Cast

Natalie Brown
Director, Delirium Tribal and Alternacirque

Natalie Brown grew up studying classical music and ballet as she traveled the world with her military family. She met her spiritual match, however, when she stumbled upon a Tribal Bellydance Style class in New Orleans, LA in 2004. Natalie soon became a N.o.madic Tribal student company member. After fleeing hurricane Katrina, Natalie found herself starting over in Columbia, SC. With no tribal troupes or classes established in the state of South Carolina, she founded Delirium Tribal Bellydance Company in April of 2006 and Alternacirque in August of 2007. She is a highly skilled and respected instructor and performer with a reputation for excellence and pushing the boundaries of theatrical bellydance.

Kendal Turner

When Kendal Turner was little she wanted to grow up to be either a unicorn or an actress. In her adult life that has translated into a slam poet and cirque performer who daylights as a real estate agent. She is satisfied with the compromise. You can catch her every Tuesday at VerseWorks Poetry Series and every 4th Friday with Alternacirque, both featuring at Art Bar. A life without art is a lonely existence. Kendal is attempting to make hers as lively as possible. We’ve believe she’s off to a good start.

Gina Wolfe
Director, Luna Trix

Someone, somewhere, once said it couldn’t be done and that’s where it all started. Years after a devastating, life-changing injury, Gina found a lonely hoop in the grass at a spring festival. She found its owner but not before the hoop had a chance to share a bit of its magic. Hoop-wrangling, as she affectionately calls it, quickly became an addiction and physical therapy at the same time. Gina joined Alternacirque in late 2009, rocking fluid and mesmerizing on-and-off body moves, tricks, spins, and isolations combined with mind-numbing speed. She also heads up the community based Columbia Hoop Troops and Luna Trix, Columbia’s premiere hoop performance group. We’ve learned never to tell Gina “It can’t be done;” that’s when you get into trouble.

Chris Carney

Chris’s fascination with fire began three years ago when he saw a freind spinning at a party. Also an avid scuba diver with a passion for aquariums, when his head is not beneath the water he lights up a dizzying array of fire toys to spin in various formations around his body. Chris joined Alternacirque in 2010, and is the head of fire production for the company.

Aaron White
Founder, Tribe SK

Young Master Aaron is a member of Tribe SK freestyle dance troupe, a musician and a writer. Aaron exploded onto the Columbia, SC scene in 2010, and was picked up by Alternacirque after half the town called Natalie to suggest she check out “the breakdance kids.” More than just a b-boy, Aaron is a versatile performer and acrobat, and after joining the circus early in the 2010 season, he’s become an indispensable member of the corps.

Jessie Padgett

Jessie is a chicken farmer in Leesville by day, circus performer in Columbia by night. She had ten years
of Cabaret bellydance experience under her belt before she took on Tribal and became a founding
member of Delirium Tribal Bellydance Company. She still explores her passion for Cabaret bellydance
with Columbia-area company Saidi Belles. Jessie also crosstrains with yoga, aerobics and weight training,
and enjoys reading and traveling.

Maria Bargas Palacio

Maria is a mix of Spanish, Mexican and American heritage. Born in Spain and trained in Flamenco,
Salsa, Merengue, Folkloric and Cabaret bellydancing, and already a member of local cabaret fusion
troupe Saidi Belles, Maria became a permanent company member of Delirium Tribal in February of
2007. She’s quickly become indispensable as a dancer, costumer and choreographer for
Alternacirque. Maria is also the director of Serpentine Dance Company.

Amanda Difeterici

Amanda DiFeterici never planned to run away and join the circus. But while looking for a creative outlet outside of her career as a librarian, she stumbled into her first bellydance class and found a new passion and obsession. She took her first class from Natalie Brown in March of 2008 and began performing with Delirium Tribal and Alternacirque in 2009. Formerly a band director in public schools, she brings years of musical training to the stage, in addition to dance and theater experiences as a young adult. Amanda enjoys hard work, the mental challenge of learning new things, and the camaraderie of performing and creating something new with a group.

Tony Warden

Tony is very excited and grateful to be joining the graceful and talented members of Alternacirque. First brought on board in the 2011 production of Dreams, Tony is fortunate enough to have been involved previously in the South Carolina Shakespeare Company’s productions of Twelfth Night, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.