photo credit Maike Schulz

You might know the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus as an international touring show bringing the traditions of circus, variety, and sideshow and world-class entertainers to your local theater, concert venue, festival or neighborhood park.  Perhaps your kids and elders participate in circus arts education and enrichment activities.  Or maybe you are an emerging artist stepping into the spotlight at the Open Stage Variety Show.  At the heart of these varying Bindlestiff programs is a deep commitment to the thing that brings us all together….community.  Community comes first in all Bindlestiff experiences, where all creative forces have a say in building the world we want to live in together.
 
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, founded in 1995 by Keith Nelson and Stephanie Monseu, came out of the traditions of DIY/punk rock and traveling entities, both of which operate from a strong sense of community and collective experience.  From its inception, BFC has maintained an irreverent respect for the past by reaching out to mentors and those in whom the history is still alive. 

For over 30 years the Bindlestiffs have been answering the call of our souls, touring the country as a pro-performing entity bringing cirkus to the people.  Locally, emerging artists find support through their First of May, Open Stage, and Cavalcade of Youth programs.  Through a social circus model, the next generation of humans are learning circus in after school programs.  

Co-founder Keith Nelson says, "Luckily we’ve been able to stay alive and survive while keeping the artist first and the community first. Folks come back because they want to have a Bindlestiff experience.  Everyone of every age will get something from a Bindlestiff experience, but it won’t be the same thing for each one."  At the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus you can be uniquely yourself, in community with others.  

You can meet up with the Bindlestiffs this month at New York City Unicycle Festival.  See event listing below.  To learn more about the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus visit https://bindlestiff.org/