Group hoop act. Performers in coveralls in acro pairs passing hoops in formation.

Toss Collective: This Side Up

October 2024 - March 2025

Toss Collective is for experienced circus artists who want to have a chance to choreograph and direct ensemble pieces. We rehearsed together for six months, 5.5 hours each week with coach Kraig Meade. Members pitch acts, recruit performers, set pieces on each other and we collaboratively devise a cohesive 50 minute show—that we sold out twice!

One day, Frank and fellow Toss members discover a mysterious glowing trunk. Inside it contains a consistent glowing light, but every opening reveals new, strange objects. Watch as Toss Collective is transported through space, time and the incredible mechanics of the human body in This Side Up.

Watch This Side Up from start to finish below! Choreographed, directed and performed by the Toss Collective 2024-2025.

Watch “Cog in the Machine” from This Side Up below! Choreographed and directed by me :)

Photo Gallery from This Side Up

Photography by Belle Images

Opening moment. Frank looks intrigued by a mysterious trunk.
Jon and Paige try and steal the trunk from Frank.
5 performers dancing in a line, making angular movements.
wider shot of group in line leaning to left.
two group lifts, one in foreground, one in background.
group overhead lift with Sadie facing audience.
Sadie in group shoulder stand lift in middle split.
Line of people holding tension from floor to Sadie leaning back in the counterbalance.
Kenzie opens chest and is lit by blue glow inside.
Kenzie looks into trunk glowing yellow.
A hula hoop rolls towards Kenzie, surprising her.
Kenzie kicks hoop up onto leg and has hands in the air.
Kenzie side profile facing right with hoop in hand.
Frank approaches Kenzie from behind as a hoop passes in front of them.
Frank flips Kenzie around with hoop in hand. Lo faces Clare holding hoop.
Frank still flipping Kenzie while Lo tosses hoop to Clare.
Kenzie on Frank's shoulder spinning hoop. Clare catches the thrown hoop.
Marchond and Evelyn face eachother with hoops. Clare in middle with hoop facing audience.
Clare hoops while Frank flips her.
Clare hoops while Frank flips her.
Clare hoops while Frank flips her.
Flyers hoop while bases cartwheel behind them.
Clare and Kenzie hoop while being flipped by Lo and Frank.
Three acro pairs approach eachother with hoops.
Pairs line up facing audience, Evelny in front passes first hoop.
Acro pairs pass hoops in pattern.
Acro pairs pass hoops in pattern.
Acro pairs pass hoops in pattern.
Kenzie on Frank's shouldners with two hoops.
Frank holding Kenzie and her booty look good.
Kenzie waves two hoops towards audience
Frank and Lo toss Evelyn through the hoops Kenzie is holding.
Evelyn almost on her feet after getting tossed through the hoops.
Performers lined up in coveralls passing hula hoops.
Performers lined up in coveralls holding hula hoops.
Performers lined up in coveralls passing hula hoops.
Three pairs of chicken fights with the flyers hoding hoops.
Kenzie with two hoops on Frank's shoulders.
Kenzie with two hoops on Frank's shoulders.
Kenzie with two hoops on Frank's shoulders.
Kenzie with two hoops on Frank's shoulders.
Evenly on Clare's shoulders, each hooping, Kenzie on Frank's shoulders. Frank has one hoop, Kenzie has two.
Sadie and Flo performing trapeze duet.
Sadie and Flo performing trapeze duet. Sadie in split.
Sadie and Flo performing trapeze duet. Double middle split upside down.
Kenzie basing Evelyn in walkover.
Sadie basing evelyn in split.
Sadie and Clare counterbalance while group backbends on knees.
Group dance in 80s workout clothes.
Kenzie holds Marchond's foot in counterbalance.
Kenzie holds Evelyn by hips as she cartwheels hands-free.
Lo and Kraig swing Kenzie overhead in swing-toss move. Kenzie's butt looks awesome.
Group lift holding Flo overhead. Kenzie has leg.
Group aerial piece with blue lighting. Bases ground the silks with a thigh wrap while flyers hang upside down in the air.
Kenzie does an acro dismount from the silks, assisted by Lo.
Group creeps and crawls between the silks as we change to a new formation.
Flyers have been pulled up on the silks and release to fall to their strong bases below.
Group aerial fabric act. Flyers are in belay being swung in a circle by bases at the bottom of the silks.
Final moment of show, group gathers around the mysterious trunk and opens it. The glowing pink light lights everyone's faces.
Final moment of show, group gathers around the mysterious trunk and opens it. The glowing orange light lights everyone's faces.
Final moment of show, group gathers around the mysterious trunk and opens it. The glowing green light lights everyone's faces.
Performers lined up for a final bow.
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Flyco: Curriodities