-Courtesy of Aversa PR & Events
Celebrate World Circus Day in the birthplace of the American circus! Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, American Youth Circus Organization, Cirque Us, Circadium School of Contemporary Circus, Airplay Entertainment and other organizations present a multi-day celebration of circus arts on Saturday, April 15th, Sunday, April 16th and Monday, April 17th at Philadelphia Circus Campus at 6452 Greene Street, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Kids, adults, beginners, advanced students, participants, observers, neighbors, travellers – and everyone in between – are invited to experience circus first-hand with workshops, demos, classes and performances. Highlights will include the American Youth Circus Festival, Circus Festival Showcase, national touring show One Man’s Trash: A Repurposed Circus by professional traveling circus company Cirque Us and Intro to Circus Workshops that include trapeze, sling, fabric, rope and handstands. All events are listed below, along with sign-up and ticket links, prices and other details. Parking for all events and activities below is free and located behind the facility on Circus Campus in a private parking lot.
Philadelphia is a city of famous firsts – including where American circus was born in 1973 at 12th and Market. Philadelphia continued to make history in 2017 when Circadium School of Contemporary Circus opened its doors as the only higher-education school in America where artists could get a diploma in circus arts.
Now, the Philadelphia region’s expansive circus community comes together for a three-day celebration for circus lovers – with activities to try, experience, watch and enjoy. For those that want to get active, there’s workshops for beginners. For families with budding circus artists in their ranks, there’s circus classes and workshops as part of a youth circus festival. For those that want to come watch and be awed, there’s a national touring circus show that is sure to delight audiences of all ages.
1) AMERICAN YOUTH CIRCUS FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 15, 2023
8:00am to 8:00pm
For youth
The American Youth Circus Organization is hosting a Regional Festival on April 15, 2023. This day-long event brings youth circus practitioners from all over the Mid-Atlantic region together for workshops and a special Showcase performance. The event will take place at Philadelphia’s Circus Campus ( 6452 Greene St, Philadelphia, PA 19119) in partnership with Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. The all-day festival will feature circus workshops, a showcase, activities and a performance for children new to circus, as well as those already enrolled and who are familiar with circus, gymnastics, parkour and other physical activities. While already-experienced circus kids will be able to take workshops such as “Club Passing” and “Creative Hoop Sequencing”, there is also a wide array of workshops for those who are new to circus, such as “Intro to Aerial Silks”, “Trampoline for Beginners” and “Juggling 101.” Speakers and teachers at the event include a who’s who of local, regional and national circus artists. Registration for the full day is $100 for the entire day. Festival attendees, ages 8 & up, can register now to attend at https://americanyouthcircus.org/2023-philadelphia-regional-festival/
The American Youth Circus Organization was founded in 1998, connecting circus schools around the United States. Its mission is to promote the participation of youth in circus arts and support circus educators. Here are some of the many, varied skills included in youth circus:
* Acrobatics—including tumbling, partner acrobatics, group pyramids, handstands, and hand balancing
* Aerial techniques such as trapeze (static, flying, dance/single-point), fabric (silks, tissue), hoop (lyra), rope (corde lisse), and many other apparatuses (sling, hammock, cloudswing, rectangle, sliding trapeze, ladder, perch, tippy lyra, triple trapeze, etc)
* Juggling – including objects such as balls, beanbags, rings, and clubs
* Object manipulation skills such as plate spinning, diabolo, devil/flower sticks, poi spinning, hula hooping, and contact juggling
* Balancing skills such as rolling globe, rolla bolla, tightwire, slackline, unicycling and stilt walking
* Contortion, clowning, acting, dance, choreography
* German gym wheel, cyr wheel, teeterboard, and Chinese pole
* Puppetry, street art, magic, parkour, bmx, and capoeira, and more!
The full schedule of workshops and programs is available on the registration website.
