2018 American Circus Educators Conference: Full Schedule

SIGN-UP OPENS SEPTEMBER 1ST AT 12PM EST! For more info, check out: HOW TO MAKE A SCHED ACCOUNT! Please note that you will not be able to sign into Sched until sign-up opens.

7:00pm EDT

Opening Reception + Event Check In - at The Solarium (a different venue from the rest of the conference!) Light dinner will be served.

Limited Capacity seats available

At The Solarium - https://www.thesolarium.com (a different venue from the rest of the conference)!
Light dinner will be served and you will have the opportunity to meet and greet your fellow participants.

Speakers

AYCO/ACE

Executive Director, AYCO/ACE

Circus can change the world!

Thursday October 4, 2018 7:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
The Solarium 321 West Hill Street, Decatur, GA 30030, USA

9:30am EDT

Keynote: Circus Arts Therapy as a scaffolding for overcoming physical, social, and emotional challenges

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us for a narrative journey through the inception and cultivation of Circus Arts Therapy. We will highlight the foundational philosophies that inform CAT’s content, goals, cadence, and soul. Furthermore, we will illustrate how specific circus-related activities are seamlessly folded into a therapeutic setting and provide scaffolding for individuals to overcome physical, social, and emotional challenges. We will highlight findings of our recently published article that indicate significant benefits of CAT in those three realms. Importantly, we will highlight the intersection of circus and science. We will underscore the critical need for the ACE membership to engage in scholarly work so we may better identify the activities and perspectives that have the most prolific and positive impacts. Scholarly work will also enable us as a collective to garner much needed funding for our expanding activities and presence in the United States.

Speakers

Carrie Heller - Virtual Only

Founder and Director, Circus Arts Institute, LLC

Carrie Heller (she/her), MSW, LCSW, RPT is the Founder and Executive Director of the Circus Arts Institute in Atlanta, GA. She has spent over 40 years in the circus ring and is the author of the industry’s first Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual. Carrie is a co-founding member... Read More →

Lauren Taglialatela

Full Professor, Kennesaw State University

Dr. Taglialatela earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Furman University in Greenville, SC. She went on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at Georgia State University. Before coming to Kennesaw State University as a faculty member in 2006, she was a Project... Read More →

ACE KEYNOTE HellerTaglialatela pptx

Friday October 5, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

11:15am EDT

Getting brave about fundraising. How to ask real humans for the money you need to run your program.

Limited Capacity filling up

This presentation will unpack some of the scariest parts of raising money for circus arts education from private individuals. First, we'll take a quick look at the role of private gifts in a healthy organization's income profile. Then, we'll look at strategies that do and don't work, and do some role playing to try out the concepts. A career nonprofit consultant, Zoe is the Executive Director and main fundraiser for Trenton Circus Squad, entering its fourth year with a budget just over $500k.

Speakers

Zoe Brookes

Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad

Ask me about Trenton Circus Squad!I'm also on the Social Circus Committee so you're welcome to ask me about the Social Circus Network. And, I'm one of the available Social Circus Consultants, so sign up at registration for a 30 minute one-on-one about YOUR social circus questions... Read More →

Social Circus Series Description pdf

Getting Brave About Fundraising pptx

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Trenton Circus Squad
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Creating fun and engaging circus with a social change message

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will cover how Dragonfly Circus and One World Circus work to create fun and entertaining circus programs which include messages and stories related to social change, especially in politically conservative communities. Some of the shows we create include only youth performers, some only adults, and others youth and adults together, We will discuss how youth and adult performers and other community members become involved in story and message creation. how support for the project is developed and the variety of community resources that are engaged. Workshop participants will choose a particular story or situation of interest to them and explore how circus skills can contribute to that story. We will play with some circus equipment in the workshop.

Speakers

Lissa McLeod

Jake Weinstein

Teacher/Performer, Dragonfly Aerial and Circus Arts

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

"Teachers Back Off: Framing Learning Experiences in the Student-Centered Aerial Classroom"

Limited Capacity full

In this workshop, we will talk about the movement in technical training towards student-centered learning, and how that changes the tasks of an aerial teacher. We will experiment with exercises intended to free students' learning processes within a group class context, try them out ourselves as learners. This class is designed for aerial teachers who are looking for a different approach, or are curious about possible means of allowing more personal and creative liberty into their technical classroom approach. Sarah Poole has been teaching aerial techniques and helping students and professionals to develop work for over 10 years in Montreal, QC.

