Located at 412 Chillicothe Street in Portsmouth, Cirque d’Art Theatre proudly brings dance of all forms to life. The theatre welcomes students of all ages, backgrounds and cultures to practice and perform a variety of dance styles while also nurturing a collective passion for the art. Whether you are an experienced dancer or starting off fresh, this program welcomes all skill levels and offers training in aerial arts, tumbling, acrobatics, tap, ballet, adagio and contortion. Above all, the theatre strives to not only cater to performers across the county but also creates an inclusive environment where children can express themselves freely, celebrate their differences and feel safe in the process.
Alyssa Redoutey, a lead instructor and a proud member of Cirque Works’ continuum and publicity board, began her dance journey at Cirque d’Art Theatre at the age of 10 and plans to continue to pursue this passion for as long as possible.
“I knew when I was a little girl I always wanted to be involved in some kind of dance,” she said. “I always enjoyed making up dances when I was younger and loved the idea of performing in front of big crowds. I remember passing the studio in the car when I was younger and mentioning it to my parents, and shortly after that, they came down and signed me up.”
Redoutey emphasized the theatre’s commitment to inclusivity and her desire to give back to the community she grew up in.
“My favorite part about Cirque d’Art Theatre is how inclusive we are,” she said. “We have so many different personalities and cultural backgrounds, and our sliding scale tuition allows us to provide a space for people in our community to come and be themselves.” She added, “I love Portsmouth and being able to give back is worth more than a million words.”
Despite the many responsibilities she balances while working toward her degree at Shawnee State, Redoutey plans to remain involved with Cirque d’Art Theatre even after graduation, crediting her ability to do so to God.
“I still plan on being involved in circus (Cirque d’Art Theatre) for as long as I am able to,” she said. “God has truly blessed me with the opportunity to not only share my love of dance but also my passion for teaching. Through this program, I have discovered that my true passion is teaching.”
This organization has many things in store in the months ahead and is gearing up for their yearly December show. This year, the highly anticipated performance will be “OH NO! The Grinch Stole the Nutcracker” at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at SSU. The show will take place on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at the McKinley Box Office, with Shawnee State students and faculty receiving free admission. A cast party will follow on Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Cirque d’Art Theatre. Tickets for the cast party are $5 for circus students and $10 for non-circus students, with adults admitted free of charge.
Whether you want to pursue your desired dancing passion or simply to see an eye-catching performance, Cirque d’Art Theatre ensures both will be successfully covered. To stay up to date on upcoming performances and events, follow the theatre on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @TheCirqueDartTheatre.
“I just love this program and all that it has done for me,” Redoutey said. “I cannot wait for another great season and performance; you don’t want to miss it.”
