American Youth Circus Organization's AYCO Festival 2005 "Passing it on . . ." Exploring the past, informing the present, empowering the future August 24-28, San Francisco, CA hosted by Circus Center San Francisco

"Truly the AYCO festival was a life affirming and life changing event for all of us. "
-Heide Briggs - Co-Founder of the Jumbo Shrimp Circus Academy

"Tremendous kudos on a spectacular conference!"
-Neal C. Goldberg, Ph.D. - The Compassionate Clown Alley, Inc.

Click photos to enlarge Credits Photos above: Rick Davis Photos below: Corey Gordon

The 2005 AYCO Festival was an unforgettable experience. Pre-Festival Intensives. 4 days of Workshops! Performances by youth troupes from around the continent Discussion groups 66 Presenters! Key note speech by former Pickle Family Circus performer, Judy Finelli 2 Gala performances Fun filled hob-nobbing!  Buy the DVD and photo CD set Read a great San Francisco Chronicle article about the festival. Look who came!! Youths and adults from all of these Youth Circus organizations were there: AcroSports City Circus, San Francisco Action Youths International, Lagos, ND Big Apple Circus - New York City Children's Circus Studio, Izhevsk, AB CircEsteem - Chicago, IL Circus Center - San Francisco Circus City Festival - Peru, IN Circus Day Foundation - St. Louis Circus Minimus - New York City Circus Smirkus - Greensboro, VT Cirque du Soleil - Montreal, Quebec Fern Street Circus - San Diego, CA FoolTime Circus - San Francisco, CA Flying Gravity Circus - Wilton, NH G-Rockets (Rana House) - Japan Golden Valley Charter - Fair Oaks, CA Hilltop Circus - Wilton, NH Jumbo Shrimp Circus Academy - Burbank, CA L'Ecole de Cirque de Verdun - Montreal, QB Mystic Pixies - San Francisco, CA Oddfellows Playhouse - Middleton, CT Great All American Youth Circus - Redlands, CA School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, Seattle, WA Silver Lining Circus Camp - Temple, NH The College School, Webster Groves, MO Which Way Is Up? Consultants - Casselberry, FL Waldissima Circus - CA Wisconsin Youth Company - Madison, WI Youth Circus Initiatives - Temple, NH Xelias Aerial Arts - Minneapolis, MN Pre-Festival "Intensives" Aerial skills with Hélène Turcotte, Gold Medal winner at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris in 1989, and a Silver Clown at the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in 1997. Acrobatics with the Circus Center's Mr. Lu Yi offering Chinese Acrobatics, including teeter board and Chinese Pole; Juggling for all skill levels and areas; Clowning with Jeff Raz, Director of the Clown Conservatory; Stilt building/ walking for all levels Circus Yoga for Families with AYCO Founders Kevin O'Keefe and Erin O'Keefe; Circus Arts Therapy with Carrie Heller; For younger students ages 10 and under, we offered "Circus 101" which included acrobatics, juggling, rolling globe, clowning, and more! Workshops Some featured workshops are listed below: Circus Skills Chinese Acrobatics, Mr. Lu Yi Conical Hat Making and Juggling, Hovey Burgess and Judy Finelli Trapeze Technique and Choreography, Hélène Turcotte 5 Ball Juggling, Richard Kennison Sideshow 101 for Kids, Josh Roth Physical Approach to Character, Joan Mankin Creating Your Own Act, Step-by-Step, Jackie Davis Improvisation, William Hall Commedia for Circus Performers, Dic Wheeler Education and Program Development Group Discussions Recognizing Your Students' Strengths, Donna Wood-Babcock Circus and the 6 Essential Needs of Childhood, Dr. Reg Bolton Teaching Circus to 5-Year Olds, Hannah Kahn Connecting Circus to Your Community, Jessica Hentoff Youth Circus From Our Perspective (group discussion by Teens for Teens), Circesteem Teens Roundtable and Facilitated Discussions "Social Circus" Fundraising Marketing Your Programs Insurance Legal Questions About AYCO Established in 1998, AYCO is a nonprofit organization promoting the participation of youth in circus arts. AYCO enriches the youth circus community, through trainings, festivals, publications, and our website: www.AmericanYouthCircus.Org See photos from our 2003 festival