Australian circus company Circa brings Duck Pond, a reimagining of Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling, to the Vancouver Playhouse from Jan. 22 to 25. Presented by DanceHouse and The Cultch, the performance combines the precision of ballet with the chaos of circus – illuminating a magical, fairytale world where transformation takes centre stage.

“Everything from the staging to the performance quality really help to create a feel of a world you enter into,” says Circa acrobat Maya Davies. “From when the acrobats first step on stage…through the music and the lighting, everything feels very mystical.”

While circus work is primarily done in groups, Davies highlights how Duck Pond is notable for its more character-based focus. Inspired by the two fairy tales, the show features four principal characters: the black swan, the white swan, the prince and the fairy godmother. Davies feels that part of the show’s magic involves glimpsing into the white swan’s inner world, bringing forth themes of transformation and identity.

An inclusive space

Growing up between Australia and the United States, Davies’ lifelong passion for circus arts began at seven years old in the Adelaide circus school, CirKidz. She then earned a Bachelor’s of Circus Arts, specializing in partner acrobatics and Chinese pole, from the National Institute of Circus Arts. Drawn to its history as a welcoming space for outcasts, Davies encourages those looking for a community to seek out the circus.

“[The circus has] always been a safe space for many people to do what they want to do and be who they want to be,” she adds. “No one is ever pitted against each other: it’s about what you are capable of and how you can share that with an audience.”

Duck Pond. | Photo by Pia Johnson, courtesy of DanceHouse.

For Davies, circus art is about human interaction – both with the audience and with fellow acrobats. Having been with Circa since Dec. 2023, she currently performs as a member of Duck Pond’s acrobat ensemble, showcasing skills such as tower building, group toss, and trapeze construction. One of her favourite Duck Pond scenes to perform occurs at the end of the first act, when the prince introduces the black swan to the palace.

“It’s the first time we see a full group acrobat, so it’s lots of skills one after the other,” she adds. “It’s really fun, it’s really upbeat, the music is really engaging, there’s a disco ball, and we’re all wearing sparkling costumes.”

Embracing chaos

Playing with transformations of genre, the show’s development involved a dramaturg who considered how the precision required in ballet can be combined with circus arts. Davies notes that while performers’ dance backgrounds varied within the company, they all worked diligently to honour dance, particularly through attention to musicality.

“[The show] takes some of the original Swan Lake music and adds an edge and drama and a bit of excitement that leans into the acrobatics,” she adds.

Davies points out how Duck Pond’s composer and sound designer, Jethro Woodward, was present during their acrobat developments, leading to music that was influenced by the acrobats and vice versa. The performance also incorporates elements of traditional ballet through its costumes, which include leotards and tutus. For Davies, part of being a circus performer is embracing all that the circus has to offer, including its chaos.

“One thing we wanted to do in this piece is show this beautiful fairytale space, and how it can be broken down,” she says. “So, there are some comical moments at the end of the show where we tear it all apart and show a bit of circus grit.”

Another comical moment Davies enjoys is when a duck army arrives on stage, cleaning up the mess caused by a chaotic event. Her favourite part of performing with Circa is the community of staff and other performers – a relationship that she sees as rooted in play.

“Because the show is so fun, we get to play with each other as well,” she says, wishing that this joy is transmitted to the audience. “I hope that they enjoy the sparkles and the joy and learn that everyone can have a happy ending.”

For more information, see www.dancehouse.ca