About
Delirium Tribal formed in April of 2006 after Natalie Brown landed in Columbia, SC following Hurricane Katrina. They started performing monthly shows at the Art Bar in June of the same year, as well as galas, workshops and charity shows.
Fast forward a year, and Natalie received a call from fire performer Dave Peters. In June of 2007, several fire performers had gathered together to perform at Dream Night at Riverbanks Zoo, a special evening for children with disabilities and terminal illnesses. The burners had a two hour slot to fill, and unable to do it alone, they asked if Delirium might join them. It was there that Natalie met Steve Oswanski, in whom she immediately recognized a kindred spirit, talent, vision and drive. In the weeks following, Steve and Natalie held several front porch pow-wows, swapping ideas, experiences in running alternative performance organizations, and dreams of starting an alternative collaborative in Columbia.
In August of 2007, Delirium saw the departure of two dancers due to family and work commitments. Burned out and worried about their ability to handle the rigorous pace of developing new material for Art Bar with a diminished staff, Delirium met and voted to implement the circus collective. Ashley Bennett, a tribal fusion dancer who had been training with Delirium, was elevated into the company. Steve was called, and immediately signed on. Six weeks after the reformation, Columbia Alternacirque debuted at Art Bar in the September show.
Meanwhile, Ashley and Natalie stumbled upon trick hula hooper Susan Osbaldiston on Myspace. A single mom in Irmo who had taught herself the art from youtube videos, Susan was an impressive undiscovered talent. Natalie immediately extended the invitation, and Susan performed for the first time (ever) with Alternacirque in October of 2007.
In 2008, Alternacirque began working on integrating our acts into a cohesive troupe and show. With themes spanning vaudeville comedy, self-parody, water, dreams and nightmares, word spread, and the audience size grew. Alternacirque began breaking records for Art Bar, and ended the season with a lot of new ideas, experience and lessons learned.
Alternacirque was sad to bid farewell to founding fire performer Steve Oswanski, who moved to Toledo to take a new job and settle near family. The 2009 circus season is now underway, with bigger stagings and more performers. We have some big dreams and ideas for the future, and we’re starting to lay the groundwork for years to come.