Time to Clown Around: Belfast Circus Meets Salida Circus
(Update: The exact address of Belfast/Salida Circus performance/workshop on Monday July 13, 11A-2P is:
New Freedom Park 8846 E. 13th Avenue, Denver CO 80220. Xenia street dead ends into the park at 13th street)
from July 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)
Thanks to the efforts of Jennifer Dempsey, the Salida Circus Outreach Foundation, and friends, about a dozen members of the Belfast Circus will spend two weeks in Colorado performing and training with Salida Circus. Demsey, who is a founder and Director of the Salida Circus, used to perform with the Belfast Circus. According to Dempsey, the purpose of the exchange is to allow these young adults (ages 14-19) the opportunity to share their skills with those members of the Salida Circus and vice versa. Her hope is also that lifelong friendships will be made and lessons learned via exploring new cities will resonate not only with students, but host families and the community at large. “It will be fantastic to see people come to the events and make our guests from Belfast feel welcome.”
Dempsey said that there is a lot of excitement about the visit from both camps.
19 year old Belfast native Finn Carragher, who specializes in the Chinese pole, looks forward to his visit. “I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and performing as part of your 4th of July celebrations!” Finn’s 17 year old sister Rosa, will also come along to Colorado (she plays tennis, Gaelic football, and Irish traditional music on her tin whistle outside of circus). Her focus is aerial and acrobatics. She attributes her nine years with the circus as a confidence builder. She said,” I am very excited to go to Salida and I can’t wait to meet everyone and take part in all of the activities and events.”
Not all of the performances will be on the Western Slope. On Monday July 13, Belfast and Salida Circus will perform in Denver between 11A-2Pm at at Hope Communities, 1370 Xenia (303-394-2967). The event is open to the public and is an all-ages show that includes trapeze, silks, juggling, acro, etc.
The Belfast troupe fly back home the next day. More info at www.thesalidacircus.com