Above The Belt

September 13, 2009

Britt Nhi Sarah – “Dream” – 2 Lyra

Kris Olness – “Addicted” – Hammock

Joshua Dean – “Any Other World” from Suspended Cirque’s URBANOPOLIS – Square

Una Mimnagh – “Corde Lisse” – Corde Lisse

Rebecca Stronger with Rachel Winard – “Waiting (or Wading)” – Trapeze

Joshua Dean and Ben Franklin – “Reflection” – Hammock Duet

Kris Olness – “One More Time” – Lyra

with Bryan Sears Mcee

Bios

Brit Nhi Sarah has been producing Above the Belt for the past five years. Ms. Sarah is also an ice skater and costume designer.  More on Britt Nhi at www.brittnhisarah.com.

Kris Olness is always grateful to be performing in Above the Belt, she is currently teaching at Trapeze School NY. Her website is Kristinolness.com. She thanks you for keeping Above the Belt going!

Joshua Dean is jubilant to be performing at another amazing Above the Belt.  Thanks to the wonderful producers for letting me be part.  His credits include: a crazy Roustabout in Twyla Tharp’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ , a flying boy that won’t grow up in NCL’s Cirque Pan, and will be seen soon as a mischievous acrobatic in Suspended Cirque’s second show URBANOPOLIS.  You can, also, catch him “hanging around” the Trapeze School New York where he teaches aerial circus.  Visit www.aerialjosh.com or www.suspendedcirque.com for more info.

Una Mimnagh  has thrilled audiences worldwide with her powerful aerial performances in circuses and theaters, nightclubs and television. Combining strength and grace, Una moves effortlessly through demanding aerial choreography. Accomplished in aerial disciplines; corde lisse, lyra, trapeze, Spanish web, cloud swing and silks, Una delights audience as a feature solo performer. Credits include Absinthe @ Spiegel Tent NYC, Mission Fashion for Television Beirut, Lebanon, Circus Una Motorcycle Thrill Show in Atlantic City, NY, Circus Flora in St. Louis, MO, Bindlestiff Family Circus in NYC, and many more.

Rebecca Stronger (STRONGERCircus) has been tirelessly pursuing the art of physical training and performance for decades.  She started out as a competitive gymnast as a kid, then moved on to modern dance, and then, thankfully arrived in the world of handstands, trapeze and acrobatics (where she belongs!).   Along with her current physical training she has recently embarked on studying physical theater and voice techniques and is incorporating it all into her creative work.  From 2001 through 2006 she was part of the Brooklyn-based, national touring ensemble, LAVA.  In 2006, she established STRONGERCircus. Rebecca was born and bred in Brooklyn and she really, really, really loves handstands.  Rebecca will be preforming with Rachel Winard tonight.

Ben Franklin is happy to return to …the Belt.  He is a member and co-founder of Suspended Cirque and is happy to be performing this duet from their premier show Across the Water.  His other credits include My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center with Kelsey Grammer and Music Man with Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy to name a few.  For more info please visist  www.iambenfranklin.com and ww.suspendedcirque.com.

August 16, 2009

Cody Schreger – “Estrella” – Lyra

Kelley Shaw – “Requiem for a Dream” – Silks

Jan Manke – “Untitled” – Straps

Andrea Damian – “Summer Fantasea” – Lyra

Lisa Natoli – “Unrest” – Silks

Alison Funk – “Glory Box” – Trapeze

Kelley Shaw – “Star Ballad” – Hammock

Elie Venezsky and Harvest Moon – “A Summer Affair” – Doubles Trapeze

with Bryan Sears Mcee

Bios

Cody Schreger after graduating with a BA in dance choreography from Bard College in 2005, Cody moved to Vermont to pursue her dream of becoming a professional circus artist. Two years and a lot of rope burn later, Ms. Schreger went on to tour as an aerialist with the Cirque Dreams show “Illuminations.” Following the tour, Cody moved back to her native NYC. She currently teaches, performs and dreams of choreography locally. To see more about Cody please check out her website at www.codyjs.com.

Jan Manke was accepted to join the 3 1/2 year circus arts program at the internationally accredited “Die Etage,” which he graduated from in 2006.  In 2007 and 2008 Jan was able to learn as the first trainee in the world famous ENC in Montreal across from the “Cirque du Soleil” headquarters. He worked with world record holder Marin Magne in Paris and joined Ecole du Cirque “Rony sous Bois” for private training.

Andrea Damian is a “water baby” who also loves performing above sea level. She has taken her aerial artistry to circus tents, theaters, resorts, and clubs in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.  She also is one-half of the aerial duo PAIROUETTE. Andrea has learned her craft and has taken inspiration from many gifted performers. She trains at the Trapeze Loft, and has an ongoing collaboration with Hangtime Presents (Toronto/NY).  Special thanks goes to Justine Heilner for her assistance today!

Lisa Natoli has been living in New York for 8 years, dancing with Jody Sperling, Jill Sigman and Amy Kail. Lisa has performed her own work at CBGB’s Gallery, Jalopy in Brooklyn and Embody Language Studio.

Alisan Funk originally from New Hampshire, has spent most of her life as a dancer and choreographer. She began her circus career while she was completing her studies at Barnard College in NY.  Her training led her to the San Francisco Circus Center, and then to L’École de Cirque de Québec, where she specialized in Aerials, Juggling and creation. She currently performs for festivals in her hometown of Montreal and coaches for a variety of circus programs in New England and Canada.

