Past Performances

Sept 30 – UB Homecoming – University at Buffalo North Campus

UB hosts a gigantic homecoming party every year, and we’re delighted to have been a part of it for many years now.   There’s rides, food, bands, a bonfire, a zipline, fire spinners, and Buffalo Aerial Dance flying high in blue and white.  Several of our performers are U.B. alums, so we love coming back to our alma matter to put on a show.  Horns Up!   Photos coming

Sept 10 – Music Is Art, Buffalo, NY

Music is Art is always a good time.  There’s just so much!  Everyone and everything from Buffalo comes out for this event, so why wouldn’t we?!  We love putting on a circus show for a crowd of this size!  Plus, there’s hundreds of musical artists, art installations, performances of all kinds, food, shopping, silent disco, and a big party!  Big thank you to Robby Takac and his team for making this happen every year.      

August 28 – Elmwood Avenue Festival for the Arts, Buffalo, NY

EAFA was finally back in action this year and we performed work based on one of our favorite themes, Earth’s Elements.  We had staged Earth’s Elements several times before, at Old Falls Street, Penn Dixie Fossil Farm, and Silo City.  For those, we performed in a circus-style, using flashy costumes and lots of “wow” moments. For this year’s Elmwood Arts Fest, we kept the inspiration of earth, water, fire, and air, but toned down some of the flash, and added nuance.  We wanted to create a more artistic performance that embodies the experiences of these natural elements.  The four choreographers also reworked the pieces from solo pieces used in the cirque show to duet performances incorporating lots of partner work.  Erica Cope (earth), Hannah Lippincott (water), Jess Bennett (fire), and Mary Schnepf (wind) each shared a little bit about their choreographic process before the pieces were

Pippin The Musical at the Lockport Palace Theater

This September, experience the magic of Pippin at the Palace Theater in Lockport!  Four performers from Buffalo Aerial Dance will be joining the Pippin cast to bring the circus to this historic stage. Aerial performers Hannah Lippincott and Mary Schnepf will be performing aerial silks, and Amanda Reed and Erica Cope will be on aerial hoop.  The aerialists also helped design the aerial rigging for this show and worked with Pippin cast members to teach them a few aerial skills of their own. Also, the Palace theater is gorgeous! It was originally built in the 1920s like Shea’s and The Riviera, and was recently fully restored. This show itself is visually beautiful and full of deeper meaning. The set design, costumes, and choreography channel both an old time circus aesthetic and classic Fosse style.  And the story is one we can all relate to. It begins with a young prince who goes to great extremes in search of the secret to happiness. Ultimately Pippin finds that true happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but in every day moments. This talented cast signs,

August 14 – World Music Festival, Niagara Falls, NY

The Niagara Falls Arts and Cultural Center hosted a world music festival featuring The Slyboots Orchestra, and other musicians from all over the world.  African dancers, fire spinners, jugglers, and of course aerialists performed to music from Ghana, Brazil, Italy, France, India, and other cultures as well.  It was a beautiful celebration right in the heart of Niagara Falls.   Here are a few videos from the event: https://youtube.com/shorts/gTgICotntAw?feature=share https://youtube.com/shorts/jd_fjaCTTNk?feature=share

August 10 – JCC Greatest Showman Movie Night, Buffalo, NY

We were so thrilled to get the news that JCC is showing the Greatest Showman at one of their summer movie nights. And even more thrilled that they asked us help out with the circus vibe!  It was perfect to introduce one of everybody’s’ favorite movies with a live circus performance. Photos coming

July 23 – East Side Garden Walk, Buffalo, NY

We were so happy to participate in this community event in Buffalo. This event was part garden walk, and part block party.  It took place near Buffalo’s MLK park, and showed off local gardens and neighborhood parks.  The East Side Garden Walk included garden activities; bounce houses, aerial dancers, snacks and beverages, a DJ, games, and a firetruck. Buffalo’s Poet Laureate Jillian Hanesworth also performed at the event. The event is free to local residents thanks to sponsorship from the Children’s Foundation of Erie County.

July 16 – 50th Anniversary of the Miss Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

The Miss Buffalo Boat celebrated its 50th Anniversary and they asked us to help make the celebration special.  First of all, it was 716 Day, and that’s already a favorite day among Western New Yorkers, second of all, there was live music, food and vendors all day, and third, the Miss Buffalo offered historic boat tours all day long.  We had a great time entertaining the crowds as they finished their tours. It was a perfect day down at the Erie Basin Marina.

July 1-3 – Great Blue Heron Festival, Sherman, NY

  The Great Blue Heron Festival is called a music festival, but really it’s a giant party in a magical forest — of course the music is pretty great too! Music lovers from near and far gathered to watch some of the best folk and acoustic music around, and Slyboots bumped up the party with some circus shows including stilt walkers, jugglers, fire spinners, and of course aerialists.  We loved performing in this tree filled wonderland!  

June 18 – Estival Festival, Canadea, NY

Estival is a lovely way to begin the summer.  We be joined forces with Slyboots to bring the circus to Estival, as we performed aerial tricks to the sounds of the African drum ensemble and horns from the 12/8 Path Band.  It was definitely a windy day, but we managed to fly through the
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