Montreal aerialist SPENCER CRAIG has been madly in love with circus for over 16 years. Beginning his training in aerials and handstands at the National Circus School in Montreal, while being mentored by Cirque Du Soleil’s Meaghan Wegg and Victor Fomine. He has gone on to perform throughout North America, Europe and Africa with his unique aerial hoop number in multiple festivals and companies. Catch him currently performing with Cavalia’s Odysseo under the big top in Irvine, California until March 20th
WHEN: March 13, 2016 – Sunday
TIME: 9:30am – 11:30am
WHERE: Aerial Dance Theater, 3001 Red Hill Ave. (cor. Kalmus), Bldg. 1 Suite 107, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Directors, Ruby Karen and Luca Cecchini visited India to learn it’s prominent sport, Mallakhamb Art (Rope and Pole) from the master guru, Uday Deshpande at Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir. On the same token, the Ruby Karen Project’s educational flagship – the International Aerial Teacher’s Certification Course (IATTP) was passed on to Mumbai’s Fly High’s studio headed by Aditi Deshpande, in an effort to provide formal aerial arts training to India. The partnering of the Ruby Karen Project and Uday Deshpande’s Institution, Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir is just one of the many cultural international education that the RKP school actively promotes, as it visions to provide a platform to future aerial arts education with other international cultural arts and sports around the globe.
From September through October, 2015, RKP/ OCAA founding directors, Ruby Karen and Luca Cecchini traveled to Manila to conduct several workshops, certification course and aerial technical consultancy. Although repeated visits for the last few years, each event at various organizations, are unique, just like Year 2015.
The inaugural aerial audition by Ballet Manila to augment their ballet productions with circus arts. Here, Ballet Manila retained the services of Ruby Karen and Luca Cecchini as its consultant, aerial coach, choreographer and rigging consultant. The initial production was then staged at Ballet Manila’s Christmas season, entitled Circus D’ Ballet.
Cecchini Gianluca and Ruby Karen were retained to audition, select and choreograph pieces for the newest group of Ballet Manila’s circus department – the aerialists.
Continuing education conducted for Philippine’s leading aerial company, Airdance, of which has consistently retained Ruby Karen to provide advanced cutting edge aerial education
The launching of Ruby Karen’s Performer’s Certificate in Bangkok for Aerial Skyfly and several interviews and performances at various parts of Thailand.
Catch an interview of Ruby Karen as guest at a local Thai TV station in Bangkok. At point 24., Ruby Karen performs a Hoop/ Lyra act (despite the very limited aerial vertical space). Luca Cecchini is the technical rigger at said show. Ruby’s interview is at point 3.0 min.
3rd West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (2015) – Winners Teen – Silks Division
Maddie rehearsing her piece for the festival
Maddie Seay started her aerial training, the summer of 2012 at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Ruby Karen and Luca Cecchini, the school of the Ruby Karen Project Aerial Dance Performing Arts School. She then joined the apprenticeship program, and started performing with the Orange County Aerial Arts team, providing her with more experience on stage and causing her training to boost up. She was casted in many of the school productions and she even acquired the lead role of “Alice”, in Ruby Karen’s production staging of Alice – Flight to Fantasy.
In 2013, inspired in her training, she challenged herself by enlisting as a competitor at the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (WCAAF), a competition based festival. In her category, competing in the Silks and Lyra divisions, she won 1st Place in both divisions. And in the following year, 2014, she defended her title in the “12 and Under Silks Division “. This year, awakened by the fact that she would have to move up to a division that is highly competitive due to age, the competition was known to even be a tighter fight, as most of her competitors also moved up and the the retention of the already established strong contenders in the Teen division. She focused her training in various facet to provide a well balanced competition act yet still maintained her identity. …. and all her efforts paid off…. she garnered 1st Place in the Teen Division Silks Category.
To Maddie, Aerial Arts, has now become her passion. It’s a way for her to express her creativity while developing her strength and endurance. Maddie has become the athlete that she is through Aerial Arts. She loves to perform and compete and looks for any opportunity to do so. When she is not training, Maddie works hard in school. She also enjoys photography, fashion design, art, and spending time with family and friends, including her amazing friends in the aerial arts community. Maddie hopes to someday perform with Cirque du Soleil. She sees aerial arts in her future in some capacity!
Press Update March 6, 2016: In January 2016, Maddie was delegated as one of AYCO’s (American Youth Circus Organization) youth representative to write about circus in her area. Check out Maddie’s 1st review: “Cavalia’s Odysseo”
Watch Maddie’s winning piece at the 2014 West Coast Aerial Arts Festival
Catch innovative and cutting edge moves on Aerial Hammock. Taught by no other than Ruby Karen, authority to the aerial arts discipline, This workshop is an open level class focusing on intermediate and advance level tricks with rolls, drops and fabric manipulation
When: Sun. December 27, 2015 10:30am
Cost: $45. Early Bird: $35. with Promo Code: “HammockWorkshop”
Where: Aerial Dance Theater: 3001 Red Hill Ave. Bldg. 1-107, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
CONGRATULATIONS to our apprentices, ORANGE COUNTY AERIAL ARTS team for garnering 9 trophies and medals including five (5) 1st Place winners (out of 10 categories.
