Out on a Limb is a collective of circus arts performers with a mission to provide spectacular entertainment with acrobatic performances, aerial arts, dance and more.
Andrew Zutell, founder of Out on a Limb, has worked as an acrobatic teacher and performer for more than 10 years. He originally began group in New Orleans, but rebooted it in Charleston last year with the help of Maddie Melotte, a dancer and multidisciplinary performing artist, and Lauren Rubio, a skilled aerialist and trapeze artist.
“For a long time, I taught acro-yoga classes in Charleston, and then, about a year and a half ago, Maddie, Lauren and I all decided that it was really performing on stage we were passionate about,” Zutell said. “So that’s when we started taking our hobby and our passion to a more professional level and advertising ourselves as performers.”
Out on a Limb has participated in many local events, including Charleston Pride, Charleston Wine + Food Festival and more. Catch these performers at the Emergence Festival, (a gathering inspired by Burning Man), at the Woodlands Nature Reserve April 20-23.
In addition to performing, the group also offers workshops, classes and private lessons.
According to Zutell, the best way to dip your toes in the acrobatic arts and the circus community is to attend one of the “community jam” events held twice a week downtown: Saturdays at Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company from 1-4 p.m. and Tuesdays at Pale Horse Crossfit from 7:30-10 p.m.
“It’s really welcoming to newcomers, definitely, even though it might seem intimidating,” Zutell said. “It’s not like people walk up and they just start doing complex, high-level skills or aerial arts. We have a regimen and a curriculum, where we start with the basics. So, for people who don’t have previous acro-aerial experience, we would start on the ground, with spotters, and have someone more experienced like myself facilitating their fundamental training.”
Zutell said circus arts is a “big tent that attracts people from many different movement backgrounds,” such as yoga, dance, pole fitness and Crossfit. Zutell said the art form is community-oriented just by the nature of having to work together and communicate.
“In addition to fun, health and wellness, fitness and flexibility, becoming an acrobat is something where you’re going to help really develop those communication and interpersonal skills,” Zutell said. “I think what we do is like a sport, but it’s a non-competitive sport. And something we really want to cultivate is inclusivity.”
Zutell said everybody is welcome to join in on the fun — from older people to young children, people from different fitness backgrounds and abilities.
Out on a Limb presents its first-ever self-produced show June 30 at LO-Fi Brewing, called “Cirque du So-Laser,” as a nod to the collaboration with the light artist Lazer Catcher who will create atmospheric lighting for the show. Other collaborators include dance troupe Lily’s Burlesque and Radiance Performing Arts, performing artists who specialize in fire manipulation.
Zutell said the LO-Fi Brewing show will be a full-fledged celebration of the local circus arts community.
“It’s a chance for us to celebrate our friends and peers in this community. I think a lot of people here kind of view it as an obscure hobby, but there really is a big community for it, and it’s grown a lot. A few years ago … there were just a handful of us … and now there are times when the jams can have 20 or 30 people out there. That’s cool to see.”
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No newspaper subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations from downtown to North Charleston to Johns Island to Summerville to Mount Pleasant.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.