Past Events
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Cine Circus II 2010
Photo: Claudio VazquezGraphic Design: Arnaud Damasceno
Location: Rail Productions in Burbank
The Poetry Circus sponsored by Rail Productions proudly presented Cine Circus, a monthly retrospective on engaging films, reflecting the circus lifestyle as brought to the screen by some of the most talented filmmakers of our times. Our second date was held Saturday May 8th @ 8 p.m. with the 1954 gem “La Strada” written and directed by Federico Fellini, starring Anthony Quinn and Guilietta Masina. -
Cine Circus I 2010
Photo: Claudio Vazquez
Graphic Design: Arnaud DamascenoLocation: Rail Productions @ Burbank
The Poetry Circus sponsored by Rail Productions proudly presents Cine Circus, a monthly retrospective on engaging films, reflecting the circus lifestyle as brought to the screen by some of the most talented filmmakers of our times. -
X Event 2008
Photo: Annie Appel
Graphic Design: Arnaud Damasceno
Location: Pollen-Nation @ Long Beach -
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"X" Event 2008 Mandala Temple Production
Independent Producer Veronica Vainstoc & Crew building Interactive Installation to be presented @ " X" Event in 2008Photo: Claudio Vazquez
Location: Pollen Nation in Long Beach -
"X" Event 2008 Make up/ Dress Rehearsal
Pre ProductionPhoto: Alberto Gieco
Location: Pollen Nation in Long Beach -
"X" EVENT 2008 CDP's Producers & Sponsors
Pre Production/ Meeting with Independent Producers and Artistic CollaboratorsPhoto: Claudio Vazquez
Location: @ Pollen- Nation in Long Beach -
Psychonauts Event 2007 Production Opening
Production Opening
Photo: Silvia Askenazi
Location: Gold Creek Ranch, Sylmar CA -
Psychonauts Event 2007 Performer's Conference @ Pollen-Nation
Pre Production
Photo Silvia Askenazi
Location: Pollen-Nation at Long Beach -
Circo de Poesia Strategy Meetings May-June 2006
Circo de Poesia holds Strategy MeetingsPhoto:Sergio martinez
Location: Studio City, L.A
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Circo’s First Organizational Meeting
Circo’s First Organizational Meeting
July 11th, 2005
Meeting marks Circo de Poesia’s launch as an enterprise
6 Attendants + 1 Moderator
This meeting marks a turning point in Circo de Poesia’s trajectory. Seven of Circo’s closest collaborators are invited to attend: Stella Sosa, Silvia Askenazi, Samantha Miller, Sergio Oscar Martinez, Alicia Villa, Esteban Bergese and Sergio Martinez. Eugenia Aladro acted as the moderator of the night. After having the document Are You Circo? for their review for a month, each person was invited to state their personal views about Circo’s imminent transformation. They were also invited to become part of the new project in its new form. Some declined to continue while assuring nonetheless their individual support. A grace period of three months was offered to all those attending in order to give them a chance to respond, refute in writing, or suggest an alternate course of action to the one being proposed at this meeting. Here, both Alicia Villa and Sergio Martinez announce their intention to become Circo de Poesia’s first investors and principals. At the end of October, almost four months after the organizational meeting took place, no one had come forward to offer a more sensible option or alternative. In October, after consulting with Pipi Sbarra, Jose’s surviving sister, both Alicia and Sergio formed a partnership to run Circo de Poesia as an enterprise. Days after, the domain was purchased and a website was soon after commissioned. This page you’re reading is precisely part of this site dedicated among many other things, to Circo’s trajectory -nomadology- and ideography. Because Circo de Poesia in Los Angeles was for many years intimately associated with a certain group of people, it became necessary to revise certain terminology used to describe us as ‘a collective’, or as ‘a group’. Effective October 11, old assumptions about what Circo de Poesia is or was, officially end. October 11th 2005 marks Circo’s first day as an enterprise. As such, its current principals have developed their own income model to support Circo de Poesia’s year-round program and operations. Unlike non-profits, Circo intends to develop a self-sustaining model to generate the capital needed for its own survival. -
Circo @ Oversoul 2003
Circo contributes 3 Walls as Poetic Content to an anti war event called OversoulPhoto: Sergio Martinez
Location:Downtown L.A
The Walls
"The Magic of Meaning"
by Alicia Villa & Samantha Miller
Mimes know what god knows: Words were once sacred symbols meant to be chiseled in stone, they were meant to be the shadow that crystallized The Idea. Since then, man's reckless abuse of words has depreciated them almost to the point of nonredemption. By far, words are today the most devaluated currency. Ambivalence it seems, is now a synonym for every other word in the dictionary and nothing is ever what it seems. Nor what it names. Yet, the mime believes in the transparency of silence and the gravitational pull of body language and it uses both to restore to words at least some of their lost magic. If, as it's been said, 'silence hides nothing and it is words than conceal' then, it is up to the Mime to dig up from the Strata of Language History, the only shreds of truth still uncorrupted by our verbose words. Which means: the mime's performance is nothing other than holistic therapy for the eye. For the mind's eye that is. Does your inner eye still know how to read?
