Equinox is a contemporary circus show that seamlessly blends high-energy acrobatics, aerial performance, dance, adagio and inspiring imagery. It illustrates through a visual and choreographic language, themes of sacred geometry, golden ages through time and the dawning of a new era. A showcase of powerful athleticism... Fun, engaging, entertaining!

About the show

The show Equinox is a combination of several styles of dance and a variety of contemporary and traditional circus performance including straps, hand balancing, doubles trapeze and adagio. The show takes place in several exotic locations and spans thousands of years. The journey begins in Ancient Egypt, where the sun is worshipped as the giver of all life, and finishes with a glimpse of the dawning of a new age, the dawn of 2012.

There are seven performers in the show including dancers, acrobats, and a contortionist. Some of the performers are seasoned veterans of the industry and others will have a chance to make their mark for the first time professionally.

The show draws on many themes including the idea of golden ages through time, sacred geometry, and the celestial power of the equinox. A special unique aerial apparatus has been created specifically for the show, and Glenn has pitched the Equinox show as accessible, and entertaining, with a little mystic adventure to add a sense of intrigue.

Themes of the show

Sacred geometry involves sacred universal patterns used in the design of everything in our reality, most often seen in sacred architecture and sacred art. The basic belief is that geometry and mathematical ratios, harmonics and proportion are also found in music, light and cosmology. This value system is seen as widespread even in prehistory, a cultural universal of the human condition The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend, and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five (or more) Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline. By extension “Golden Age” denotes a period of primordial peace, harmony, stability, and prosperity.

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the centre of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth’s equator. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, night and day are approximately equal in length. An equinox happens each year at two specific moments in time (rather than two whole days), when there is a location (the subsolar point) on the Earth’s equator, where the centre of the Sun can be observed to be vertically overhead, occurring around March 20/21 and September 22/23 each year.

Equinox – a mystical circus adventure has been a wonderful opportunity for Glenn to spread his creative wings and conceptualise and create a 65-minute contemporary circus show that incorporates his passion for aerial performance, dance, adagio and video animation.

Meet the cast

• Glenn Birchall
• Renee Koehler
• Kathryn O'Keeffe
• Zak Saleh
• Lisa Frazer
• Tiffany Riddell
• Ashley Cocks

Glenn Birchall: Producer, Director, Choreographer

International producer, director, choreographer and performer; Glenn Birchall has produced many unique and captivating performances which have delighted audiences from all over the world.

Whilst undertaking studies in marketing and commerce, Glenn discovered a love for dance. Entering this discipline late in life, at the age of 17, Glenn found himself attending ballet classes with a gaggle of giggling girls, half his height and age.

A graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, Glenn commenced his professional career as a contemporary dancer. After several years he began choreographing his own works and developed a keen interested in multimedia choreography.

Inspired by his passion for dance video and multimedia choreography, Glenn travelled to Melbourne to attend the V.C.A. where he completed his Post Grad diploma in choreography followed by a Masters degree by research in choreography. In 2003, Glenn established Retina Productions, a corporate entertainment and multimedia/video company.

Retina Productions credits include product launches, gala dinners, fashion shows, and opening ceremonies to name a few. Retina Productions is well known for Glenn’s captivating Sphere Aerial Ballet and his dramatic multimedia adagio work Aqua Adagio.

Equinox – a mystical circus adventure, is Glenn’s first full-length contemporary circus show in Australia. It is the culmination of all his skills, and his distinctive aerial apparatus design. Glenn believes this show is the beginning of new and exciting performance adventures.

Renee Koehler

Renee is originally from Canberra and has a background in elite gymnastics, rugby union, stunt cheerleading and latin dance. She almost began circus at the age of 18 but decided instead, to work with the drug detector dogs as a Custom’s officer. She then travelled overseas to the Middle East, Europe, Morocco, UK and South America where she worked as a carer for the elderly, and lived in a caravan at an animal sanctuary.

Renee returned to Australia and began working as a vet nurse. It was a performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai, that prompted Renee to give circus a go. Renee recently completed a Bachelor of Circus Art’s at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne. Renee, specialises in adagio, and teeterboard, and is one of the few female artists to specialise in straps.

Kathryn O'Keeffe

Kathryn performs as a dancer, aerialist and contortionist. She has choreographed and taught dance and circus throughout Australia. In 2006, Kathryn graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Dance.

Most recently Kathryn has performed as a resident aerialist for the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China where she performed in over 550 shows. Kathryn also performs nationally and internationally with the world renowned company Strange Fruit having performed in The Spheres, The Field and Swoon!. Kathryn has performed at various Festivals and Cabarets as well as corporate events around Australia in both circus and dance. She has worked with Liquid Skin, Theatre Physical, Steph Hutchison, Phunktional Dance Theatre, Natalie Cursio, Blue Circus Studios and is a founding member of Rogue, a dance collective based in Melbourne.

