CarlosAlexis Cruz, assistant professor of physical theatre, will present his newest urban circus arts project in performances July 21 and 22 at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Booth Playhouse. The production, Sûr: An Acrobatic Journey in Search of Safety, explores concepts of fear and security in contemporary American society, responding to current issues such as police brutality and immigration policy.
Sûr: An Acrobatic Journey in Search of Safety is the second production of Cruz’s Nouveau Sud project. In 2014, Cruz received the McColl Award from the Arts & Science Council (ASC), a $25,000 grant given by the ASC once every three years for the creation of a new work of art. With that grant, he established Nouveau Sud, an original cirque-style troupe that integrates professional circus arts with the “underground” dance, acrobatic, and physical theater languages that thrive within local ethnic communities. Nouveau Sud 's mission is to address social issues and challenges through this hybrid performance style. The first performance was in April 2016.
Cruz holds an MFA in physical theatre (2007) from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre, where he studied a range of movement techniques, including commedia dell’arte, Laban, Lecoq-based theatre dynamics, as well as Alexander Technique. In addition, he has a BA in film studies from the School of Communication at the University of Puerto Rico and has professional training in circus arts from the San Francisco Circus Center, with specializations in aerial straps, acrobatic vertical rope, and Chinese acrobatics. Among the courses he teaches at UNC Charlotte is a circus arts class.
Performances of Sûr: An Acrobatic Journey in Search of Safety take place at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at carolinatix.org.