1st Place: Tissu 7-12 Amateur: Jenna Ali (RKP/ OCAA) 1st Place: Tissu 13-17 Amateur: Maddie Seay (RKP/ OCAA 1st Place: Lyra/ Trapeze 7-12 Amateur: Vivianna Amado (RKP/ OCAA) 1st Place: Lyra/ Trapeze 18-27 Amateur: Laurel Castenholz (RKP/ OCAA) 1st Place: Open Group 7 – 17 Amateur: Staci Ensminger and Callista Gill (RKP/OCAA)
2nd Place: Open Group 7 – 17 Amateur: Jenna Ali and Maddie Seay (RKP/OCAA)
2nd Place: Open Solo Professional: Ana Nguyen (Circo Etereo/ RKP/OCAA)
3rd Place Hoop 13-17 Amateur: Staci Ensminger (RKP/OCAA)
3rd Place Open Solo7 -12 Amateur: Alina Silva (RKP/ OCAA)
The RUBY KAREN PROJECT continuous to be a proud sponsor of the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival that happens every year. Together with our apprentice group, we prepare our students for this intense yet wonderful process.
At the 4th Annual West Coast Aerial Arts Festival, there will be competitions in various categories. As a main aerial arts academy in Orange County, we are proud to sponsor the space for the WCAAF event. For more information, Click here for FAQ page
WHAT: 4th Annual West Coast Aerial Arts Festival
When: November 11 – 13, 2016
Where: AERIAL DANCE THEATER, 3001 Red Hill Avenue, Building 1 Suite 107, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Culminating Event: Nov. 13 5pm: Culminating Showcase Venue will be announced. Check out www.aerialartsamerica.org for more details.
About Aurelie: Direct from France, Aurelie made her professional debut at the age of 17 in “Le Jeune Ballet de France,” a company in which she performed principal modern roles all around the European continent. She was also in “Scottish Ballet,” directed by Robert North; in Austria for “ABC Dance Company” directed by Nicolas Musin; performed and developed aerial pieces at “Jean Ann Ryan Company’s cruise ship productions; principal to modern dance company “Maryse Delente”; and an acrobat and aerialist with the “Transe Express Company. In Asia, she was a special guest for “Empat Mata TV show”. After finishing 5th in “Tu Si Que Vales”, the Spanish version of America’s Got talent, she joins Cirque du Soleil in Japan for the Ovo show as a principal role and is set for another contract with them this winter. From an educational standpoint, Aurelie is the artistic director of “Cirque de la Lune”, a school and touring group for young artists.
This is the only festival of its kind that brings together aerialists from coast to coast, and from around the globe, ranging in age from 7 to ‘senior’, and covering standard and inventive apparatuses and with both amateur and pro-level divisions. WCAAF is hosted by 501c3 non-profit organization Aerial Arts America as a platform for expanding awareness and education, building community, and celebrating
Aerial Arts/Dance performing arts.
What activities will the Festival have?
Take Workshops – Watch Competition Rounds – Network with Directors and Instructors – Audition for Scholarship Grants – Watch the Culminating Exhibition featuring guest artists and winners and competition participants – Raffle Aerial Equipment/ Apparatuses & more…
For more information: www.aerialartsamerica.org :: www.westcoastaerialartsfestival.com (714) 846-6143/ (714) 330-7484 (mobile)
Our OCAA apprentices appeared at the AYCO by storm.
Watch their performance – August 20, 2015 at Portland, Maine
Press Report: July 21, 2015
The American Youth Circus Festival will be held at the Circus Conservatory of America in Portland, Maine from August 19–23rd!
Every two years, hundreds of circus youth and circus coaches gather from all across the United States for the American Youth Circus Festival. This five-day event is comprised of over 150 workshops, two showcases, and plentiful social events and community building opportunities.
We are so excited and proud to announce our apprentices – the Orange County Aerial Arts team (OCAA) their participation at this year’s AYCO Festival. OCAA will be presenting group pieces at their showcase nights. And… OCAA’s director, Ruby Karen will also be conducting three (3) workshops relating to transitional, choreography and movement for aerialists. Join us!
Join us at the Aerial Dance Theater for free classes and introduction to vaulting conditioning and competition training
Location: 3001 Red Hill Ave. Bldg. 1 Suite 107, Costa Mesa CA 92626 (cor. Kalmus and Redhill and driveway is on Kalmus. Pls look for the YELLOW AWNING)
