NORTHAMPTON — For Northampton resident Maeve Beck, her time in the circus is an opportunity to tell stories and offer people an hour of pure entertainment. A performer for Cirque Us, Beck is currently on tour throughout the northeast and will return to the area with a show in Brattleboro, Vermont, in early October.
“It feels really good to be a part of a show that, at its foundation, is meant to be lighthearted and positive and with the theme being stories and reading,” said Beck. “I hope the audience leaves recognizing the power of storytelling through circus, reading or other art and feels inspired to share and live out their stories in a way that is meaningful and authentic to them.”
Beck is part of Cirque Us’s performance called “Stories,” which is a narrative about community and identity as inspired by the troupe’s favorite stories. It includes a collection of folktales, classic literature and children’s stories, featuring aerialists, jugglers, acrobats and clowns.
“My favorite parts of the show are not only all of the individual acts but all of the fun group and ensemble moments and choreography that we worked to build into each solo and duo act,” explained Beck. “Having those moments of the whole cast on stage working together or just having fun together really builds the energy for the audience and for us on stage, too.”
One of Beck’s favorite aspects of this tour, “Stories,” is its collaboration with public schools and libraries to promote the importance of arts and education for children and for the general public.
“I think it’s really special that Cirque Us is able to deliver fun, family-friendly shows that are upbeat and positive but are tied together with a powerful and important message,” explained Beck. “Working for Cirque Us is always such a unique and joyful experience for so many reasons.”
As a young dancer and gymnast of 10 years old, Beck’s parents founded The New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro which started her circus experience. First in summer camps and then after school, Beck began to hone the tools necessary for successfully performing in a circus. After a year of advanced youth troupe and the ProTrack program, Beck moved to Maine to train full-time at the Sellam Circus School for three years and then began touring and performing full-time. The Oct. 6 performance in Brattleboro will be a homecoming to the place that started it all.
“This tour ends in just a few weeks and afterward I plan to head back to where I am based and train and coach,” said Beck. “I have some upcoming holiday gigs and performances as well that I am looking forward to.”
Tickets are currently available for the Oct. 6 show at the New England Center for Circus Arts on Cirque Us’s website.
