The Pieces--Aloft first new professional show in 6 years--premieres in September!
- aloftaerialdance
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
From September 16–18, Aloft Circus Arts will premiere its first new professional show in six years as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program. The new production, The Pieces, has been nearly 15 years in the making by Artistic Director Shayna Swanson, whose last major work, Brave Space (2019), toured internationally to critical acclaim.
At its core, The Pieces is a living metaphor for resilience and rebuilding. The performance centers on eight massive ladders, rearranged throughout the show into shifting towers and bridges. Acrobats climb, balance, and counterbalance on these precarious structures, evoking the fragility of systems we depend on—communities, relationships, even governments.“The Pieces asks: how do we rebuild while honoring both loss and resilience?” says Swanson. “It’s about the ways we adapt, but also the rituals of mourning and reflection that we often skip in our rush to survive.”
The free, all‑ages performances will be presented at three Chicago parks, followed by a benefit gala and indoor performance on September 19 at Aloft’s Logan Square home.
FREE PERFORMANCES (Night Out in the Parks)-
Tuesday, Sept 16, 6–7pm Brainerd Park, 1246 W. 92nd St.
Wednesday, Sept 17, 6–7pm — Archer Park, 4901 S. Kilbourn Ave.
Thursday, Sept 18, 6–7pm — Athletic Field Park, 3546 W. Addison St.
GALA BENEFIT & PERFORMANCE
Friday, Sept 19, 7:30–10pmAloft Circus Arts, 3324 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Tickets: $40 — includes performance, Q&A, refreshments, and music