Speakers and teachers will include:
Luther Bangert – Professional juggler and juggling teacher
Maeve Beck – Contortionist, hand balancer and hand to hand flyer
Terry Brennan – Circus arts teacher
Charlie Collins – Circus coach
Catherine Doveland – Soon to be graduate of Circadium
Justin Durham – Cirque Us LLC, Co-Director & Artist
Mariah Fraker – Clown for Cirque Us and adept aerialist
Kordell Garland – Coach at Trenton Circus Squad
Alison Gerber – Circus teacher for Intro to Sling and Trapeze
Tyler Jacobson – Multidisciplinary acrobat
Greg Kennedy – Internationally recognized juggler, former tour with Cirque du Soleil, Gold Medal Winner, Co-Founder of PSCA
Jenny Kinzel – Circadium graduate 2022 in lyra and acrobatics
Karen Ladd – Trenton Circus Squad, Lead Coach
Joshua Lee – Sweet and Sour Circus
Bethany McPherson – Time Flies Circus, Bindlestiff Family Circus, and AirPlay
Melissa Mellon – Circus coach
Ali Rogers – Trampoline coach
Doug Stewart – Circus Smirkus, Chicago’s Midnight Circus, Diamond Family Circus, AIDA Cruises, Westchester Circus Arts, Live305 Entertainment, Cirque Dreams and Cirque Us
Tyshaun Thomas – Trenton Circus Squad
Jamarr Woodruff – renton Circus Squad
Adam Woolley – Circus coach
Festival attendees, ages 8 & up, can register now to attend.
https://americanyouthcircus.org/2023-philadelphia-regional-festival/
While already-experienced circus kids will be able to take workshops such as “Club Passing” and “Creative Hoop Sequencing”, there is also a wide array of workshops for those who are new to circus, such as “Intro to Aerial Silks”, “Trampoline for Beginners” and “Juggling 101”.
Registration for the full day is $100, and there are discounts available for AYCO members and current PSCA students.
2) CIRCUS FESTIVAL STUDENT SHOWCASE
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Doors 5:45pm, 6:15pm Showtime
For youth and adults
Come one, come all and see the most talented children in the region perform in a special American Youth Circus Festival Showcase – open to the public. Students will perform in a variety of circus arts disciplines and showcase their skills inside one of the most unique circus venues in the country. Tickets to see the showcase and acts are only $10 at the door. This event is for all ages and open to the public.
3) NATIONAL TOUR – TWO DATES
ONE MAN’S TRASHED: A REPURPOSED CIRCUS SHOW
Saturday, April 15, Doors 7:45, Showtime 8:00pm
Sunday, April 16, Doors 4:30pm, Showtime 5:00pm
For youth and adults
Grab your garbage bags, pick up the recycling, and get ready to laugh and cheer as this repurposed circus turns trash into treasure! Originally produced in 2016 and following the overwhelming success of its 2022 revival, “One Man’s Trash” is back again in 2023 for its third national tour. With the limitless spirit and can-do attitude of the circus, this cast reclaims and reanimates all that’s left in trash cans and littered in the garage to create a junkyard adventure like none other. Featuring a variety of unique and daring circus acts, the show is a testament to the power of community and teamwork. Be it the pass of a juggling club or the leap of an acrobat, “One Man’s Trash” is ready to prove what we’re capable of–what we’re all capable of–together. Truly, our band of inventive acrobats, high-flying aerialists, and quirky clowns are just bursting to welcome you into their world! The dumpster doors are wide open– we can’t wait for you to jump in.
Since its founding in 2016, Cirque Us has rapidly grown into one of the most notable contemporary circus companies in the country. Its eight original company members quite literally stitched a show together with recycled materials and old car tires, culminating in the first tour of “One Man’s Trash” in 2016. Since then, Cirque Us has expanded to produce and tour original, full-length works year after year, alongside educational experiences such as camps, workshops, and other events for people of all ages and abilities. The DailyUV.com calls this troupe “the perfect blend of sophistication and fun,” and “non-stop action that keeps you guessing as to what is to come next.” With great pride and pleasure, we’re throwing open the dumpster doors once more, and can’t wait for you to jump in.
The 2023 troupe of “One Man’s Trash” is: Doug Stewart, Justin Durham, Mariah Fraker, Maeve Beck, Jeremy Cifonie, and Tyler Jacobson. They come from across the United States and have a collective resume which includes AIDA Cruises, AirOtic Soiree, Alter Circus, Circus Aotearoa, Circus Smirkus, Cirque Dreams, Midnight Circus, Pippin National Tour, Pomp Snow & Cirqueumstance, Santa’s Circus, Sea World, Vampire Circus, Westchester Circus Arts, and the Zoppe Circus.
