indoors, in the RCC's South Lounge.
By the time the forms for new student groups were due, three people had volunteered to be signers. A membership list and a mailing list were started. For the rest of the semester, there were semi-regular playtime meetings where members practiced, experimented, and shared skills in juggling, acrobatics, and clowning. Slowly our numbers grew.
By January, we were ready to take on the challenge of creating a show. A troupe formed out of the members of Circus Folk Unite who stayed at Hampshire for the January term. Starting with ideas that had come up during fall semester, the troupe worked collaboratively to create a brilliant debut performance called 'Boulversement.'
Despite some logistical setbacks involving lighting and a monsterous red mat (solved with creative teamwork, of course) and despite the fact that there had never been a full-cast rehearsal, Bouleversement ran on February 5th at 8pm in the Red Barn. It was a spectacular introduction of the Circus Arts to the Hampshire Community, attended by over 300 people. Bouleversement made quite a splash on campus. Circus Folk Unite was now really in business!
Spring term, the troupe was committed to creating a performing a second show. This time, we had learned some lessons about planning and practicing. As expected, there were still problems to sort out, such as permission to juggle fire and extensive scheduling issues because the troupe was stretched thin between schoolwork, circus, and other commitments. But the Circus Folk once again United and the result was Quintessence, which had a two-performance run on the last day of class, Friday, May 5th and again on. The performance was again splendidly recieved by an enthusiastic Hampshire community.
In the Fall of 2006, a year after the founding of Circus Folk Unite!, the group multiplied in numbers. Two circus-based orientation groups were lead, and an abundance of first years joined the group. From a group of fire-spinners and acrobats from UMass Amherst, to a local professional clown, to an accordian-playing costume designer from Smith, CFU is truely becoming a community group.
The featured show on Hampshire Halloween, Circus of Horrors, was a big success.
OUR GOAL:
To take over the world with the happiness and joy that is the Circus Arts. For social change.