Kelley Shaw is a New York City based aerialist, acrobat and stuntwoman. As an aerialist, Ms. Shaw has appeared in corporate, theatrical and nightclub productions all over the world. She has also appeared in film, television and live stunt shows.

Elie Venezky has been performing as an aerialist for the past nine years. He has performed with the Tigerlillies Circus in Berlin, Paris and Stockholm and with Circus Nexus in Hazard, Kentucky and Normal, Illinois. He has also performed shadow work with Pilobolus on the Oprah Winfrey show. Together with Harvest Moon as Aerobella Trapeze (Aerobellatrapeze.com) they most recently won Most Innovative Performance at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas.

Harvest Moon studied trapeze and contortion at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts and has performed trapeze at the SF Circus School Variety showcase, with Velocity Circus, with the Big Top 23 in San Francisco and most recently, at various nightclubs and venues throughout New York City – Lotus, Gotham Hall, Capital, Webster Hall, and The Supper Club. More at Missharvestmoon.com

July 12, 2009

Michelle Dortignac – “Party Girl” – Silks

Elie Venezky – Trapeze

Shayna Swanson – “Inbetweentime” – Rope

Hillary Sweeney – “Enough” – Silks

Heather Hammond – “Woman” – Straps

Joshua Dean – “Addicted” – Rope

Harvest Moon – “Sleepwalk” – Hammock

Kristin Young – “Transition (Work in Progress)” – Rope

STRONGERCircus – “We Waited (Part One)” – Doubles Trapeze

Kristin & Josh – “Tango” – Spanish

with Bryan Sears Mcee

Bios

Michelle Dortignac is a Dancer, a Yogini and an Aerialist. She is the founder of Unnata Aerial Yoga, (Unnata.com) a new type of Yoga being talked about all over the world.  Michelle is also a member of Suspended Cirque, (Suspended Cirque.com) a group of talented performers who enjoy creating site-specific Aerial Theater.  Their newest show will be presented at Galapagos Art Space this coming August.  Thank you to Britt Nhi for all of her hard work, generosity, and patience.

Elie Venezky has been performing as an aerialist for the past nine years. He has performed with the Tigerlillies Circus in Berlin, Paris and Stockholm and with Circus Nexus in Hazard, Kentucky and Normal, Illinois. He has also performed shadow work with Pilobolus on the Oprah Winfrey show. Together with Harvest Moon as Aerobella Trapeze (Aerobellatrapeze.com) they most recently won Most Innovative Performance at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas.

Shayna Swanson has been creating and performing aerial works that have been described by the Chicago Reader as “truly heart-felt and creative” for over 10 years. After studying dance at Columbia College Chicago she attended Circus Maniacs Circus School in England. Since returning to the States she has kept busy performing and teaching with The Midnight Circus, The Lyric Opera, Cirque du Soleil and many corporate and gala clients. Formed the Aloft Loft in April 2006 to provide a training space for physical artists of all sorts. Aloftaerialdance.com She has performed on aerial hoop in Hong Kong, stilts in Shanghai, her one-of-a-kind rope act in Jamaica, and thrilled thousands at events all over America! More at Aerialgirl.com

Hilary Sweeney de Arce is excited to be performing again with this talented family of aerialists that the Above the Belt show has brought together.  Hilary took her dance background to new heights in 2004 and trained intensively with some of the top aerialists in the field.  Since then, she has taken the stage in Cirque Le Masque’s Carnivale, Above the Belt, Evolve Dance Festival, and more.  She also performs regularly for special events.  Hilary teaches the aerial arts at the Streb Lab for Action Mechanics in Brooklyn, NY and at the YMCA in Tarrytown, NY.    She would like to send a special thanks her students for their passion, dedication, and support, and to Britt Nhi for keeping the show alive.

Rebecca Stronger (STRONGERCircus) has been tirelessly pursuing the art of physical training and performance for decades.  She started out as a competitive gymnast as a kid, then moved on to modern dance, and then, thankfully arrived in the world of handstands, trapeze and acrobatics (where she belongs!).   Along with her current physical training she has recently embarked on studying physical theater and voice techniques and is incorporating it all into her creative work.  From 2001 through 2006 she was part of the Brooklyn-based, national touring ensemble, LAVA.  In 2006, she established STRONGERCircus. Rebecca was born and bred in Brooklyn and she really, really, really loves handstands.  STRONGERCircus is proud and excited to welcome Megan Gendell as a company member, who also really, really, really loves handstands. Megan Gendell has been dancing since she was a kid, but her heart was stolen when she started handstanding in 2005 with Rebecca Stronger. She has created and performed with LAVA, where she teaches trapeze and acrobatics. When she is not upside down, Megan designs web sites and writes children’s books. She is grateful to be sharing this nascent STRONGERcircus creation with you tonight.

Heather Hammond is an accomplished and versatile international performer, Heather has graced stages across North America and in Japan. Her company, Helium Aerial Dance (Heliummm.com), performs at festivals and corporate events across the country.  She was recently featured on NBC’s LXTV show “First Look” and in American Fitness Magazine. This is Heather’s second appearance at Above the Belt.

