Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Jo Chartier.
Hi Kelly Jo , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I, Kelly Jo began my journey with the study of classical ballet starting at age 5. Though I excelled as a dancer, I knew the life of a ballerina was not for me. As life took me across the globe, I became a professional scuba diver and obtained my masters degree in Marine Science. During that time, I found a niche that not only put me back into the world of dance, but also filled my soul – hula hooping. Finally, I came to a cross roads where I needed to decide to continue on to my PhD, or to audition for a professional circus program. Well, the circus took me and I became a graduate of the New England Center for Circus Arts, emerging as a master of the German & Cyr Wheels along with the Aerial Fabrics & Lyra. After finishing my program, I worked on several shows and then grounded myself back to baltimore, founding In the Dark Circus Arts in 2011. Our circus school has been housed in a lovely old church on Washington Blvd for the last 14 years, where we currently coach over 200 students and our professional performance company produces full length shows and entertainment.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing that is easy is worth doing, right? There is definitely a learning curve as an artist taking on the role of an entrepreneur/business owner. Not only do you need to be the master of your craft (all things circus), you also have to be the accountant, marketing expert, costume designer, administrative expert, human resources, and the list goes on, along with finding balance in one’s personal life. As an artist it is also a challenge to find ways remember that you are more than just your work. It is an easy trap to fall into where you devote and dedicate so much of your energy and life to your art, and or your passion, that it completely absorbs you. Especially once I started a family – I am now a mother of a 4 and 6 year old and have to be more than just ‘Kelly Jo – Cirque Extraordinaire’…. that shift has been difficult to navigate. The same with having to take on more of an administrative role to the school than coaching students and performing. It is hard not being in the school, active and engaging with the students and the wonderful community that the school has built. But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t change a thing and am very grateful for the success of my performance career, the school and the community it has built.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I call myself a ‘Cirque Extraordinaire’ as I do all the things circus (both coach and perform)
– Aerialist
– Cyr & German Wheel
– Spinning Cube
– Hula Hoopin
– Classical Dance
I love producing shows – creating an experience that captivates people of all ages. I am often found blending my love french culture into our productions with themes around Marie Antoinette, Josephine Baker and CanCan dancing. I bring humor and light into all of my work. I love creating textures with musicality, costuming, artistry, etc.
I am even a mermaid! I loved doing Marine Biology – but circus and performing is for sure the life for me. To keep my mermaid soul happy I also have a company called Myth of Mermaid, where I do live mermaiding for children’s parties and events to help promote education/conservation of our precious marine world.
I am probably most proud of myself for taking a chance – for taking a chance on myself, to defy the traditional norms of how we define a career, how we define success and how we define happiness. I think through devoting my life to the circus and performance arts I have found a key to a happy, successful and fulfilling purpose. This chance I took enabled me to start In the Dark Circus Arts, which is so much more than just a circus school. It cultivated a beautiful and ever growing community of people who are kind, generous, ambitious and supportive.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Take a chance. Bet on yourself. Be brave and go forward! I have learned that if you can’t bet on yourself – don’t expect anyone else to either. You don’t win every bet – but you learn something from all them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kellyjochartier.com, www.inthedarkcircusarts.com, and www.mythofmermaid.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthedarkcircusarts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inthedarkcircusarts