Tickets are on sale now for $20 (11 and under) and $25 (12 and older).
For tickets and more information:
https://cirque-us.ticketleap.com/one-mans-trash—philadelphia-school-of-circus-arts/
4) INTRO TO CIRCUS WORKSHOPS
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts presents Intro to Circus Workshops for beginners and newbies who want to try their hand at static trapeze, sling, rope, handstands and fabric. Look for Intro to Circus Workshops between Sunday, April 16 and Monday, April 17, 2023.
Intro to Trapeze Class
Sunday, April 16, 2023, 12:45pm
$25.00 or five class card $120.00
In Intro to Trapeze class, participants will learn the basics of aerial static trapeze! In static trapeze (AKA fixed trapeze), the bar and ropes mainly stay in place and the apparatus is reachable from the ground. We’ll practice proper shoulder position, core engagement, getting on and off the apparatus, and some basic tricks that you’ll need to know before joining a beginner class, such as mounts and dismounts, birds nest, side star, and standing stag. Perfect for anyone who is new to aerials, emphasizing mastery of fundamental movements. You’re encouraged to move into a beginner class as soon as you feel ready to, but are welcome to stay in Intro as long as you like.
Intro to Sling
Sunday, April 16, 2023, 1:45pm
$25.00 or five class card $120.00
In Intro to Sling, you’ll learn the basics of aerial sling! The sling (AKA hammock or cocoon), is a loop of fabric about 4ft from the floor. We’ll practice proper shoulder position, core engagement, getting on and off the apparatus, and some basic tricks that you’ll need to know before joining a beginner class, such as gazelle, upside-down X, and standing stage. Perfect for anyone who is new to aerials, emphasizing mastery of fundamental movements. You’re encouraged to move into a Beginner class as soon as you feel ready to, but are welcome to stay in Intro as long as you like.
Intro to Handstands
Monday, April 17, 2023, 5:30pm
Brand new to handstands? Then this is the class for you. Start to explore the world upside down by learning to invert. In this class you will learn the shapes and movement pathways required to hold a handstand.
Intro to Fabric & Rope
Monday, April 17, 2023, 7:45pm
$25.00 or five class card $120.00
In Intro to Fabric & Rope class, you’ll learn the basics of aerial verticals! In this class, you’ll be working on the basic moves and skills on fabric (AKA silks or tissu) and rope (AKA corde lisse). We’ll practice proper shoulder position, core engagement and some basic tricks that you’ll need to know before joining a beginner class, such as climbs, hip key, footlocks and more!
Perfect for anyone who is new to aerials, emphasizing mastery of fundamental movements. You’re encouraged to move into a beginner class as soon as you feel ready to, but are welcome to stay in Intro as long as you like.
ABOUT THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL OF CIRCUS ARTS
The Philadelphia School for Circus Arts, “Best of Philly Winner” for kid’s classes, is the region’s center of contemporary circus arts. PSCA presents professional and student productions during the year. Seasoned faculty lead a curriculum featuring aerials (static trapeze, sling, aerial silks and lyra), juggling, unicycling, tightwire, tumbling, acrobatics, and physical conditioning. In addition to ongoing classes, PSCA also offers introductory workshops, birthday parties, rental space, summer camp and special guest performances. Students are all ages and all levels. For more information, visit www.phillycircus.com.
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA CIRCUS CAMPUS
Circadium is a 501(c)3 organization which empowers new generations of circus artists to bring the dynamism and wonder of circus to audiences of all kinds. We are a higher-education institution committed to radically changing the future of performing arts by bringing a multidisciplinary and experiment-driven approach to creation and performance. Our 3-year, full-time curriculum includes coursework in Acrobatics, Aerials, Object Manipulation, Equilibristics, Physical Theatre, Movement, Strength and Flexibility, along with supplementary work in Business and Marketing, Theater Tech, Prop building, Rigging, Circus History and Theory. A strong emphasis will be placed on Creation and Entrepreneurship.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN YOUTH CIRCUS ORGANIZATION
The American Youth Circus Organization was founded in 1998, connecting circus schools around the United States. Its mission is to promote the participation of youth in circus arts and support circus educators through membership services, events, and online resources.
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