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American Youth Circus Organization
Promoting participation of youth in circus arts



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List of Workshops, Roundtables, Panel Presentations.

All workshops in RED require pre-registration.  To pre-register, select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.  Important: select only one workshop during each time period.



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Thursday: 3:30pm - 5:30pm

•    Intro to German Wheel           Cornell Freeney, Emmanuel Tawiah, and Donald Keme, CircEsteem
     Ages: 7 and up          #students:  24 
Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    Russian Bar                    Gamma Phi Circus                       Ages 10+       # students: 10
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Pyramids  I                 Karen Gersch                       All Ages        # students: 25
      Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    Circus Stories: Melding Creative drama and circus skills for Pre-K and elementary school children. Doyle Ott
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Unicycle for All Skill Levels.  Jesse Alford and Jenna Lowery
      Does not require pre-registration.



Friday: 9:00am - 10:30am

•    Flying Trapeze I    Gamma Phi Circus  Friday        9:00a.m. - 10:30a.m.                #students: 12  
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Contortion of Everybody.             Otgo Waller and Angelique Talvat,
Otgo is Mongolian professional contortionist who has performed for over 20 years.  She has worked with Ringling Bros., Cirque du Soleil “O.”  Angelique is a Mongolian performer and teacher with over 35 years experience and ten years teaching the art of contortion.  We are very honored to have them join us for their first AYCO Festival.
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.


•    Mini-Tramp for Juniors.    Donald Hughes. Ages 6-12    #students: 12

Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    
Juggling Performance Workshop (part 1 of 2).    
Jon Roitman (Ecole Nationale du Cirque) and Bobby Hartman (Fern Street Circus).
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Clowning Performance Workshop (part 1 of 2).    Tuba Heatherton. Ringling Brothers veteran.
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Totally Useless Skills.    Rick Davis. Circus Learning, LLC.
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Utilizing the Strenghts and Touching the Spirit of African American Youth.    Aileen Moffitt, Prescott Circus Theatre
     Does not require pre-registration.


Friday: 10:45am - 12:15pm


•    Flying Trapeze.      Gamma Phi Circus  Friday        10:45a.m. - 12:15p.m.              #students: 12
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Intro to Aerial Fabric        with Caroline Wright        #students: 6           ages 13 - 21
By giving clear vocabulary to basic positions on the aerial fabric, students are better able to process the intricacies of this apparatus.  We’ll begin with climbing skills and basic locks, and move on to some “tricks”  – no experience necessary! 
Caroline began her training at Pine Hill Waldorf School and was a member of Flying Gravity Circus for 3 years. She has been a student at Nimble Arts for the past five years, studying fabric, lyra, trapeze and contortion. She now teaches for Nimble Arts and has performed in various corporate and local events. 
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Juggling Performance Workshop (part 2 of 2).    Jon Roitman (Ecole Nationale du Cirque) and Bobby Hartman (Fern Street Circus).
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Clowning Performance Workshop (part 2 of 2).    Tuba Heatherton,  Ringling Brothers veteran
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Israel Trip Discussion.    Panel Discussion.. St. Louis Arches Youth
      Does not require pre-registration.



Friday: 2:15pm - 3:45pm

•    Spanish Web and Corde Lisse    Jim Domenick                   Ages 10+          #students: 12
Pre-requisites:Students should have some aerial experience
Students will learn the basic climbing techniques. Then move on to more advanced/straddle climbs/upside down climbs/toe climbs. Students will learn spinning from the hand and foot loop. Class will begin with stretching and end in strengthing.
Jim is a 28 year old circus coach and performer.  Since 1995 he has been performing and flipping across the US as well as the UK, the EU and Cambodia.  Currently he resides in Minneapolis, MN where he coaches aerial and acrobatic circus classes and performs as a free-lance aerialist.
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Instant Circus.    Dic Wheeler + Co. , ARTFARM
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    How to Write a Press Release.   Jessica Hentoff,  Circusday Foundation, St. Louis Arches
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Equilibristics: Rolling Globe, Rolla Bola, Unicycle.    David Hunt, Bobby Hartman
     Does not require pre-registration.




Friday: 4:00pm - 5:30pm

•    Teeterboard                     Gamma Phi Circus                      Ages 10 +        #students: 12
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Social Circus Teacher Roundtable Discussion.    Donna Wood-Babcock
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Magic & Sleight of Hand.    Michael Hagerstrom,, Circus Day Foundation/St. Louis Arches
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Power Tumbling.    Ross Burnt
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Club Passing.    Viveca Gardener, Bindlestiff Variety Inc. Cavalcade of Youth
     Does not require pre-registration.



