BRATTLEBORO — The New England Center for Circus Arts is making its mark on the international performing arts scene.
NECCA, the Brattleboro circus school with a professional training program, announced that student Erika Radcliffe won several awards at the recent international VIVAFest competition in Las Vegas.
The Vegas International Variety Artists Festival was held from April 17 to 21, and drew almost 300 competitors from around the world.
NECCA sponsored a competitor for the first time at a competition, guiding Radcliffe's training and supporting her through the enrollment, rehearsal, rigging, and performance process.
“It was an honor to work with such a dedicated athlete and artist,” NECCA Artistic Director Serenity Smith Forchion said in a news release.
Smith Forchion served as Radcliffe's primary coach during the pre-festival preparation, as well as at the festival.
“We rehearsed twice a week together and just tried to do the highest skill-level act we could while also honoring the creative vision we shared,” Smith Forchion said.
Radcliffe, 28, has trained for several years at NECCA and specializes in aerial rope, also known as corde lisse. NECCA is suited for high level training, as its new building includes a safety pit filled with foam blocks where Radcliffe could rehearse higher level release moves.
The act - which explored the integration of Radcliffe's very long hair with a strenuous series of climbs, rolls, and drops - stood out at the festival as a unique conceit incorporating dance, theater, and physical feats.
“The best compliment I had,” Radcliffe said after her performance, “is that I was just the right amount of weird along with great technique and tricks.”
Radcliffe competed in the Emerging Artist Category, where she won first place. She was also one of three artists from the festival invited to an audition for Cirque du Soleil held April 22 and 23. Radcliffe also received a special AIDA Stars Award for top artistry, sweeping the top categories for adults at the festival.
The New England Center for Circus Arts offers recreational lessons for anyone who wants to try acrobatics, trapeze, juggling, clowning and much more, as well as professional level training for those aspiring to a career in the circus arts.