Circus Updates and more life experiences

The greatest new show! San Francisco, April 18th-May 11th.

shredderhoops — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:55:32 GMT

And If We Shadows SHOW TIMES: Fridays at 8pm Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm Sundays at 3pm TICKETS and INFO: ph: 415.665.2276 $12.50 (general) $25 (reserved) All Ages. AND IF WE SHADOWS is a passionate and poignant portrait of life in the Bay Area circus and hip-hop communities. Featuring 3 generation of professionals, aged 14-34. SHADOWS is a groundbreaking collaboration between hip-hop and circus performers working in the urban city arts. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED by Tim Barsky (EDT/Bright River). Choreography by Shannon Gaines (Vau de Vire Society). Live score by beat boxer Carlos Aguirre (Felonious). Devised and performed by City Circus. FEATURING: legendary breakdancers Iron Monkey (Renegades B-boys) & Finesse (Breakbeat Assassins), aerialist Brett Womack (Circo Cero), Contortionist Breonna Noack (Vau de Vire Society), hip-hop theatre artist Rami Margron (Women's Will), stunt rigger Erin Shredder (Vau de Vire), and a baker's dozen of aerialists, acrobats, contortionists and circus specialists.

Shredder is going to the SUPERBOWL!

shredderhoops — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:26:28 GMT

After neglecting my blog for some time, I have found a great reason to share! Vau de Vire Society, the circus troupe I am in, has been hired to perform at the Superbowl Party in Scottsdale, AZ. We have been working/playing hard in the past year and I am so happy to start the new year off with such a huge event. There are details on the party at www.944game.com. We are performing with 50 cent, Velvet Revolver, Wyclef Jean, and some other great bands. The event is being hosted by Paris Hilton, herself. Actually it is her birthday on Thursday. We're not sure what to think about that as we do not consider ourselves mainstream entertainment like Paris may be. But who cares? I'm stoked to go. We're gonna put on our best show yet with all sorts of talent and hopefully FIRE! We will take 20 of our staple performers, from aerialists, to contortionists, acrobats, and ballerinas. Of course, I will be showing off my hoops. Newly added to my solo show is the aerial hoop/lyra. If you haven't seen it yet, then stay posted and I'll try and update some of our upcoming shows. Thanks for your interest if you had a moment to read the exciting news. Hope all is well, and keep up the challenges, as they only make us better folks. Love to all, Shredder

This Summer's Massage Special!

shredderhoops — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:04:24 GMT

Hello all, I am looking to increase my clientelle just a tad bit. I am very thankful for those of you who have shown support and become awesome regulars. This Summer I would like to offer $10 off your next massage for every person you refer to me. Just to remind you I have reasonable rates for a ground-breaking massage. $80/ hour and $120/90 mins. I am also very open and compassionate to those of you who can't quite make the fee. I am available to partial trades and sliding scales, so if you're hurtin' and you can't quite budget out the cost then just give me a call and we'll arrange for you to get some Shredder Therapy. Please see my testimonials on my profile to get an idea of what you're about to experience. I have a beautiful space in the panhandle where you may come to me. Or if you want me to come to your house then it is $100/ hour. Much Love, and for goodness sake, relax your shoulders. I'll see you soon, Erin Shredder 415-971-5556

HPV...Have you been checked lately?

shredderhoops — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 16:27:41 GMT

Hi there Ladies, I was just talking with my dear friend who works at the Women's Community Clinic. She told me that the amount of women who are coming through the clinic with the HPV virus is more than ever. Over 90% are diagnosed with HPV. This is not a concern for the ladies who are having it seen and treated at least once a year. My point of the blog is to remind you all how important it is to keep up on your annual check-ups. She said that in 10 to 20 years, cervical cancer is going to be the new Breast Cancer for those who are not getting their annuals. If you have any questions or comments or if you need to know where to go for discounted clinics, let me know and I can provide any neccessary info. Just wanted to spread the word to try and protect my fellow friends and community. Be Well, Shredder

It's the moment you've all been waiting for...

