New York City Professional Circus Performers in residence at City Point
January - August, 2021

training, creative process, rehearsals, works-in-progress showcases, and shows

visit our Instagram for a look back at our 8 months in residence

 Background

Anver partnered with City Point & Acadia Really Trust to support furloughed circus artists by providing residency space, helping to keep the performing arts culture of New York City alive and performers ready to go back to work during 8 months of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

When Broadway shut down, so did all of the smaller shows, nightclubs, and cabarets. Ticketed performances, even those held outdoors, were banned until April 2, 2021. Training spaces closed down, and sadly a number permanently closed. During the warm weather, performers trained in city parks and open-air spaces. Winter 2021 brought a new set of challenges, especially the need for indoor rehearsals.

This residency gave participating artists time and space to continue their creative work, albeit unpaid, with donations used to support participating artists and operational expenses, including providing grants to cover the required individual insurance policies and rigging installation. The public had the unprecedented opportunity to watch high caliber artists train and rehearse through the glass windows of the residency space.

When live performances were allowed to resume in April 2021, Anver produced The Underground Cabaret at Dekalb Stage, a performance venue in City Point, providing hazard pay on top of the industry standard pay rates for cabaret performances for the first two months of performances. Anver also produced City Point Cirque - weekly free 30-minute circus variety shows for kids of all ages, as well as two free evenings of works in progress presentations, and we partnered with City Point and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership to provide entertainment for their annual Block Party.

Anver founder Kyla Ernst-Alper partnered with portrait photographer Giles Clement to co-produce the New York City edition of his Artist Postcard Project, a project raising awareness and funds for furloughed artists. Those portraits were exhibited in the City Point Atrium.

Press:

BKLYNER

Good Day New York