Gravity & Other Myths, a contemporary circus company based in Adelaide, South Australia, has won three awards at the first International Circus Awards presented recently in New York.
“The sheer size and scale of this piece was inspiring and challenged viewers to truly ask what circus is and can be,” said Aaron Marquise, executive director of the Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center and host of the ICA ceremony.
“We are thrilled that Gravity & Other Myths was a part of this year’s awards and are very happy for their achievements,” he added.
The Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center, a nonprofit organization based in Troy, New York USA, created the ICA to recognize professional circus companies, artists and producers from around the globe for their outstanding achievements.
Gravity & Other Myths won Outstanding Production, Outstanding Achievement in Circography and Outstanding Achievement in Design for their work, The Pulse.
The three performance teams of Gravity & Other Myths, who typically tour simultaneously in separate countries, came together in a single production for the first time in The Pulse.
The 30 acrobats were joined on stage with 30 singers from Aurora (Young Adelaide Voices) for this daring show based on themes of community, physical touch, and how humans respond to continual change.
Gravity & Other Myths was founded in 2009. Their first work, A Simple Space, was performed more than 850 times in 34 countries.
The ICA ceremony was styled after the Academy Awards, beginning with a choreographed opening number exploring the question: What is Circus? Presenters included Daniel Lamarre, the CEO of Cirque du Soleil, and Gypsy Snider, circus choreographer for the Tony award-winning revival of Pippin.
The broadcast was pre-recorded earlier this month, with Marquise hosting from the historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, world famous for its acoustics, with presenters joining remotely.
The CCIAC received 60 submissions from 21 countries. In adjudicated categories, 34 judges from 16 countries judged nominees based on three criteria: impact, originality and excellence.
“We established three ways to measure the work that felt fair to all communities regardless of financial and physical resources,” said Marquise.
Marquise says it is important that this awards program is international in scope because many countries and regions around the world have their own distinctive circus culture.
“We want the ICA to start conversations about the elements of these shows – the costumes, scenic designs, dramaturgy, etc. – to help circus evolve and move in new directions,” he said.
For information about the Contemporary Circus and Immersive Arts Center and the International Circus Awards, visit: www.cciac.us for details.
Image: The Pulse by Gravity & Other Myths – photo by Darcy Grant
International Circus Awards Winners:
Outstanding Production:
The Pulse – Gravity & Other Myths (Australia)
Outstanding Digital Production:
Moya – Zip Zap Circus & Sabine Van Rensburg, Brin Schoellkopf, Samuel Renaud (South Africa, Canada, USA)
Outstanding Performance by an Artist:
Phelelani Ndakrokra – Moya by Zip Zap Circus & Sabine Van Rensburg, Brin Schoellkopf, Samuel Renaud (South Africa, Canada, USA)
Outstanding Achievement in Circography:
The Pulse – Gravity & Other Myths (Australia)
Outstanding Achievement in Dramaturgy:
Se prendre – LION LION (Canada)
Outstanding Emerging Company:
Sweat & Ink – Cirque Barcode (Canada)
Outstanding Achievement in Design:
The Pulse – Gravity & Other Myths (Australia)
CircusTalk Critics Choice Award:
Moya – Zip Zap Circus & Sabine Van Rensburg, Brin Schoellkopf, Samuel Renaud (South Africa, Canada, USA)
Audience Choice Award:
AURA – Cirko Alebrije (Mexico)