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ACE membership keeps you connected, engaged, and in the know! ACE memberships are available for circus educators and organizations. Our most popular member benefits include content management system discounts for organizations, insurance connections, eligibility to attend national events, and discounts on regional events. Click the button below for more information and to join!

We love to be social and hope that you will connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You’ll engaging circus content and our favorite shares from our members. 

Be sure to tag us using #AmericanCircusEducators and use our new hashtags: #WeCircusBetterTogether and #TheFutureIsCircus (You can follow these hashtags too!)

Take a peek at what’s waiting for you at EdCon October 7-9, 2022. We’ve got an ah-mazing lineup of workshops, panels, roundtables, social events, and more from our industry experts in the areas of: 

• Apparatus Training and Technique
• Programming and Discussion on Working With Youth
• Body Care for Circus Artists and Athlete
• Mental Wellness in Circus
• Diversifying your Teaching for All Body Types
• Insight on improving the Business of Circus
• Safety and Safe Practices in Circus

Sign-ups open August 1st, but you can start planning your schedule today! Click on the button below to get more information about the speakers and schedule and then be sure to register and save your spot.

Register for EdCon!

If you haven’t registered for EdCon yet, you can still lock in that early bird discounted rate until July 31st!  Avoid the FOMO and click the button below to secure your spot and savings now because October will be here before you know it! PS: we’ve created a virtual attendance option. Grab your virtual only ticket for $50. Virtual ticket will include recordings of some, limited sessions.

New format, same great Social Circus Connection Call.

In 2022, the ACE Social Circus Program is changing the registration structure for our Connection calls; participants will need to register for each individual call. Join us for our next call, Tuesday, August 9th at 9am PST / 10am MST / 11am CST / 12pm EST.

Calls are *free* to ACE members | $0-10 for non-members

Want to advance your circus career? Join the coaching team at NECCA! We’re hiring hand balancing and rope/vertical coaches. 

Within driving distance to Montreal, Boston, and NYC, NECCA is a circus oasis in beautiful Southern Vermont. Our students are extremely dedicated and the community here is vibrant, supportive, and welcoming. Benefits include free training, paid professional development, paid time off, workers comp, and Vermont FMLA.
 
Get More info and apply at: https://necenterforcircusarts.org/contact/employment

CircEsteem’s mission is to unite youth across all backgrounds and identities by fostering self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice and performance of the circus arts.

Duties Include:
● Create and communicate a schedule and lesson plan for After School programming
● Organize program documents and other materials essential to programming
● Schedule all staff for ASAs and Residencies and Gigs
● Manage the logistics and operations of all ASA, In-School Residencies, and Gigs
● Teach Circus Arts at After School classes and Workshops when necessary
● Manage attendance, enrollment, and record keeping
● Communicate with families to boost and maintain enrollment
● Manage staff of Teaching Artists
● Assist with the organization of equipment and props
● Manage vehicle schedules and vehicle maintenance
● Participate in staff meetings and professional development

For the full job description, compensation, benefits, experience needed and application
instructions, visit https://circesteem.org/were-hiring/

CircEsteem unites youth across all backgrounds and identities by fostering self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice and performance of the circus arts.

Duties Include:
● Develop weekly lesson plans with Program Coordinator
● Teach students in various circus disciplines
● Implement the lesson plans dictated by CircEsteem’s curriculum
● Attend any planning meetings necessary for program success as dictated by the Program Coordinator or Program Manager or Teaching Artist Manager
● Ensure successful program implementation – communicate with the Teaching Artist team about plans for the day, run the daily schedule, etc.
● Train and onboard new Teaching Artists in collaboration with the Teaching Artist Manager
● Attend staff meetings as assigned by the Program Manager and/or Program Director

For the full job description, compensation, benefits, experience needed and application
instructions, visit https://circesteem.org/were-hiring/

Would you like to be part of the faculty of the country’s only diploma-granting circus college? Circadium, in Philadelphia, is hiring for the 2022-2023 school year.  

We are particularly seeking instructors for Dance Trapeze, Chinese Pole, Rola-Bola, Contortion, and Juggling.  Details of the positions can be found here: https://circadium.com/jobs/

Register for L1 Aerial Straps 40-hour Online Teacher and Performer Training – coming Fall 2022

Created and produced by Aaron Koz, and co-taught by Max March-Steinman, founder of CircSci, the Level 1 Straps Teacher Training draws on over 10 years of aerial and movement instruction in the field. Key information will be shared via lectures, group discussion, and practical application. Concepts addressed include: lesson and curriculum development, skills, spotting techniques, safety, anatomy, injury prevention, creativity, progression, grip strength training, dynamic and strength technique, and teaching tips. Register here!