Joshua Dean is jubilant to be performing at another amazing Above the Belt.  Thanks to the wonderful producers for letting me be part.  His credits include: a crazy Roustabout in Twyla Tharp’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ , a flying boy that won’t grow up in NCL’s Cirque Pan, and will be seen soon as a mischievous acrobatic in Suspended Cirque’s second show URBANOPOLIS.  You can, also, catch him “hanging around” the Trapeze School New York where he teaches aerial circus.  Visit Aerialjosh.com or Suspendedcirque.com for more info.

Harvest Moon studied trapeze and contortion at the San Francisco School of Circus Arts and has performed trapeze at the SF Circus School Variety showcase, with Velocity Circus, with the Big Top 23 in San Francisco and most recently, at various nightclubs and venues throughout New York City – Lotus, Gotham Hall, Capital, Webster Hall, and The Supper Club. More at Missharvestmoon.com

Kristin Geneve Young is an aerialist/dancer based in Brooklyn. Last year, she developed aerial choreography for a production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. She has also performed with Helium Aerial Dance, Movement in C, Steve Koplowitz, Noemie Lafrance, and the physical theater troupe Red Metal Mailbox. Thank you to Lisa and Grady for all of your support.

June 21, 2009

Britt Nhi Sarah – “Magical Mystery” – Two Lyra

Kelley Shaw – “Caccoon” – Hammock

Angela Jones – “One Day at a Time” – Corde Lis

Michelle Dortignac – “Solo Again” – Double Cloud Swing

Cody Schreger – “Flux” – Silks

Jenn Wren and Jenn Hill – “Swing, Swing, Swing” – Doubles Trapeze

Kelley Shaw – “Black Hole Sun” – Silks

Michelle Dortignac and Angela Jones – “Just Spin” – Doubles Lyra

Brittany Steffans – “Redemption” – Spanish web

Petra Lange

Bios

Britt Nhi Sarah has been producing Above the Belt for the past five years. Ms. Sarah is also an ice skater and costume designer.  More on Britt Nhi at www.brittnhisarah.com.

Kelley Shaw is a New York City based aerialist, acrobat and stuntwoman. As an aerialist, Ms. Shaw has appeared in corporate, theatrical and nightclub productions all over the world. She has also appeared in film, television and live stunt shows.

Angela Jones has performed around the world from San Salvador to Bangkok, mostly with her aerial partner, Laura Witwer, as part of Luminosity. As a soloist she has also been seen on the Sundance Channel and commended for her “powerful stage presence” NY Times.

Michelle Dortignac is a Dancer, a Yogini and an Aerialist. She is the founder of Unnata Aerial Yoga, (Unnata.com) a new type of Yoga being talked about all over the world.  Most recently, the class was featured in American Airlines Magazine.  Michelle is also a member of Suspended Cirque, (Suspended Cirque.com) a group of talented performers who enjoy creating site-specific Aerial Theater.  Thank you to Britt Nhi for all of her hard work, generosity, and patience.

Cody Schreger after graduating with a BA in dance choreography from Bard College in 2005, Cody moved to Vermont to pursue her dream of becoming a professional circus artist. Two years and a lot of rope burn later, Ms. Schreger went on to tour as an aerialist with the Cirque Dreams show “Illuminations.” Following the tour, Cody moved back to her native NYC. She currently teaches, performs and dreams of choreography locally. To see more about Cody please check out her website at www.codyjs.com.

Jenn Wrenn and Jenn Hill are Seattle based and have been doing aerials for several years now, but teamed up in early 2008 as the Sky Sirens. The Jenns are looking to add a dash of zen and a dash of fun to the aerial world, specializing in doubles hoop and trapeze or solo hoop, silk and rope.  They specialize in playful, high energy acts that reflect both of their passionate personalities.  One is a hyper organized business woman by day, the other a free spirited and talented yogi – the audience gets the best of both worlds combined into a special partnership and friendship of flipping, floating and flying through the air.  See us at www.skysirens.com.

Brittany Nicole is a Long Island native with a heart for the curious, the whimsical, the quirky, and the adventurous. She has a great passion for live performance, and has over nineteen years of dance, theater, and aerials. Her current aerial loves are hoop, web, and rope, and she owes a huge thank you to God, Meghan Bourke, and Bobby Hedglin-Taylor for their instruction and support over the past few years. Likewise, she would like to greatly thank Marc Rosamilia for his kindness and hard work to set for her. Brittany is excited and inspired to be performing with Above the Belt for the first time.

Petra Lange is an authentic and extraordinarily strong aerial performer. This artist has developped  a very special and personal style of movement on a vertical rope. She celebrates a modern kind of aerial artistry in which her unique charisma and expressiveness highlight her high acrobatic skill and make it an emotional experience. With powerful elegance she moves through knots and loops, endlessly falling and catching herself. Beautiful  choreographies are followed by breathtaking drops and captivating moments of stillness. The laws of gravity seem to fail when Petra creates a very own, emotional world on stage. Born in East Germany, Petra already followed her interest in theatre and her talent for movement as a gymnast in early years. Since her artistic and acrobatic education at “The Circus Space” in London (England, 1999) she has been performing internationally. Some of Petra’s references include: Cirque Eloize “Excentricus”, The Millennium Dome Show (London),  CircusPrincessan Festival (Sweden), La Piste aux Espoirs Festival (Belgium), Daidogei Festival Shizuoka (Japan), Circus Monti (Switzerland) and German Varieté.