Sergio Martinez -
In the Midst of the Hierophant 2003
Pre Production & Production
Photo: Claudio VazquezGraphic Design: Ernesto Soprani and Sergio Martinez
Location:The Brewery Down Town L.A - Hosts: Freeman MurrayEvent: In the Midst of the Hierophant (5th Anniversary) 50 artists plus over 330 Attendants Photo: Claudio Vazquez Graphic Design: Ernesto Soprani and Sergio Martinez After a month of pre-production and two full months of production, Circo arrives to its first major production: an scripted, 2 hour long program consisting of 17 individual acts –some including several performers, some just one-. All categories were covered: poetry, video-painting, opera, live music, mimes, costumed dancers of all kinds. A particularly mesmerizing performance, La Danza Perfecta, is executed as one of the opening acts for the night. Exquisitely prepared by CSquare with the collaboration of Paula Hidalgo as dancer. When the main program came to an end, the night was officially launched: in simultaneous spaces about 350 attendants could and got lost: Metamorphosis room –an extravagant and decadent area where participants had to traverse the ‘Five Sense’ stations while indulging in some relevant pleasure in each. Those entering it, sometimes came out completely ‘metamorphosed’: a 75 year old man wearing a bra’s across his boring navy blue suit underneath. The Epicurean Arts Temple fed all those craving for delicatessen from the world over: Nora Artine and Hasmig Ross produced and managed this entire section. At the entrance, an entire gallery featuring about 16 different painters, photographers, paper mache sculptors and assorted other installations (artists include Fernando Ventura, Claudia Trasvina, Ana Flores, Carmen McKinley, Claudio Vazquez, David Kim, Murph and Samantha Miller.) An impressive light sculpture created by James Petersen greets the crowds as they step into the main stage area… a rope hangs in the center and as passers-by pull it the entire contraption spread wide open like a huge octopus engulfed in light. Truly a highlight of the night. In the main galleries and corridors, magicians, mentalists, POI dancers, Clowns and assorted Mimes. For this event, Esteban Bergese shares with Circo de Poesia his insights on Numerology and Tarot. He also acts the role of High Priest for the opening ceremony acompanied by Laura Rey and Andres Raab as Bishops. All the while, the 5 hour long open mic raged on. In separate rooms, video footage from the two hour program was being shown in lounge areas where people could take a break. The event continued literally until about 7 am. Some rock bands listed in the ‘open mic’ had to do their sets ‘unplugged’.
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Bizarre Bazaar… "The Night and the Purpose"
Event: Bizarre Bazaar… "The Night and the Purpose"
A benefit event
Los Angeles, CA, December 13, 2002
Alex Danko Hosts
140 attendants
Circo’s shortest production. Nonetheless, a private home is transformed and over 120 people show up. The night’s crowd and the night itself are eclectic. This is the first time Circo gathers around a specific Cause. New films shown during the night are curated by Guillermina Zabala. Video artistry courtesy of C Square. Poe-try Art-i-facts by Sergio Martinez, Magic by Federico Luduena, Tarotherapy by Esteban Bergese, Installation-poem (20 Questions) by Ernesto Sopprani. Paraphernalia –mostly composed of people associated to Circo back then- performs this night. Alicia Villa MC’s this event. Other notable singers include Gabriela Crowe interpreting among others some beloved Puccini Arias. The host, Alex Danko, shakes the crowd with his pop-modernist crooning. Paintings by Arnaud Damasceno and Martin Sym-smith are exhibited in the halls. Photography from Silvia Askenazi and Francisco Leon -
Oscar se entrega
A Fart-Tribute to Hollywood’s Ritziest Party
Nora’s place, Pasadena, CA, March 25 2002
30+ attendants.
