Team - Circumstances

Artists -

EXIT

Luuk Brantjes

°1996, The Netherlands

“Circus gives me the framework to keep on being curious, explorative and playful within my work.”

Luuk is an acrobat and author. His prime interest lies in the interaction between a body and an object/ apparatus. He performs in EXIT, his solo piece L O N E and tours his collaborative piece with Kolja Huneck, Symbiosis.

2001

Circus Poehaa (NL): first contact with circus

2015 - 2017

Codarts Rotterdam: Circus Arts (NL)

2017 - 2020

DOCH, School of Dance and Circus Stockholm (SE)

2021

premiere of his first solo piece L O N E

2021

creation of the short performance SMÄLTANDE, a site specific performance in the snow performed in the north of Sweden

Samuel Rhyner

°1995, Switzerland

"I always dreamt of being an inventor, I chose to become an artist.”

Trained as an acro dancer, Samuel is not bound to any discipline, though movement partnering and music are his biggest interests. He would describe himself as a multidisciplinary or even ‘transdisciplinary’ artist, in a quest for meaning within the absurdity of life.

2016 - 2020

Fontys Academy of Circus and Performance Art in Tilburg (NL)

2019

creation of O-zero with Les Payenkes Utopistes (partnering, cyr wheel, acrodance, piano and music composition)

2020

creation of Hug with Les Payenkes Utopistes (acrodance, partnering, music)

2021

creation of Entre deux Mondes (acrodance, trampoline) with Compagnie Hors Surface

2022

creation of Exit (acrodance, partnering) with Circumstances

Christopher McAuley

°1992, Northern Ireland

“Circus feels like the ultimate playtime. I combine my love for exploring and pushing my body's capabilities to challenge perceptions of what circus can be.”

Christopher is an aerialist and acrobat with an obsession for small dogs - one day, he hopes to sustain the lifestyle to adopt. He performs in EXIT and simultaneously transitioned into becoming a maker/creator. Christopher has created his first solo project - ITCH, in which he speaks about his second obsession: moisturiser.

2000

Circusful: Belfast Community Circus School: together with a program aimed at bridging the divide in Northern Ireland (UK)

2016

Escola Nacional do Brasil: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil funded by the Mike Moloney Award

2020

graduated at Codarts Rotterdam: University of the Arts (NL): with his graduation act being selected as one of the laureates of the BNG Bankprijs

2022

the EXIT premiere in Oerol, Terschelling (NL) being received very well whilst he was covered in sheep poop

2022 - 2024

touring with the amazing EXIT team for so long - a wild roller coaster that has brought him another weird and dysfunctional family that he loves dearly

William Robert Blenkin

°1998, United Kingdom

“To me, circus represents possibility. The merging of mediums, practices and styles facilitates the endless possibility of creating, performing and understanding - and I can do a backflip, which is cool.”

William is a circus artist and dancer (he supposes) and specializes in floor acrobatics and aerial straps. He’s a keen consumer of peppermint tea, rose wine and books, amongst other things. His favourite colour is Lilac and his favourite creative pastime is taking photographs of his friends.

2014 - 2016

Circomedia (UK): first contact with circus after years of being a gymnast

2016 - 2020

Codarts Rotterdam: Circus Arts (NL)

2020 - 2022

performed in Lepeltje Lepeltje by De Dansers

2022

creation/premiere of EXIT by Circumstances

2023

worked as a replacement in several shows including On-Point and 360

Harrison Claxton

°1997, United Kingdom

"I am a great pretender, sometimes so good at it that I convince myself that what I pretend is what is truly real."

Harrison is a performance artist with main disciplines as a dancer, actor and acrobat.

2021

performer in multiple Kylie Minogue music videos

2021

optreden op de BRIT Awards voor Sir Elton John en Olly Alexander

2021 - 2024

touring with Screws by Alexander Vantournhout / not standing

2023

co-assistant choreographer for the National Dance Company Wales and Korea National Contemporary Dance Company

2023

performer for the Eurovision Song Contest for the U.K. ‍

Benedikt Löffler

°2001, Germany

“The ability to capture an audience, share emotional moments and to live on stage is a blessing worth more than anything to me.“

Benedikt is a circus artist and is specialised in floor acrobatics and globe H2H. Besides performing and training as a circus artist he loves to capture the world around him through his camera.

2016 - 2019

CircArtive School (DE)

2019 - 2023

Codarts Rotterdam: University of the Arts (NL)

2021 - 2022

performer in Oscar by Scapino Ballet Rotterdam for Theater Carre

Since 2024

performer in Man met Hoed by Boost Producties and Jakop Ahlbom

Alejandro García Bustos

°1998, México

“Circus is that one place where I belong.”

Acrobat. Dancer(?) Immigrant! Alejandro likes flipping, twisting and flopping - but not as much as he likes condemning the imperialist regimes of the western world. He wants to create work that welcomes everyone: without regard to their social and/or cultural capital.

2012

CENART: Programa Internacional de Formación en Artes del Circo y de la Calle in México city (MX)

2018 - 2020

Circus School Carampa in Madrid (ES)

2018 - 2020

guest author/reader on Las piernas no son del cuerpo in Madrid (ES)

2020 - 2024

Codarts Rotterdam: University of the Arts (NL)

2020 - 2024

founder of the BonaventuraStraat cabaret in collaboration with Batist Vanbakel, Emma Cartron and Henri Kangas

Raff Pringuet

°1998, Belgium

"In love with playing, attracted to the possibilities and flirting with the limitations."

Raff rolls, throws and catches both his body and juggling-balls, preferably at the same time. Graduated as Acro-Juggler from Codarts in 2021, he is currently trying out a wide range of what circus has to offer.

2017 - 2021

Codarts Rotterdam: University of the Arts (NL): Acro-Juggler

2022 - 2026

creation and performance of Cécile with Sinking Sideways

2023 - 2025

creation and performance of Wie niet weg is, is gezien with Muziektheater Johnny Mus

2024 - 2025

performing Stick Stok, A Matter of Time & Ripple with Tea Time Company

Since 2024

founder of Close Call Company