Lake Placid, NY – Circa, the internationally-renowned contemporary circus company from Australia, comes to Lake Placid, performing at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA), on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. Circa will perform their hit production Sacre – a reimaging of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring that combines elements of ballet and acrobatics into a visceral, multidisciplinary performance. The performance is suitable for those aged 12 and up. Tickets are available for Adults ($20) and Youth ($10.) Purchase tickets at this link. 

Directed by Yaron Lifshitz, Circa’s Artistic Director and CEO, Sacre features ten acrobats that move through a sequence of high-energy, technically complex athletic feats seat to a fast-paced musical score by Philippe Bachman, with accompanying lighting design by Veronique Benett.

Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring has inspired dances and ballets for over 100 years, but never circus – until now. See 10 fearless acrobats – highlighted by a technically and artistically stunning lighting design – hurl, twist, and collide in an electrifying explosion of physicality and power. These performances also feature a stirring new composition by Philippe Bachman that pairs with Stravinsky’s classical music masterpiece. In this first ever circus setting of The Rite of Spring, Circa weaves together powerful acrobatics with poetic tenderness and raw emotion – penetrating the senses and stirring the soul.

Sacre by Circa. Photo by Pedro Greig. Photo provided by Tyler Nye, Marketing & Program Manager, Lake Placid Center for the Arts

Since its premier in Australia in 2021, Sacre has been praised for its precision, as well as the speed and dexterity of the performers. Circa has performed world-wide in more than 40 countries, and the company has been featured at major festivals and venues including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Barbican Centre, Les Nuits de Fourvière, major Australian Festivals, and the Chamäleon Theater in Berlin.

Circa Contemporary Circus is one of the world’s leading performance companies. Since 2004, from its base in Brisbane, Australia, Circa has toured the world – performing for over 1.5 million people. Circa’s works have been greeted with standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out houses across six continents.

Sacre by Circa. Photo by Pedro Greig. Photo provided by Tyler Nye, Marketing & Program Manager, Lake Placid Center for the Arts

Circa is at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus – pioneering how extreme physicality can create powerful and moving performances. It continues to push the boundaries of the art form, blurring the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus. Compelled by the question ‘what is possible in circus?’ Circa is leading the way with a diverse range of thrilling creations that ‘redraw the limits to which circus can aspire.’ (The Age).

Under the direction of circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz, Circa features an ensemble of exceptional, multi-skilled circus artists who have been a regular fixture at leading festivals and venues in New York, London, Berlin and Montreal.

Sacre by Circa. Photo by Pedro Greig. Photo provided by Tyler Nye, Marketing & Program Manager, Lake Placid Center for the Arts

Nestled in an Olympic village, the Lake Placid Center for the Arts is a year-round treasure to residents and visitors of the Adirondacks and is the premier art and cultural hub of the region. Orchestrating quality programming, performances, rotating art exhibitions, and education experiences to residences and visitors alike, the LPCA provides an ensemble of offerings in music, theatre and dance, and supports local, regional and national artists in its Fine Arts Gallery. At the heart of this hub is hands-on learning experiences for children exploring their creativity and adults finding new passions. As a leading organization, the LPCA collaborates with other Adirondack non-profit partners to build, support and cultivate the arts community. Inspiring excellence in the arts for generations, the LPCA continues to thrive today at its unique and captivating Lake Placid campus. 

To keep tabs on upcoming LPCA programs and performances, please visit: https://www.lakeplacidarts.org/

Photo at top: Sacre by Circa. Photo by Pedro Greig. Photo provided by Tyler Nye, Marketing & Program Manager, Lake Placid Center for the Arts.