shredderhoops — Fri, 18 May 2007 22:45:57 GMT

Hello All, I am pleased to announce that I finally have my own space to do amazing body work for all. If you've been looking for that one perfect massage where you wish the therapist would go a little deeper, or have a bit more intuition, you can stop looking. I've got you covered. I am working on my tenth year in the business. I specialize in Sports Therapy and Deep Tissue, integrated with Swedish relaxation strokes and some satisfying trigger point work. I am very well developed in body awareness and postural behavior. I will help you find all those muscles you never knew you had. I recommend body work at least once a month to loosen up those bad habits that your body naturally forms, whether you're aware of it or not. This will not only help any existing discomfort, but will aid in the prevention of injuries in the future. If you are an active circus performer, or a tense computer genius, I will tap into your needs. I would like to offer a sliding scale to those who are artists, or in need of a sliding scale. Generally my work is $100/ hour for outcalls and $80/hour for incalls, but I will offer $60/hour for those of you who can come to my new space and give it a try. If you want to continue regular work then I will offer a package price. I promise it will be worth your hard-earned money. Outcalls will remain $100/hour, unless otherwise discussed. If you are tight for cash and your body needs work, I recommend starting a massage jar to save up $2-3/day, and before you know it, you'll have enough to relax and get your tense muscles worked out. My hours are flexible. I am available some evenings and some weekends, and lots of daytimes. Please give me a call or email me if you have any questions. Also, I am looking for a place to start some testimonials. If anyone has recommendations on where to post them. I have a hand-full of people who would like to express their appreciation. Until then, please see my tribe testimonials on my home page if you need proof of a great massage. I look forward to working with you soon. Be Well, Erin Shredder (415)971-5556

Anyone have a video camera going to Bohemian Carnival?

shredderhoops — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 00:59:23 GMT

Hey Folks, I have a tape but need a camera to record my acts tomarrow night. Anyone want to bring theirs and let me use it so I can get some of my work on my mini DV tape? I would be so appreciative. Happy Irie, Shredder Oh yeah, and if anyone has footage of me from past performances could you please let me know so I can get a copy? Thank you!

Inspiration Full Circle

shredderhoops — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:12:44 GMT

Written Sunday, April 8, 2007. Tonight I had the opportunity to share the inspiration of the hoop with one special child. A six-year-old little girl name Jayda, that I have met once before, has completely wrapped herself around my heart and opened my eyes to yet another meaningful hoop experience. She has a tough life with a fast-paced, unstable foundation at home. When Jayda saw the hoop for the first time she had that same amazing look in her eyes that we all had the first time we saw hoop dancing. She quickly became addicted to the feeling of hooping and developed a love and respect for the hoop and the dancer within. When she finally mastered hooping around the waste she came to me and said, “Shredder, it’s not so hard. All you gotta do is relax and keep trying.” I smiled with pure content, and said, “That’s right, and when you want to learn any new trick you have to allow yourself that same amount of time and patience to learn and feel the movement.” She was clearly open for inspiring, so I threw in, “Here Jayda, I want you to pick one of these hoops to take home. These are my show hoops, and I am willing to let you take one of them home. This is your new friend and partner and no matter where you are you will always be safe inside your hoop. So use it often and learn to trust it.” She had wide eyes and said, “You mean I can have this one - your favorite hoop? I would use it every day. I’ll be safe inside of it no matter where I am?” You could see her wheels turning and she got quiet and went within to ponder this idea. I went back into the kitchen and a few minutes later I over heard her telling her dad all about her new hoop and how it was going to keep her safe. He got choked up knowing that she could use a tool such as this in her life. He saw her lying curled up in her new hoop and knew that his little girl now had a new friend, self-sustaining support, and positive inspiration. So the lesson in this is to always take the opportunity to share your inspiration with others. Never pass up the chance, it is too valuable. When a child looks up to you as a success, whether it be hoop dance or anything else, use that time to plant a seed of confidence within them. It is so important. As a performer, I have found the most satisfaction from the audience member who feels truly inspired by what they’ve just witnessed. My dance feels incredible to me, but the ultimate goal is to share the idea of endless possibility with those who could use a bit of fire lit within their heart. This, for me, completes the full circle of the purpose of performance, dance, and hula hooping. We shall continue to gyrate this amazing circle…HOOP ON!

