A high-flying creative residency is setting up shop in Downtown Brooklyn this week.
“Aerialists & Acrobats” will make its debut at City Point’s BKLYN STUDIOS starting on Jan. 8. The showcase will highlight some of New York’s top circus performers — who have been furloughed since March when ticketed performances were canceled and rehearsal spaces closed due to the pandemic — and will mark the first time that these artists will be able to show off their acts while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
“The performing arts sector is a vital element of NYC’s economy, and extends far beyond Broadway and Lincoln Center. Our government is past capacity, so it is up to our private sector to support the performing arts,” said Kyla Ernst-Alper, who conceived the creative residency and is a producer, aerialist and founder of Änver Entertainment. “City Point has stepped in as a leader in that effort by offering over 30 of NYC’s top professional aerialists and acrobats a 2-month residency in a space that seems to have been designed for this purpose! We are all so thrilled to invite the public to watch us as we showcase our talents, and workshop new ideas.”
The showcase will feature performers of Broadway, movie and television fame, such as Ernst-Alper and Kris Olness (co-owner of Aerial Arts), Lani Corson (of Broadway’s Chicago national tour and co-owner of 2 Ring Circus), Rebecca Fey (aerial director of the soon-to-launch recreational aerial program at VITAL Climbing Gym and producer of Cat’s Eye Cabaret), Crista Marie Jackson (Zendaya’s stunt double on “The Greatest Showman”), and Ivory Fox (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”).
As part of the exhibit, Ernst-Alper and photographer Giles Clement collaborated on an installation of images spotlighting leading New York aerialists, burlesque personalities, clowns, and dancers. The portraits will be on display in the Atrium at City Point and each image will be sold as a limited edition print and as a part of a set of 10 postcards. Proceeds from sales will be shared with the performing artists to help them through the pandemic.
Strict COVID-19 regulations will be enforced for everyone who comes to the showcase. Masks will be mandatory for all observers, and those who come can watch indoors through public windows into the performance space. Attendance numbers and traffic flow will be monitored at all times.
“Since we opened, City Point has embraced creativity through our ongoing cultural programming, and we are well aware of the plight of New York City’s performing artists due to the pandemic,” said Paul Travis, managing partner of Washington Square Partners. “Providing a venue for the ‘Aerialists & Acrobats’ circus performers is our way of giving back to the arts and our community. We are excited to see their gravity-defying acts come to life at City Point, and to bring COVID-safe culture back to Downtown Brooklyn.”
“Aerialists & Acrobats” will be on display from Jan. 8 through Feb. 28, with showcases taking place Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 12 pm. Rehearsals will take place from 9 am to 1 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. City Point’s BKLYN STUDIOS is located at 445 Albee Square W.
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This story first appeared on AMNY.com.
