Meet Chloe Cummins who researched aerial silks, hoop, floor work and ISL (Irish Sign Language).

One of Circus Factory’s aim is to provide a training and development space for artists; this is done by daily use of our training facility and through the Circus Factory Residency Programmes: Factory Bites and Factory Days. With residencies well underway and some complete, let’s meet the artists who were awarded a residency with Circus Factory Cork.

Hi Chloe, can you tell us about yourself generally?

Dublin based aerialist. Have been training for 7 years give or take a lockdown or two, teaching for the last 4. A proud cat mom of two. Dedicated prankster. 

Tell us about your work?

Mainly a hoop artist, however, I dabble in silks, rope, straps, and all things circus. My last performance was at Wild Roots Music festival as part of the Circus Cabaret Show. I have upcoming performances with Academy Dublin, Culture Night and Create at Taking Flight Studio Dublin. My work/movement tends to be influenced by emotions, experiences, and memories. I am lucky to have access to some amazing artists based here in Ireland, to which I am heavily inspired, such as Aisling Ni Cheallaigh, Jenny Tufts, Sasha Krohn.

Which residency were you awarded? Can you share with us what you intend on doing with the award?

Factory bites. For this residency I hope to research silks, hoop and the floor sprinkling in some dialogue using ISL (Irish Sign Language). My plan is to draw on my experience of growing up CODA (Child of Deaf Association) in Ireland with the aim to create a short circus piece which will be the stepping stone to create a larger piece of work in the future. 

Do you have any mentors for your Circus Factory residency? 

I plan on working with Emmen Jude Donnelly. I’ve worked with Emmen extensively in the past through level up residences in the IACC (Irish Aerial Creation Centre) and private tutoring. I love working with Emmen because he has a unique and exciting quality where he is able to create a spark in your mind that leads to many paths and possibilities. He’s also great craic!

Nov 2019, Photographer Andrew Browne

What is the goal of the residency? Is there a show you would like to develop / a professional goal you’re working towards?

Artistically my ambition is to create a work in progress for a future show that includes Circus and ISL. My hope would be that this work will raise awareness for the Irish Deaf Community and CODA’s here in Ireland, breaks down barriers, sparks conversations and encourage other artists to use ISL in their work. This residency will allow me the resources and dedicated time to play, think and research this idea.