Zak Saleh

Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Zac’s love for acrobatics started with two trampolines and lots of free time. Zac’s professional training in circus started when he was 18 and still studying a Diploma of Business. At 20 he was accepted into the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) in Melbourne, where he graduated with a high distinction BA. Eager to share his knowledge with the next generation of circus artists Zac is still involved with NICA as a teacher.

Zac specialises in aerial straps, hand balancing and acrobatics. He has performed in numerous special events including the opening of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The AAMI stadium opening, Channel 10 Christmas functions and the opening of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

It’s a long way away from the business diploma. (Zac is single).

Lisa Frazer

Lisa began dancing at the age of 4 in the north eastern Victorian town of Wangaratta. For the past 16 years, she has explored various styles of dance such as Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary. During high school Lisa was heavily involved in sport aerobics, where her team was 3 time national champions. This sport helped to enhance strength and flexibility within Lisa’s style of dance. Over the past 3 years, Lisa has received professional training from Sue-Ellen Shook at the Dancer’s Edge. Her performance repertoire includes the 2009 Red Ball, Jeffrey Edelsten’s wedding and most recently, a 2011 New Year’s Eve performance. In addition to these events, Lisa has also been a member of the Melbourne Tigers Cheerleaders, as well as cheerleading for Australia at the Australia vs. Argentina NBL match held in 2010.

Tiffany Riddell

Tiffany Riddell found dance at the age of 9. She learnt Jazz right through to cheerleading. She started professionally training at the age of 18 at Dance Factory where she recieved her Diploma of Dance and Perfomance. Tiffany has been trained by Sue-Ellen Shook, who has been, and still is a big inspirasion to her dance life. Tiffany has been a cheerleader for the NBL Melbourne Tigers since she was 14. Her credits include, television commercials for Dodo Internet and McDonald’s, Dancing at the Logies, L’Oreal Fashion Week, Melbourne Hair Show, Fashion AID, and Geoffrey Edelsten’s wedding to name a few. She also travelled to Malaysia for an 8 week dance tour promoting Carlsburg Beer. Apart from all the high kicks and the many turns, Tiffany loves to have fun.

Ashley Cocks

Since the age of 8 Ashley Cocks has been dancing under the training and guidance of Sue-Ellen Shook. In 2010 she started dancing full time at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, and is currently in her second year of rigorous full-time training. This includes all facets of performance and dance with teachers such as Jason Coleman, Jackie Sherren-Scott, Collette Mann, Sarah Croser, Paul Malek, Yvette Lee and Danna Jolly.

Ashley recently started in the professional dance arena, having the majority of her experience in corporate entertainment. She is very grateful to be a part of Equinox as a new performer exploring the industry.

Contacts

Heidi Adams

Sales & Marketing,
Retina Productions
p 0408 395 673
e heidiadam@gmail.com

Glenn Birchall

Producer, Director, Choreographer
Retina Productions
p 0425 783 804
e glenn.birchall@retinaproductions.com.au

Acknowledgements

Firstly I would like to acknowledge the assistance of my parents Alan and Judy Birchall. Their financial support was the only thing that enabled me to continue with the "Lubera-Sphere" project. If it wasn’t for them I would have a half completed mirror ball, and would have lost a great deal of money in the process. Thanks also for your support in coming over from New Zealand to see the show.

Thank you to my lovely wife Heidi for her fantastic graphics with the flier and the web site. Also thanks for her sales and marketing research and work, and her support through-out the show. Perhaps in the next show I might even be able to pay you for your work.

Thanks to the performers for their choreographic contributions to the show and especially to the principal performers Renee, Zac and Kat for rehearsing in a studio for four hours a day that was often over 30 degrees with very high humidity.

Thank you to Peter Lubera from PML Engineering for his tireless work and commitment to building the Mirror Ball, named the "Lubera-Sphere" in his honour. With over 4 years in production, and a huge investment in time and effort, here is hoping that you get this beast of an aerial apparatus completed in time for the show.

Thanks to Nitrox from Diversity rigging for his contribution, firstly in designing and building the first travelable aerial sphere, and also for his invaluable expertise in rigging and motor design for aerial apparatus. Let’s hope the Lubera Sphere is completed so we can try out your new motor!

Thanks to Bernadette Gooden for her patience with building the cover for the aerial sphere, and also for her great costumes.

Thanks to Shannon Mc Gurgan and Malia Walsh from Circus Tricktease for their acrobatic assistance.

Thanks to Craig Sullivan for his assistance with this web site, and for all his great help with web based work over the years.

Thanks to Arthur Ipsaros from Genius Laser Technology for his contribution with the laser lighting.

Thanks finally to Sue Ellen Shook. She is a great friend and has helped firstly to find me dancers and then, even with her busy schedule has also choreographed the disco dance section and the fan dance, both of which I have little experience with. Thanks Sue, you are amazing!!

Thank you to Michael Foster from Foster the Arts for his help with the recording of the voice over and for being such a good friend.

Thanks to Stephen Williams for his technical straps training with the acrobats and his straps choreography for "birds flying High".

Thanks very much to Lina Limosani for her work as rehearsal director.

Thanks to Kat O'Keefe for her general assistance with the choreography.