March 26, 2009

Act I

Britt Nhi Sarah – “Elements” – Lyra
Costume by Ali Blank

Michelle Dortignac – “Aerial Yoga” – Hammock
Music by Firenz

Suzanne Fawn Doe, Lone Wolf and Cub – “I am a Flying Fox” – Trapeze

Lisa Natoli – “Movement Study” – Silks

Angela Jones – “Mercy” – Triangle

Act 2

Kristin Olness – “Time Passages” – Lyra

Kelley Shaw – “Love Reign O’er Me” – Silks

Dane Clarke – “Untitled” – Rope

Stacey Carlson – “In the Shadow” – Hammock
Music: Niyaz

Bradford Shreve, Eileen Little and John Behlmann – “Danza de Bastoni e Corde” -Single Point Trapeze

Bios

Stacey Carlson is an aerialist, dancer, and choreographer originally from St. Louis, MO. Most recently she has toured with Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium, as a dancer and aerialist. She also has appeared as the aerial fairy in PUCK’D, created the role of the ballerina in Cirque Ingenieux, and performed with the acrobatic troop, Anti-gravity, in Crash Test Dummies. She was the swing dancer in the first English version of the musical, Notre Dame de Paris, and has danced with contemporary choreographers Gail Gilbert, Li Chiao Ping, Aszure Barton, Andrew Asnes, Kevin Wynn, Robert Moses, Sam Kim, and Mark Drahozal. Stacey is also currently teaching pilates and Anti-gravity ‘Wings’ yoga at Crunch and teaching gymnastics for the Wendy Hilliard Foundation.

Dane Clarke’s professional career as an acrobat and aerial artist started in April 99, where he trained at the Circus Space in London in preparation for the millennium dome show. A large scale spectacular performing at heights of 150 metres in Greenwich London. The show ran throughout the year 2000 to celebrate the millennium, It was during that year Dane developed his rope skills and created his unique style and approach to the rope and earned the title of “ropemaster”. He also performed as an aerial rope specialist in the feature film “Batman begins”. and research and development in King Arthur. Dane is currently working in Las Vegas at the wynn resort in the multi million dollar aquatic production Le Reve. He is an original cast member and has been with the show over four years which he performs
ten shows a week.

Michelle Dortignac is a Dancer, a Yogini and an Aerialist. She is the founder of Unnata Aerial Yoga, a new type of Yoga being talked about all over the world. (Taiwanese Elle magazine is the most recent.) Michelle is also a member of Suspended Cirque, a group of talented aerialists who are debuting their first site-specific aerial show at the Galapagos Art Space in Dumbo on Friday, April 3. Thank you to Britt Nhi for all of her hard work, generosity, and patience.

Suzanne Rogaleski (Fawn Doe) is an artist who took to the air in 1999. Training began under the wing of Tanya Gagne (1/2 of the Wau-Wau Sisters) at The Trapeze Loft in Williamsburg. Suzanne began performing as Fawn Doe the flying deer in many venues from the Sideshows at the Seashore at Coney Island to the shores of the Red Sea in Egypt.  Suzanne’s collaborations include Lone Wolf and Cub with Ryan Sawyer and the TEAMSPIRITANIMALSQUAD! with Ms.Tanya Gagne. Suzanne, Tanya, their band the BadMittens, and a herd of unicorns create a multi-tiered totemic aerial opera, filled with glitter, astral projection, and communion. Please visit www.thetrapezeloft.com
Kelley Shaw is a New York City based aerialist, acrobat and stuntwoman. As an aerialist, Ms. Shaw has appeared in corporate, theatrical and nightclub productions all over the world. She has also appeared in film, television and live stunt shows.

Angela Jones has performed around the world from San Salvador to Bangkok, mostly with her aerial partner, Laura Witwer, as part of Luminosity. As a soloist she has also been seen on the Sundance Channel and commended for her “powerful stage presence” NY Times.

Kristin Olness is always grateful to be preforming in Above the Belt, she is currently teaching at Trapeze School NY and will also be appearing with Suspended Cirque on April 3rd at Galapagos Art Space. Website Kristinolness.com. Thanks you for keeping Above the Belt going!

Bradford Shreve, John Behlmann and Eileen Little of Matchbook Productions are overjoyed to be back with Above the Belt at their new home.   This time around they are under the watchful eye of Steven Cole Hughes who was instrumental in putting this piece together. All four are graduates of the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, CO where they received their MFA in Acting.  While at the NTC, they trained with Robert Davidson in Skinner Releasing Technique for three years which included the use of single-point, low-flying trapeze. They have performed at The Zipper, STREB and at The NYC Aerial Festival.  www.matchbookproductions.org

Lisa Natoli is somewhere between a dancer and an aerialist and often just calls herself a waitress. Lisa has performed her choreography at CBGB’s Gallery, Embody Language Studios, Galapagos, Jalopy, Monkeytown, STREB, Sunny’s Bar, and The Zipper. As a dancer she has worked with Kelly Hayes/Katy Orthwein, Amy Kail, Jill Sigman, and Jody Sperling.

Britt Nhi Sarah has been producing Above the Belt for the past 4 years. Ms. Sarah is also an ice skater and costume designer. Her costume tonight is by Ali Blank www.ablankexpression.com. More on Britt Nhi at www.brittnhisarah.com.