Tearing to Shreds

shredderhoops — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 07:39:08 GMT

Two weeks ago I found an umbilical hernia in my stomach. What does that mean? Well, the abdominal wall that holds all my intestine in is torn right where the abdominal muscles come together directly over my belly button. How did it happen? Unfortunately, I have a weak area where the umbilical cord was cut. It is fairly common to have a weak area there, and when you add intense aerial and contortion training to that weakness, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Initially, I was devistated and terrified. I thought my performance career had come to a screeching hault. Once I calmed down I realized that I am still quite young and it only takes 4 to 6 weeks to recover after the surgery. So basically, once I decide to have the surgery then I will be taking a leave of absense for at least a month. Hmmm, when will I do that? Who knows. Until then, I have to take a break from aerial and contortion training. I am strictly hooping now and doing some slower-paced yoga - back to level 1. The best part is that when I feel the intestine bulge out then I get to push it back in. My jaw quivers at the thought, but I think I am getting more used to it. After lots of deep thought, I accept this challenge. I see this as an opportunity to slow down my strength training and focus more on the details of form and muscle control. This is also a clear reason to hold off my trip to Florida. The Espanas called me a few weeks ago and asked me if I was available to come out there at the end of April. I got excited for a second, but then I felt torn, literally. I really liking being home, having a safe place, and my dearest friends and co-performers close by. Vau de Vire and Circus Metropolus are providing me with lots of room to expand my performance visions. It has been very rewarding to work with them. I do plan to go back to Florida at some point and take advantage of such an outstanding opportunity. It is just about timing now. Until then, I am focusing on expaning Shredder Hoops. I am getting more involved in the health and wellness aspect of hula hooping. I will not let my passion to perform fall to the wayside, but this hernia is allowing me to focus on other things for now. So I shall be thankful. Hope all is well with my friends, and fellow interested readers. Having my community close by has been such an amazing and enjoyable priviledge. I appreciate each moment to the fullest. Be Well, Shredder

Feeling Settled - Ready to make Magic!

shredderhoops — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:29:21 GMT

I am beginning to be more comfortable with the idea of staying here in San Francisco for a while. I've only ever utilized SF as a place to come and live temporarily until life sweeps me in a different direction. Everytime I have a moment to look beyond the pavement and stop lights I am completely blown away at how beautiful this city is. Thursday I am moving into my own space, and I am more than excited. Part of me feels a bit torn because the circus tour I was on last year is beginning next week. I have to realize that I joined the circus and learned a lot, and it felt like a lifetime of testing my patience. I was ready to burst at the seems for most of the tour because I wanted to be doing more non-traditional acts. Eventually I subsided the anxiety and absorbed as much knowledge as I could from everyone I knew. I studied handbalancing, acrobatics, contortion, flexibility, posture, poise, asthetics, aerial ballet, costume knowledge, make-up knowledge, and so so so much more. Now that I am here in San Francisco, I have a limitless horizon of possibilities. I have been performing every chance I get and I am loving every minute of it. So, to get to the point of all this, I feel like staying back from the circus is a positive and beneficial opportunity for me in this moment. I have the opportunity to be settled in one place, feel grounded, and train with more focus and perseverance than ever before. I am now offering specialized classes to our community that will focus on developing each performer individually. I am available to review and expand existing acts and help to improve body form, movement, and character. I am also offering creative act development for those who don't have any act but have lots of great talent. I want to help people to reach their highest potential, whether it is performance oriented, or simply discovering the maximum potential of your body in every day walks of life. I'd like to call it a Creative Personal Coach. Please keep a look out for upcoming workshops and class series and let me know when you are ready to learn more about your maximum potential. I am also offering sports therapy and deep tissue massage as an option to all. Have table - will travel, CMT since 1997. So here I am ready to get to know my new home. Yeehaw San Francisco!

