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Global Alliance of Circus Schools

Activities

World Circus Day’ programs and in-person festivities had to be cancelled in 2021 repeatedly due to Covid-19, but the Global Alliance of Circus Schools wanted to celebrate World Circus Day 2021 worldwide with the active participation of its members.

Young artists are the earnests of the future of our art-form; therefore their actions and presentations provide hope, joy and optimism.

The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque decided to compile a “Pass the Cube” video for World Circus Day 2021, where GACS members were asked to submit a short promotional video or highlight tape of their students’ best performances, combined with information of any interesting aspect or feature of their school.
Each participant prepared the same white cube, decorated with the logos of WCD, FMC, GACS and their school.
The cube connected continents and schools by receiving it from the left and throwing it out on the right to the next partner.

Based on the individual videos, sent to us by GACS members, this 4’5 minutes cheerful production was put together in honour of our most important common feast.

Statements

The Global Alliance of Circus Schools is an exclusive, web-based, international network. It supports the efforts of professional circus schools, circus centers and emerging artists to reach their full potential in creation, performance and production through collaboration, sharing of ideas and industry contacts.

The Global Alliance of Circus Schools supports equal opportunity and mutual respect among all students, coaches and staff; and prohibits discrimination and/or harassment of any type regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, creed, gender or sexual orientation. Furthermore, the Alliance recognizes that diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the circus, and that all individuals within the Alliance may enjoy a sense of belonging, understanding and equal opportunity. The Global Alliance of Circus Schools has adopted a Code of Best Practice that can provide guidance for maintaining the highest industry standards and behaviors for each school.

Members

Accademia d’Arte Circense

Accademia d’Arte Circense in Verona, Italy.

The Accademia d’Arte Circense in Verona, Italy is a professional degree-granting circus school offering a four-year comprehensive program designed to prepare students for a career in performance arts. The academy currently hosts 30 boarding students and provides training for more than 100 external students. The program is designed to integrate boarding students into professional circus life starting with festivals and circus performances across Italy.

J.S. Creations

J.S. Creations is a professional circus school based in Brisbane directed by Jasmine Straga.

J.S. Creations is a professional circus school based in Brisbane directed by Jasmine Straga. The school coaches aerial and ground acrobatics from teen to adult to prepare them for international careers and is most well known for producing some of the world’s leading contortion artists.

Imre Baross Circus Arts School

Imre Baross Circus Arts School in Budapest, Hungary.

The Imre Baross Circus Arts School in Budapest, Hungary is a state-sponsored institution. Its circus arts educational program is unique in Central Europe. Founded in 1950, the school provided outstanding world class circus artists. Today 170 students under the professional guidance of 35 pedagogues participate in the program and get ready for the artistic career.

Chinese Acrobats Association

The Chinese Acrobats Association (CAA), headquartered in Beijing, China.

The Chinese Acrobats Association (CAA), headquartered in Beijing, China, is a non-governmental organization of professional acrobats throughout China under the auspices of the Communist Party of China (CPC). CCA boasts 1600 group members more than 2900 individual members at the state level. It publishes Acrobatics and Magic bimonthly and Acrobatics Research quarterly, and is a group member of China Federation of Literary and Arts Circles. (CFLAC).

Circo de las Artes

Circo de las Artes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Circo de las Artes in Buenos Aires, Argentina is a three-year, degree-granting professional training center offering a curriculum that leads to a career in circus arts and dance. The school boasts a faculty of national and international acclaim. The curriculum for the degree of Interprete en Artes Escénicas y Circenses Contemporáneas is divided into mandatory, optional and theoretical subjects.

Circus Arts Australia

Circus Arts Australia operates three separate Australian facilities in Brisbane, Sydney and Byron Bay.

Circus Arts Australia operates three separate Australian facilities in Brisbane, Sydney and Byron Bay. The school promotes the belief that circus blends art and sport to create the perfect physical activity for young people. The Byron Bay headquarters boasts a massive 1200 sqm indoor rehearsal space while Circus Arts Sydney provides outdoor circus rigging for flying trapeze classes at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Circus Arts Conservatory

The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) of Sarasota, Florida.

The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) of Sarasota, Florida is the oldest youth circus training program in the United States. CAC supports the rich circus legacy of Florida’s Gulf Coast and offers circus arts training by professional world-class circus artists. CAC also manages the Sailor Circus Academy and is home to Circus Sarasota, making CAC the only school in America that houses both youth circus training and a professional circus.

Circus Harmony

Circus Harmony of St. Louis, Missouri, United States.

Circus Harmony of St. Louis, Missouri, United States is a non-profit social circus school that uses circus arts to motivate social change. Circus Harmony also offers recreational and pre-professional circus programming for all ages. They serve as both an arts education and a youth development organization that brings together young people from different cultures and backgrounds. By inspiring individuals and connecting communities with their circus education and entertainment programs, they have a positive impact on the St. Louis area and beyond.

Lone Star Circus of Dallas

Lone Star Circus of Dallas, Texas strives to be a leader in circus arts (...)

Lone Star Circus of Dallas, Texas strives to be a leader in circus arts whose mission is to perform and educate through a celebration of diversity, humanity and circus heritage. Its programs are designed to inspire future generations of circus artists by embracing culturally diverse experiences and opportunities. In addition to live theatrical production, Lone Star Circus provides professional and recreational circus classes and camps for both children and adults.

Die Etage School for Performance and Visual Arts

Die Etage School for Performance and Visual Arts of Berlin, Germany.

Die Etage School for Performance and Visual Arts of Berlin, Germany offers professional courses in circus, acting, mime, dance, musical theatre, painting and set design. Its three-year program prepares students for a career as professional contemporary circus artists. Die Etage has produced artists who have performed professionally in circuses and competitions around the world. Die Etage is supported through student fees and educational grants.

