By Elijah Qualls
AFRO Intern
The UniverSoul Circus has been known for 31 years for fast-paced, breathtaking and diverse performances. During their time at the National Harbor – which lasts until Aug. 10 – the AFRO had an opportunity to experience the excitement first hand before the event moves to Baltimore on Aug. 14.
The two-and-a-half-hour-long performance offers nonstop entertainment for all ages. The audience was left on the edge of their seats with Black acrobats flipping between swings over 10 feet in the air, roller skaters, gymnasts and stilt dancers. Some attendees were also offered the chance to join the performers on stage for dance competitions and other interactive activities.
Erica Wilson attended the event with her niece this year in the D.C. area.
“Honestly, I had more fun than her,” said Wilson. “It was interactive, the performers were out of control, the colors were magnificent.”
“it was just wonderful,” she said.
The UniverSoul Circus has historically provided expression for the Black communities. Co-ringmaster Zeke told the AFRO that they have performed for Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Denzel Washington and many more iconic Black figures.
Zeke welcomed guest Co-Ringmaster Sherrell Duncan, of the “Good Morning Show” on WPGC 95.5, to a show in July. Both agreed that the UniverSoul Circus has made an indelible impact on families for many generations. Over the years, the UniveSoul Circus has cultivated a relationship with the Black community through incredible feats and cultural expression.
“We’ve created all types of music and dances,” Sherrell Duncan said of creatives in the Black community, in an interview with the AFRO. “We are creative geniuses. To display something like this to our children, grandparents and all generations is very important.”
Duncan said it’s important “to keep this type of joy and this type of creativity going in the Black community, because it brings happiness–especially with the climate of the world right now.”
Not only does the UniverSoul Circus provide an escape from the outside world, but Zeke explained how their work has the potential to inspire young children of color to chase their dreams and do what makes them happy.
“All this started with a dream of Mr. Cedric Walker, and he worked on it and worked on it, and voila, here it is,” he said. “No matter what your dream is, you can accomplish it with hard work and dedication.”
“We are an example of that, and we show people that people of color can do all these different things,” Zeke continued. “For the little girls and the little boys to see an image of them in that ring doing these fantastic feats, it gives them a boost that says, ‘Hey, I could do that also. That’s someone who looks like me.’”