Coming in August, and available for pre-order now: Circus Psychology: An applied guide to thriving under the big top. This book provides an evidence-based guide to nurturing the mental health of circus artists while enabling them to perform at the peak of their capacities. The book is organized into three accessible sections: Mental health in circus, Optimising the circus environment to facilitate thriving, and Mental skills for thriving in circus. Written by Dr. Fleur van Rens, a circus artist and lecturer in sports psychology, it is an essential resource for circus coaches, professional circus artists, and recreational artists who are eager to improve their mental skills.  
 
Link to book: https://www.routledge.com/Circus-Psychology-An-applied-guide-to-thriving-under-the-big-top/Rens/p/book/9781032266343
Instagram handle: @circuspsychology
Email: f.vanrens@murdoch.edu.au

This 50 hour Remote Teacher Training Course is a comprehensive and fully interactive training that you can do in your local studio or on your approved home rigging. It includes independent study, group instruction & personalized feedback as well as lifetime access to over 200 recorded reference videos and other course materials. There are 3 weekly zoom classes delivered in multiple time zones over the 4 week program.
 
Upcoming Trainings:

Level 1 Silks, Rope, Trapeze or Lyra

• Dates: Sept 3 – Oct 1, 2022
• Registration opens July 4th, 2022
• Register by July 10th, 2022 for Early Bird Discount ($100 off)

Level 2 Silks, Trapeze or Lyra

• Dates: Oct 29 – Nov 26th, 2022
• Registration opens August 29th, 2022
• Register by September 4, 2022 for Early Bird Discount ($100 off)

Visit the WEBSITE for more information.

Circus Arts Institute is thrilled to be continuing our training programs online!  Plus, we will be hosting our Intermediate Aerial Teacher Training in-person Oct. 2022!  Please visit our website to learn more about Circus Arts Institute’s online training program and our current course offerings.

Registration is NOW OPEN for Circus Arts Institutes’ Upcoming Aerial Teacher Trainings
Intermediate: October 21-24, 2022 *

*This will be live/in-person in Atlanta, GA.  Beginner Certification from Circus Arts Institute is a pre-requisite for this training. 

For details and to register, click here. Questions? Email info@circusartsinstitute.com

Register for the Southeast Circus Retreat!

Aerial Silks Focus wit Rain Anya
August 12 – 14
Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center
Charlotte, North Carolina
Details: https://www.cltcirquedancecenter.org/southeast-circus-retreat
 
The Southeast Circus Retreat is a new weekend program that is combining elements from a retreat, an apparatus meeting and workshop weekends.  Here’s how:
​
Retreat: This is time for you to work on yourself and be in a non-judgmental environment free of people that you might teach.  

Apparatus Meeting: Like a rope or trapeze meeting, you can meet up with your friends from miles away in person to skill share.​

Workshop Weekend: Tired of noodling around on the silks and need some instruction?  That’s why Rain is here!  To give you some shiny nuggets to jump start your creativity.  
​
Fee: $400
Fee Includes open practice and all workshops. Must sign-up for workshops in advance.
Fee does not include accommodations and food.

Training to Failure as An Aerialist Workshop – August 28th, 10:30 EST

Co-taught by Aaron Koz and Max March-Steinman, the When/Why To Train to Failure (TTF) workshop is intended to help you, as a student OR coach, understand the merits and RISKS of training to failure in different types of exercises. Gain an understanding of which exercise types are safer to failure-train and which may be more trouble than they’re worth. Learn a framework for implementing TTF effectively in your broader training structure and program to increase your strength gains while keeping injury risk low. Learn more and sign up here.

The 10th Annual West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (WCAAF) is open for registration!
 
November 10 – 13, 2022
Aerial Dance Theater, Costa Mesa, California
Competition Dates: November 11 & 12, 2022
 
This aerial competition features categories ranging from 7-year-olds to seniors, novice to professional, various apparatuses, and group entries. Competitors receive participation medals, judges’ feedback, and swag bags. The premium competition package includes an audience ticket and free workshop taught by established educators. Top three winners receive cash prizes, a trophy or medal, social media exposure, and the opportunity to perform their winning piece in the award ceremony. Best of all, participants get to make new friends, choreograph pieces with fellow aerialists, and visit Southern California attractions like Disneyland and Hollywood!
 
