By Andrew Hamlin
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
“Before I started circus (training), I climbed in bouldering gyms for seven years. I had a pretty insecure relationship with failure and my body. Climbing taught me that if you didn’t fall, you didn’t try. Before I realized it, I was having fun exploring the edges of my fear and physicality!”
That’s Michael “Lucky” Dang, aka Oroki, explaining how he came to the world of circus performance. He’s one of six performers featured in “Rice on Repeat: An AAPI Circus,” playing June 25-28 in Seattle.
Originally from Ohio by way of Florida, Dang moved to Seattle in 2012. “My first impression? Huge mountains, no humidity, and cherry blossoms in the middle of the city.
“Honestly, it was astonishing to me how the Asian community was thriving over here: food, cultural events, and otherwise. Back in Florida, I was always one of a handful [of Asians] each year in school. After a few years though, I still hadn’t seen enough representation in the arts as I’d like (to see) outside of Asian cultural events. ‘Rice on Repeat’ is my call to bring more to the broader Seattle audience.”
Each performer brings certain specific skills to the circus, Dang explained.
“I perform aerial straps, partner acrobatics, and ensemble dance in the show. I started my circus journey at Emerald City Trapeze Arts in SODO and have done programs and intensives like NECCA in Vermont, a mentorship with Aaron Koz in Montreal, and the summer programs at École de cirque de Québec. Back in University of Florida, I was a dancer and choreographer for multiple cultural modern dance groups.”
He’s second-generation Chinese and Vietnamese.
“The food and family meals are what I bring to my rehearsals and production culture. Every week, we would eat together before getting into creation, because I wanted to emphasize how a chosen family like ours still connects as strongly.”
As for the other five performers, Abigail Leong performs on Cyr wheel, acrobatics performed inside a large metal hoop. KC Fong performs aerial straps. Ivanna Wei performs aerial cube, movement in and around a large cube suspended in mid-air. Hana Sambe performs partner acrobatics, plus hand balancing. Amy Li performs aerial pole.
So far as the original ideas for the show, recalled Dang, “A lot of us grew up inspired by Cirque de Soleil, but Acrobatic Conundrum’s Circus of Second Chances showed me how the medium can be used to highlight storytelling. It was a small three-person production at Yaw Theater at the time, but it really had such intimate chemistry that made me wonder about the creation process.
“It’s really hard to be a purely working artist nowadays. Several of our performers have day jobs, so coordinating was a logistical challenge. Having Lily Nguyen as my production manager really made things possible. Lily graduated with a degree in Stage Management and has brought a lot of experience to our production. I’m forever grateful for her patience, connections, and commitment.”
Dang stressed that this new show was only made possible through grants from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. “Ticket sales only make so much of our budget, so grants and donations have been the only way we’ve been able to make art year after year.
“’Rice on Repeat’ is my call for more representation in circus and theater. I hope to find more support through grants and take the show to other theaters. In our next iteration, we will look to add up to two local artists each show run, and integrate them into the family to highlight regional talent. Family dinner traditions are something everyone can connect to, so we want to make sure our audiences see themselves in our show.”
“Rice on Repeat” runs June 25-28 at 12th Avenue Arts, 1620 12th Avenue on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. For prices, showtimes, and other information, visit https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/orokiproductions/rice-on-repeat.