Acrobatic Conundrum creates technically rigorous, ensemble-based circus shows that seek to contribute to a more courageous and connected world.
Acrobatic Conundrum, Seattle's premier contemporary circus arts company, creates performances that amaze and inspire audiences. Founded in 2012 by Artistic Director Terry Crane, the company blends virtuosic circus skill, dance and physical theater to create work that is poetic, a little absurd, and deeply relatable. Acrobatic Conundrum has appeared nationally and internationally at such venues as New York City’s SummerStage, the Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Vancouver CircusFest, TEDxRainier, and The Backstreet Festival in Alexandria, Egypt. The company is the recipient of Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) Project Support 2018; 4Culture Arts Project Grantee 2018; Seattle Office of Arts & Culture CityArtist Projects Award 2011, 2015 and 2017; and Runner Up, Macklemore BomBom Music Video Project 2013.
Terry Crane, Artistic Director/Founder
Terry Crane surrendered to restless urges that led him to walk calmly away with the circus at the tender age of 20. He is the founder of Acrobatic Conundrum, a contemporary circus company based in Seattle. He has performed on 4 continents, in theaters, under the big top, and on the street. Terry is delighted to share his love of rope technique, circus creation, and collaboration via workshops and performances across the globe. As a director, Terry is on a relentless quest to tell true fictions, contradict human isolation, and portray paradox.
Melissa Knowles, Artist
Melissa K. Knowles is "professionally tiny" and can often be found hiding in your locker or being thrown high into the air by pretty much anyone. For the last decade she has toured across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia and has been spent the last 3 years performing and collaborating with Acrobatic Conundrum. Before discovering circus, she received degrees in Art and Psychology from the University of Tennessee. In 2010 she completed the Professional Training Program at New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in Brattleboro, VT.
She spends most of her time in Seattle performing, teaching circus, and making art at Equinox Studios. Her favorite thing about teaching and performing circus is the way it empowers people to do things they always thought impossible, but had just never tried.
Emma Curtiss, Artist
Emma Curtiss has been channeling her weirdness into art for nearly a decade. Her love of collaborative performance is always taking her somewhere new to play and create with others. When she isn’t up in the air or on her cyr wheel, she can be found teaching at the School for Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in S Seattle.
Max Sarkowsky, Sound Designer, Audio Engineering, Scenic Designer
Max is a designer, musician and collaborative art-maker based in Seattle, exploring the boundaries between design disciplines for live performance. Max creates unique soundscapes, music, and visuals for a variety of projects including plays, podcasts, installations, dance, and film. His freelance work with regional companies in Seattle and Colorado includes; ArtsWest, Sound Theatre Company, The UMO Ensemble, Acrobatic Conundrum, eSe Teatro, Vashon Repertory Theatre, Tales of the Alchemysts Theatre, and others, as well as Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Max is thrilled to be back at 12th Avenue Arts working with Acrobatic Conundrum on Threads. www.maxsarkowsky.com
Bryce Bartl-Geller, Lighting Designer
Bryce is not sure if he is a "theater" or "circus" person but he has been drawn to lighting design and live performance for over half his life. Formerly working as a freelance designer in Seattle, he now mostly designs for Acrobatic Conundrum where he gets to make beautiful art and be inspired by his dear friends. When not goofing around with AC, Bryce also likes to practice photography, pottery, sewing, and woodworking. And when not creating art Bryce is searching for adventure by climbing, skiing, mountaineering, and backpacking.
Mackenzie Breda, Stage Manager and Technician
Mackenzie is passionate about creating a safe an equitable environment within live performance art spaces. She has a Theatre Design and Technology degree from Seattle Pacific University. Some of the companies she has worked with include Taproot Theatre Company, Seattle Public Theatre, Vashon Repertory Theatre, Seattle Historical Theatre Project, and The Feast (fka The Williams Project). She also frequently does live event work around Seattle. She is thrilled to be working with Acrobatic Conundrum and experiencing circus for the first time with so many new friends. Much love to her family and friends! mackenziebreda.com
Maia LeDoux, Marketing Director
Maia fell into the circus by accident and spent a dozen years working at the School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts (SANCA) as the Design & Marketing Manager. She doesn’t have any circus skills but is a virtuosic virtual juggler balancing a graphic design career, parenting, and making art.
Bayla Jaffe, General Manager, Stage Manager
Bayla first ran away with the circus at age 9 when she began attending Camp Winnarainbow in Mendocino County, California. Over the past 15+ years, she has transitioned from camper to counselor to Performance Coordinator where she teaches all levels of trapeze and produces nightly summer performances. In addition to her work with Acrobatic Conundrum, Bayla is a Production Assistant at The 5th Avenue Theater and is the Event Coordinator and a Stage Manager at SANCA/ECTA, where she first met Terry Crane. Bayla holds B.A. degrees in Political Science and Drama from University of Washington where she cut her teeth as a Stage Manager for the Drama Department and the student-run Undergraduate Theater Society. When she’s not working or hanging upside down, you can find Bayla backpacking, climbing, or curled up reading a good book.