Acrobats effortlessly twirling from colorful sheets of material 10 feet above the stage, or balancing with one arm on stacked chairs to tempo of live background music entertained adults and children during “The Art of Circus” performance Tuesday at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
The Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center show, held in Bromeley Family Theater at Blaisdell Hall, was the second of the 2018-19 season and the first of the new year, said BCPAC President Shane Oschman.
“We are pretty excited to bring a show of this caliber to Bradford,” Oschman said prior to the performance.
“It is a full troupe of dancers and acrobats,” Oschman said of the circus-style show. “They come with a musical score that was written by (Jesse Elder) who writes for the Postmodern Jukebox live band, which is award-winning.”
Oschman said he was pleased with the turnout of community members, given the inclement weather from Winter Storm Harper.
Each of the performances on stage were accompanied by art on a back projection screen that featured world-renowned painters, such as Van Gogh and Seurat.
The troupe had the grace of ballet dancers mixed with the strength and vibrancy of acrobats, along with a touch of sporadic humor. Following one performance, an acrobat interacted with the audience by throwing a flower out to the crowd.
During intermission, children with their parents were found purchasing toys and coloring books created by one of the performers.
Patrons in attendance with children included Chris Minich, who was with her daughter, Paige LaBrozzi and granddaughter, Collins LaBrozzi. Minich said the performance was the first for Collins, 3, who loved the dancers and acrobats.
Another parent, Lynette Campogiani, said her son, Nick, also enjoyed the performance.
“It was really fun and he loves it,” Campogni said. “We need more things like this.”
Another grandmother at the event, Trudy Gulnac, said she was at the performance with family members who included her grandson, Cooper Swanson.
“It was very good and very entertaining,” Campogiani said of the event. “Imagine the strength in their bodies to do that. My back hurts just watching them.”
Oschman said the next BCPAC performance will be the Phat Pack show at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Blaisdell Hall. The show, featuring the songs of Broadway’s great music and American standards, headlined at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas for almost a year before going on the road.
Oschman said more information on the show, or other performance for the season, can be found online at www.bcpac.com or by calling 362-2522.
