Circus Guild

Photos and Story by Christina Becker

A look into the Bellingham Circus Guild and the people who use their space.

On the outside of the Cirque Lab, a warehouse off 6th Street, a lone sign identifies the Bellingham Circus Guild’s building from the rest of the area. Members can pay to use the space for performances, lessons or whatever else they need it for. Inside is a stage, a backstage dressing area, ropes for aerial artists, juggling pins, unicycles, mats, stage lights, mirrors and more, all the things circus artists need.

Members of The Provocateurs stretch before rehearsal. These women use the Cirque Lab for their dance performances. As members of the guild they have access to the space for rehearsal and for their show. These women choreographed a two-act show about femininity.

The Provocateurs rehearse a dance from “Phenomenal Women,” a dance show about femininity. The members of The Provocateurs choreographed the show and performed it in October and November at the Cirque Lab. As an individual troupe, these women had access to the space as members of the Bellingham Circus Guild.

Unicycles and hula hoops find their places in one of the corners of the cirque lab.

(From left to right) Madi Piros, Terril Teran Mire and Heidi Sorgen practice aerial arts in the Cirque Lab. Terril and Heidi are guild members and, therefore, have access to the space. Madi is a student of a guild member.

Madi Piros climbs the aerial silks at her lesson in October. Madi is a beginner and being taught by Dream Frohe, who is a member of the guild.

Wren Hartford, 10, practices rope tricks at Jason Quick’s after school circus class.

Della Moustachella (left) laughs as one of her students, performs a movement exercise at her 50 Shades of Play workshop. Della teaches clowning, improv and more. She encourages her students to be vulnerable and real with and receptive to the audience.

Jason Quick teaches an after school circus class to kids. They practice acrobatics, juggling, riding the unicycle, balancing and rope tricks.

Arrow Cash unicycles around the Cirque Lab at the Jason Quick’s after school circus class while other kids practice acrobatics.