DanceHouse and The Cultch annual collaboration brings the dynamic Duck Pond by the Australian contemporary circus company, Circa, to the Vancouver Playhouse until January 25th.

Duck Pond brings together the classic works of Tchaikovsky’s iconic Swan Lake with Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling. Composer and Sound Designer Jethro Woodward blends Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with contemporary rhythms and dance beats for a modern but familiar vibe to the soundtrack.
Directed by Yaron Lifschitz with Associate Director Marty Evans and choreographed by Rani Luther, the company of 10 acrobats; Asha Colless, Maya Davies, Malte Gerhardt, Oscar Morris, Kimberly Rossi, Clara Scudder-Davis, Sophie Seccombe, Zachery Stephens, Tristan St John, and Adam Strom, make magic as they fill every bit of the stage and air above with their talents. Aided by quick changes in and out of Costume Designer Libby McDonnell fowl-inspired costumes, the 10 make you think there’s a company of dozens more. Like a three-ring circus they effortlessly move between dance, tumbling, gymnastics, acrobatics, trapeze, aerial silks, feats of strength and balance, with breaks of slapstick clowning, buffoonery and burlesque…or is it birdlesque?! With so many disciplines in one show it’s a testament to Circa’s productions and training to have a small company capable of perfecting each of them, and appearing to do it without even breaking a sweat.
Being a touring company, you can see this troupe has built tight bonds of trust and camaraderie, when one of them makes even the slightest slip their colleague is right there to support and carry on without missing a beat. During one particular piece, the audience audibly sucked in their breath as the seemingly sexy work was literally a step away from disaster but burst into applause as the tricky contortions completed. Applause rang out throughout the 70 minute performance as these talented artists mesmerized the house with their skills. Grounded by the interlocking movements which would bring us back from the adrenaline rush of the circus acts to the loosely told fables.
With just 4 more shows remaining, grab your tickets quickly and wade into the waters of the Duck Pond, it’s a dip well worth taking!
Find tickets and details at dancehouse.ca/event/circa-duck-pond
Circa’s Duck Pond presented by DanceHouse and The Cultch is on stage at the Vancouver Playhouse, January 23, 24 & 25 at 8pm and January 25 at 2pm