In conversation with Strap artist LJ Marles

The Artiscape spoke with London based Circus strap artist LJ Marles who is currently performing in the Cirque du Soleil festival. La Clique is on at Underbelly Festival Cavendish Square until 3^rd July. Tickets can be found here https://www.underbellyfestival.com/

Lj Marles began his circus journey at the age of 17 with Bassline Circus as part of a youth project with local teens. From there he continued his newly found passion at the National Centre for Circus Arts, where he specialised in aerial straps and then developed his own unique apparatus, Tension Straps. Lj went on to tour the world performing with companies such as 7 Fingers, Cirque du Soleil special events, Palazzo and his unique act has won him awards at world renowned festivals Young Stage and Cirque du Demain.

What led you to circus performing?

Lj Marles: I started dancing with my friends for fun, learning dance routines from movies and music videos. We would take part in talent competitions and showcases every now and then but it was mostly for fun. One of us found a flyer from BASSLINE CIRCUS who were in town at the time and were looking for local teenagers to make a show, we thought it would be some sort of talent show in their tent which would be cool. They actually taught us some circus skills like rope, trapeze and handstands, I fell in love and was the only one to continue to do the show we made. They told me about the National Centre for Circus Arts (previously Circus Space) and told me I should continue my training there, I signed up for the youth program for one year as I was 17, and then applied to the Degree course, in which I studied for a further 3 years.

What is it you love about performing as a strap Artist?

Lj Marles: I love the versatility of the discipline, they can be used in so many different ways and adaptable to different styles and ways of moving. Originally when I began training I didn’t think I was capable of doing them because most of the people I saw doing them were big muscle gym guys, and I was quite small and lean at the time. I found that I had a good body strength to weight ratio, and Straps is basically all upper body conditioning so I became a lot stronger while training. When i’m on stage performing the feeling of flying and spinning is always a joy and thrilling experience.

What inspires your performances?

Lj Marles: It often starts with music for me, I will listen to a song a choreograph a routine in my head, if it fits I will then think to layer a costume or character to it. While I enjoy playing a character for some acts I always try and be myself with most of my routines, but presenting a different part of myself depending of the music. Recently I have started combine drag with my performances, also playing around with gender norms and queer expression, it’s fun and fulfilling to be able to express this side myself on stage. 

I understand you have created something new and unique Underbelly Festival:

Lj Marles: While I was studying and training at the National Centre for Circus Arts I developed a new way of using Aerial Straps by attaching them to a floor point, which allows me to use them in a unique way. It’s similar to pole dancing the way I can use it, but it has its own movement vocabulary and capabilities that you can’t do with other circus disciplines. I have been performing this way of using straps for 11years now and as far as I am aware I am the only person to be doing so, I call them Tension Straps.

Can you tell what an audience can expect to see in this performance?

Lj Marles: I wouldn’t want to give too much away, but I will say that I am doing two acts which are very different from each other, both are enjoyable and fun. The whole show is incredible, we have a wide variety of performers like Burlesque, Aerial, Comedy, Singing and Acrobatics and there will be something that everyone will enjoy and everyone will have different favourite act.

What are you looking forward to in performing in the festival?

Lj Marles: I always enjoy the buzz around the site, people enjoying the food and drink stands, and sometimes spontaneously buying a ticket to the show. The cast is great and we get on well back stage which always makes the experiences a lot more enjoyable. I also enjoy the audiences response and feedback after the show, people often say that they didn’t know what to expect or they have never seen anything like this show and knowing that we have introduced them to a knew style of show is always a good feeling.