2017 American Youth Circus Festival: Full Schedule

9:30am PDT

Intermediate Sequencing for Static Trapeze

Limited Capacity full

Often, when we learn aerial arts, we work on one skill at a time. Once you have a pretty good "toolbox" of skills, though, it's important to learn how to string them together in ways that are efficient, safe, and interesting to watch. In this workshop, students will learn a fun and engaging sequence in three or more parts and will then put it all together into one "routine". This will allow them to work on fluidity of movement, transitions between the various levels of the trapeze (under, on, and above the bar), and endurance. And students may even learn some new skills along the way!

Speakers

Alyssa Hellrung

Circus Instructor, School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts

Thursday August 17, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
orange

orange, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Alyssa Hellrung
Tags alyssa hellrung, intermediate, trapeze, Youth

9:30am PDT

Beginning Adventures in Duo Trapeze

Limited Capacity full

In this introduction to duo trapeze, we’ll explore sharing the trapeze with a partner, safely supporting someone else’s weight, and moving in relation to another body in the air. Students will explore basic duo trapeze skills, learn foundational technique for basing and flying, and create exciting shapes with two bodies on one trapeze.

Prerequisites: For students capable of front balance, ankle hang, and inverting in the ropes on solo trapeze.

Speakers

Megan Gendell

PSCA/Circadium

Thursday August 17, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
pink

pink, Youth 10+

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Megan Gendell
Tags Aerial, duo aerial, trapeze, Youth, Megan Gendell

9:30am PDT

Intermediate Dynamic Acro/ Partner Lifts

Limited Capacity full

Explore dynamic partner acrobatics and lifts. Some ground acrobatics and basic partner acrobatics required.

Speakers

David Paris

Thursday August 17, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
yellow

yellow, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area David Paris
Tags acro, Acrobatics, David Paris, Daynamic Acro, Lifts, Partner Acrobatics

2:15pm PDT

Trapeze Rolls, Winds, And Twists

Limited Capacity full

In this workshop we will explore some of the many ways to wind yourself up in the trapeze. Rolling into ropes and around the bar, we will find places of balance and poise. We will also work on smooth exits and transitions to new shapes.

Speakers

Glenna Broderick

Instructor, Fly Circus Space

Thursday August 17, 2017 2:15pm - 3:45pm PDT
pink

pink, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Glenna Broderick
Tags Aerial, glenna broderick, intermediate, trapeze, Youth

9:30am PDT

Duo hammock/single point sling

Limited Capacity filling up

Participants will learn some basic vocabulary on the apparatus, and any skills that can be learned solo before pairing up. Participants will trade partners as appropriate, and attention will be paid to both management of the apparatus as well as partnering technique.

Speakers

Lauren Kehl

Friday August 18, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
brown

brown, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Lauren Kehl
Tags Hammock, sling, duo aerial, youth, Lauren Kehl, Intermediate, Aerial

9:30am PDT

Ankle Hangs: Understanding Good Technique and Exploring Dynamic Movement

Limited Capacity filling up

In this workshop, we will explore ankle hangs on static trapeze in depth. We will discuss and execute proper body alignment and technique through a series of drills. Then we will learn and refine a variety of drops and dynamic movements into ankle hangs. Gaiters or other ankle protection is welcome but not required.

Speakers

Kiersten Van Houten

Childrens Program Coordinator/ Show Producer, TSNY DC

Kiersten Van Houten started her circus journey when she was 13 and has now been teaching circus skills to youth and adults for over 20 years. She currently runs the DC location of Trapeze School New York and coordinates youth programming for the school.

Friday August 18, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
pink

pink, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Kiersten Van Houten
Tags Trapeze, ankle hangs, Intermediate, Kiersten Van Houten

9:30am PDT

Clown Fight Club

Limited Capacity filling up

Fake fights are funny! This workshop combines dynamic partner acrobatics with physical comedy, stage combat, and clown. Slap, trip, stumble, fall, flip, and flail!

Speakers

Hannah Gaff

Core Ensemble, UpLift Physical Theatre

Clown, acrobat, theatre-creator. MFA from Dell'Arte International in Blue Lake, CA. Core Ensemble of UpLift Physical Theatre. www.upliftphysicaltheatre.com Passionate about performance, audience connection, emotional physicality, movement, teaching clown and circus to youth, and... Read More →

Friday August 18, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
blue

purple, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth and Adults
Area Hannah Gaff
Tags Adults, clowning, Hannah Gaff, intermediate, Partner Acro, Pyramds, slapstick, stage combat, Tumbling, Youth

9:30am PDT

Handstand on Anything

Limited Capacity full

"Must can handstand everywhere" is what my coach Xia Kemin used to tell me. We will focus on handstand exercises to increase technique, strength, and "feeling" or "aliveness" within your handstand. This workshop is designed to give you the tools to handstand on a bench, blocks, canes, chairs, people, stairs, and anything else that looks solid enough to handstand on.

Pre- Reqs: Must be able to do 15 push-ups Ability to hold a 15 second free standing handstand recommended.

Speakers

Jeremy Vik

Friday August 18, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
red

red, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth and Adults
Area Jeremy Vik
Tags Adults, Handbalancing, Handstands, intermediate, Jeremy Vik, Youth

11:15am PDT

Intermediate Sequencing for Static Trapeze

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Alyssa Hellrung

Circus Instructor, School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts

Friday August 18, 2017 11:15am - 12:45pm PDT
aqua

aqua, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Alyssa Hellrung
Tags Trapeze, intermediate, alyssa hellrung, youth

11:15am PDT

A Breath of Fresh Air: Character in Aerial Performance

Limited Capacity full

Character is key to engaging the audience when you perform. Aerial work can be stunning, graceful or daring, but a connection to the audience makes every piece stir the heart and soul! We will work on techniques to find breath, presence and character on an apparatus without losing sight of safety. Various apparatuses available.

