ABOUT THE SHOW
Read our directors notes and learn all about this year’s performers.
Letters from Our Leaders
From our Executive Director | Jenna Struble
With NECCA’s ProTrack Program, the Circus is always in town. Our ProTrack program is vital to the existence of Circus not only in the United States but around the world, as our students emerge from our one of a kind Trapezium as circus arts professionals. It’s also crucial to Brattleboro and greater New England as our ProTrack students perform and share their coaching skills with circus hobbyists and enthusiasts of all ages. Students bring their youth and vibrancy to the creative economy as they perform, work and play around town and in the surrounding area.
As a non-profit circus training center, NECCA relies on donations and business sponsors to keep their education affordable. Please consider becoming a sponsor or monthly donor to support the next generation of circus performers.
– Jenna Struble
From the ProTrack Director | Elena Day
To be a working circus performer of the highest order, one must have outstanding acrobatic technique, artistic creativity, and professionalism.
The students you see before you have built these qualities at NECCA.
Their technique has been refined through hours of one-on-one training in their major and minor disciplines, supported by tumbling, handstands, flexibility, conditioning, and more.
They have taken artistic risks. Theater, dance, and “Creative Time,” a class unique to NECCA, have given them the tools to bring their artistic dreams to fruition.
Some say that to be a professional artist is 50% training, and 50% “taking care of business:” the decidedly non-glamourous work of emailing, contract negotiations, and self-promotion. The students you see before you have practiced this through the day to day business of being in school, supplemented by our Professional Development courses.
But there is more: and it is the reason you are here…
When these three pillars of ProTrack –technique, creativity, and professionalism– come together through the soul and humanity of the artist into something bigger, something ineffable – the beauty, power, and pleasure of live performance – that is the moment the students have been building towards! And we are so thankful to share it with you.
Please enjoy, dear audience.
– Elena Day
Director’s Note | Neva Cockrell
This is a story about change. Kato experiences a loss in her life. Though it’s not what she wanted or chose, it is what propels her into the next phase of life. After deep grief and a walk through the woods with her fear, in her most challenged place, she calls out for help. Sure enough, a guide arrives, to walk with her, believe in her, and help her find her way. Together they make their way through depression, yearning, anger, learning new skills, resting, reconnecting with hope and dreams, and finally into an inner springtime, a rebirth. She finds a new version of herself, a new version of her life, a new role in her community.
Many people worked together to devise this piece. We got together, told stories, talked about what we cared about and what is needed in our current culture. One of the themes that arose was change. We found ourselves asking the question, “When a big change occurs in one’s life, what is the journey like to find a new equilibrium and how can one walk this path?”
In a culture that often values the ascending moments of life more than the descending ones, where can we find space and support for the full spectrum of experience? For the grief, the anger, the depression, the rest – trusting in the seasons of life, that after summer comes fall, then winter, then spring. May we have the courage to move through all of our inner seasons, each in their own time. And find good company, good friends, and good teachers along the way.
Show Order
– Introductions By –
Jon Potter
NECCA’s Board Chair & Executive Director
NECCA’s Founders Elsie Smith & Serenity Smith Forchion
– Act One –
John Higby
Yo-Yo Guy and Emcee
Youth Performance Troupe
Opening Charivari: Student names here.
Nick Ng & Rachel Rees
Duo Rope
Stacey Strange
Hoop Juggling
Hayley Brown
Dance Trapeze
Doug Stewart
Aerial Rope
– Act Two –
Ariele Ebacher
Tight Wire
Troy Wunderle
Comedy Magic
Elsa Hall
Aerial Hoop
Alex Jackson
Handbalancing
Hayley Dynamo
Aerial Silk
Katie Schmidt & Victoria Quine
Duo Tippy Lyra
About the Performers
Meaghan Behne (she/her)
Meaghan Behne is a professional aerialist who has performed throughout the country. She is also an experienced teacher in several aerial apparatuses of varying levels. She is currently in year two of The New England Center for Circus Arts’ Professional ProTrack program. She was originally from Houston, Texas and moved to Brattleboro, Vermont to follow her circus dreams. She relishes the opportunity to perform in variety of circus shows and events. Past awards include 2019 Flight Night (Silks) 1st Place- Youth Advanced, 2020 Flight Night (Silks) 1st Place- Adults Advanced 2021 Flight Night (Silks) 1st Place- Adults Advanced. Her hobbies embrace reading the latest thriller.
Darcy Biddle (he/him)
Darcy Biddle is an aerialist and storyteller who enjoys portraying characters of both the silly and serious variety through circus arts. From the sunny world of Southern California, Darcy began aerial arts at age 11 and threw themself into the craft with abandon—performing and teaching as often as they could. Darcy is now in their second year of ProTrack and working towards the goal of creating acts that will truly touch audiences’ hearts, and art that they are excited to share with the world. When they’re not doing circus, they enjoy writing and spending too much time at local coffee shops brainstorming their next creative endeavor.
Rose Francis (she/they)
Rose Francis is a multi-disciplinary circus artist specializing in aerial straps, trampoline wall, and partner acrobatics. In the middle of a pandemic, she flipped her life from studying and working in medicine to pursuing a professional circus career! She is driven by her desire to help as many people as possible explore the wonders of circus! When she’s not spinning by her ankles 20ft in the air, she enjoys cuddling with her cat Levi!
Réanne Hein (she/they)
An aerialist, dancer, and acrobat from Winnipeg, Canada, Réanne Hein loves flying in the air, climbing on other people, and sharing her passion for movement and circus with everyone. When she’s bored she likes to quiz herself on the 245 flags she has memorized. Starting as a competitive dancer, she discovered circus at 15, gaining experience and learning how much she enjoys working with others in an ensemble. At NECCA, her main focuses are aerial straps, Chinese pole, and partner acrobatics.
Web: reannehein.com
Instagram: @reannehein
Henry Koski (he/him)
Henry Koski is a jack of many trades within the circus, starting as an aerialist at age 5 at Xelias Aerial Arts in his hometown of Minneapolis he quickly grew to love the art form and by 13 he was juggling, tumbling, clowning and much much more. In his free time he enjoys cooking, kite flying, and playing music. In 2021 Henry joined ProTrack at the New England Center for Circus Arts where he focuses on aerial rope & clown.
Rae Lawhorne (they/she)
Rae Lawhorne grew up in the mountains of Virginia, filling their time with as many dance classes as they could. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Dance and Choreography, she turned her eyes toward the sky and began taking aerial classes. After a few years of taking and teaching classes at their local aerial studio, Rae decided to take their training to the next level and attend the ProTrack program at NECCA, where they chose to specialize in lyra and Chinese pole.
Katie Russo
Katie Russo’s performance career began at fifteen in marching band and color guard culminating in the WGI world championship title with Onyx color guard in 2017. Attending the Jacobs School of Music on a premier young artist scholarship, she excelled in musical ensembles and trained vigorously as a generalist at a local circus arts school. Katie has a passion for athleticism and artistry and is currently a juggling and Chinese pole specialist.
Olivia Sather
Olivia Sather is a dynamic and versatile aerial performer who was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She has had training as a singer, dancer, stage performer and circus artist. At the age of 13, she started classes at Xelias Aerial Arts. When she realized all the elements of performance that she loved could be combined as a circus artist, she set her sights on making that her career. Olivia is now in her second year of ProTrack with a major in Aerial Rope and minor in Chinese Pole. She aims to make the audience feel connected to her by bringing authenticity and passion to her presence onstage. She is very excited to share these characters with you. Thank you!
