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Caroline Calouche & Co. Celebrates 20 Years of Fearless Artistry and National Growth

Image credit Caroline Calouche & Co

Caroline Calouche & Co., Charlotte’s premier dance and circus arts company, proudly announces its 20th anniversary season, marking two decades of boundary-pushing performance, creative risk-taking, and community connection.

As the only organization of its kind in Charlotte and the U.S., CC&Co. fuses the elegance of dance with the daring of aerial arts, creating powerful live experiences that reach over 8,000 audience members annually and have trained hundreds of students through the company’s school, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center.

Founded in 2005 by Gastonia native Caroline Calouche, the company has grown from a regional vision into a nationally recognized force in the performing arts. Caroline Calouche & Co. blends aerial arts, acrobatics, and multiple dance forms to create emotionally resonant and visually stunning productions. As the professional company behind Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center, it also serves as a vital creative engine inspiring audiences of all ages.

This season, Caroline Calouche & Co. is expanding its national presence like never before. The beloved holiday production Clara’s Trip will tour to three U.S. cities, while Star Gazer, a family-friendly favorite, is now represented by New York-based booking agency Klinger Entertainment.

“We’re not just celebrating a milestone, we’re breaking new ground,” says Artistic & Executive Director Caroline Calouche. “We’re growing beyond Charlotte, and we’re proud to bring dance and circus arts to new audiences across the country.”

When Gastonia native Caroline Calouche founded her company in 2006, she envisioned a bold new form of expression. What began with a single contemporary dance work in a local theater has grown into Charlotte’s only professional dance and circus arts company, known for its fearless performances, inclusive education, and commitment to community.

Since relocating to Charlotte in 2009, Caroline Calouche & Co. has been redefining what’s possible on stage and in the studio. From vertical dance performances on the Mint Museum’s walls to the beloved cirque-and-dance holiday classic Clara’s Trip, the company has created landmark moments in Charlotte’s arts scene. Caroline’s leadership led to the founding of Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center in 2018, an inclusive school where people of all ages and experience levels can train, explore, and thrive.

Through LaunchPad, CC&Co.’s pre-professional program, emerging talent receives mentorship, technical training, and performance experience that prepares them for careers in the arts. And through its community engagement work, the company brings movement-based programming to underserved and low-income communities, ensuring access to the joy, healing, and empowerment of dance and circus.

At its heart, Caroline Calouche & Co. is about more than performance, it’s about connection. It’s about honoring artistry while expanding access. And it’s about rooting groundbreaking creativity in the people and stories of Charlotte.

The 2025–2026 season from Caroline Calouche & Co. promises an exhilarating lineup of performances. Kicking off with Clara’s Trip from December 12–14, 2025, at the Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts, this cirque-and-dance reimagining of The Nutcracker blends heart, humor, and high-flying feats for a family-friendly holiday delight. On February 13–14, 2026, Rouge takes the same stage at Booth Playhouse, delivering a daring, adults-only cabaret experience with aerial feats, poetic dance, and seductive storytelling that keeps audiences guessing. The season concludes with Carmina Burana + Bolero on March 14–15, 2026, at Halton Theater at CPCC, where breathtaking choreography, live music, and gravity-defying acrobatics bring these iconic musical works to life in a thrilling finale.

Tickets for the 20th Anniversary Season are on sale at www.carolinecalouche.org

Reserve your seats early and join one of Charlotte’s most dynamic, risk-taking arts organizations for a season of spectacle, heart, and community.

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