Speakers

Glenna Broderick

Instructor, Fly Circus Space

Friday August 18, 2017 11:15am - 12:45pm PDT
brown

brown, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth and Adults
Area Glenna Broderick
Tags Acting, Adults, glenna broderick, intermediate, lyra, silk, sling, trapeze, Youth

2:15pm PDT

Beginning Adventures in Duo Trapeze

Limited Capacity full

Prerequisites: For students capable of front balance, ankle hang, and inverting in the ropes on solo trapeze.

Speakers

Megan Gendell

PSCA/Circadium

Friday August 18, 2017 2:15pm - 3:45pm PDT
pink

pink, Youth 10+

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Megan Gendell
Tags Aerial, duo aerial, Megan Gendell, trapeze, Youth

2:15pm PDT

Intermediate Diabolo

Limited Capacity filling up

Intermediate level skills with a Diabolo

Speakers

Kevin Flanagn and Copper Santiago

Friday August 18, 2017 2:15pm - 3:45pm PDT
purple

purple, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Kevin Flanagan and Copper Santiago
Tags Copper Santiago, Diabolo, intermediate, Kevin Flanaga, object manipulation, props

9:30am PDT

Partner Acrobatics: When am I ready to try this skill?

Limited Capacity full

This workshop explores the question "When is a skill safe to practice without a spot or ready to perform?" Ideal participants are educators or students who are ready to teach or work on intermediate and beyond skills like two high stacking, hand to hand handstands, foot to hand and pitching. We will explore safety goals to always keep in mind, alignment to look for when stacking people, find exit plans when trying skills, establish good communication methods, and practice seeing breaking points to stop a skill before it becomes dangerous or collapses. This information helps students practice sooner without spotters, have confidence when putting a skill on stage, as well as allow students to safely explore new shapes and ideas.

Speakers

Erica Rubinstein

The Circus Project

Saturday August 19, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
neon yellow

neon yellow, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth and Adults
Area Erica Rubinstein
Tags Erica Rubinstein

11:15am PDT

Clown Fight Club

Limited Capacity filling up

Fake fights are funny! This workshop combines dynamic partner acrobatics with physical comedy, stage combat, and clown. Slap, trip, stumble, fall, flip, and flail!

Speakers

Hannah Gaff

Core Ensemble, UpLift Physical Theatre

Saturday August 19, 2017 11:15am - 12:45pm PDT
entryway

entryway, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth and Adults
Area Hannah Gaff
Tags Adults, clowning, Hannah Gaff, intermediate, Partner Acro, Pyramds, slapstick, stage combat, Tumbling, Youth

2:15pm PDT

Intermediate Wire

Limited Capacity filling up

Intermediate wire walking with Claire Vercruyssen

Speakers

Claire Vercruyssen

Saturday August 19, 2017 2:15pm - 3:45pm PDT
blue

blue, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Claire Vercruyssen
Tags balancing, claire vercruyssen, equilibristics, intermediate, wire

2:15pm PDT

Trapeze Rolls, Winds, And Twists

Limited Capacity full

Speakers

Glenna Broderick

Instructor, Fly Circus Space

Saturday August 19, 2017 2:15pm - 3:45pm PDT
brown

brown, Everybody

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Glenna Broderick
Tags aerial, trapeze, intermediate, glenna broderick, youth

9:30am PDT

Intro to Duo Silks

Limited Capacity full

This is an introduction to working with a partner on aerial silks. You will be working in close proximity with other students to explore the tension created when sharing silks. We will try a variety of different basing and flying positions. This workshop will focus on developing trust between partners that is essential for working together in the air.

Speakers

Rachel Lancaster

Sunday August 20, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
brown

brown, Youth and Adults

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Rachael Lancaster
Tags Aerial, duo silks, intermediate, rachel lancaster, Youth

9:30am PDT

Intermediate Diabolo

Limited Capacity filling up

Intermediate level skills with a Diabolo

Speakers

Kevin Flanagn and Copper Santiago

Sunday August 20, 2017 9:30am - 11:00am PDT
neon yellow

neon yellow, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Kevin Flanagan and Copper Santiago
Tags Copper Santiago, Diabolo, intermediate, Kevin Flanaga, object manipulation, props

11:15am PDT

Duo hammock/single point sling

Limited Capacity full

Speakers

Lauren Kehl

Sunday August 20, 2017 11:15am - 12:45pm PDT
brown

brown, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Lauren Kehl
Tags Aerial, duo aerial, Hammock, intermediate, Lauren Kehl, sling, Youth

11:15am PDT

Ankle Hangs: Understanding Good Technique and Exploring Dynamic Movement

Limited Capacity full

Speakers

Kiersten Van Houten

Childrens Program Coordinator/ Show Producer, TSNY DC

Sunday August 20, 2017 11:15am - 12:45pm PDT
pink

pink, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth
Area Kiersten Van Houten
Tags ankle hangs, intermediate, Kiersten Van Houten, trapeze

11:15am PDT

3 club tricks

Limited Capacity filling up

The intent of this workshop is give participants an introduction to gateway 3 club tricks such as lazies, back crosses, 423, etc. In it we will focus on tricks that lend themselves to performance, as well progression to 4 and 5 clubs. There will also be at the end of the workshop time to create and present ideas with the group. Must be comfortable juggling 3 clubs (100 catches) and be able to throw doubles (20).

Speakers

Kevin Flanagan

Sunday August 20, 2017 11:15am - 12:45pm PDT
purple

purple, Youth

Audience Intermediate
Subject Youth and Adults
Area Kevin Flanagan
Tags Adults, clubs, intermediate, juggling, kevin flanagan, object manipulation, Youth