The Handstand Press

05/12/2024

Mini HSP: Meet Kyran Lee Walton⁠
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Words: Kyran ()⁠
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Kyran is a St. Louis Missouri native and started his circus career at Circus Harmony, where a few years later he became a member of their Elite troop, The St. Louis Arches. He has performed in various disciplines including Banquine, Hand to Hand, Contortion, Hand-Balancing, Juggling, Unicycle, or Flying trapeze. Kyran graduated from the National Circus School in Montreal, specialised in Hand to Hand and handbalancing. In the past 13+ years, Kyran has performed all over the world. His performances combine aspects of traditional and contemporary circus along with dance. ⁠
How do you balance discipline and enjoyment in your handstand practice?⁠
An equal balance of both discipline and enjoyment has always been complicated. Being able to do advanced skills comes with a sacrifice. In the past 3 years, I’ve grown to enjoy researching things that aren’t so highly skill based. How can I incorporate other things that I enjoy in my practice such as acrobatics, dance, or acting? All of these allow me to have more fun and bring more creativity in such a rigid discipline. ⁠
What is the motivation behind your practice?⁠
As of right now, a big motivating factor are questions that I want to answer for myself. I’m still figuring out how I can break the rules of handstands, while still maintaining the essence of what it is. I love doing new shapes and skills, but my long term goal is making an act that has everything I like, pushes boundaries, and answers all my personal questions.⁠
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What do you think makes a successful circus performance?⁠
Personally, I think that a successful act is the one that can make an audience member forget/escape their real world problems. The world we live in can be such a cruel and overstimulating space and we need a break from that more than anything. All circus acts tell a story in some way, some may be simple, some more complex, and I think they can each offer an escape for someone.⁠
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The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share with you small nuggets of stories, photography, or other art forms related to handstands.

04/12/2024

Mini HSP: Meet Kyran Lee Walton⁠
⁠
Words: Kyran ()⁠
⁠
Kyran is a St. Louis Missouri native and started his circus career at Circus Harmony, where a few years later he became a member of their Elite troop, The St. Louis Arches. He has performed in various disciplines, including Banquine, Hand to Hand, Contortion, Hand-Balancing, Juggling, Unicycle, or Flying trapeze. Kyran graduated from the National Circus School in Montreal, specialised in Hand to Hand and handbalancing. In the past 13+ years, Kyran has performed all over the world. His performances combine aspects of traditional and contemporary circus along with dance. ⁠

HSP: How do you balance discipline and enjoyment in your handstand practice?⁠

An equal balance of both discipline and enjoyment has always been complicated. Being able to do advanced skills comes with a sacrifice. In the past 3 years, I’ve grown to enjoy researching things that aren’t so highly skill based. How can I incorporate other things that I enjoy in my practice such as acrobatics, dance, or acting? All of these allow me to have more fun and bring more creativity in such a rigid discipline. ⁠

HSP:What is the motivation behind your practice?⁠

As of right now, a big motivating factor are questions that I want to answer for myself. I’m still figuring out how I can break the rules of handstands, while still maintaining the essence of what it is. I love doing new shapes and skills, but my long term goal is making an act that has everything I like, pushes boundaries, and answers all my personal questions.⁠
⁠
HSP:What do you think makes a successful circus performance?⁠

Personally, I think that a successful act is the one that can make an audience member forget/escape their real world problems. The world we live in can be such a cruel and overstimulating space and we need a break from that more than anything. All circus acts tell a story in some way, some may be simple, some more complex, and I think they can each offer an escape for someone.⁠
⁠
The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share with you small nuggets of stories, photography, or other art forms related to handstands.

12/10/2024

Mini-HSP: Meet Chia-Hung Chung

Words: Chia-Hung ()

Picture:

Chia-Hung Chung is a circus artist from Taiwan. Starting acrobatics training at the age of 10, he graduated from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts after 8 years of dedicated practice. In 2020, Chia-Hung traveled to Europe to pursue further studies at the circus school of Brussels (ESAC). After graduating in 2023, he is now working with the Not-Standing company.

HSP: How would you introduce yourself as a handstand practitioner?

C: I like to explore the notion of 'danger' in circus. I believe that danger is one of the most essential elements of this art form, and I use these inherent risks to showcase my skills and maintain my balance in perilous situations. I merge sculptural handstands with dynamic acrobatic flow, creating a dialogue between balance and movement.

HSP: What challenges have you faced when integrating handstands into your practice?⁠
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For me, handstands are a form of physical meditation. I am deeply fascinated by balance, but this fascination extends beyond balancing on my hands. In terms of training, handstands seem to have no end, but I am no longer focused on pushing my technical limits, I’m more concerned with the creative meaning behind them.⁠
I often find myself trapped in a certain "framework" during my creative process. I start to question the meaning behind each pose, whether every movement carries an interpretation that can be understood by the audience. I find this reflection intriguing because it embraces handstand artistry beyond a technical perspective.⁠
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HSP: What fuels your motivation at this point in your career?⁠
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This is a challenging question! I am still searching for it, perhaps because what I am currently doing doesn't evolve around handstand artistry, and I am gradually distancing myself from my own handstand training. However, I know this is only temporary.⁠
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The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share with you small nuggets of stories, photography, or other art forms related to Handstands.

