The Mondavi Center of the Performing Arts presents “Circa”, a visual delight of acrobatics, sound and light

PHOTO: A human tower built by the “Circa” Ensemble during the performance of Humans 2.0 on Jan. 28.

By Naneh Grigor Kotchikian,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts presented “Circa”, an incredible show full of mesmerizing movements that simply blew the audience away.

Stage lights fade and suddenly there is a flash of light as the 10 performers throw and catch and pull each other across the stage. Their slow and calculated moves showcased each of their unique talents and brought the audience to their feet for a standing ovation.

Yaron Lifschitz is the artistic director for the show and has been putting the choreography together for over three years.

Many of the performers have been part of Circa since they were teenagers and are now in their mid or late twenties. This allows Lifschitz to craft performances that highlight their individual strengths.

“Their bodies are doing these dangerous, difficult and complex things and they have to do it in a way that is always changing and evolving to fit their character,” Lifschitz said.

The cast rehearses for hours every day to get each and every movement down perfectly. No matter how many times they do an act, there is always some fear that they will not successfully complete the act during a performance.

“There are stunts I have been doing for years that still terrify me even though I know they are completely safe,” performer Kimberly O’Brian said. The intimacy of the actors that is seen on stage is also apparent backstage.

“With the work we do, we are all a big part of something amazing that makes us family,” said Marty Evans, a member of the “Circa” circus.