December 14, 2008

Act 1

Britt Nhi Sarah – Lyra – “Frozen”

Rebecca Stronger/STRONGERCircus – Trapeze – “Anywhere”

Rachel Field – Silks – “In the Shape of a Girl”

Kristin Young – Rope – “Three Times”

Joshua Dean and Ben Franklin – Silk – “Someone to Watch Over Me”

Kris Olness – Hammock – “A Spicy Christmas Coffee”

Act 2

Andrea Damian – Lyra – “Ghost of Christmas Past”

Natalie Agee and C. Ryder Cooley – Trapeze – “Emberly & The Fireflight”

Hilary Sweeney – Hammock – “9 to 5″

Michelle Dortignac – Double Cloudswing – “Solo Again”

Dane Clarke -Rope

Joshua Dean and Ben Franklin – Spanish Web

Bios

Natalie Agee is an inter-disciplinary performer who runs Ruby Streak Trapeze Studio. She would especially like to thank Ryder, Amos, and all of her friends here tonight, for joining her. Also, many thanks to Britt Nhi and Alexander.

Dane Clarke’s professional career as an acrobat and aerial artist started in April 99, where he trained at the Circus Space in London in preparation for the millennium dome show. A large scale spectacular performing at heights of 150 metres in greenwich London. The show ran throughout the year 2000 to celebrate the millennium, It was during that year Dane developed his rope skills and created his unique style and approach to the rope and earned the title of “ropemaster”. After the millennium dome show Dane began to work freelance as an acrobat and aerialists in the UK and Europe. Working with contemporary circus companies, fashions shows, and corporate events, television, music video’s and in the big top. He also performed as an aerial rope specialist in the feature film “Batman begins”. and research and development in King Arthur. He is currently working in Las Vegas at the wynn resort in the multi million dollar aquatic production Le Reve. He is an original cast member and has been with the show over four years which he performs 10 shows a week.

C. Ryder Cooley is a multi-media artist and aerial explorer, currently based in Troy, NY. This is her first performance up off the ground since a hand injury this summer. Thanks to Natalie for welcoming this tender flight.

Andrea Damian has been performing on trapeze and lyra for over nine years.  She has taken her aerial artistry to circus tents, theaters, resorts, and clubs in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.  She also is one-half of the aerial duo PAIROUETTE. Andrea has learned her craft and has taken inspiration from many gifted performers. She currently trains at the Trapeze Loft, and has an ongoing collaboration with Hangtime Presents (Toronto/NY).  Andrea wishes one and all a happy and peaceful holiday season!

Joshua Dean is jubilant to be returning to Above the Belt.  He has hung from the ceilings for Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Peter Pan, Seaside Music Theatre in Aida, the NCL Sun for Jean Anne Ryan Production Company, and Broadway Bares:Myth Behavior to name a few.  He has danced for the legendary Twyla Tharp and performed across the country.  He currently teaches Aerial Arts privately in New York City.  You can check out his website for more info.  Thanks to Britt Nhi bringing me to this space once again, and much love to my amazing bf for singing for me.

Michelle Dortignac began training on Aerial Silks in 2002 under the tutelage of Chelsea Bacon.  She has since expanded her repertoire to include Aerial Hammock, Static Cloudswing, Double Cloudswing, and any aerial apparatus that is new and fun.  Michelle is also the founder of Unnata(R) Aerial Yoga, a Yoga class that incorporates use of an aerial apparatus to assist with deep stretches and relaxation. (AerialYoga.com)  Many thanks to everyone who contributes to Michelle’s growth as an aerial performer: Kenneth Feldman, Angela Jones and Laura Witwer, Joshua Dean, Kristin Olness, Tanya Gagne, and Britt Nhi Sarah.

Rachel Field has been studying silks for a few years and when she’s not at her day job she prefers hanging upside down.  She thanks Hilary, Laura, Sarah and Jon for all of their support.  She thanks Sam for inspiring her.

Ben Franklin is an actor/singer/dancer and is very pleased to join Above The Belt.  Most recently, he has played the Scarecrow in “The WIzard Of Oz”, but is happy to be home again in New York.  Theatrical credits include:  “My Fair Lady” at Avery Fisher Hall with Kelsey Grammer and Kelli O’Hara, “The Music Man” with Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy, Lumiere in “Beauty & The Beast”, Rum Tum Tugger in “Cats”, Will Parker in “Oklahoma!”, and aerial work in “Aida”.  He is delighted to share the stage with the ever talented Joshua Dean and is overjoyed to have him home again!

Kristin Olness has toured the country with Circus Nexus, Poet Productions, Cirque Le Masque, and the Imaginaerial troupe performing on many different aerial apparatti.  She is currently teaching aerial at Trapeze School New York.  Special thanks to Britt Nhi Sarah for keeping Above the Belt going.

Britt Nhi Sarah has been producing Above the Belt for over four years.

Rebecca Stronger has been tirelessly pursuing the art of physical training and performance for decades.  Yes, it’s true, decades.  The journey started out in a few local gymnastic schools in Brooklyn, led to a little bit of ballet (again, yes, it’s true), a whole lot more of modern dance, and then settled right in to the world of Chinese acrobatics and static trapeze.  Throw a little theater training in, and here she is.  Her primary circus teachers have been Master Trainer Lu Yi in handbalancing and Elena Panova in static trapeze-both at The Circus Center in San Francisco.  After a long tenure as part of the award-winning, Brooklyn-based, performance company-LAVA, Rebecca established STRONGERCircus in 2006 and has had her work presented by multiple venues in San Francisco, New Mexico and New York City.   Big love and thanks to Natalie Agee and Ruby Streak Trapeze Studio.