Celebrating a decade of festivities, WCAAF provides community and competition that nurtures and inspires professional and non-professional aerialists. To learn more: www.westcoastaerialartsfestival.com. Early Bird rate ends August 1, 2022.

For the fourth year in a row, WheelFest will take place.  Wheel Gymnastics as a sport and show with a variety of events, classes and more is up to come! Train with the champs of the scene! 
A variety of workshops, performance opportunities and competitions await you: There is something for every age group and every level. Workshops will include:  
Cyr wheel intro 
Specific wheel trick workshops in all disciplines 

• Trampoline
• Handstand workshops
• Dance
• Aerials for all
• Wheel fun competition 

 
The focus is not only on training, but also on making new contacts and friendships.  
Are you curious? Take a look here: https://www.usawheelgymnastics.com/2021-wheelfest 
  
Location & date: 
August 17-20 in Chicago, Willye White Park (610 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60626).  
August 20-21 in Arcadia IN at RIPFEST Diving (108 South Olive St, Arcadia, IN 46030). 
 
Do you have any questions? Contact Mearieta Clemente: mearieta@gmail.com  

Come see the Circus Smirkus 2022 Big Top Tour! here are just two weeks left of the 2022 Big Top Tour: On the Road Again – and it’s our 35th Anniversary! Come see the joy of 30 circus youth ages 11-18 perform under our beautiful Big Top on tour across New England. Full details at www.smirkus.org/about-big-top-tour/
 
★ Waltham, MA: July 26-August 1
★ Newbury, MA: August 4-5
★ Kennebunkport, ME: August 9-10
★ Greensboro, VT: August 13-14

Join us Thursday, July 28 at 7:00PM at Gore Place in Waltham, MA for the annual Circus Smirkus Gala: The Smirktacular! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll be amazed when you join us live, under the big top for a Smirkus-style soirée including a special performance of the 2022 Big Top Tour: On the Road Again, followed by an anniversary party and fundraiser on the lot. Enjoy an exhilarating performance, mingle with friends old and new, and hear about the positive impact Circus Smirkus has had on so many lives by inspiring kids of all ages to develop artistic, athletic, and life skills through the power of performance.

Ticket and information here: https://www.smirkus.org/special-events/

Are You, Your Students or Your Kiddos Getting Ready to Audition for Circus Schools This Year? CSAW is Here to Help!
 
CSAW – Connecting Circus Students Around the World has released their 2022 Circus School Application Deadline Mastersheet! Click here: https://bit.ly/csawcircusschoolsheet
 
This spreadsheet includes: 
• Circus schools
• Links to applications
• Application deadlines
• Audition dates
• The CSAW Ambassador for the school 
• How to contact that ambassador! 
• What is a CSAW Ambassador? 
 
A CSAW Ambassador is a current student of their international circus school. They are here to support you through applying, auditioning and attending circus school. If you have a question about a school just send the Ambassador an email or a DM and get an honest answer from a student of that school asap!
 
There are currently 16 CSAW Ambassadors to help future circus generations. You can find all of the current CSAW Ambassadors by clicking here: https://www.csawcircus.org/ambassadors

Aerial Dance Festival 2022: July 31-August 12. Boulder, CO.
 
3-Hour Immersions, 90-Minute Classes, Workshops, Panels, Performances, and more in-person in Boulder, CO! Learn from this year’s incredible line-up of Faculty Artists: Megan Cattau, Terry Crane, Gena DuBose, Cosmo Dudley, Danielle Hendricks, Shannon McKenna, Valerie Morris, Nancy Smith, Sofia Rodriguez, and Anastasia Timina. Join us for one week or two! Learn More and Register Here.
 
https://frequentflyers.org/aerial-dance-festival/

The Health and Wellness Committee is looking for experienced volunteers to join their task forces. Joining a task force is a wonderful way for community members to get involved in creating safer and more welcoming environments in circus. Community members with expertise in health and wellness topics are encouraged to apply.

Led by a committee member or co-chair, each task force focuses on a variety of specialized health and wellness topics in the circus community. Topics range from sexual violence prevention/response and disordered eating, to concussion prevention/response and suicide prevention. Please note that time commitments for each task force may vary.

If you are interested in joining a Health and Wellness task force, please fill out the application here.

