Tickets are available online at the address below. There’s even a Golden Ticket Pass that will save you some money on getting into all three productions. But buy them soon. This will sell out!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/profile/26994

In 2008, a handful of professional bellydancers and ruckus-makers converged on Columbia, SC for the East Coast, All Star, Undulating Abdomen show of Doom. Mostly we planned this event as a way to hang out with each other and write it off on our taxes.

Despite the irreverent moniker, Columbia took the variety show seriously, and a double capacity crowd hung from the rafters and spilled onto the window ledges of the Art Bar. “There I was” stories were passed throughout Columbia hipsterdom, and legends spread throughout the national bellydance scene of rabid, sold out crowds and raucous after parties in an occult mansion.

Five years later, with the advent of our most ambitious show to date, and the fact that we’ve been so overrun with bellydance, circus, sideshow and burlesque superstars asking to perform at this event, we’ve expanded the 2013 event to a festival of seven events in four days. Proceeds from the festival go towards local circus arts company Alternacirque’s production fund to pay for lighting, costuming, sets, equipment, insurance and circus arts training. Please support your hometown, built from scratch in the backyard circus kids.

Here’s what we’re doing.

******************************************
ALTERNACIRQUE PRESENTS 1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS
******************************************

The famous and beloved Arabian fairy tales have been floating around and tickling Natalie’s brain for the better part of two years. Alternacirque was very fortunate to have renowned underground circus director and performer Armitage Shanks on board to direct this sometimes beautiful, sometimes loony tunes full-length show of intrigue, fantastical creatures, and strong women characters. Tales popular with Western audiences, including the plight of Scheherezad, the Voyages of Sinbad, and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, are told along with a few more obscure ones, like The Talking Bird, and the Tale of Janshah. This show is 100% family friendly.

There will be four showings at the CMFA Black Box:
Wednesday, January 9th, 8:00 PM (premier)
Thursday, January 10th, 8:00 PM
Friday, January 11th, 7:00 PM (note the earlier time)
Saturday, January 12th: 2:00 PM (matinee for the kiddies)

Tickets online before December 1 are $15. (Early bird tickets are limited)
Tickets online after December 1 are $20.
Tickets at the door are $25.
VIP tickets, where we snack you, wine you, put you up in the best seats and give you a goodie bag are $50.

******************************************
THE FIFTH ANNUAL UNDULATING ABDOMEN BELLYDANCE ALL-STAR SHOWCASE OF DOOM!
******************************************

The original, accidental hit that started it all returns, featuring a whole mess of our favorite dancers and musicians that we could wrangle, including:

Delirium Tribal Bellydance Company (Columbia, SC)
Serpentine Bellydance Company (Columbia, SC)
Awalim Dance Company (Atlanta, GA)
Majda (Atlanta, GA)
Christy Smith (Atlanta, GA)
Teejei (Asheville, NC)
Sparrow (Asheville, NC)
Mahsati (Asheville, NC)
Brandy White and Robert Gowan of Discordia Arts (Greenville, SC)
Darbuka Dave (Huntsville, AL)
Jenny Cohen (Lincoln Park, NJ)
Megan Hartmann (Chicago, IL)
Sara Beaman and Nandana (Raleigh, NC)
Mavi (Washington, DC)
Belladonna (Washington, DC)
And a few more that we’re working on nailing down….
All of this hosted by the lovely Madame Onca O’Leary, who we’ve dearly missed the last few years.

There will be one showing at the CMFA Black Box:
Friday, January 11th, 9 PM

Tickets online before December 1 are $15. (Early bird tickets are limited)
Tickets online after December 1 are $20.
Tickets at the door are $25.
VIP tickets, where we snack you, wine you, put you up in the best seats and give you a goodie bag are $50.

*********************************************
THE BURLESQUE, SIDESHOW, AND CIRCUS ALL-STAR SHOWCASE OF DOOM!
*********************************************

Get these tickets as soon as you can. We’re holding two showings this year to ease some of the demand and crowding issues, and we still expect a long line of people left outside in the cold.

I couldn’t believe the lineup of last year’s show, and this year’s is even more insane. First off, all the way from Seattle, Washington, our carny preacher mentor Armitage Shanks is back to host and drag you straight down to the 9th circle of hell. Vaudeville comedy duo Sidetracked is traveling in again from Philadelphia, because I think this town would have rioted if I didn’t have them back. And I am pleased, finally, to be able to introduce to you Paolo Garbanzo, the only American who has ever won the International Jester of England competition.

On top of that, we’re being overrun by the following creatures of the underground burlesque, circus and sideshow movement:

A sneak peak of Chad Henderson and Terrance Henderson’s Henderson Brothers Burlesque (Columbia, SC)
And a visit from the other fringe show in town, The Dark Cabaret
Onca O’Leary (Richmond, VA)
Robert Gowan/Wasted Wine (Greenville, SC)
Sparrow (Asheville, NC)
Maria Bella (Baltimore, MD)
Megan Hartmann (Chicago, IL)
Judith Kali (New Orleans, LA)
Donniker Sideshow Brew (Greenville, SC/Fairfax, VA)
Evelyn Devere (Charleston, SC)
And a few more that we’re working on nailing down.

Due to the adult content of this show, you must be 18+ to view. No exceptions. Even with your very mature, supervised child. Sorry. We’re close to getting shut down and arrested as it is.

There will be two showings at the CMFA Black Box:
Saturday, January 12th, 7 PM
Saturday, January 12th, 9:30 PM

Tickets online before December 1 are $20. (Early bird tickets are limited).
Tickets online after December 1 are $25.
Tickets at the door are $30.
VIP tickets where we snack you, wine you, give you the best seats in the house and give you a goodie bag are $75.

*************************************************
Any questions, email alternacirque@gmail.com or call (803)712-3559.