This completely improvised and last minute event, was unexpectedly well received by the entire Circo gang. One by one they all showed up to the party in regal Oscar rentaxedos and got ready to roll. This was a birthday celebration turned into a mock up of the Oscars, happening back in those days around this time of the year. Impossible to fathom getting together around such mundane events as the Oscar night, we decided to make serious fun of it instead. Prizes awarded included a week’s worth of tortillas La Valentina, assorted trinkets and sparkly make-up from the 99 Cent Store. This particular night, the women were dazzling… the men even more. Highlights include: Damian Quevedo’s histrionic co-presenter’s character, orange glasses and all. Oso Martinez memorable wig and Andres Salcedo’s Tux and cuffs are also worth mentioning. Among those attending, Daniel Lanz in a rare appearance -appropriately wearing a silk robe a-la Hugh Hefner. Many others showcased their particular brand of ‘acting skills’ and appropriately, they all received a matching award. -
Una Sentada Clásica
Event: Una Sentada Clásica
Magicopolis Theater, Santa Monica, CA, August 2 2001
Ernesto Sopprani Hosts
200 attendants
After over a year without an official Circo ‘event’, the entrance of Magicopolis Theatre, a well known magic theatre in Santa Monica, is transformed by Marianna Pascuzzi and Martin Sym-smith into a white paper garden. Inside, Circo invites to a Classical Sitting featuring two artists: classical pianist Iris Bacal (with an extensive repertoire of argentinean classical music and pieces from composer Astor Piazzola) and Gabriela Crowe, an amazing sopprano who embellished the night with selected Arias. While poetry enameled the program along the night, painting in the hallways by Shim Corvette accompanied the large crowd. Once again, a full house and some people are turned back. -
Circo Magritte
Event: Circo Magritte
Gardena, CA, The Warehouse, June 10 2000
Sergio Martinez Hosts
92 attendants
The last event held at the Gardena industrial warehouse space. The title of this event is used here only after the fact. Once more –like a few events prior- the event itself bears no name other than Circo de Poesia. Apparently we found it poetic enough at the time. This is not to imply that specific themes weren’t tried as unified wholes for each night. Circo always took seriously its role as a transmitter of important ideas and many of these events revolved around those considered relevant for the group at that time. As part of the night’s poetic program: performed monologues, CB radio improv by Fili Martinez and a jam ‘dazed-out’ session with ‘borrowed equipment’ –we later found out. Additional scenery by Nora Artine. -
El Laberinto (1st. Anniversary)
Event: El Laberinto (1st. Anniversary)
Gardena, CA, The Warehouse, December 4 1999
Sergio Martinez Hosts
144 attendants
First event at a larger, industrial setting allows Circo to really pull all the stops. The space, a 7500 sq. ft warehouse is turned into an elaborate ‘underground’. Guests are invited to enter at the back of the building through a meandering labyrinth. As they come out, guests are welcomed to a multi-level stage from where poetry, music and individual acts are performed. When the lights go out and the night begins, mechanized pajama girls mesmerize the public with their opening ‘psychiatric mad house act’. A truly surreal video of this event exists and it’s part of Circo’s in-progress documentary. (Mariana Pascuzzi again choreographs, dances and directs Veronica Vainstoc, Stella Sosa and Elsa Cecci.) Circular fiction by Cortazar is ‘acted out’ from the second level by Sergio Martinez and Ernesto Sopprani while dozens and dozens of paper airplanes assault the entire crowd. The paper planes, again, nothing but typewritten poems bombarding the crowd with poetic ammunition for later on in the night. As usual, the night takes its unexpected turns: spoken word along an improv drum session. An improvised chant-spoken word-drum session also takes place. Ernesto Sopprani begins his collaboration with Circo as a graphic designer and the night’s invite is designed by him featuring poetry by Jorge Luis Borges. -
El Naufragio August 1999
Event: El Naufragio
Studio City, CA, August 13 1999
July & Ruben Lopez Host
110 attendants
Photo: Stella Sosa
This is Circo’s first ‘outdoor’ event.
A private garden is transformed into an intimate, island-like setting: Sofas, carpets, cushions, people scattered, standing, sitting on the ground. Guiding guests inside, ‘paper-dressed’ women carry on their heads loads of ‘paper clothes’ and hang some of them on a string set across ‘the stage’. As these characters receive and interact with arriving spectators, they also share some of their ‘crumpled paper clothes’ carried over their heads inside oversized metal buckets. The clothes, in reality disguised texts typewritten with poetry suggestive of the nights theme: shipwrecks, getting stranded in isolated islands and such. The invitation is designed by Martin Sym-smith who also creates Circo’s first ‘official logo’, a cork shown on perspective with the legend "Circo de Poesia, desde 1998" written on its side. This would become for some time the official Circo logo until a new one was adopted as Circo evolved into a completely different enterprise. (Marianna Pascuzzi choreographs & dances along with Veronica Vainstoc and introduces an important dance element to this and a few other subsequent Circo performances). -
Circo de Poesia @ Beyond Baroque
Event: Circo de Poesia @ Beyond Baroque
Venice CA, May 29 1999
110 Attendants