U-turn

shredderhoops — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:03:38 GMT

Okay my friends, I finally forced the facts out of the Espanas in Florida. After I floated in space for a couple of weeks they told me that they would love to have me after March. So that is good news for us California friends and family. I will be around in San Francisco living and dancing and working. Periodically, I plan on taking trips up to Arcata and other areas to teach . I am available for private lessons or small groups of specialized hoop dance classes. I am also available to give thorough and awesome deep tissue and sports therapy massages. I promise you will like it! For those of you who live here in SF, let's get together and dance or have tea or play, whatever. I'm still looking for a job, and will hopefully have one by the end of the week. If anyone has any leads give a hollar. You've all been such a wonderful support system for me in these rough transitions that I have been going through. Although, I am fully aware of how lucky and priveledged I am as a human here on earth, I hope that this all means that I can find a homey, centered feeling while I am here. Don't forget to come to my shows: Bohemian Carnival this Saturday, and the Edwardian Ball next Sunday. Much love, Shredder

A simple and effective answer for all.

shredderhoops — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 21:32:35 GMT

I get this great little newsletter three times a week and more often than not, it hits home and gives me inspiring words to fuel my life. Just thought I'd share again... I could be whatever I wanted to be if I trusted that music, that song, that vibration of God that was inside of me. Shirley MacLaine ...You can see that basically our lives are, to a large extent, spent in avoiding confrontation with ourselves. And then you can begin to make sense of the enormous amount of our culture's daily activities, which attempt to distract us from ourselves, from deep reflection, from deep thinking, from existential confrontation. There's a wonderful phrase by the philosopher Kierkegaard, "tranquilization by the trivial." And I think our culture has mastered this better than any culture in history, simply because we have the wealth and means to do so. Roy Walsh, psychiatry professor interviewed in The Search For Meaning by Phillip L. Berman

I found this today...

shredderhoops — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 22:14:59 GMT

I don't know Who - or what - put the question, I don't even know when it was put. I don't even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer Yes to Someone - or Something - and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life, in self-surrender, had a goal. Dag Hammarskjold

Fly or Swim?

shredderhoops — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:03:15 GMT

I just got the phone call I’ve been waiting for. Right now my life path has a big sign with lots of options on which turns to take. It's scary, it's exciting, and I feel overwhelmed. I just got asked to move back to Florida to pursue an act with a really famous circus family, the Espanas. They have been in the circus business for many generations, and have had the leading acts in many well-known circuses. They are willing to train me in whatever I want to learn, and they really want me to do a womens’ flying trapeze act, and a chiffon, and static trapeze act. Also he mentioned the hoops, and that he wants my act. I got the call this morning and for some reason I feel really emotional. Most of me wants to go for it no matter what. It is an opportunity that can't be passed up. There is a part of me feels like I'm home and it feels so comfortable. I get scared at the idea of leaving again and being so distant from the hoop dance world. The hoop brings me pure joy in every aspect of my life. At the same time, it might just become the vehicle to lead me to something else and I have to be open to that. Needless to say, anything that I practice and perfect helps my hooping in so many ways. So the question now is: How much patience do I have? Leaving for another year could lead to leaving for many years. Staying and missing this opportunity could lead to regret, or more positively, a different path. So what path do I take? I know deep inside that I want this. It is another tour far from home, but it is priceless training. It is an open door that only opens for certain people at certain times. It is a huge sacrifice - a risk. I have to be centered and grounded enough to leave my family, home, and friends for yet another year. I know I have what it takes to be a flying circus performer. It would be me living an absolutely amazing life up there in the air, swinging, and flying. It would be me sacrificing a deep love to go and feel deeper love on a whole other level. I am stunned and paralyzed in space and time. If I could just stop time now and let all my fears rest I would. Perhaps it’s a matter of meditation, centering, focus, and deep self-exploration. Each dancer (being) has a dream that they create and will hopefully lead them to happiness. I have dreams of learning more in the circus world. I also have dreams of falling in love again. My motherload dreams and goals are so strong right now and so clear. At this age, this moment, I know what is right. I know what I need to do. I can’t let the distraction of comfort pull me from my dreams. The fact that it hurts and that I am feeling lots of emotions is a good thing. It means that opportunities are coming my way and I have the power to decide whether I want to stay or go. Fly or swim. I trust that both paths will lead to happiness. They’ll just be different stories. If I could sit and try to figure out what was to happen in the final destination of each path I would just be lying to myself. It’s about the path, the experiences, the ups and downs, the lessons, the realizations, the manifestations, and the little accomplishments along the way. It’s about surprising myself with my own special talents, and opening up my body and mind to what I never imagined I could do. When I stand up I feel excitement. When I sit, I start to cry. Does anyone have any thoughts? or any spike-toed boots to kick me in the ass? I have yet to hear the details of the trip. For now, I will sit and cry and smile and jump around and feel the emotions run through me. I just talked to the daughter of the Espanas, and she told me that no dates were confirmed. So I’ve got some time to take a deep breath and feel present. On that note, anyone want to dance tomorrow night, Friday, Jan 5? We’re going to Shine for some bootie shakin!