Hilary Sweeney’s act “9 to 5″ was creatively born out of her own experiences as a full-time corporate employee by day and a professional aerialist by night.  Hilary took her dance background to new heights in 2004 and trained with some of the top aerialists in the field.  Since then, she has been performing and teaching her heart out as a teaching artist for the Westchester Arts Council,  Tarrytown YMCA, and independently at the Streb Lab, in Brooklyn, NY.  For more info email lux.aerial@gmail.com. She would like to extend a special thanks to her soon-to-be husband, Manuel Arce, for putting up with her whining during all the training and injuries that come with being an aerialist, and to Rachel Field for her friendship in the air and on the ground.

Kristin Young: Just like everybody else, young Kristin learned to pick herself up, fall down, and repeat. 25 years later she’s still at it, but higher off the ground and with a little more grace (or at least with more intention.) Her favorite aerial apparatuses include corde lisse, tissu, and bungee. Kristin recently developed aerial choreography for a production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead and she has choreographed and performed solo aerial works for “Above the Belt” at the Zipper Factory Theater and the NYC Aerial Dance Festival. As a dancer, she has performed with Movement in C, Steve Koplowitz, Noemie Lafrance, and the physical theater troupe Red Metal Mailbox. Thanks to Lisa, Laura, and (as always) Grady for your support through the creation of this piece.

November 2, 2008

Act 1

Bronwyn Sims -  Lyra – “Isolation”

Chriselle Tidrick, Andrea Skurr, Emily Smyth Vartanian – Harness/Dance – “Soaring” – Music by Andy Monroe

Kris Olness – Double Silk – “Trapped”

Mr. Fantastic and Harvest Moon – Doubles Trapeze – “Rendezvous”

Act 2

Andrea Damian – Lyra – “Silver Lining”

Natalie Agee – Trapeze – “Sam and Wilbur”

Cody Schreger – Silk – “Epilogue”

Cindy Abramson – Trapeze and Hula Hoops – “Draft Punk is Playing at My House”

Bios

Cindy “Spindy” Abramson grew up in Brooklyn, New York and has been training for the past seven years at The Trapeze Loft with Tanya Gagne.  She is also in her last year of law school and is excited to be working at an awesome law firm next year. Thank you to Above The Belt for inviting her back to perform. And special thanks to Bronwyn Sims, Andrea Damian, and Justine Heilner for helping her get through this routine.

Natalie Agee is an interdisciplinary performer, who runs Ruby Streak Trapeze Studio. Tonight, she will be performing with the inimitable Aimee Norwich. Many thanks to the organizers of Above the Belt, and all of her friends here, this evening.

Andrea Damian has been performing on trapeze and lyra for over nine years.  She has taken her aerial artistry to circus tents, theaters, resorts, and clubs in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.  She also is one-half of the aerial duo PAIROUETTE. Andrea has learned her craft and has taken inspiration from many gifted performers. She currently trains at the Trapeze Loft, and has an ongoing collaboration with Hangtime Presents (Toronto/NY).  Special thanks goes to Justine Heilner for her assistance today and to Christian Gartner for putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.

Kristen Olness is currently working with the ImaginAerial company and teaches at the New York Trapeze School.

Harvest Moon and Mr. Fantastic met at The San Francisco School of Circus Arts and formed an immediate friendship. They trained together for many years before fate threw them together as partners. They most recently performed in Things that go Bump in the Night, a Halloween benefit at S.L.A.M. Stuidos in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Cody Schreger – after graduating with a BA in dance choreography from Bard College in 2005, Cody moved to Vermont to pursue her dream of becoming a professional circus artist. Two years and a lot of rope burn later, Ms. Schreger went on to tour as an aerialist with the Cirque Dreams show “Illuminations”. Following the tour, Cody moved back to her native NYC. She currently teaches, performs and dreams of choreography locally.

Brownyn Sims is an actor, acrobat and educator. She has appeared in movies (Next Stop Wonderland, Dischord, Enough Already, Trial by Fire) and on television including a role in the Emmy award winning first season of The Sopranos. Her NYC stage credits include productions with The NYC OPERA at Lincoln Center, The National Black Theatre of Harlem, The Kitchen, LA Mama E.T.C, HERE, Blue Heron Arts Center, Galapagos, One Arm Red, The Slipper Room, Artists of Tomorrow Festival with Six Figures Theatre, The NYC Clown Theatre Festival at The Brick Theatre, NY Downtown Clown Revue at The Kraine Theatre & The International Dance Festival at The Duke Theatre. Regional stage credits include The American Repertory Theatre, Raven Theatrical, Speakeasy Stage Company, and a European Tour with Sandglass Theatre. As an Acrobat and Aerialist she has performed with LAVA, Odonata Dance Project, The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, Cirque Boom, Wise Fool & Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival. She is a Founding member of The NYC Circus Theatre company KIRKOS. As an educator Bronwyn has taught classes and workshops at University of New Hampshire, The University of Florida, Marlboro College, Colorado College, Streb/Slam, Bhava Yoga, and numerous other yoga, dance, and aerial studios throughout New England and NYC. Bronwyn currently performs with the Nimble Arts Touring Company and teaches aerial and circus arts at The New England Center for Circus Arts. This Fall she is co curator for a circus/ vaudeville night at La Mama ETC on NOV 3.

