Laura Lippert
5(ish) Questions for is a chance to discover and learn about St. Louis Creatives, Community Champions, and, well, just interesting people in and around our city. It's a deep dive into what they love and where their passion lies. It's an opportunity for all of us to see our region from a different perspective. This written interview is a peek into their lives and their outlook on St. Louis.
Meet Laura Lippert, a St. Louis-based circus performer who has spent nearly two decades traveling the world, specializing in aerial acts, physical comedy, and the art of hair hanging. As she shifts her focus toward clowning and character work, she remains deeply connected to her hometown, teaching and performing locally.
Photo credit: Casey Pinckard
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a root tootin’ lady from the Midwest, a St. Louis original. I’ve been a professional circus performer for almost 20 years traveling all over the world, mainly in Europe and Canada. Locally, I’ve performed a few seasons with Circus Flora, I teach at Circus Harmony, and sometimes perform my solo show that’s ever changing and ever growing at City Museum through Circus Harmony.
Whether I’m in St Louis being creative, performing, teaching kids, hanging out, or somewhere else in the world doing those things, St. Louis will always be my home.
What is unique about what you do?
I do a comedic, acrobatic dance act that includes swinging a myriad of items from my braids. For example: I’ve swung pumpkins on The Tonight Show, chairs on the Late Late show, crates of records at Vintage Vinyl and bags of grass seed and paint cans at my uncle’s hardware store, Schnarr’s. I’ve even spun children. Whatcha got? I’ll spin it. I’m a legit Spinster. In all definitions of the word.
What are some of your goals for the next year, or the next 5 years?
The last decade of my life I’ve been slowly migrating to more physical comedy and character work A.K.A, a clown. (Not all clowns look like Bozo, folx. Though, the ones that do are great.) Not only do I feel more attached to comedy than being “beautiful” in the air, there’s longevity in it as I approach my 40s. I would also like to start producing my own variety shows in St. Louis like the ones I did in Europe.
Photo credit: Caroline Thibault
Anything else you would like to share?
Circus performers would like for everyone to stop comparing the government to a circus. We are humans who work with people from every corner of the world, with many different beliefs and traditions, literally holding each others’ lives in our hands, working together.
If only the government really WAS run like a circus…
Lippert on The Late Late Show with James Corden, "Stage 56 Bar Tricks", 2019.
When asked to do the 5(ish) Questions, this was Laura’s response.
Oh boy,
I’m bad at interviews….When it’s the written word, it’s hard for me to talk about myself. I just want to answer “fart fart fart” instead. Oh, wait. I can choose which questions to answer. I get it.
Fart fart fart,
Laura
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