Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1207269
With the Greatest of Ease Er in Carey's Stunning Aer ial Gymnastics B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D I n the United States, the word "circus" brings to mind ele- phants under the big top, lion tamers, creepy clowns, freaky sideshow attractions, cotton candy and ringmasters in red tailcoats. But in other locales it's a different story. "The circus is considered fine performing art in Eu- rope," says aerialist Erin Carey of Big Sur. "It's physical theater, a way of expressing oneself through body movement." The form of performance practiced by Carey is known as "Nouveau Cirque." Most Americans are familiar with this art form due to its association with the mega-successful Cirque du Soleil brand, but it has a long history elsewhere. So how did Carey become an expert prac- titioner of this sinewy, sensual and sublime discipline? Witnessing Carey effortlessly twist her form through lengths of cloth— known as "silks"—suspended from a pyramid-shaped rig, it's easy to imag- ine that she is part of a multi-generational troupe of nomadic European performers. Nope. She was born at the former Fort Ord—her father was an Army physician—and grew up in Pennsylvania after his discharge with no particular interest in running away from home to join the circus. "I danced ballet until I was 15, then became interested in musical-the- ater-type dancing," Carey recalls. That led her to traveling with groups of teens doing shows in Russia, Mongolia, Morocco and other countries. "After high school, I decided that I wanted to do relief work, to help others in less fortunate circumstances," she says. She ended up in Botswana, where she had a near-death experi- ence with malaria. That cured Carey of the desire to live in underdeveloped countries. "I redirected my path from saving the world to studying marine biology at Seattle Pacific University," she explains. While there, another health challenge left her at loose ends, her body weak. "Then I saw a video of a Cirque du Soleil show," she says. "I was over- come with a desire to do that. That renewed my will to live, and I threw myself into learning to be an aerialist." One thing to know about Erin Carey: she doesn't approach life halfway. In life as well as in work, she performs without a safety net. So, in order to learn how to perform the aerial feats she saw on that video, she studied acrobatics with a private coach before applying and being accepted at Circomedia in Bristol, England, then and now one of the most preeminent Nouveau Cirque training schools. Another example of her determination is the fact that she broke her arm while training in her first month at Circomedia. 164 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 Photo: Juan Lewis Erin Carey performs various acrobatic routines, including the Cyr wheel. She studied it in Germany with some of the world's top practitioners.