“Traces,” the acrobatic Off-Broadway show, will have its final performance on September 2, 2012 at the Union Square Theatre. This production began previews in July 2011 and opened on August 8, 2011. Although originally slated for a limited ten week engagement, “Traces” extended its run for another year. After “Traces” last Big Apple performance, the show will begin its European tour on September 14, 2012 in Oostend, Belgium. The U.S. tour will follow in the spring of 2013.
The show is populated by the performers of 7 Fingers which is a Montreal-based acrobatic dance company. 7 fingers was founded in 2002. According to the company’s website, their, “…main initial goal was to bring circus to a human scale. They began as artists on stage, creating collectively, and soon branched out, expanding their creative talents as directors, choreographers, writers and coaches, passing on their collaborative and unique 7 Fingers process to a new generation of circus artists.”
Six shows, including “Traces,” have emerged from the company’s ensemble inspired process. In addition to “Traces” the other productions include “Loft,” “La Vie,” “Psy,” “Fibonacci Project,” and “Patinoire.” 7 Fingers has participated in The Royal Variety Performance for the Queen of England and in the ceremonies of the Turin and Vancouver Olympic Games. Most recently, on July 11, the cast of “Traces” performed on the television show America’s Got Talent.
Boasting an urban setting, “Traces” is an eclectic dance fusion which combines elements from both the circus and street performance art. The production juxtaposes the background of an industrial-warehouse with the bursting energy of versatile acrobatics. “Traces” contains music from bands such as Radiohead, VAST, and Blackalicious. Peppered throughout the show are biographical monologues by the cast.
Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider directed and choreographed “Traces” respectively. The performers are Mason Ames, Valerie Benoit-Charbonneau, Mathieu Cloutier, Bradley Henderson, Phillipe Normand-Jenny, Xia Zhengqi, Florian Zumkehr, Heloise Bourgeois, Sen Lin and William Underwood.
The European tour of “Traces” kicks off in Belgium before hitting eleven other cities. The 2013 U.S. tour of “Traces” will stop by a few big cities including Tampa, FL; Los Angeles, CA; and Dallas, TX.
Dan Bacalzo of Theatermania.com said of “Traces,” “…it’s the full group sequences that are often the most fun to watch as the performers themselves express such joy and camaraderie as they use each other’s bodies to propel themselves into the air, or demonstrate such trust in one another during stunts that appear to have a rather large danger factor.”
TalkinBroadway.com’s Matthew Murray wrote, “…a show like no other of its genre. By the time it concludes, you’ve become involved with each person, and grown to understand and appreciate their personalities, gifts, and limitations…it shows that real life, even when filtered through circus specialties, is the most thrilling experience theatre can offer.”
For a full schedule of performances visit the play’s official website.
