The Circus of Tensegrity is inspired by the architectural term tensegrity, an elision of ‘tension + integrity’ and the internal sensation of tension and compression:
islands of compression floating in a balanced sea of tension.
It ambitiously explores circus performance beyond the traditional proscenium and tent, as an ever-evolving construction of movement, space, and landscape. The performers combine multi-ropes, traditional corde lisse, counterweight, rigging, and installation to create a tapestry-like journey for the audience, crafting a new form of physicality accompanied by original, live music. The Circus of Tensegrity is a site-based, and site-adaptable installation that redefines the boundaries of circus by creating a journey for the senses, and an artistic exchange with the landscapes it inhabits. By constructing an immersive world specific to the landscape, our show prompts audiences to move through and engage with their surroundings in new ways, encouraging deeper connections between body, place, and community.
A moderated discussion between artists and audiences following a work-in-progress show on May 31, 2025, will offer a space for dialogue, informing the artists' process and fostering awareness between creators and spectators, shaping the trajectory of future site-adaptable productions.
Following the Q&A, a community masterclass led by Mimi Ke & Elaine Mc Cague will lead participants through an embodied experience of improvised systems, combining somatic movement with sensory play and guided imagery. The session will invite movers into their own somatic and sensorial landscape, cultivating a deeper awareness and personal movement language as they connect with their senses, body, and surroundings.
Mimi Ke and her collaborating artist, Elaine Mc Cague, co-founder of Loosysmokes, will spend a one-week residency at Windy Goat Acres in Chelsea, Iowa, culminating in the work-in-progress showing of The Circus of Tensegrity. This project continues their artistic partnership, building upon their previous work, Tangle, performed at the Uillin Dance Festival in October 2024.