My wings are flapping!

shredderhoops — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:28:34 GMT

The last three days have been quite a challenge for me. I realized that being back in California where I feel at home, I am faced with the similar pain that I had in my heart when I left for the circus. Just over a year ago I ended a six year relationship. Shortly after I walked away (peacefully) from the relationship, I joined the circus. I realize that I never got the chance to fully deal with letting go of such an important person in my life. I went from sadness for a couple of months and straight into an exotic, exciting, challenging, overwhelming, amazing, and new environment. So much stimulation in every way, I was distracted and didn't fully process the loss, or the change. So when I got back to California and talked to Nathaniel, he had told me straight that he has a new woman in his life. It hurt so bad to hear. Like a painful oozing of the heart, a weakness in all my joints - even though I knew it was good. He needs to move on. I need to move on. We made arrangements to see eachother tonight and I was nervous as hell. I was taking my thoughts and angst into some deep places and I found ugly and insecure feelings. But when the time came to go meet him I used my prior meditation to drive me forward with confidence and a clear mind. I met him on the corner and when we hugged it was nurturing, but there weren't sparks. I didn't get those "tingles'". So from that moment I knew that it wasn't going to be as difficult as I had prepared myself for. I recon there were moments where I wanted to cry and grab him and just hold him close. I realized, while talking to him and observing him, that I have moved beyond him. Not that I am any better than him, but my path has a completely different terrain. The moment I realized this, I felt so much more comfortable just being next to him and hearing how his life is going, without the obstacles of desire. We both agreed to wanting to stay in eachothers' family and maintaining a friendship. He dropped me at a club on the way out of town where my friend was playing some amazing Afro-Brazilian music, and I went and danced all the negative feelings out of me. I feel so much more free now. I was dwelling on the ideas that I was creating in my head about him. I miss the affection, the companionship. But it is clear to me that we are on two completely different pages and I can find a more fitting match. I am so thankful for yet another experience I feared, and turned out to be great. I am constantly growing, developing, creating, shining. Happy Holidays. Shredder

My feet have landed

shredderhoops — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 20:35:25 GMT

Wow, Back in San Francisco, CA. There's lots to see. Perfect waves welcome me home. I feel peace. I've stepped back into my comfort zone temporarily. I am speaking mostly English now. I am getting hugs daily from people I love and trust. I am living temporarily at my friend Lisa's house and she set up a perfect little room for me, up North of the Panhandle. We got a christmas tree with lights and fur and bows. I feel happy. Every once in a while, fear for the future overwhelms me. Sometimes I feel tension that I don't have to perform and I have to remind myself to relax. What will I do here for three months? Well I'm back at the circus center, taking more classes and developing a strong self-discipline. I'm back in an organized yoga class - thank goodness! I have two lives now. One here in SF, where home stays in one spot and I can roam freely. The other, where home and work move constantly and repetition can make a human go nuts. As for this moment, I feel appreciation, I feel like one of the luckiest humans on the planet. May the longtime sun shine upon you, All love surround you, And the pure light within guide you home. Thank you for checking in once in a while through my journeys up and down the East Coast. It is nice to be able to keep in touch with my friends, my support, my inspiration, my community, no matter where I am. I wish each of you a happy and productive day. Love Shredder

There's no place like home...

shredderhoops — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 06:08:38 GMT

