The American Youth Circus Organization's Festival 2003 will feature two gala performances with thirteen youth circus troupes from around the US and a special guest troupe from the State Circus of Mongolia, China. Circus Juventas in St. Paul, MN will host the festival its spectacular new permanent big top August 21-24, 2003. AYCO Festival 2001 made history when nine troupes created the only circus festival ever in America. Spectacle Magazine called it, "A remarkable achievement!" and "An embarrassment of riches." This year's theme is "Under One Tent" and will focus on how circus can bring communities together. The keynote address by Jessica Hentoff (Circus Day Foundation) is "Circus Creating Community." Ms. Hentoff recently directed a youth circus bringing Jewish and Muslim communities together in St. Louis, MO.

AYCO Festival 2003 workshops will be led by a veritable Who's Who of American circus. There will be experiential workshops featuring innovative approaches taught by over 30 of the country's foremost circus artists and educators. Interactive sessions will examine community relations, using circus to bridge economic, social and cultural differences, alliances with schools, aerial arts, partner acrobatics, clowning, juggling, and an array of other topics.

Established in 1998, AYCO is a nonprofit organization promoting the participation of youth in circus arts. AYCO Festival 2003 will inspire mainstream educators who want to bring circus into their classrooms, circus professionals who want to connect with the next generation of audiences and performers, parents who want their children to discover challenging, non-competitive activities, and kids who want to spotlight their talents.

Performing Youth Circus Troupes:

• Atlanta Circus Camp (Atlanta, GA)
• Arlekino Circus (Las Vegas, NV)
• CircEsteem (Chicago, IL)
• Circus Center (San Francisco, CA)
• Circus Juventas (St. Paul, MN)
• Circus Smirkus (Greensboro, VT)
• everydaycircus (St. Louis, MO)
• Flying Gravity Circus (Temple, NH)
• Kids Cirque (Monticello, NY)
• Mongolian State Circus (CHINA)
• Midnight Circus (Chicago, IL)
• The Prescott Circus Theater (Oakland, CA)
• Sailor Circus (Sarasota, FL)
• St. Louis Arches (St. Louis, MO)

Workshop Presenters from:
Cirque du Soleil-Cirque du Monde, Circus Smirkus, CircEsteem, Circus Juventas, everydaycircus, Midnight Circus, The Prescott Circus Theater, Circus Minimus, Atlanta Circus Camp, The Circus Day Foundation, Circus Highland Hall, Big Fun Show!, Gemini Trapeze, Secrets of the Circus, St. Louis Arches, Totally Useless Skills, Jumbo Shrimp Circus Academy, Which Way is Up? Riggers, Barry Cordage, Inc., Fool Time Circus, Acrobrats, San Francisco Circus Center

Festival Information, Applications & Registration:
AYCO Office (603) 654-5523
P.O. Box 96, Temple, NH 03084
info@AmericanYouthCircus.org
www.AmericanYouthCircus.org

Interviews:
Kevin O'Keefe, AYCO President and Founder 917-584-8965
Jessica Hentoff, Circus Day Foundation 314-226-3633
Betty & Dan Butler, Circus Juventas 651-699-8229 ext. 202