In 2012, Karina was asked to train as an aerial circus artist for the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. She trained for three months at The National Centre of Circus Arts in London and fell in love with aerial hoop, trapeze and fabrics. Karina continued full time training on the Green Top Circus aerial performers course and with Circus Oz, Melbourne and has since worked in various productions as an aerialist including The Cerebral Palsy World Games Opening Ceremony, ‘Terry Riley in C’ with the Paraorchestra at Colston Hall, ‘Taking Flight’ Rogue Play Theatre Company and the UK tour of ‘Weighting’ with Extraordinary Bodies.
In 2021, Karina was awards the Jerwood Arts Live Work Fund to develop her aerial practise.
2023 saw Karina being awarded an Unlimited International Award to develop and perform in the circus production WHERE DO I SIT? with Tamba Africa Social Circus. This will be performed in Zimbabwe in 2023 and Shambala in 2024.
Earlier in 2023, Karina was commissioned by Articulture to create and perform in the outdoor theatre and circus production HOLES which toured Wales.
Follow Karina’s Aerial work on Facebook here
Where do I sit? – Unlimited International Award
This energetic circus show explores what it means to fight for a seat at the table.
Four performers from England and Zimbabwe – Karina Jones, Amy Nicholls, Tanya Ngundu and Dione Manjoro – collaborate on a comical aerial dance performance.
They highlight the lack of ‘seats’ allocated to women and disabled people.
The show uses audio description and gestural sign language to be accessible to international d/Deaf and visually impaired audiences. It incorporates the stories of communities in Harare, Zimbabwe.
An Unlimited International Partner Award 2023 commission supported by British Council
Holes by Karina Jones – Commissioned by Articulture and the Wales Outdoor Arts Consortium.
Holes is beautiful, fun, playful, participatory and provocative.Two women (aerial hoop artists) one blind, come across a hole in space. They tumble into it and guide us through their wondrous imaginative journey.
Holes has accessibility for visually impaired audiences at its heart with bilingual embedded audio description. It exposes the experience of visually impaired people from the start and embeds it in the heart of the performance for all.
Created by Karina Jones & Kate Lawrence
Performed by Karina Jones & Daisy Williams
Directed by Mish Weaver
Watch holes on itv backstage!
We loved being featured on this episode of Backstage with ITV. Follow the link and watch at 17.42 for our interview and a sneak peek at our performance of Holes!
https://www.itv.com/walesprogrammes/articles/backstage-at-the-eisteddfod-episode-1
Aerial Showreel 2023 – click below to play
Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend – Aerial Piece 2022
Many thanks to my team who have helped me create my latest aerial piece to Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend. I really enjoyed this one!
Chreography by Megan Price, Direction by Edward Lee Swift, Videography by Phil Bearman, Aerial coaching by Kat Clark.
KEP Photo Aerial Shoot 2021
Aerial Sicilienne 2020
This is my latest aerial performance thanks to a micro commission from Unlimited Arts to create a new aerial piece during lockdown. Pleas enjoy the audio described performance above!
For latest news – visit Karina’s official Facebook aerialist page
Watch Karina’s aerial work online
Taking Flight, Rogue Play Theatre Company (2017). Karina as The Bird (red catsuit!)
Weighting, Extraordinary Bodies
find out more in this video…
To enquire about Karina’s aerial work or book her to perform please do so via the Contact Page