🎉 Congrats Tatyana – January #AYCOPhotoContest Winner
|
Tatyana is on the set of Black Girl Magic doing ambient hammock!
|
In this Issue of AYCO News:
|
Click to go directly to section news!
|
AYCO Youth Membership costs $35 per year and is for anyone 21 and under and college students who are passionate about circus arts. This is your chance to plug into the national circus community, network and show off your circus pride.
Membership benefits include:
- Surprise swag mailed to your door three times a year
- Eligibility to perform in AYCO event showcases
- Discounts on events and merchandise
- Monthly email AYCOgram newsletter filled with circus opportunities, news, and videos just for you!
Want to join? Grab an adult and click the button below!
|
👥 Let’s Connect on the Socials!
|
Save the Date: AYCOFest 2023
|
We are so excited for our first in-person national youth circus festival since before the pandemic, Hosted by SANCA (School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts). It’s four days packed with circus workshops, activities, and community showcases, bringing together youth from all over the country. Space will be limited, so add it to your calendar and make your plans to register now!
When: Thursday August 24 – Sunday Aug 27th Where: Seattle, WA
More details coming soon!
|
Exciting news! We just added a new discount to your membership perks! Our friends at Modern Vaudeville Press are delighted to offer 15% off AYCO/ACE members’ total order on books, swag, and more! Yes, circus books for circus people! (Printify products excluded.) Not an AYCO member yet? Now’s a great time to join!
|
New year, new HUP Squad team and we’re excited for you to meet them! Anneliese, Aodhan, Daisy, Emily, Emma, Laci, Lyra, Olympia, Sylvia, Thayer, T’Kai are the 11 circus obsessed teens that will be bringing you exclusive interviews, reviews of circus shows, circus history, and more!
|
Trenton Circus Squad is Seeking Performers
|
Trenton Circus Squad is seeking performers ages 18-26 for their 2023 Big Top Jersey Tour. This is an amazing opportunity to perform in a big top tent and work with youth from across the country! The tour will bring circus shows and workshops across New Jersey from June 26-July 30, 2023. Performers will be paid, and housing and food will be provided. Preference will be given to applicants with social circus backgrounds. Applications are open through February 1, 2023 – click here for full details and to apply! Please contact tom@trentoncircussquad.org
with any questions.
|
Frequent Flyers® Aerial Dance Professional Training Program
|
Frequent Flyers® Aerial Dance Professional Training Program is now accepting applications for our August 2023 – May 2024 program! Jumpstart your aerial career with 9 months of professional training in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. Early Decision Application Deadline: February 1, 2023. Learn More & Apply Here.
|
Save The Date for BCAM’s Black History Month Show!
|
The BIPOC Circus Alliance Midwest (BCAM) is producing a Black History Month Circus Cabaret in Chicago on February 18, 2023, in partnership with Aloft Circus Arts. BCAM received act submissions from BIPOC performers all over the nation looking to participate in this event!
Interested in supporting BCAM and BIPOC circus artists? BCAM is accepting donations to help fund this show. Donate via PayPal at bipoccircusalliance@gmail.com
About BCAM
BCAM is a collective of circus practitioners and performing artists dedicated to creating more supportive, inclusive, and representative circus communities by:
1) Advocating for equity and inclusion in training, teaching, and performance spaces
2) Partnering with circus organizations to implement policy changes designed to increase BIPOC representation and inclusion within customers/students and staff
3) Celebrating and amplifying BIPOC stories in circus
Follow BCAM on Instagram at @bipoc_circusalliancemidwest
If you are a Person Of Color and a circus practitioner, you can request to join BCAM’s Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/BIPOCCircusAllianceMidwest
|
Entrapment To Entertainment
|
A Celebration of Black people in the American Circus
San Francisco, CA – The Uncle Junior Project is proud to present its Entrapment to Entertainment exhibition, on display for the first time in a decade at the African American Art and Culture Complex from February 10 to June 30.
Entrapment to Entertainment is a powerful exposé and celebration of the history of Black people in the American Circus. The exhibition features original costumes, archival film, powerful still images and contemporary art by acclaimed Bay Area contemporary artists. Curated by Uncle Junior Project founder Veronica Blair, this exhibition will profile performers of African descent, including Emanuel “Junior” Ruffin, Bernice Collins, King Charles Unicycle Troupe, Vanessa Thomas-Smith, and Satin, the first Black female aerial act of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The retrospective captures these artists’ essence in four acts: Beginnings, Inspiration, Narrative, and Experience.