Versatile Arts was established in early 2007 as Seattle’s first full-time school dedicated to aerial arts for adults. Starting out in a shared studio with a dozen students, VA quickly outgrew that space and moved into our own facility in August of 2008. We now have four separate studio spaces, 20 instructors, a vibrant youth program, and have expanded our curriculum into hand-balancing and flexibility. We offer dozens of classes per week as well as open gym sessions almost every day. We teach a structured curriculum that has been refined over 15 years of operation, and we stress safety and control at all levels of instruction. We also love to put on shows, and after having to go mostly-virtual during COVID, we are back to producing our two annual in-person student shows, our youth show, and yearly traditions like Manuary and Silver Foxes (for performers 45 and over).
 
Versatile Arts has also held yearly workshop events that were put on hold during COVID, but we have just opened registration for our 2022 Workshop Week, to be held Aug 30-Sept 4. We have an amazing lineup of instructors coming in, including Gena DuBose, Jenn Bruyer, Gunnar Field, Elizabeth Rose, and Anna Thomas-Henry. The workshop schedule includes teacher-focused sessions, multi-day immersions, and tons of skills-focused topics as well. Come to Seattle for Labor Day – it’s the best weather of the year!
 
Safety has always been baked into the program at Versatile Arts, but being part of the ACE Safety Network has been a valuable source of continuing education as well as a form of accountability. Beverly Sobelman, VA’s founder, was honored to be asked to be one of the original Safety Committee members, and is proud of the work they have done to develop and modify the program to serve the needs of the circus community. “Safety isn’t a static thing, ” she says, ” and it’s not pass/fail. It’s something we can always be learning more about, and always be improving. The ACE safety network keeps us talking and keeps us working toward improving our methods and processes.”

Check out their 2022 Workshop Week from Aug 30-Sept 5! 

Circus Harmony was thrilled to be part of Montreal Completement Cirque Festival in Montreal! Our St Louis Arches were part of Ciruque Hors Piste’s Carnaval de Cirque Social and did a number of performances on the grounds of La Tohu. In addition to presenting unicycling, juggling, and hula hoops, they wowed the crowd with the banquine and pyramid skills in their partner acrobatics act. 
 
Some Circus Harmony alumni were also performing at the festival, Isabella Majzun and The K.O. Duo, Kyran Walton and Oliver Layher. The Arches got to yours of Les 7 Doigts, Ecole Nationale de Cirque, and Cirque du Soleil. This was the first time Circus Harmony has been part of Montreal Completement Cirque. It was an exciting honor to be part of this internationally renowned festival!

Check out photos of the event on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160719403174041&type=3

Our Circus Up youth community troupe, Kirkos, has been training and rehearsing for over a year now. Current youth members are all BIPOC youth from Boston, ages 7-14. While they are new to performing, they have been extremely dedicated to improving their skills and supporting each other as they learn together. They are excited to be performing in many in-person shows this summer. They recently finished outdoor performances at the Wake Up the Earth Festival and the Roslindale Farmers Market Opening Day. Our youth were also thrilled to be a part of the Commonwealth Circus Center’s (C3) June student showcase!  

Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our many individual supporters, Movement Arts Creation Studio (MACS), and C3, Kirkos troupe members will be attending circus camp at C3 ALL SUMMER, while also continuing to create new acts and learn new skills together during Kirkos classes.  

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus views summer as an opportunity to share joy and renewal
through the healing energy of communities gathering for laughter and wonder. This
Summer of Joy, we uplift our LGBTQIA+ Two Spirit family, and we celebrate Pride.

We honor Black Liberation and excellence this Juneteenth. We hold gratitude for Fathers
and Father Figures, and we amplify the idea of Independence in Bindlestiff style –
meaning free, inclusive, and accessible programming for Hudson City School District
families, including:  Summer Stilts Week, Summer Cirkus Week, Hudson Juggling Club 
Loki Designz x Cirkus After School: Costume Design for T(w)eens and Restorative
Justice Week.

Bindlestiff believes that investing in the artistic and cultural life of our community helps
to build and nurture relationships that will bridge divides and help us create a future
together. For more information, visit http://bindlestiff.org/bindlestiff-kids/

Circus Up (Boston) is excited to announce that we now have MERCH! All proceeds go to support our programs, which seek to make circus accessible to all, particularly youth from marginalized and underserved communities. Proceeds will also go towards funding our youth troupe, Kirkos, to attend circus camp all summer! You can read more about us and our work at www.circusup.com. Please consider supporting our students and check out our Circus Up shop here! 