Andrea Skurr began dancing at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she earned a BA in Dance & Music.  From humble beginnings as a gymnast, she concluded her college career directing/conceiving, Unraveling Together, a dance production for which she received “Best Show” and “Best Co-Sound Designer.”  She was awarded the Dean’s Distinguished Award along with a grant to present her work, J2, at NCUR.  She has performed on the West coast, the Midwest, and now the East coast under Patrice Regnier, Nathanael Buckley, and Jody Sperling/Time Lapse Dance.  She recently joined Above and Beyond Dance and is ecstatic to fly!

Chriselle Tidrick has a varied performance life including work in modern dance, acrobatics, stilt dancing and aerial work.  She has worked with Alice Farley Dance Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, Jody Sperling/Time Lapse Dance, Pi Dance Theatre, Catherine Gallant/DANCE, and others.  She also appears on stilts in the Disney motion picture, Enchanted.  Chriselle’s choreography has been seen at venues including Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, University Settlement, The Zipper, Streb, The Micro Museum, Galapagos, and BRIC. She is the artistic director of Above and Beyond Dance.

Emily Smyth Vartanian grew up in Oakland, California and now lives in New York City.  She has performed with a number of companies including Kybele Dance Theater, Metronome Tap Company, and the national tour of Forever Swing!   She is currently collaborating with Chriselle Tidrick and Above & Beyond Dance and well as heading up General Mischief Dance Theatre.  She is a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and an alumnus of UCLA and the Broadway Theatre Project.  She is very pleased to be hanging from the ceiling of the Zipper once again.

October 12, 2008

Act 1

Carol Knoff – Lyra- “Insinuous”

Kris Olness – Trapeze – “Dusty Busty Rides Again”

Michelle Dortignac – Double Rope Loops – “Solo Again”

Lisa Natoli – Silks – Untitled

Act 2

Britt Nhi Sarah – Lyra – “Captured”

Kelley Shaw – Silks – “Black”

Heather Hammond – Straps – “Because”

Angela Jones and Laura Witwer – Trapeze- “Cooking Something Up” – Costumes by Laura Witwer

Bios

Michelle Dortignac has been a New York City artist, dancer and performer for the past 17 years. She has always enjoyed participating in the uncommon side of the performance and entertainment world, allowing her to explore a wide range of movement and performance techniques. During her career, Michelle has trained in and performed Aerial Acrobatics, Corporeal Mime, Butoh, Contact Improvisational Dance, and Yoga. She has even developed her own style of Yoga – Unnata(R) Aerial Yoga (www.AerialYoga.com) which is gaining worldwide notice. She has performed in such unique and diverse locations as the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage (Brooklyn, NY), the Joyce Theater (NY, NY), and the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Dallas, TX. Also a choreographer, Michelle creates (and has created) her own routines in the air, on the floor, and for video.

Angela Jones and Laura Witwer Luminosity has performed worldwide for corporate events, casinos, touring shows, varieties and private parties. They have also been seen on television in four countries, currently being filmed for a documentary to be aired on PBS in 2009. Ms. Jones and Ms. Witwer work on a variety of apparatus and shows, but mostly have fun hamming it up in the good old NYC.

Heather Hammond is an accomplished and versatile international performer, Heather has graced stages across North America and in Japan.  Her company, Helium Aerial Dance (www.heliummm.com), creates fun-filled festival shows and performs at corporate events across the country.  Her show “Canadian Circus Idol” was a hit at Beachstreet USA (Virginia Beach) this past July.  Her latest work is an anti-bullying circus show for schools, called “Beat it!”.  Heather has just returned from performing in Noemie Lafrance’s “Rapture”, dancing on the undulating roof of the Frank Gehry-designed Fisher Center at Bard College. Since moving to New York from Toronto earlier this year, Heather has performed at Noemie Lafrance’s Gala, Harrah’s Casino in St. Louis, for internationally renowned video artist Tony Oursler, LAVA’s Night of Renegades, TSNY, Cirque-tacular Entertainment and the New York Aerial Dance Festival, among others. She teaches aerial arts at two studios in Brooklyn, and dance to pre-schoolers.

Carol Knopf began her career as a ballet dancer at ABT then expanded her work to include Spanish Dance, Modern and Contemporary styles. Her companies include Caprichos Boleros, Flamenco Fuego, Peridance, Battery Dance Co., Balinese American Dance Theatre and her own Poemdance Co.  She toured the world with her own choreography and took up aerial dance: silk, lyra, rope and web, performing at Festival D’Avignon in France, Amor De Dios in Spain and Saint John the Divine in NYC. The goal of her choreography is to create a visual poetry which makes the most of expressive possibilities in movement.  She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from NYU and teaches Pilates.

Lisa Natoli has been living in New York for 8 years, dancing with Jody Sperling, Jill Sigman and Amy Kail. Lisa has performed her own work at CBGB’s Gallery, Jalopy in Brooklyn and Embody Language Studio.

Kristen Olness is currently working with the ImaginAerial Company and teaches at the New York Trapeze School.

Britt Nhi Sarah has been producing Above the Belt for over four years.

