Aerial, contortion, costume design: this circus student does it all—and wants to take it even further! Get to know up-and-coming artist Veronika Agle, winner of our Spotlight Award at the San Diego Circus Festival (SDCF) 2023.

From hanging over the stage in her Lyra to hanging out backstage with fellow San Diego Circus Center (SDCC) students between classes, Veronika Agle already has one foot in the door (or ring!) in many different areas of the circus world. Since discovering contortion as a young teen, this American performer has spent the better part of a decade immersing herself in art of all kinds; building new skills; and bending into new positions. In her time as a student in SDCC’s preparatory program, she has already gone on to help with costuming for shows, join in on group acts, choreograph her own solos… not to mention performing at festivals like the SDCF 2023 this past August, where she took home our CircusTalk Spotlight Award, given to recognize an act which demonstrates courageous expression and whose performance is lauded for its social relevance, artistic and technical acumen, and audience engagement.

In the month since the Festival, we caught up with Veronika to learn more about her life, her act, her art, and her dreams for the future.

Carolyn Klein (CK): How did it feel to win our Spotlight Award at SDCF?

Veronika Agle (VA): I felt quite honored and also pretty surprised. Artistry is very important to me, and for me and my piece to be recognized specifically for that felt so amazing.

CK: Let’s talk a bit about your performing background. When/how did you first become involved in circus and with aerial hoop?

VA: I started circus at 13—I went to an art school, and through a school project found circus. We had to pick a subject to study for a year, and I chose contortion. The circus studio I found was mainly an aerial studio. Of the apparatuses offered, I was drawn to the aerial hoop. I enjoyed it so much that I began taking as many classes as I possibly could.

CK: For those who missed the Festival itself, tell us about your act. What was the inspiration behind it?

VA: My act is about a cyclical relationship that you’re continually drawn back into, but want to escape. Emotions and how I relate to a song is where my creation usually starts, and for that reason I would describe this act as emotional. I was inspired by a repeated phrase in the song I used, which goes “I’m afraid to let you go”. Musicality funded a lot of my creative decisions, and I wanted to use how I choreographed and structured the act to provide more story.

CK: Right now you’re a student in the San Diego Circus Center’s preparatory program. How have you enjoyed your studies there so far? What goals do you have for your time there? 

VA: I’ve loved it so far! Both the coaching and the fellow artists I get to work with are wonderful. One of my main goals of this program is to become a more well-rounded artist (as opposed to just an aerialist) and the varied disciplines we train definitely are helping me towards this goal. Another one of my goals for my time in the preparatory program is to find placement in a higher education circus school, which I’m still working on.

CK: Name a few things that inspire you as a circus artist.

VA: Music is definitely what inspires me most. I also draw inspiration from characters and dramatic imagery seen in art and film. I’m inspired by other circus artists as well! Creative movement and contemporary circus definitely interest me. I love unconventional storytelling, both in the circus community and outside of it.

CK: Alongside aerial hoop and contortion, you’ve also helped with costumes for events like the SDCC’s fifth annual Jubilee Show last spring! Is costume design something else you’re interested in? If so, how do you see costuming as a part of your work/art?

VA: Yes, costume design is also something I’m passionate about. I design, sew, and source things for myself, my classmates, and SDCC shows. I learned to sew in school, and fashion/design has been interesting to me since I was young. Costuming can add so much to an act or a show. I love detail—through design choices, costuming can add another level of narrative. Costuming for circus is fun because there is an added challenge of making sure artists stay safe and comfortable, while still looking awesome and on theme.

CK: What are some of your hobbies outside of circus?

VA: Art in general is a hobby of mine. I paint, draw, sew, do makeup, build stuff, etc. I will admit I am a bit of a workaholic – I find a way to combine a lot of my hobbies with circus. Outside of that, I also love music and animation.

CK: Where do you see yourself in your career 10 years from now?

VA: I want to be in a place where I can work collaboratively with other artists to push the art form of circus. Wherever I end up, I hope I can be performing and making more of what I love!

Images from SDCC 2023 credited to Melisande Martin Photography (including main image). Spotlight Award image by @robriingenphotography

Carolyn Klein

Content Writer -United States

Carolyn Klein is a writer, poet, and circus fan from the Washington, D.C, area. Writing stories about the circus has been a dream of hers since getting introduced to circus fiction around 2014. She recently completed her B.A. in English and Creative Writing, magna cum laude, at George Mason University. As a new member of the Circus Talk journalism team, Carolyn looks forward to learning as much as she can about the industry and people behind circus.

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