Materials/Set Up: 
You will need 9, 16, 25, or 36 small balls or other objects (juggling balls, rings, or hacky-sack-like balls work best, since they don’t roll easily)
 
Before the participants enter the room and the activity starts, set up the balls/markings in the room and then work out on a piece of paper the combination that the group has to figure out. Make sure to have a key for yourself as you guide this activity: 

• Every ball should be a part of the combination
• Every ball can only be used once. Set up the grid, 3×3 being the easiest, 6×6 the hardest.
• If the group is younger in age, 3×3 or 4×4 is best. If the group seems more advanced and/or this is not the first time they’re playing the game, try 5×5 or even 6×6 and see what happens!

 
How to Play: 
Bring the participants into the room and describe the scene: they must get from the starting point to the bank vault and must go through the balls in a specific combination in order to open the vault. They will not be told the combination and have to work together as a team to guess. Tell the participants to get in a line behind the starting ball (usually the left bottom corner of the grid). The first person has one of three options for where to start, only one of which is the right first step in the combination. 

• Each participant can only move one grid at a time, meaning, you cannot walk over a ball. (Think of it as a game of chess, and each person is a pawn who can only move one space at a time). If the person gets the first step right, they can guess what the second step is, and so on. The facilitator must let them know if they are in the right spot or not. If the participant moves to the wrong ball, they must go to the back of the line, if not, they continue to advance. The next person starts once someone moves to the wrong ball – they need to remember how far the person in front of them got.
• The team is allowed to watch how far each member gets to try to re- member the combination. The team is also allowed to help, but must do so silently – only through pointing, etc.
• The game does not stop when someone in line finishes the combination and gets to the end
• Every person in the team must successfully walk through the combination from start to finish. Each person will inevitably go through the combination a number of times until they get it right. The game only ends when the entire group successfully makes it from the start to the vault via the correct combination.

Contribute funds to support the continuation of the Paper Doll Militia Teacher Training Scholarship programs. Donate Here!

Be an advocate! Support BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and individuals facing barriers to circus education to become leaders in the industry through backing them with your donation.

This Indiegogo campaign aims to raise $6000 from your support, and Paper Doll Militia will match this! This will create the opportunity for 12 aerialists to take the course on 100% Scholarship within a year-long period.

In just under 2 years, Paper Doll Militia has given 15 Artful Leader’s scholarships and 8 Fly Black Aerialist Scholarships towards their Teacher Training programs for a value of $22,000. These recipients come from all over the globe, including the Philippines, Greece, Mexico, Brazil, & Cyprus. In order to continue to run these programs, we need help from people like you to make it possible!

CSAW is offering TWO $5,000 Tuition Grants for US Circus Artists of Color! 
 
To be eligible to apply for the CSAW Tuition Grant for US Circus Artists of Color you must identify as a person of color who is a citizen, resident alien, or permanent resident of the United States looking to further their education in circus. A CSAW Tuition Grant may be applied for to help pay for any circus education related expense. This includes, but is not limited to: circus school, application fees and/or audition expenses for pursuing circus school, higher education in circus arts, preparatory programs, pre-professional programs, attending pole or aerial dance studios, private lessons, classes or any other cost which is related to learning in circus.
 
CSAW $5,000 Youth Tuition Grant for US Circus Artists of Color (20 & Under). Click here to apply and learn more
 
CSAW $5,000 Adult Tuition Grant for US Circus Artists of Color (21 & Over). Click here to apply and learn more
 
Applications close on August 1st at 11:59pm EST. Visit https://www.csawcircus.org/financial-aid for more information or to apply for a CSAW Microgrant. 
 
Please consider supporting CSAW on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/csawcircus.org

In Good Wealth nonprofit organization invests in Black-owned wellness and movement focused businesses to ignite generational wealth and equity in health. $1,500 grants are awarded on a rolling basis to early stage businesses. Circus is included as a wellness and movement field. To learn more and apply, click here.

Want to get discounts with these awesome Circus vendors? Discounts are just another awesome perk of being an ACE member.  Become a member today!

Like discounts like this? The more our members use them, the more leverage we have as an organization to encourage companies to provide discounts!

Interested in including your news or events relevant to the national circus community in AYCO/ACE’s newsletters? Send your submissions to communications@americanyouthcircus.org by the 2nd Friday of the month to be included in our monthly newsletter. Submissions should be no longer than 150 words, written in the third person, and include appropriate links and contact information if relevant. We cannot include PDFs or images, but we can link to them. Please also indicate if you would like your submission included in the AYCOgram (directed towards youth), ACE News (directed towards organizations and educators), or both.

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