Last night I was leaning against one of the rested big rigs, thinking about the many adventures and experiences I've had while being on tour. The warm humid air carressed my pores as I stared up at the six main pillars holding up the World's Largest BIg Top. The tent stood tall and proud, flashing it's bright red and yellow stripes. I realized that someday I'm going to look back on this adventure and wish I had been more present at times. Through the stress of the daily agenda, I tend to forget that I have a very unique opportunity to tour the entire East Coast, doing what I am passionate about, and getting to work with people from all over the world. The last two days we played in Biloxi, Mississippi, one of the coastal towns that frontlined Hurricane Katrina just over one year ago. When we arrived I heard stories of what the place looked like in the years passed, and many people were amazed at the damage we witnessed even a year later. I went for a run along the coast where I saw the skeletal remains of what used to be a popular strip, filled with fancy casinos, hotels, restaurants, and fabulous coastal homes. Most of the homes left no remains. I ran out to a dock that used to hold large boats and provide a tourist attraction where the jetty ran out past the breaking waves and the fishermen could test their luck. Now, it was mostly just the cement jetty broken into puzzle pieces and covered in layers and layers of sand. The support system of the dock was gone and all you could see were broken posts the size of small redwood trees keeled over. As I ran through the grass I could smell patches of decaying flesh, which was probably just some small mammals, but it added to the intensity and the sadness of what had taken place there. I trudged through the beautiful white sand and old shoes and household belongings stuck through the surface. As the heat of the day began to bake my tender white skin, I thought of the quality of the water and wondered why there were still signs posted that read "Be Closed". I wanted to jump in the ocean so badly, but I felt like there was a reason that nobody else had. Something didn't feel right. Later that day I heard from a local, that there were entire homes and gas station remains, and,basically the entire town was strewn across the bottom of the ocean floor. He said that there were so many chemicals running along the coast that no one dared jump into the polluted waters. I chose not to go in. Partly to protect myself, and partly in honor of those who are caught under the surface. We ended up selling out just about every show. Our circus brought laughter and excitement to the town of Boluxi. I felt like we did our job by providing an inspiring and colorful display of human and animal talent. The crowd was wild and got to scream and yell and cheer for the entire show. Most of the patrons seemed humble and didn't display as much stress as I have seen in past towns. I feel sad for the unfortunate disaster that those folks experienced, but I am thankful to have had the opportunity to get a feeling of what happened and be more aware of the magnitude of the event. As I brought myself back to present and stared back into the bright lights that towered over our lot I felt safe by the presence of my home that I stood so small in. Because here in the circus, wherever I am I know that my home is there with me. I know of the saying that home is where your heart is, but we all must admit that this saying is much easier said than done. I have practiced this idea for nine months now and even though I haven't mastered making my home only my heart, I truly feel that my home resides here at the circus. No matter what town we land in in the middle of the night, it doesn't matter anymore, as long as my house and family arrives safely- I am home.

Circus Life: Where am I?

shredderhoops — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 16:30:58 GMT

