CRE – Malaysia Debut of Gravity Defying Flying Pole Acrobatics - 29 Sept to 1 Oct 2017

It was recently held at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center from 29 September to 30 October 2017, a total of 4 performances. This production was presented by one of Asia’s largest new circus troupes, Viva Circus, Psycusix and Creative Event Solution (CES).

When we hear the word “Circus”, we always think of circuses involving animals. Well, new modern circus does not involve animals at all. Everything is performed by humans; e.g. aerial acts like hoop, silk, net, trapeze, strap, pole and flying pole. 

I was part of this production and we practiced weekdays and every weekend for a month before the production. So what is the story of Cre all about?

Planet V, 173 light years away. The Goddess Atanua brought light to the day and water to nurture the land. She created a race of living beings, each with a purpose of their own….

Except for one – Cre

Cre was born different from everyone else. He does not know his abilities, his destiny or his identity. So Cre decides to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Little did he know, a dark power was following closely behind….

We were then brought to each Chapter of the performance, starting with:-

Chapter 1 – AIR (The gateway of wonder that sculpts the eternal fates of all living beings. This is where our story begins)

For this chapter, it involves aerial silk. A flying silk performed by Miko and rainbow group silks performed by my friends. The stage was so colourful for the Air scene. 

Flying silk scene

Rainbow silks

Chapter 2 – WATER (The second realm. A world with a vast, unknown depth and many secrets)

It involves trapeze and net. Other than the 2 aerial items, there was a jellyfish dance, bubbles by Kapten BuehBossa, crystal ball performance and fibre flies.

Kapten BuehBossa in action

Fibre lights

Mother Hoop- it's me with the fibre lights

Net

Trapeze duo act

Chapter 3 – EARTH (A tranquil land where the guardians of the forest and the Spirit Tree reside. Here, our hero seeks wisdom)

After the 15 minute intermission, a spirit tree came out to the stage and there was a contortion artist, aerial hoop, strap and cube performance. There were also wheel, LED and acro balance acts. 

Forest scene

Mini hoops scene

Acro balance

Elena on hoop

Pippa on strap

Aerial cube

Chapter 4 - FIRE (The vessel of chaos arrives. The final battle begins)

In the last chapter, there was a pole and flying pole act and the best of all, FIRE performances on stage. 

Pole scene

Nicholas on flying pole

Fire scene

Backstage photos:

Fires getting ready. It was hot and madness backstage

Cube Aerialists

Cast from Air 

Cast from Water

Cast from Earth

Rendezvous: A Modern Circus Art show by PsycuSix – 12 November 2016

It's me, the poster girl

Me again, featured in the article of discoverkl.com

Viva Vertical was invited by PsycuSix (Malaysia’s leading modern and contemporary circus performing group) to perform for this 1 day event, free to the public at the Square, Publika.

We were informed 2 weeks before the event and were asked who was available for the show. I was available and I said yes and had no regrets as it was super fun being surrounded by the circus team!

We were rehearsing the whole 2 weeks; with late nights on Wednesday and Friday, the week before the show. On the full dress rehearsal on Wednesday, 9 November 2016, we were able to watch the circus act put together by the team, PsycuSix, and we got to try the “air-brush make-up” done by Anissa, one of the lady members of PyscuSix. We had to hold our breath and close our eyes while the colour make-up was sprayed on our faces.   

Our show was scheduled to start at 8.00pm. Before 8pm, we saw the crowds already coming and trying to get the best seats in the house, though right at the front you needed to sit on the floor. A few seats were put near the front (in front of the restaurants) but that was not enough. Also, some people would go and get a table at the restaurants upstairs to get a better view of the whole stage.

The show started off with the opening of beating of the drums and then a contemporary opening dance. There were Acts 1, 2 and 3; Act 1 told the story of working adults with their busy life in a beautiful future and showcased the circus team performing various acts like juggling, acrobatics, aerial arts in hoop and silk, fire arts and hip hop dance. 

I was in Act 1, performing the opening contemporary dance, duo hoop with my partner Sheila and towards the end in Act 3, in the LED performance. After Act 1, we quickly rushed backstage to get our make-up done by Anissa.

Our duo hoop performance, picture captured by my friend Caroline Jim. She had the best seat, i.e. 1st floor restaurant

My partner, Sheila, getting her make-up done

This is me and Anissa, my make-up artist

Scary......

There were international artists that performed that night; Dai Zaobab from Japan, Marvin Ong from the US, Legato Visual Performing Arts from the Philippines and Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo from the Philippines.

We had an amazing time with the make-up, circus team and crowds. I was so grateful that I have my husband, little girl and a few friends that came and supported us and videod our performances.   

The swan and the bee. The costumes for our Act 3- LED performance

Check out our make-ups

The bee trying to sting the swan

Group photo of the aerialists and our manager, Nana 

Our colourful costumes