Ringling Brothers is coming back to Austin

I just found out that Ringling Brothers is returning to the Frank Erwin Center August 18 - 22. Yay! Tickets will go on sale May 29, 2010.

Last year they allowed cameras so I was able to take pictures (like the one below of trapeze). I hope they have the same photo policy this year.



Flying Trapeze

Cirque du Soleil's Alegria was fantastic!

We had a great time last night at Cirque du Soleil's Alegria at the Cedar Park Center. It was so nice to see Cirque du Soleil again (they haven't been to Austin since 2005 when the tent show, Varekai, was here). Everything about Cirque du Soleil is first rate, from the costumes, the make-up, the music and the acrobatics. Alegria has been one of my favorite shows since I first saw it in 1995. Of course, I'm partial to the power track act and the aerial high bar but I also love to watch Russian Bar, contortion, trapeze, flying man and basically every other performer.

The power track act has some fantastics tumbling, as expected with performers like Lisa Skinner and Trudy McIntosh (both Olympians from Australia). There were several double layouts (with great form), a couple of double doubles, a triple full and several split leg double layouts. I even spotted a split leg, full-out, which I believe I've never seen before (split leg layout on the first flip and a full twist on the second in layout position).

The handbalancing performer had a few sets of canes and he was hopping from set to set (while in a handstand of course).

Overall the set was smaller than the tent show version (especially the aerial high bar setup) but I think they did a great job adapting the show to an arena version. I hope we get more Cirque Du Soleil shows in Cedar Park!

Not exactly Austin related but...

Switch leap

I had a great time at the WOGA Classic in Frisco, TX. The lighting was okay, depending on what the scoreboards were showing (if the boards were white, my shutter speed almost doubled!). I'm slowly adding photos to my Flickr account.

A couple of February events to note:

Capital Gymnastics in Cedar Park is hosting their "Heart of Texas Invitational" this weekend. There are more details on their website www.capgym.com

Cirque Du Soleil is coming to Cedar Park on February 17th-21st! This is the first time Cirque du Soleil has been in the Austin area since 2005.

The Artistic Director of Blue Lapis Light is featured in a new book: "Site Dance: Choreographers and the Lure of Alternative Spaces". There will be a book signing at Book People on February 27 at 5pm. Sally Jacques (Artistic Director of Blue Lapis Light) will join Carolyn Pavlik (Co-editor) for a book signing and Q&A.

Austinite Mackenzie Brannan

Austinite Mackenzie Brannan

Austin elite gymnast Mackenzie Brannan competing on beam at the Metroplex Challenge in January 2010.