What seemed like a season of forever is finally coming to an end. We are finishing up our last six weeks of our nine month tour up and down the entire East Coast. There are lots of "Beware of the Snakes" signs posted around these parts, here in southern Alabama. So far, Alabama has been nice, with friendly people excited to see our circus in town. We've been filling our tent quite regularly now that the weather has become bearable and the circus is the best attraction in town. I am fully appreciating my time here. I would actually say that I am very happy here. Some of you know that this adventure has been a struggle for me. A significant shift took place once I returned to the tour after running away to Burning Man for a week. My family here was very jealous that I got a break and I had to smooth over some rough roads when I returned, but they were happy to see that I came back. I guess most of the performers here are so locked into this schedule that they never have asked for time off to attend other important events. Luckily, I requested the week off before I was hired, otherwise, I could have kissed Burning Man 2006, goodbye. Going to BM was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Not only was I renewed by a break in the repetition, but I got to leave this tight family of very high standards, and set out to do some freestylin' out in the desert- with new faces, new music, and all new freedom. I had the overwhelmingly stimulating and pleasant opportunity to see so many people that I care about and have missed deeply. The circus lifestyle is drastically different than the lifestyle of any "normal person", and it has the ability to become addictive. The people here who have been touring for years call the non-circus people "towners". There is really nothing else like circus life.Your home is your work and your work is your life. It just becomes normal to move every two or three days. Sometimes we pull all night drives and sometimes we get to hit the sack shortly after midnight. It is the place where your duty is to put on your performance face every single day, no matter how you feel inside. It is the place where you can disconnect from any personal issues one might feel and tap into why performing feels so good, every day. Sometimes its all I need to get out of a temporary slump or lack of energy. So many lessons and experiences have been learned. Lots of pulled muscles and layers of skin peeled off . I am amazed at how fast skin cells are reproduced from callaces. Currently I am experiencing some semi-severe tendonitis in my forearms from my addiction to hand balancing and acrobatics. Lots of roller-coastered emotions, miscommunications, and deep levels of loneliness. Lots and lots of tears. Lots of desires left unmet and disciplines formed. When a great dream is envisioned it takes a person of strength to make it come true. I keep telling myself, if it were easy, then I'd have to question whether I was really challenging myself or not. So I am taking the hard times with open arms and I am squeezing and carressing the happy times. I am learning the mentality of a professional circus performer and the strengths and weeknesses that develop from this demanding schedule. Some performers are always striving to be more creative and daring and some stick with the same act and strive to perfect it. I myself have so many wild ideas. I am striving to find grounding and put it all together to create a whole new level of hooping and performance art. The knowledge learned here is priceless. So many experienced performers get together and give ideas to one another, critiquing, and being brutally honest. We are a true tossed salad of old American tradition mixed with European grace, Latin lines, African drive and world travelled knowledge. One of the most valuable things I have learned is the importance of maintaining your personal instrument, the human body. The more extra weight one has, the harder one has to work to lift or balance. Patience is my best enemy and my worst lover. I know that I have to practice it every moment of every day. I have many positive ideas for the dancing and hooping community upon my return. I hope that you will all be as excited as I am to share and grow together. Keep your eyes out for some of my events to come. I will do my very best to keep you all updated on any organized dates. I will still be calling my business and passion Shredder Hoops, and I will be slowly transforming my visions to my new company called Wild Hoops. So look for updates. I will be back for Thanksgiving, for around 3 months depending on which tour I join next season. So lets get some toes a twitchin and some hoops a twirlin and some muscles burnin while I am back in the wonderful world of California. Just to put it out to the community: I am looking to stay in a loft space. If anyone knows of a temporary opening in SF, please let me know so I can be more prepared to land back in Cali. Any questions about the circus? Shoot. I'd love to start a discussion. I get internet 10% of the time so be patient. Be well, dance, smile, breathe, and be totally comfortable with who you are. Love Erin Shredder

Shred's around

shredderhoops — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 02:55:19 GMT

Hello there circus fans, Lots of news, lots of transitions, lots of changes, lots of bright visions, many tears, lots of laughter, tons of deep breaths, can't wait to see you all back in Cali at the end of the calendar year. Please promise me you're all living each day to your fullest. If you know anyone over here on the East Coast send them out my way. I'd love to see anyone I know, don't know, or know through people I know or don't know...Find more info on our whereabouts on Gotothecircus.com, or give me a call, I might know where I am. At some point I'll get my stories together and start sending out more blogs. Love love and more love, Shredder

One month down!

shredderhoops — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:42:31 GMT

Half of me feels like it has been years and half of me can't believe a months has already gone by. I am beginning to adjust better here in this new life. Part of the transitions have become easier because I am working a lot on myself and the way I see things. I have been reading this book for a long time now, and for some reason I was moving very slowly through it. I finally picked it up the other day and got sucked into it because it seems to be directly addressing my current life challenges. The name of the book is "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior". Through the character, I am learning lessons on how to handle challenges that come my way. In addition to improving my internal happiness, we just got a new troupe of African acrobats in this week. They have an amazing act with a little bit of fire and some contortion and balancing, etc. They mentioned that we should work together and develop an act together, so that made me really excited. At least, I will be able to improve my acrobatics skills and they also know how to push stretches like my teacher did at the circus center. Unfortunately, I came down with a nasty flu bug so for the last few days I have only had enough energy to try and complete my acts and nothing more. I even had to take a half-day off, which is not looked highly upon here. I figured I'd rather face the loss of money than fall 30 feet from the aerial ladder because I didn't have the strength to grip my body weight. My mom appreciated that decision. Today I am feeling 70% better. I still have the occasional dizzy spell and stomach cramping, but I think I can execute all my responsiblities for the day. We are currently in North Carolina. We will be here for another week, moving three times to different towns. Then we are headed up to Virginia. At this pace we should be in New York by June or July. Hopefully, I'll start getting some visitors. Hope you are all well. Not sure how many friends are actually getting my blogs, but I trust that you'll find them at the right time. Be Well, Shredder (415)971-5556