When: Friday, February 10, 2023 – Friday, June 30, 2023 Where: African-American Art and Culture Complex 762 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 12:00pm – 5:00pm Admission: Free
Get your tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ujp-presents-entrapment-to-entertainment-tickets-520205918907
www.UncleJrProject.com
IG: @unclejrproject
|
2023 Chicago March Wheel Weekend
|
March 17, 8:00 AM – March 19, 5:00 PM Chicago, Illinois USA Wheel Gymnastics National Trials for Cyr Wheel and Gym Wheel Wheel weekend is a retreat experience that features fun activities and clinics for everyone who wants to improve their wheel skills. Wheel Weekend is a unique opportunity for every Cyr or Gym Wheel participant interested in training with the best coaches in the world. Whether ones focus is performance, competition, physical fitness, or merely FUN, this workshop is where you can find it! Every Wheel Weekend coach loves the sport and wants to help ignite passion in everyone, so they can achieve new heights while meeting and exceeding their hopes and dreams for Cyr and Gym Wheel. Wheel Weekend’s focus is helping each participant achieve a deeper understanding and knowledge of the wheel, whether a beginner or a professional Coaches: Wolfgang Bientzle, Julia Pohling, Cheyenne Reifensteiner, Nadine Muenster, & Paul Perreault More information can be found at: www.usawheelgymnastics.com/wheel-weekends
Registration: https://thecirquesexperience.regfox.com/2023-chicago-march-wheel-weekend
Schedule of Events: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kzgh0aowunr5zlv/Schedules%20March%2017.pdf?dl=0
|
PLÉ in Paradise Aerial and Acrobatic Retreat
|
Master Instructors Jim Donak and Kerri Kresinski are teaming up to offer an amazing week of playful and challenging skill-development. The goal of this retreat is to have fun and learn to train in safe sustainable ways that maximize results. It is for all who enjoy exploring and expanding their movement potential and understanding of progression creation.
It is open to all skill levels, and both students and instructors are encouraged to attend. Instruction will be customized to appropriately match the individual. Attendees will have their choice of aerial and/or ground focused skill development. You will grow beyond your physical limitations through fun, creative challenges that safely nurture mindful integration of strength, flexibility, and stability When: April 23-30 2023. Early bird rates and discounts available, please inquire.
Where: Sweet Retreats, Puerto Escondido Mexico Visit website for more information. Email: jim@divingbuddah.com with any questions.
|
Pitch Catch Circus is thrilled to offer its 8th annual Spring Acro Intensive
|
Pitch Catch Circus is thrilled to offer its 8th annual Spring Acro Intensive in Asheville, NC, taught by internationally renowned partner acro coaches including Niko Douwes, Christine Moonbeam, Blox Acrobatics. We offer 3 concurrent tracks for intermediate, advanced, and pro track students. Students are encouraged to attend the full 5 weeks, but may attend as little as 2 weeks. The 30-hr per week program focuses on standing acrobatics including hand to hand, group acro, and adagio as well as optional Icarian modules. Partner acrobatics training is rounded out by instruction in tumbling, handstands, flexibility, & pre-hab. Students also receive a minimum of 30 minutes per week in private instruction. Classes run 8am – 3:45pm, Monday – Friday. To make the program as accessible as possible, we offer sliding scale tuition, fellowships for black, brown, Native and trans students, and work trade options. For more info or to apply www.pitchcatchcircus.com/apply.
|
Circus Smirkus Camp Registration is OPEN!
|
Smirkus Campers develop new ways to challenge themselves on the ground and in the air, learn skills like problem-solving, and how to work with others both in and out of the ring. Smirkus Camp is the place to clown around, have the time of your life, and make lasting friendships with campers from all over the US. This summer, Circus Smirkus is offering the following sessions at Smirkus Camp, including placement-based camps that require a video submission, as marked with ★ below. Get more information and sign up at www.smirkus.org/camp-sessions
NEW! Smirkling Overnight | August 13-14 | Ages 5-11 All Levels Circus Camp | 1 week | June 18-June 23 | Ages 8-16 All Levels Circus Camp | 2 weeks | June 25-July 7 | Ages 8-16 Intermediate Camp | 2 weeks | July 9-21 | Ages 12-18 Intermediate Skills Intensive ★ | 2 weeks | July 9-21 | Ages 12-18 Advanced Ensemble ★ | 3 weeks | July 23-August 11 | Ages 12-18 Advanced Individual Acts ★ | 3 weeks | July 23-August 11 | Ages 12-18 Road Show ★ | 5 weeks | July 9-August 11 | Ages 12-18 Fall Family & Friends Weekend | September 1-3 | Ages 5-Adult
|
Game of the Month: Hot Dog Tag!
|
How to Play: This is a freeze tag game! One player is it and tags other players to freeze them. When players are tagged, they lay down on their back frozen as a hot dog. To unfreeze other players must “bun” the frozen “hot dog” – two unfreezers must enter into a plank position on either side of the hot dog!
|
Catch Up with Circus Harmony!
|
Circus Harmony invites you to check out:
Also, if you are looking for a social circus internship or some personalized pre-professional training, check us out at www.circusharmony.org and if you are near St Louis, register now for Circus Harmony Spring classes at City Museum that start January 30, 2023.
|
Congratulations to Canopy Studio!
|
Canopy Studio receives a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This grant will support Canopy’s Outreach Program to continue to reach a wider audience and reflect the diversity of the Athens community-at-large, bringing the opportunity for personal enrichment through aerial arts to everyone regardless of age, ability, or socioeconomic status. In 2022 174 scholarships were awarded totaling more than $35,000 worth of support to our students for classes, private lessons, or 1:1 instruction within group classes.
|
Kirkos has a new page on the Circus Up website where you can find out about upcoming shows and other info! Kirkos is already booked for the Watertown Pride parade. Find out more about it HERE. Also- Circus Up is working closely with the Commonwealth Circus Center and other local circus orgs to provide more scholarships in the Boston area. Check out our new program HERE.
|
Discounts for AYCO/ACE Members
|
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!
|
AYCO News Article Submission
|
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.
|
Thank you to our Gold Members!
|
We Are The American Youth Circus Organization!
|
|