A Halloween circus features Bozeman’s youth talent

Juggling, a skill often demonstrated by street performers and clowns, is a difficult enough feat on its own — but on Oct. 19, in the performance hall of Petra Academy, it was taken to the next level. The audience gasped as a performer, balanced on a plank on top of a rolling cylinder while perched five feet off the ground, juggled knives. A collective sigh of relief swept the audience when he safely touched down. This was not the first time, or last, the audience felt the dramatic tension on stage at “SPOOKTACULAR,” a Halloween youth circus production. 

406Cirque, a local circus performing arts organization hosted “SPOOKTACULAR,” at Petra Academy. The Halloween-themed performance is a part of 406Cirque founder Paúl Gomex’s goal to bring performance arts to Bozeman. 

The show’s storyline followed a young girl through her dream on the night of Halloween. Shenanigans included dancing around with skeletons, hiding from the mama witch and exploring her dream land. All this drama was interspersed with circus acts ranging from juggling knives while balancing on a rolling board, to trapeze and aerial silk performances. 

“I had nothing like this growing up. The fact that kids can come take circus classes – that blows my mind,” said Heidi Krutchkoff, who played Mama Witch in the performance. On top of the adult performers, “SPOOKTACULAR” featured many performers from 406Cirque’s youth program. “It was an honor to be involved — and these kids — crazy talent in this town,” she said. 

406Cirque, founded in 2018, is a circus training and performing arts organization, according to its website. Gomex, the founder, is a Venezuelan circus artist who spent his early years as a performer in Belgium and around Europe. He worked with an organization called Clowns Without Borders (CWB) that brings comedic acts into hospitals and refugee camps.

“Laughter is medicine and studies show it helps people heal,” Gomex said when reflecting on his time with CWB.  

Now that he’s in Bozeman, Gomex has switched his attention to 406Cirque, and teaching performance arts to Bozeman residents. “Through performance arts we teach [people] perseverance and discipline,” Gomex said. While he was performing in Europe, Gomex saw the positive impact he had on people, and wanted to bring that impact to Montana, according to him. 

Gomex’s passion for circus arts is not lost on other people, either. “He talks about the art of laughter and how it’s the universal language,” Krutchkoff said. 

406Cirque’s impact is also felt by the people of Bozeman. Audience member and Bozeman resident Melanie Cutietta has a granddaughter in the organization. “I’m so happy that Bozeman has something like this that’s a little unique, but obviously lots of young kids love to learn it,” she said. 

“You need discipline to do anything you love,” Gomex said. He explained that, through his organization, he wants people to feel comfortable being themselves and following their passions. According to him, 406Cirque was established as a place where people can do this without feeling competitive, or judged.

While “SPOOKTACULAR” catered to a younger group of performers, 406Cirque offers adult courses as well as youth programs for learning performing arts. If you are interested in learning more about 406Cirque, visit https://www.406cirque.com/.