Want to run away to the circus?
Well, if you live in Squamish, you don't have to run far.
In fact, you may have walked right by some circus performers downtown.
The has been gathering in Junction Park every Thursday evening.
This summer, the not-for-profit organization was formed and offers safe and accessible community circus classes in aerial silks, acro yoga, flow arts — poi and hula hoop — and more.
They also perform.
The collective's Elizabeth Hand told The Chief the group invites the community to come out to the Thursday "circus jams" to get a feel for the arts.
She stressed that everyone — every body type — is welcome.
"Almost no matter what someone's body shape and size is, people are worried about something, I think, or just intimidated by their skill or strength level, so a big part of our vision is to make things accessible. An aerial rig can hold any person in the world very safely," she said, adding there is something in circus arts for everyone to try.
"We have put quite a bit of time into learning how to teach people who might not have a lot of strength or flexibility or confidence in... what their body can do."
So far, folks have been "really stoked" at what they can do, she said.
Hand also warned that these activities aren't something folks should be doing out and about without some training.
"We have years of experience rigging and this is not something we teach or encourage anyone to try without knowledge of crucial safety skills such as rope work and rope rescue," she said.
The group is launching year memberships this week with prices on a sliding scale based on what folks can afford.
Members can find out first what is happening with the group and provide feedback about what classes the collective should offer.
Classes are currently held outside. But for fall, the collective is in the process of securing an indoor location.
Why circus arts?
Hand says she didn't get involved with circus performances as a kid.
"I was always interested, but it wasn't something I did," she said. "I went to the circus, like a lot of kids do, and was completely fascinated by mostly aerial stuff, like trapeze, but also some of the acrobatic and trampoline stuff," she said.
Raised in the U.K., she got a job at a performing arts summer camp in the U.S. and was blown away by circus arts there.
She received training in several of the arts — trapeze, silks and juggling, among others.
But she became devoted to (now known as just Ultimate), which she moved to Canada to play, and didn't have much time to pursue anything else.
She played on the Canadian team for a few years.
Four years ago, she had to retire due to a chronic knee injury.
That is when she circled back to circus arts.
"I was looking for low knee impact sports and also had in the back of my mind that I wanted to do more circus stuff, and so I started doing acro yoga and silks," she recalled. "I loved it."
Other Squamish Circus Collective directors include Sarah Chambers, Christina Smyth and Julie Patrick.
Performers from the collective will be at the at Cheekye Ranch and at the Squamish Soirée, the afterparty following the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival on Sept. 18
To find out more about the Squamish Circus Collective, follow on Instagram or .
*Please note, this story was modified after it was first posted to include the names of the other directors of the collective.
