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About the Company
10 Years of Inspiration in Flight
Pendulum Aerial Arts is a non-profit organization with a mission to strengthen the art community by collaborating with diverse artists from around the globe, to expose the public to a unique form of moving art through live performance, and to educate and inspire youth.
Since 2000, Pendulum has been an innovator in both performance and education in the Pacific Northwest mixing dance, theatre and storytelling with contemporary circus. Before founding Pendulum, artistic director Suzanne Kenney co- founded the first aerial dance company in Portland, Aero/Betty, in 1996.
Pendulum produces sophisticated and innovative live performances that appeal to all ages. The company collaborates with cross-disciplinary performers to create new works ranging from vaudeville style entertainment to contemporary pieces. Fresh and fascinating, Pendulum’s work is a window into strength, beauty, joy, and the desire to take risks.
Pendulum Dance Theatre’s educational outreach includes general circus classes, after-school programs, residencies, workshops, summer camps, an apprentice program, and professional level training for company members. The programs engage children in the world of circus arts, providing positive, challenging, and powerful experiences.
The company has toured nationally with their shows and appeared at notable venues including the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA; the Ritz Carlton in Naples, FL; the Scottsdale Center for the Arts in Scottsdale, AZ; the Hultz Center in Eugene, OR; Holter Contemporary Art Museum in Helena, MO, and many more. Click here for the complete Pendulum Performance History.
Pendulum uses the company’s distinctive blend of artistic ambiance to create one of a kind entertainment. Corporate clients include Nike, Fuji Film, The Yoshida Group, Asia Entertainment, Twenty Four Seven, Hotel Monaco, Doctor Marten Shoes, The Seattle Study Club, and Portland Monthly Magazine. Suzanne Kenney also represents artists from around the globe who are available for booking through “Pendulum’s Agency”
Pendulum performs for numerous non-profit organizations and schools. In 2009, the company joined forces with Our House, Planned Parenthood, and U.S. First; appeared in fundraisers for Lincoln High School, Jesuit High School, and the French American International School; and partnered with Lululemon and Sinju Restaurant to provide live performances for a series of arts fundraisers.
Pendulum Dance Theatre is a member of the Western Arts Alliance, Travel Portland, the International Society of Special Events, and the Willamette Valley Development Officers Association. Pendulum Dance Theatre is a former recipient of a Hoover Foundation Grant and of numerous Regional Arts and Culture Council grants. The company is generously supported by the French American International School of Portland, which grants the company rehearsal and training space.
