Full-time Professional Circus Training & Development

Duration - Long Term Circus Training: 6 months to 3 years

The main Aims of the training:

That students should improve their CV's and broaden their versatility, and so may apply for more diverse performing jobs.
Students will create marketable Acts / Products.
Students do all that is required to set up or continue as a successful self-employed performer.

Who the training is for:

Performers looking for help to turn their ideas for new exciting projects into a reality.
Performers needing the space, time & support to create new acts & shows.
Performers wishing to improve their skills, learn new skills, increase their employment prospects.
New-comers wishing to be professional performers, who are are needing all sorts of help to start-off their career.
All Students will need to have a high degree of self-motivation and commitment.

The Key Features of the Program:

Fast-track route delivering what is relevant to the performing arts industry.
This is not a general college course, instead training & support given is specific and unique to each student / Act.
Intensive experience, with low student to tutor ratios e.g. 2:1, 4:1or 6:1 for specialisms
Training may vary from 3 months to 3 years, according to individual requirements.
Acrobatic & Aerial skills form an integral part of the program.
In addition, students have the opportunity to work on their own specific projects, with support form the school.
We are happy to give direction to support polishing up existing work.
There will also be creative space/time to work through ideas.
Students are assigned a Circus mentor to guide them all the way through their training program. Firstly, training choices; then decisions re. product development; and finally at the end of their training, helping graduates get work.
Students are encouraged to broadening their CV's by gaining some basic competences in other relevant skills.
Support can be given with applications to relevant International Festivals if there is enough timescale to plan properly.
The Circus Maniacs Agency also promotes our graduates to help them gain work.

Specialisms offered :

Aerial Techniques: Trapeze, Tissu, Corde Lisse, Web, Ring, Straps.
Acrobatic Techniques: Tumbling, Trampoline, Trampette, Hand-balancing.
Chinese Acrobatics: Chinese Pole, Hoop Diving, Lion Dance, Manipulation.

All with choreographic & production support.

However, we also offer other skills such as Tight-wire, Juggling & Manipulation etc.. and there is the possibility of bringing in additional specialist tutors according to student requirements.

We have around 12 tutors working with the school, you are likely to work with about 4 - 8 of them on a weekly basis. The Aerial Coaching is of high quality, and we have a Chinese Coach teaching the Chinese Pole and other Chinese Style Acrobatics Skills.

Program for Circus Professionals :

Existing professionals may wish to use this opportunity to learn new skills, explore new ways of working, and create new acts. We normally recommend you allow 6 months (minimum) duration for your project. To turn a project round in 3 months is quite tight, so good solid advance planning is essential if time is this limited, and your music (if appropriate) should ideally be already selected. If you desire bespoke music, allow 6 months as a minimum. If you wish to seriously advance your skill level as well as create product, then your training will need to be somewhat longer.

Program for new-comers :

Our program is probably one of the quickest ways to learn skills and create new products that you can use to get you employment.
You don't ave to have prior experience, but it helps if you are physically fit with existing skills such as Acrobatics, Trampoline or Dance etc..
New-comers would normally sign up for a minimum of 9 months. You will not be expected to define your project at the outset. For at least the first 6 months you will need to concentrate on building up a skills base, after which you may start workingg on your project. Again, if you wish to seriously advance your skill level then your training and project plan could realistically take up to 2 years.

Joint Projects / Small Scale Shows:

We will also consider joint project applications (e.g. from Duos & Trios etc..), and applications from artistes creating small scale Circus and Physical Theatre style shows.

Duration of Training (it's flexible!):

Training usually varies from 6 months to 3 years.
If the skills are new to you we would suggest you take a minimum of 6 months to learn new techniques, plus 3 months (or someltimes more) to create your products.
The higher the level of skill you wish to achieve, the longer you should expect to remain on the program.
Some students take 3 - 6 months off in the middle of the program to work, and then return to up their skills, and improve their portfolio further.

Two Stage Projects:

Some Students enrolling for 3 or more terms may choose to take a 3 or 6 month working break from their training..
e.g. By enrolling for Autumn & Spring Terms for 2 academic years, students might choose to take time out after the first two terms giving them a chance to perform from April to August, before returning in September for further training.
Two Stage Projects are a good plan for students wishing to gain a high level of skill and who are interested in applying to enter top level International Festivals.

Please note:

Our school actively encourages diversity of expresssion, so we are open to exploring technique, styles, approaches.
Our students range from those with no prior experience (but willing to work extremely hard), through to seasoned professionals who wish to delvelop new acts.
The one universal factor is that we expect our students to be as dedicated as we are!

To Apply:

Please send us an outline of your proposal a.s.a.p. along with your CV.plus a recent video of you, your skills & past work.
Please email: info@circusmaniacs.com if you have any questions and would like us to send you an application form.
You can also download the Professional Training application form from the enrolment section of our website.
When filling in your form please make it clear that its is "Full-time Professional Training" that you are after, and how long you are hoping to train for.

Other Information:

If you are considering this program, please also check out the following links:

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