![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/3449eee4-3a5f-4d69-82d4-7181693f2bc4/Ropes.jpg)
Photo credit: Annie Dugan (Firefly Theatre)
Born from a group’s simple desire to create together, nine circus artists (Alana Sawyer, Anna Lubchenko, Caitlin Mader, Charece Pearman, Kennedy Tkach, Kendra Lywood, Michelle Sullivan, Rayel Komant & Sandra Olarte), all with different artistic backgrounds, became tied together by a love of corde lisse (aerial rope). Working in a discipline that is usually performed solo, they came together seeking to create acts that highlighted collaboration, pieces that were more expressive, experimental, and human than the solo circus acts each of them was used to performing.
![SkirtsAfire-003.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/2558cd86-5894-49d3-8752-d47c1f9e37b7/SkirtsAfire-003.jpg)
![SkirtsAfire-006.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/0aea83fb-effb-4477-81ad-5acb3d2d19a6/SkirtsAfire-006.jpg)
![SkirtsAfire-009.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/c69977d5-2d5b-4a18-aa74-8ad7485aec97/SkirtsAfire-009.jpg)
![SkirtsAfire-010.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/9ddc7512-7c29-40e1-9893-34395500be5f/SkirtsAfire-010.jpg)
![SkirtsAfire-007.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/8ea2e6ba-4587-44a0-b476-0c0d70f43653/SkirtsAfire-007.jpg)
![SkirtsAfire-011.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6125bfff5db75508e55f2d24/9c8de789-6f65-4e66-ac4a-25f8de590833/SkirtsAfire-011.jpg)