Kelley Shaw is a New York City based aerialist, acrobat and stuntwoman. As an aerialist, Ms. Shaw has appeared in corporate, theatrical and nightclub productions all over the world. She has also appeared in film, television and live stunt shows.

September 14, 2008

Act I

Kristin Young – Tissu – “Current/Seas”

Suzanne Fawn Doe – Trapeze – “Pinata Valkyerie”

Kristen Olness – Hammock – “Addicted”

Chiselle Tidrick and Emily Smyth Vartanian – Fabric Sling – “Entangled”

Act 2

Britt Nhi Sarah – Lyra – “Dav Opre”

Una Mimnagh – Trapeze

Angela Jones – Corde Lisse – “Why Fly”

Eileen Little and Bradford Shreve – Single Point Trapeze – “Midnight Train Rapsody”

Bios

Una Mimnagh. In circuses and theaters, nightclubs and television Una Mimnagh has thrilled audiences worldwide with her powerful aerial performances. Combining strength and grace, Una moves effortlessly through demanding aerial choreography. Accomplished in aerial disciplines; corde lisse, lyra, trapeze, Spanish web, cloud swing and silks, Una delights audience as a feature solo performer. Credits include Absinthe @ Spiegel Tent NYC, Mission Fashion for Television Beirut, Lebanon, Circus Una Motorcycle Thrill Show in Atlantic City, NY, Circus Flora in St. Louis, MO, Bindlestiff Family Circus in NYC, and many more.

Chriselle Tidrick is a former competitive gymnast and has performed extensively as a dancer and stilt dancer with various New York based companies. She has also choreographed dance work, stilt work and aerial work. Her interest lies in fusing modern dance with circus arts, and she feels there is a huge range of untapped potential in this blend. In 2007, she created her own company, Above and Beyond Dance to explore the possibilities.  Chriselle’s choreography has been shown at: Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts; University Settlement, The Zipper; The Micro Museum; The Surrey at Skidmore College, Streb; The Belt Theater; Galapagos, BRIC; Trinity on Main Fall Festival and Dance Space.  She has also performed for a variety of companies and choreographers including: Jody Sperling/Time Lapse Dance; The Metropolitan Opera; Alice Farley Dance Theater; Dances by Isadora & Catherine Gallant/DANCE; Pi Dance Theater; and others. Chriselle was also hired as a Feature Stunt performer for the Disney film Enchanted, Kevin Lima, Director.

Emily Smyth Vartanian is a professional dancer, producer, and choreographer who grew up in Oakland, California and now lives in New York City.  She has performed a wide variety of works with an even wider variety of companies: from contemporary modern movement with Kybele Dance Theater and rhythm tap with Metronome Tap company, to Argentine Tango and aerial work with Above & Beyond Dance, and even Lindy Hop with the national tour of Forever Swing!   She is currently collaborating with Chriselle Tidrick and Above & Beyond Dance and well as heading up General Mischief Dance Theatre.  Emily attended UCLA where she graduated from the Dance concentration of the World Arts & Cultures program.  She is a certified Bikram Yoga instructor and an alumnus of the Broadway Theatre Project.  She is very pleased to be hanging from the ceiling of the Zipper once again.

Angela Jones started out in Modern Dance and became known for her “powerful stage presence” NY Times. Then she teamed up w Laura Witwer and together as Luminosity they traveled all over the world and shown on television in five different countries. Recently, their company has expanded to include many other artists, new concepts, and more complex shows, but Angela still enjoys working simply every once in a while as well.

Kristin Young is an aerialist/dancer based in Brooklyn. Her aerial apparatuses include tissu, corde lisse, and bungee. As a dancer, Ms. Young has performed with choreographers Cathy Richards, Steve Koplowitz, Noemie Lafrance, Hiske Dooper, and Pascal Benichou, as well as the physical theater troupe Red Metal Mailbox. She is also a member of the dance company Movement in C.

Suzanne Fawn Doe has been on stage all her life and flying above it to the left of a double 0. Come see the her band the Badmittens in TEAMSPIRITANIMALSQUAD on September 22, and Lone Wolf and Cub, the trapeze drum duo (traps on traps) at Deitch Projects September 25, and visit www.thetrapezeloft.com to find out when you can take her amazing classes!

Bradford Shreve and Eileen Little, co-founders of Matchbook Productions, were last seen at this year’s NYC Aerial Festival.  They are both graduates of the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, CO where they received their MFA in Acting.  While at the NTC, they trained with Robert Davidson in Skinner Releasing Technique for three years which included the use of single-point, low-flying trapeze.  Eileen is currently studying with Julie Ludwick of Fly-By-Night Dance Theatre.  Brad and Eileen would like to thank Bob and Julie for their love and support.

Britt Nhi Sarah has been producing Above the Belt for over four years.. Ms. Sarah thanks Mia Wolff for her work and support.

Kristen Olness is currently working with the ImaginAerial company and teaches at the New York Trapeze School.

Mia Wolf (rigger). A founding member of the Big Apple Circus, Mia Wolff worked as a catcher in a double trapeze act and a balancing/rolling globe act.  She went on to study martial arts and massage, running a martial arts studio in NYC and later going to Shanghai to study Chinese massage.   More recently she has been teaching Pilates, doing Jin Shin Jyutsu, an ancient Japanese energetic system, and coaching aerial students.