The world premiere of Fall(se) Circ(us), presented by Little Room Productions (LRP), in partnership with New Works and The Roundhouse Community Centre, comes to the stage March 21st.
Photo: Lula Belle Jedynak
The company’s inaugural full-length contemporary dance work for an ensemble, is choreographed by LRP’s Co-Director Isak Enquist. Fall(se) Circ(us) looks at the opposing powers of labour and rest. Moments of performative, gravity-defying physicality ultimately give way to moments of visceral, improvised movement, activating the opportunity for a powerful shared experience between audience and performer.
“This work is inspired by my desire to build community through dance–spaces where people from different walks of life can share the physical experience of movement,” says Isak Enquist. “In Fall(se) Circ(us), what begins as the pursuit of physical excellence–akin to a circus performer’s spectacular feats of skill–falls away to reveal the vulnerability and exertion of that performer’s humanity within their labour. Technique gives way to presence, composition to improvisation.”
Adds Little Room Productions Co-Director Eowynn Enquist: “Through subverting the expectations of what a dance performance entails, our hope is to open the possibility for audience members to enter into and influence our movement, resulting in a collective moment of joyful rebellion against the toils of everyday life.”
Inspired by multi-hyphenate Isak Enquist’s formative experiences in martial arts, snowboarding, and contemporary dance, Fall(se) Circ(us) features seven local and international performers, including Isak Enquist, Eowynn Enquist, Tyler Layton-Olson, Mia Pelayo, Kaia Shukin, Alesandra X, and James Amzin Nahirinick. Enquist partners with fellow Vancouver-based dancer, actor, and musician Tyler Layton-Olson to design the bass-forward, rhythmic score while lighting design is by the award-winning Jono Kim. This is the second performance for LRP, following the company’s premiere of Creature Comfort, created and performed by LRP Co-Directors Isak Enquist and Eowynn Enquist in 2024.
Fall(se) Circ(us) runs one night only, March 21, 2026 at The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews. Visit littleroom.ca or newworks.ca for details and more information.