State School for Acrobatic Arts of Berlin

The State School for Acrobatic Arts of Berlin, partnering with the State Ballet School of Berlin.

The State School for Acrobatic Arts of Berlin, partnering with the State Ballet School of Berlin, represents Germany’s only training center to offer an internationally recognised and state-approved program in acrobatics. Circus training and academic education begins at age nine while 11 and 12-year-olds train in principal acrobatic specialties. A-Level courses in acrobatics for advanced students are also accompanied by coursework in drama, mime and dancing.

Kyiv Municipal Academy of Pop and Circus Arts

Kyiv Municipal Academy of Pop and Circus Arts in Kiev, Ukraine.

Kyiv Municipal Academy of Pop and Circus Arts in Kiev, Ukraine is the only higher education institution in Eastern European that trains professional circus artists who have performed worldwide. Established in 1968 as a training arm of the Kyiv Circus, the academy was renamed the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts in 2008, and is a member of the International Association of Higher Circus Schools.

New England Center for Circus Arts

New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States (USA).

New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States (USA) provides a high level of circus arts training. Its professional performances attract visiting guest artists and instructors from around the world. Its state-of-the-art Trapezium allows for an expanded flying trapeze program, while its Circus in the Neighborhood program reaches at-risk youths and developmentally and physically challenged children and adults.

Gamo Circus School

Gamo Circus School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Gamo Circus School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia provides professional development for circus artists and dancers throughout Ethiopia with a program of intensive training where youngsters may develop sustainable circus careers and life skills. The Gamo Circus School enjoys partnerships with circus organizations in Australia and Canada, and is presently working with the Ethiopian government to build a Circus Center in Addis Ababa.

Zip Zap Circus School

Zip Zap Circus School in Cape Town, South Africa.

Zip Zap Circus School in Cape Town, South Africa is recognized countrywide as key to sustaining circus arts in South Africa. Founded in 1992, the school teaches life skills through circus arts to both “ordinary kids” and youth-at-risk. Zip Zap’s programmes are free to students through support from civic and business partnerships, all within a context of promoting peaceful coexistence in South Africa.

Circus Juventas

Circus Juventas is a non-profit performing arts circus school in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States (USA).

Circus Juventas is a non-profit performing arts circus school in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States (USA) designed to inspire youngsters through a multicultural circus arts experience. Circus Juventas’ creative vision is modeled on a contemporary circus format that seeks to blend storytelling with circus arts through narrative, theme and character development. The school teaches leadership, life skills, teamwork, athleticism, artistry, pursuit of excellence and community service.

Moscow State School of Circus and Variety Art

The Moscow State School of Circus and Variety Art (GUTSEI) offers instruction in acrobatics, gymnastics, juggling, equilibristics (...)

The Moscow State School of Circus and Variety Art (GUTSEI) offers instruction in acrobatics, gymnastics, juggling, equilibristics, carpet and buffoonery clowning, musical eccentrics and “artists of the original genre.” Both male and female prospective students from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, aged 15 - 21 years with outstanding and professional abilities and who have completed secondary or incomplete secondary education, are admitted to the school. Students who come from outside Moscow are offered housing in a hostel.

Dust Palace

The Dust Palace is a circus theatre company in Auckland, New Zealand (...)

The Dust Palace is a circus theatre company in Auckland, New Zealand whose mission is to present theatre that is intimate, visually stunning and brave in its frankness about human nature. Performances are intended to connect communities through a fusion of circus and theatre. Its school curriculum focuses on aerial and ground acrobatics to build attention span, personal and social growth, and mental and emotional health. It maintains an active outreach program in the indigenous Maori community.

National Institute of Circus Arts

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is a non-profit circus arts training facility primarily funded by the Australian Government.

The National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) is a non-profit circus arts training facility primarily funded by the Australian Government. Affiliated with Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, NICA offers a three-year professional Bachelor of Circus Arts degree with coursework in innovative education, training, performance, research, leadership and talent in support of the local, national and global circus arts industry. NICA also offers a wide range of recreational classes for children, teenagers and adults.

Šakiai Circus School

Šakiai Circus School, located in Šakiai, Lithuania, offers expert training in choreography, aerial acrobatics, gymnastics, juggling, balancing, and more.

Šakiai Circus School, located in Šakiai, Lithuania, offers expert training in choreography, aerial acrobatics, gymnastics, juggling, balancing, and more. The school emphasizes acting art, self-confidence, sense of responsibility, discipline and teamwork in all its disciplines. Students are encouraged to explore new ways of expression incorporating contemporary dance, theater, and music. In addition to circus arts instruction, The school organizes festivals and hosts summer camps. Šakiai students have performed in other European countries and Russia.

Escuela de Circo Criollo

Founded by the Videla family in 1980, Escuela de Circo Criollo became Argentina’s first circus school and second in Latin America.

Founded by the Videla family in 1980, Escuela de Circo Criollo became Argentina’s first circus school and second in Latin America. Originally established as a social circus in one of Buenos Aires’ poorer neighborhoods, the school began training new professional circus artists who would perform locally and help stem the migration of Argentine circus artists to Europe, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. The school is affiliated with Circo Criollo, one of Argentina’s oldest professional circuses.

Vazquez Integral Arts

Vazquez Integral Arts (ViA) is a circus and performing arts program based in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.

Vazquez Integral Arts (ViA) is a circus and performing arts program based in Las
Vegas, Nevada USA. Its mission is to enable performance arts to flourish amongst local youth. With levels of instruction from beginner to professional, VIA focuses on aerial arts, floor acrobatics, handbalancing and contortion. VIA also trains advanced students for festival competition as well as offering special programs for autistic and disabled students.