Saturday: 9:00am - 10:30am

•    Triple and Multiple Trapeze                  Meg Elias-Emery                      Ages 8-12       #students: 12
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Creating Your Own Act    with Cheryl Lindley      Saturday     9:00AM - 12:15PM  **3hour workshop
# of students:  12
  This workshop is for students who have or are working on their acts.  Please bring your music and what you need to perform.  We will work on timing within the act and when and how to include the audience, how ‘to sell’ the tricks, entrances and exits, how to build to climax, and when to add a tag.  We will explore what character work is and how to add some to your act.  We will clean clean clean. Details make the difference between a good act and a great act.
Cheryl is the co-owner of the Sophia Isadora Academy of Circus Arts.  Her credits include: director and writer of Circus plays: (limited list) Alice in Circus Land, Angels Gift 2004-2007 ,Choreographer of Ringling Red Unit Opening Spec Diamond Lyra 2007,Star clown of Il Circo. Artistic Director Fern St Circus 2001-2002.
Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    Mini-Trampoline, Intermediate.    Donald Hughes,  St. Louis Arches.  Ages 13+. Requirement: 2+ years of acrobatics
Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    Strategic Planning for Youth Circus Boards (3hrs).    Discussion. Carlo Pellegrini. Amazing Grace Circus.
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Gender Issues in the Gym, on the Stage, and in the Ring.  Discussion.  David Hunt, Viveca Gardner
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    CircEsteem Circus Teens Speak.    CircEsteem Youth
     Does not require pre-registration.

•    Commedia For Circus Performers.    Dic Wheeler, ARTFARM
     Does not require pre-registration.




Saturday: 10:45am - 12:15pm

•    Intermediate Fabric    Dakota Romney & Shannon Pates    Ages 13 - 21    #students: 12
 This workshop is intended to help student sadvance their skills in both static work and drops depending on their skill level. Pre-requisites: Be able to climb to the top of the fabric, tie a basic figure eight foot knot, and have some prior aerial experience.
Dakota Rooney and Shannon Pates coach for Xelias Aerial Arts and perform for Xelias Aerial Performance Compnay. They perform in both theatrical and corporate venues.
Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    Creating Your Own Act (continued).  Pre-registeration required. See Saturday 9am- 10:30am to pre-register.

•    What’s Next: Life After Youth Circus.  Panel Discussion - Social Circus
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Strategic Planning for Youth Circus Boards (continued).    Discussion. Carlo Pellegrini. Amazing Grace Circus.
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Juggling Trick Swap.  Everyone.
      Does not require pre-registration.



Saturday: 2:15pm - 3:45pm

•    Russian Swing                Gamma Phi Circus                       Ages 10+       # students: 12
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•     Unicycle for All Skill Levels    Jesse AlFord and Jenna Lowery, The Great All American Youth Circus
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Pyramids  II (3 hours)                 Karen Gersch                       All Ages        # students: 24
 
Click to pre-register. Select all workshops you want, then click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page.

•    Skill Pathways.    Steven Santos, Simply Circus
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Flexibility Plus!  (3 hours)  Panni Speirs, MS, LMT
      Does not require pre-registration.

•    Clowning    Tuba Heatherton,  Ringling Brothers veteran.
      Does not require pre-registration.






Saturday: 4:00pm - 5:30pm

•    Slackwire                        David Hunt                                  Ages: open       #students: 10
Learn beginning techniques for slackwire/slackrope walking. Foot placements, posture, "static" balance, walking, practice exercises.  Although slackwire can have a steep learning curve for many, we'll also cover intermediate and advanced tricks including turns, sitting, laying down, swaying, and advanced practice techniques and exercises.
**please where socks or soft, pliable dance shoes. 
David Hunt is based in the Bay Area, CA.  He teaches circus with Prescott Circus Theatre in Oakland.  He has been performing on slackrope (he uses rope) since 1994.  He has received brief, yet very productive training with Beth Clarke and Masha Dimitri. 
WORKSHOP IS NOW FILLED. PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSED.

•    Pyramids. (continued from Saturday 2:15pm - 4:00pm)
     

•    Flexibility Plus!  (continued from Saturday 2:15pm-4:15pmPanni Speirs, MS, LMT
      Does not require pre-registration.

•     Insurance Group Plan.  Discussion with Steven Santos, Simply Circus
      Does not require pre-registration.


•    Club Passing / Beginning and Weird Patterns    Viveca Gardener
      Does not require pre-registration.



PRESS SUBMIT TO PRE-REGISTER FOR ALL YOUR SELECTED WORKSHOPS THAT REQUIRE PRE-REGISTRATION