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My name is Mikael Kristiansen. I am a contemporary circus artist specializing in the discipline of "handbalancing". During my childhood I was the polar opposite of acrobatic athlete, being an avid video gamer. My physical journey started as a 14 year old when I started Karate to do something about back pain.

I became fascinated by the honing of skills and the discipline, something which has stuck with me to this day. I later started breakdance, which I still practice.

 

"Circus entered my life at 23 after completing my bachelor in anthropology at the University of Oslo and. My skills from breaking allowed me to develop rather quickly and I completed my bachelor degree in Circus Arts at DOCH, Stockholm in 2012. I am currently doing the show "Wald" with the company "Right Way Down which I also co-funded. I also have been teaching handstands since 2010 and run Handstand Factory together with my colleague Emmet Louis. When Im not practising movement artforms, I am up too late folding complex origami and contemplating the human experience"

Photo by Julie Tørrisen

Recent artistic work:

"PSY", 7 doigts de la main, 2012-2013 

7 months tour. Performed in France, Austria and USA 

 

"Knitting Peace", Cirkus Cirkör, 2013-present 

Performed in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, France, Czech republic, Spain, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay 

 

"Elven og Havet", Det lille mekaniske loppesirkuset. 2016-2017

"Cube" and "Poetry in motion", battleRoyale, 2017

"Fritt Fram" 2019-present

"Wald", Right Way Down. 2021-present

For full CV, click here

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