Acrobatic feats that appear effortless can take years to master. Australian contemporary circus company Gravity & Other Myths puts that hidden labor at the center of “Ten Thousand Hours,” coming to UGA Presents on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall.
In “Ten Thousand Hours,” eight world-class acrobats transform the stage into a laboratory for physical skill, inviting audiences to look beyond the spectacle of acrobatics and into the dedication required to achieve it. Step, jump, balance, flip, fly: Each seemingly facile movement represents years of training and an extraordinary degree of physical awareness.
The performance explores how physical skills are learned, refined and ultimately transformed into something mesmerizing. Rather than simply presenting acrobatics as a series of breathtaking tricks, “Ten Thousand Hours” reveals the precision, nuance and human effort behind the finished product.
This production takes its title from the familiar idea that mastery requires thousands of hours of dedicated practice. Onstage, the performers reveal the process as much as the result, highlighting the nuances of high-level acrobatics and the ways physical skills can shape — and transform — people’s relationships with their own bodies.
The performance combines acrobatic virtuosity with movement, visual storytelling and contemporary dance. A driving, dynamic musical score provides an energetic framework for the performers, turning their physical language into a rhythmic and theatrical experience.
Gravity & Other Myths was founded in Adelaide in 2009. The company’s work has been presented around the world, including productions such as “Backbone” and “Out of Chaos.” In 2019, they appeared in Hodgson Concert Hall with “A Simple Space.” “Ten Thousand Hours” is directed by Lachlan Binns, with associate direction by Darcy Grant.
This performance is supported by Robert E. Paul, Jr., with additional support from The Christine and Thomas Pavlak Performing Arts Center Endowment.
Three ways to get tickets
- Purchase tickets online at pac.uga.edu.
- Call the Performing Arts Center box office at 706-542-4400, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Five-minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
UGA Presents single tickets start at just $30 with promo code PAC30, and UGA student tickets are $15. Audience members can create their own series of three or more performances for 10% off.
Information about accessibility and venue amenities is available on the PAC website. Parking is free.
To learn more about all UGA Performing Arts Center events, visit pac.uga.edu.