Hideaway Circus Podcast

On this episode we call up the extraordinary Rob Mermin. Rob trained in classical mime with Etienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau, performed as a clown in various European before founding the award-winning international company Circus Smirkus. If you enjoy the episode please share it with your friends! You can also email us comments and questions to [email protected].

Show Notes: HIDEAWAY Podcast Show Notes

Episode 8- Rob Mermin, founder of Circus Smirkus

On this episode we call up the extraordinary Rob Mermin. Rob trained in classical mime with Etienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau, performed as a clown in various European before founding the award-winning international company Circus Smirkus. If you enjoy the episode please share it with your friends! You can also email us comments and questions to [email protected].

Show Notes:

• [06:02] - Rob's first interaction with circus • [08:05] - A hitchhiking trip leads to Rob's first job • [16:29] - Rob sets a 20 year goal • [18:43] - Marcel Marceau and learning how to mime • [24:10] - Rob on creating circus acts • [29:54] - Instilling a culture of circus • [32:02] - Rob's parent's react to his starting a circus • [37:49] - Why start a circus in Vermont? • [42:36] - Rob questions his dream of starting a circus • [44:37] - Rob's stint as the dean of Ringling's clown college • [56:34] - Rob recommendations

People mentioned for further reference: Circus Hoffman, Marcel Marceau, Francesco Caroli, Joe Jackson Jr, George Carl, Oleg Popov, Circus Benneweis, Circus Smirkus, Etienne Decroux

Rob's Recommendations:

Book: Circus Smirkus a True Story of High Adventure & Low Comedy Movie: The Circus (Charlie Chaplin) Show: Circus Smirkus

Josh and Lyndsay sit down with co-founder of Les Sept Doigts De La Main for part 2 of their interview with Gypsy Snider. In this episode, we talk about casting, act creation, circus school, and Gypsy’s upcoming production of Reversible. If you enjoy the show, please consider liking us and sharing it on Facebook or rating the podcast on iTunes. Enjoy!

Episode 7- Gypsy Snider, co-founder of Les Sept Doigts De La Main (Part 2)

Josh and Lyndsay sit down with co-founder of Les Sept Doigts De La Main for part 2 of their interview with Gypsy Snider. In this episode, we talk about casting, act creation, circus school, and Gypsy's upcoming production of Reversible. If you enjoy the show, please consider liking us and sharing it on Facebook or rating the podcast on iTunes. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

• [04:53] - Gypsy on casting circus performers • [08:00] - The difference for female circus performers • [09:53] - Creating in Canada vs United States • [16:15] - Gypsy on being a mom • [25:40] - The challenge with circus education • [29:05] - Circus act composition • [36:03] - Gypsy's new show Reversible • [40:47] - Gypsy's recommendations

People mentioned for further reference:

Les Sept Doigts, Ecole Nationale de Cirque, Queen of the Night, Olga Kosova, The Cruz Brothers, Lu Yi, Paramour, Pippin.

Gypsy's Recommendations:

Book: The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron Movie: Singing in The Rain Show: L'Immediat

On today's episode, Lyndsay and Josh spoke with circus director and auteur Gypsy Snider. We covered so many topics with Gypsy we've divided her interview into two parts. In this episode we talk about growing up in the circus, circus school in Europe, her first encounter with Cirque Du Soleil, and how failure and negativity can drive your art. Episode 6, Part 2 will be released later this week. If you like the podcast please share it with your friends on Facebook and rate us on iTunes. You can also email questions and comments at [email protected]. Enjoy!

HIDEAWAY Podcast Show Notes

Episode 6- Gypsy Snider, circus director and hand-to-hand base (Part 1)

On today's episode, Lyndsay and I spoke with circus director and auteur Gypsy Snider. We covered so many topics with Gypsy we've divided her interview into two parts. In this episode we talk about growing up in the circus, circus school in Europe, her first encounter with Cirque Du Soleil, and how failure and negativity can drive your art. Episode 6, Part 2 will be released later this week. If you like the podcast please share it with your friends on Facebook and rate us on iTunes. You can also email questions and comments at [email protected]. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

• [01:00] - Childhood in the Pickle Family Circus • [11:00] - Rejected from French circus school • [12:30] - Gypsy moves to England • [13:53] - Switzerland and the Dmitri School • [15:25] - Gypsy on Failure, Negativity, and Improvising • [25:00] - Did Gypsy think of Cirque Du Soleil Dralion first? • [28:50] - Gypsy's first interaction with Cirque Du Soleil and German Cabaret • [37:00] - Gypsy joins Saltimbanco

People mentioned for further reference:

Kris Kremo, Eric Bates, David Dmitri, Big Apple Circus, Paul Binder, Guy Laliberte, Pomp Duck and Circumstance, Serenity and Bill Forchion, Elsie Smith, New England Center for Circus Arts, Vertigo Tango, Seb and Mimi's hand to hand act.

Sellam Ouahabi is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating circus performers and coaches today. On this episode, Josh and Lyndsay sat down Sellam and talked about his childhood growing up in Africa, how he ran away with a circus as a teenager, his experiences with racism on and off stage, and what it takes to for a circus student to find the right coach for them. If you enjoy our podcast, please share it with your friends, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and rate us on iTunes!

Episode 5- Sellam Ouahabi, a remarkable life in the circus

Sellam Ouahabi is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating circus performers and coaches today. On this episode, Josh and Lyndsay sat down Sellam and talked about his childhood growing up in Africa, how he ran away with a circus as a teenager, his experiences with racism on and off stage, and what it takes to for a circus student to find the right coach for them. If you enjoy our podcast, please share it with your friends, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and rate us on iTunes!

Show Notes:

• [02:18] Sellam recounts the circus in Tangier, Morocco • [05:58] Sellam's first job at 9-year-old • [09:34] Sneaking into the King's gymnasium • [15:55] 13-year-old Sellam joins the circus • [22:09] Life with in a acrobatic troupe • [23:30] Racism in the circus • [27:45] Sellam creates solo acts • [30:02] Handling prejudice in Italian circus • [37:34] Sellam starts coaching • [43:31] Quiting the circus but can't stay away • [48:35] A philosophy of coaching • [53:40] Combining contemporary and traditional circus • [56:31] Sellam on opening his own coaching studio

Links Mentioned: Sellam's Website, The Simple Circus

On today’s episode we sit down with Adam Woolley, the managing director of Circus Now. We chat about the organization and it’s circus advocacy programs, the state of social and recreational circus in America, and what needs to be done in order to increase visibility and accessibility to the art form. If you enjoy the show, please share it with your friends, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and rate us on iTunes!

On today's episode we sit down with Adam Woolley, the managing director of Circus Now. We chat about the organization and it's circus advocacy programs, the state of social and recreational circus in America, and what needs to be done in order to increase visibility and accessibility to the art form. If you enjoy the show, please share it with your friends, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and rate us on iTunes!

Show Notes:

• [03:30] What is Circus Now? • [10:20] Circus Now Artist Residencies • [11:04] The 2017 Smithsonian Circus Festival • [15:27] Defining the term circus • [17:56] The booming recreational and social circus scene • [20:35] The populism of circus • [22:10] Storytelling through circus • [26:24] How do we increase accessibility to shows?

Links Mentioned:

Circus Now Website