All material copyright Christopher Oakley 2009 unless stated otherwise.

Updated and maintained by Christopher Oakley <info@contortionchris.com>

Christopher Oakley...

 

is a native born Californian who grew up in upstate New 

York when his parents moved there in 1990.  Chris 

unknowingly started his journey into the circus when he 

was 10 years old and his parents gave him a book on 

yoga; he fell in love with the beauty of the human form 

and the elegance of yoga postures.

 

After a few years of exploring yoga, he began studying 

Tai Chi Chuan with Sifu Lai Mui Ma, giving him more 

awareness of his body and increasing his appreciation for 

controlled movement. Through school he developed an appreciation for singing and playing music, and today he brings a specially developed sense of musicality to all of his performances.

 

 

                                                             

Today Chris continues to pursue a high level of excellence and perfection in both his training and his performances. His love of the circus continues to drive his art form to even higher levels of expertise, while maintaining the creative openness and joy in movement that are his trademarks.  He brings a wonderful light hearted energy to any event, and will be sure to surprise and amaze you in any venue! 

                                                            

In his senior year of high school he was introduced to the world of circus and the artists he saw inspired him to push his own physical and mental limitations. He immediately started contortion training and paired this with developing other circus skills.  After training on his own for four years through college, he moved to the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, VT to train with Elsie Smith and Serenity Forchion-Smith <www.necenterforcircusarts.org>. After graduating from NECCA’s Professional Track program he has auditioned for professional shows, performed around the United States and opened his own circus studio in Easthampton, MA where he continues to perform and teach.