BATH – Morten Hansen’s “Falling up Words,” a blend of juggling, modern dance, comedy and drama, will be featured 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at The Chocolate Church Arts Center.
A show for all ages, “Falling Up Words” is comprised of several short pieces and set to an original soundtrack. Glowing balls make wondrous patterns in the dark. Spinning batons come to life in Hansen’s hands to describe images in the air ranging from birds to propellers to snakes. Chinese tops are spun on a string in a variety of patterns.
Morten Hansen grew up in Bath, where at an early age he fell in love with the work of Tony Montanaro and his Celebration Mime Ensemble. That inspired him to learn to juggle.
Hansen was lucky enough to meet the great German juggler August Lauppe who informally coached his juggling technique for two years.
Hansen earned a B.A. in fine arts, with a concentration in juggling, from Simon’s Rock College in Great Barrington, Mass. While there, he studied acting, directing, dance, choreography, performance art, technical theater and modernist literature.
After college, he became a founding member of the award-winning juggling trio “blink.” Hansen performed in that show full-time for five years, touring nationally and internationally.
Hansen has won four gold medals from the International Jugglers Association and twice set the world record for the most objects juggled between two people (most recently, 15 balls with Ben Jennings of London in July 2003).
Hansen also has served as technical director for the Oddfellow Theater in Buckfield for the last six years. During that time, he has also toured with Avner the Eccentric and New Wave Vaudeville as a stage manager.
He makes his home on a small, off-grid homestead in Troy in Waldo County with his wife, Michele, and their 3-year-old son, Josiah.
For more information about the art center’s upcoming events, visit the chocolatechurcharts.org.
Tickets are $12 for members of the arts center, $15 in advance for the general public or $16 at the door. They can be purchased by calling the art center at 442-8455.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.