03/10/2024

Mini HSP: Meet Luis Mantilla (.ml)

Credits: private collection

34 years old, originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador but now based in Mendoza, Argentina, Luis is a Handstand practitioner, coach, and performer.

HSP: What does it mean for you to do handstands?

LM: It is a beautiful discipline, and it has allowed me to explore, experiment, connect and appreciate so many things. I feel very lucky to have found this practice on my path, I am very passionate about it.

HSP: Do you feel that handstands shape your life in a meaningful way?

LM: Definitely! They allowed me to find a way to connect with the community, meet people, and travel. It also made me more aware of maintaining healthy habits like eating well, getting enough rest, and being truly present in the moment. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to be persistent in the practice. I feel so focused and calm when I train, and I think that is something I have been able to transfer to my daily life. Being present, having goals, developing patience, feeling strong and flexible are very positive things, which add value and well-being to life.

HSP: How would you like to evolve your practice in the future?

LM: As a practitioner, I would like to continue exploring technique and investigating movement concepts, rhythms, entries, exits, and coordination exercises during handstands. As a performer, I would like to be on stage more often, and give more continuity to our handstand work with Proyecto Recóndito (handstand duo with .iulis). As a coach, I dream of being able to teach at a circus school. I am very passionate about teaching, I love to guide technical and creative processes.

The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share with you small nuggets of stories, photography, or other art forms related to Handstands.⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine through the link in our bio.

03/10/2024

Issue 08- Staging Creation

Find this beautiful series of pictures in our new issue and don't be shy if your Coffee doesn't look as instagramable as this one while you enjoy reading...

Artist: Amie Patching ()
Photography: Michael Patterson ( )

Find our link in Bio for subscription and get in Touch with us!

Thank you for supporting the Handstand Press🧡

16/08/2024

It's the week-end! (At least for some of us🤫)

If you are having two days off or not...We are wishing happy handstanding!
.. or happy resting.

Photography:
Artist: .mei

07/07/2024

Introducing: Stelios ()

Stelios is the artist behind the page on Instagram, which he started back in 2020 to share two of his creative outlets, hand balance and digital art.

Most of his work has been motivated by various talented artists and performers that many people in the handstand community might know. Some of them are friends, some are coaches. Stelios also invents fictional characters with shapes inspired by hand balancers, giving them a twist of his-own.

Stay tuned as there will be more pieces coming...

Lets keep this community growing!

Stelios & The Handstand Press

03/07/2024

18/06/2024

Mini HSP: Meet Nicole

Words: Nicole Martres ()
Pictures: Nicole Martres by Pau Miralles Fernandez ()

Nicole Martres is a circus performer and teacher, specialised in handstands, contortion and hair hanging. Originally from Argentinia, she started her practice in Buenos Aires, and later moved to France to pursue a deeper specialization in handstands and contortion.

HSP: How did handstands become such an important part of your practice?

Nicole: It was a gradual process, from the initial discovery of handstands to practicing them as a hobby, until I realized that I wanted handstands to be a lifelong pursuit. Therefore, there was no better option for me than to make it my profession and fully dedicate myself to it.
Now, handstands are an integral part of my life. I train regularly, perform as an artist, and whenever time and travel permit, I share my knowledge by teaching others. Sharing this discipline inspires me a lot.

HSP: How have handstands shaped your life?
Nicole: if you want to see progress in handstands, you can't abandon them. They require commitment, perseverance and discipline. Sometimes you have to shape your life around it. But if you enjoy the practice, there's nothing better than having time to immerse yourself in it. Also, you need nothing more than your hands…

HSP: What’s the best handstand advice or tip you’ve been given?

Nicole: Summing up a single advice or tip in handstands sounds ironic. It's funny, when you start, you have to think about literally everything. However, once you teach your body the awareness it needs, it knows so much that it can dissociate all the knowledge incredibly well. The best tip in this process was "Don't overthink."
Handstands are also a mental discipline; small changes in your mind can change more than you think. The body is very intelligent. Overthinking sometimes doesn't let it function as it should, and leads to more confusion and frustration in your training.

The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share stories, photography, and other art forms related to Handstands.⁠
Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content and through the link in our bio 🔗

22/05/2024

Coming back from our first residency in Cnac, the teams of Yana, Dynamo and The Handstand Press are full of inspiration for an upcoming collaboration!
Something is in the making...We are happy about those days of exchanging and reflecting on potentials & limits of indendent press in contemporary circus!