Shredder's Circus Adventures

shredderhoops — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 18:54:25 GMT

Well hello there, my fabulous tribal friends. I am happy to have this rare opportunity to be on the internet. I'm sure some of you are wondering what has been happening here on the East Coast and in the new Circus life that I am leading. I am going to try and keep this brief as I know I may lose some of you if I am too detailed. The first three weeks have been very challenging in every way. If you can try and think of every aspect of your life that you are accustomed to and now try and imagine it changing instantly. Let me give you an idea: Diet, activity, personal space and time, being grounded, friends, sleep...the list could go on. All of these areas in my life are completely different and so I am in the transitional stage where I need to check in with myself everyday and remind myself of why I am here and who I want to become. When I put all the logistical difficulties aside I am very happy that I have been given this opportunity to be around so many talented peformers. We have two or three shows every day, depending on the day. My act is in the beginning of the show for about 3 minutes, then again in the middle of the show for about 3 minutes, and then one more time in the finale for about 3 minutes. So I am using the off time when I am not performing to work on training. One thing that I am really excited about is that there are a lot of European gymnasts here. One of the girls was showing me her rythmic gymnastics skills with the hoop. Even though it is very different from my style I am really inspired by her beautiful moves. Let me tell you, I am not that flexible, but when I become more flexible, WOW! I am looking forward to working some of those moves into my dance. We also have a handbalancer from Russia who is going to help me with my handstands. Lots of the performers want me to teach them hoop dancing techniques so we are planning to train eachother. Who knows what will happen next. To give you all an idea of the insanity here at the Cole Brothers Circus I will try and describe the size of this production. We have 26 semis, and at least 20 personal truck/trailers within our caravan. The tent takes two hours to tear down and six hours to put up. We move three times a week, on average. Sometimes we only stay in a town for one night and right after our last show, which gets out at 10pm, we tear down the show and travel 3 more hours to our next site. So I am learning that sleep is hard to come by and when you can get it - take it. I may not get 8 consecutive hours, but I either need to learn how to survive on less sleep or take lots of power naps. The guys that are in charge of the up-and-down of the tent are all here on visas from Mexico, so I am speaking Spanish every day. The thing I miss most are my friends. Even though you are all still here on the planet I do miss the close contact that I have been so spoiled with in the last few years. Here, I don't have the close friends that I get to snuggle with and hold in my arms while we talk about our days. It is a new culture and I am struggling to adjust. I did find an extra pillow so I could snuggle with that:) So there are lots of details that I could tell you all, but I am off to my next journey for the day. If any of you have any specific questions just email me and I'd love to fill you all in. Be well, take care of eachother, and please keep me in your hearts as you are all in mine. Love Shredder

Gettin Ready To Roll, but don't forget the PARTY!

shredderhoops — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 16:41:05 GMT

Wow, All this excitement. It is difficult to grasp the amount of responsiblities that I need to take care of before I take off. March 11th is the day I fly out, from Oakland straight to Orlando. Once I arrive I will get settled in my microscopic bunk and closet and then I will dive straight into learning my act as an aerial ballet dancer/showgirl. We have 5 days to learn and master the act. Our first show is March 18th! Holy shit! So, with that excitement and anxiety, I am training everyday at the Circus Center here in SFand trying to get my ends tied up. The going away party is tomarrow, Saturday night, at my friend Simon's loft. We will meet around 7pm for a potluck and enjoy eachothers company and drinks. Then around 9:30 we will head over to Studio Z where I will perform with the Mermen, and we can all dance and be merry. The cover is $10 to get in. The address to the potluck is on a little side street off Mission, in between 5th and 6th. Find parking close by and go to the old remodled firehouse located on Jessie Dr. (the little side street). If you see construction, you are in the right place. It is the sixth floor. Call me when you get outside and I will come down and let you in. See you there, Shredder ***NEW PHONE #*** 415-971-5556