Like the prior event, this one has no official title. It happens for the second time at Beyond Baroque’s minute theatre. It also marks the last night with Federico Luduena as the official MC. The night’s many beautiful moments and highlights: Actor Vigo Mortensen reads several poems from his own book while another actor and psychiatrist Gustav Vintas performs a voraciously lucid rendition of Jaime Sabines classic poem, "Santifiquemos a las Putas" -"Let’s annoint all whores as saints"-. Guitarist Tomas Cadena performs and a blind singer from Mexico interprets popular folklore. Assorted poets from Latin America read well known classics and their own material as well. Circo producers realize here that although the support from foundations like Beyond Baroque is much appreciated, some atmospheres cannot be compromised to meet institutional schedules. From this experience, Circo is faced with its first major challenge: how to continue… and under what guidelines? -
El Paraiso
Event: El Paraiso
Venice CA, Abbot Kinney Studio, April 30 1999
Debora Lynn Hosts
144 attendants
This is an event that for many, stands out as an amazing evening. As the reputation of Circo spreads around some local circles, the attendiing crowds begin to get mixed. As you may guess, when things start colliding more interesting results are the natural outcome. At this point, (and perhaps unsuspectingly since its very first event,) Circo de Poesia in Los Angeles definitely leaves behind the open mic format that characterized the event in Buenos Aires and a more multi-media performance approach is more unanimously adopted. Inside a private studio/loft in the hip Abbot Kinney street in Venice, a complete ‘Paradise’ canvas serves as backdrop for a night program that encompasses photography (by Debra Lynn), Ceramics (by Mexican artist Viviana Foschetti) plus countless authors read poetry and fiction throughout the night. To top it off, about 30 or so women in the crowd get spontaneously summoned to the flamenco guitar rhythms of Alberto de Almar and for hours, the virtual trance won’t stop. -
El Circo toma la Luna prisionera
Event: El Circo toma la Luna prisionera
Los Angeles, CA, April 2 1999
Nora Artine Hosts
120 attendants
Explosive. First, Circo incites the underground LA crowd to attend under the threat of taking the moon hostage should they not be able to come. Then, having such massive response they are forced to cram 120 bodies in a two bedroom apartment. Poetry is read in languages understood and not: english, spanish, italian… At the entrance, secret passwords, fairies forecasting ‘disquieting outcomes’ and the crowd continues to come. Ernesto Sopprani, for some time to come a close Circo collaborator, arrives at this event. Some local literary groups such as Utopia and ES Cultura, join Circo for the night. Singer Blue from Venus Pumping, an underground band shows up. Alberto de Almar, a fierce flamenco guitarist plays for the crowd. Exquisite musicians invited by Federico Ramos, also embellish the night. As 7 am inaugurates the first light of day, a xylophonist marches on, un-interrupted for hours. All the senses, once more, were satisfied. -
Circo de Poesia at Beyond Baroque
Event: Circo de Poesia at Beyond Baroque
Venice CA, Beyond Baroque, January 23 1999
112 attendants
First event at Beyond Baroque, the immemorially cool arts foundation based out of Venice. A night dedicated to the 3-dimensionality of poetry, a fancy way of saying we had poets acting many individual poems written by poet Antonieta Villamil. Poets included: Alicia Villa, Esteban Bergese and Federico Luduena among others. Wendy Carcano performs throughout the night as an outstanding and endearing Elf. Painters Mariano Cinat and Ricardo Martins show some of their recent paintings as part of the multi-media poetic presentation. Stella Sosa produces a bacchanalian entrance with grapes, cheese and assorted wines. Nicoleta Lucero, an incredibly talented dancer graces the stage with a flamenco performance. Unlike previous Circos, this event ends at midnight in order to comply with Beyond Baroque closing hour regulations. Nonetheless, people are again mesmerized. -
Las peras son gotas de una lluvia de peras
Event: Las peras son gotas de una lluvia de peras
Los Angeles, CA. Nov. 1998
Nora Artine Hosts
44 attendants
Things begin to take shape: Federico Luduena MC’s this event. Nora Artine hosts –and launches her reputation as an exquisite chef and hostess-. Artist Gonzalo Varela designs Circo de Poesia’s first ever event stock invitation. Going on until the wee hours of the next day, about 14 participants in all shared one form or another of their particular art. Among the highlights: spanish flamenco by Chavela Munoz and Carmela Crespo, Samantha Miller plays the violin. Liber de Leon screens some of his acting sketches for the crowd and extraordinaire guitarists Pablo Allende and Marcelo Caceres, captivate the crowd. Short films by Guillermina Zabala. In this show, part of Circo’s audience begins to morph into its ‘clay’, that is, those in the audience captivated by the atmosphere of the previous event, felt compelled to participate in this and events to come. -
Circo de Poesia
Event: Circo de Poesia
Culver City, CA. October 25 1998
Stella Sosa Hosts
17 attendants
This is Circo de Poesia’s first event ever in Los Angeles. Still today, the word magic applies. All the 17 attendants to it still refer to this word over and over. Following a somewhat similar format to that established by Jose Sbarra in Buenos Aires -see From Buenos Aires to Los Angeles- the night evolved spontaneously amid paintings, spoken word, poetry and libations.