Speakers

Sarah Poole

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 2 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags participants should be comfortable on a given aerial apparatus, and open to improvising and experiential learning on their own bodies.

11:15am EDT

Choreography - Building an Aerial Act

Limited Capacity filling up

Choreography - Building an Aerial Act: This seminar is geared towards instructors who often times have to create pieces for their students. This is also recommended for individuals who want to choreograph effective routines. Focus will be on structure and other factors that are relevant in the preparation of the piece. About me .. I have produced and choreographed more than 10 full-length productions (2 hour concert productions) and have been commissioned to create pieces for many individuals and performing arts organizations locally and internationally, including AISHA, CIRQ D'BALLET, CAMERATA TANGO, SKYFLY, AIRDANCE, PEARSON AMPHITHEATER'S SUMMER CONCERT. I have also choreographed winning routines for my students that participated and competed.

Speakers

Ruby Karen

Director, Ruby Karen Project & Aerial Arts America

With a career spanning four decades, aerialist, dancer, choreographer and producer, Ruby Karen has thrived in the performing arts—theater, cinema, and music—while mastering various fitness disciplines. With roots in Manila, Ruby Karen’s training and success’ gave her the opportunity... Read More →

EDCON Choreography Building an Aerial Act FInal pdf

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 3 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Host Organization Aerial Arts America & Orange County Aerial Arts
Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments)

11:15am EDT

Circus Games Swap

Limited Capacity seats available

Get new ideas for warmup, theatre, skill, movement, and group cohesion games to use with your students! Share your favorites, the tried-and-true games you pull out because they are loved and they work. This workshop will be mostly descriptive in order to cover the most material, but we will play a few games ourselves too!

Speakers

Claire Dehm

Program Coordinator, AYCO

Claire is a circus educator with a passion for play. She currently lives in Ithaca, NY where she is the Program Manager for AYCO and Studio Manager and teacher at Circus Culture. You can reach Claire at claire@americanyouthcircus.org.

2018 Games Swap Workshop docx

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Coaching Strategies to Promote Positive Self-Image

Limited Capacity filling up

Coaching Strategies to Promote Positive Self-Image Discover how to build a learning environment that breeds confident students. In this workshop we will discuss strategies for creating lessons that promote success. We will explore different types of assessment and their usefulness in determining readiness, tracking progress, and evaluating personal success. We will emphasize the role effective scaffolding plays in building confidence and we will practice breaking down skills into challenging yet achievable steps. We will learn about SMART goals and how to guide students in setting goals they can accomplish. Participants will understand how to model positive self-talk and will practice reframing negative and discouraging statements in order to emphasize the successes of their students. We will also explore the role strategic cueing and positive reinforcement play in building self-efficacy.

Speakers

Karen Ladd

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, Circadium & Trenton Circus Squad

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Talking and Listening

11:15am EDT

Consent-based touch in the circus classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Consent-based touch means explicitly asking permission before touching your students or before students touch one another, and also making space for the answer to be “no.” Strong consent culture allows students to feel in control of their bodies and to feel safe in their training spaces. This workshop is aimed at teachers of both adult and youth circus students who wish to foster strong consent culture in their classes and studios. Through a combination of lecture, discussion, and small group exercises, we'll explore techniques for: discussing the concept of consent with your students; incorporating consent check-ins into your coaching; and incorporating consent check-ins into student interactions like spotting and partner work - all without making it awkward!
Ellen has 10 years of experience as a movement and circus arts teacher and is a head coach and co-owner at Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, MA.

Speakers

Ellen Waylonis

Owner, Esh Circus Arts

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Esh Circus Arts
Skills Teaching and training theory
Subject Teaching Theory
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Demystifying Handstand Balance

Limited Capacity full

We’ll methodically examine the eight most common reasons students are unable to balance a handstand yet, then work through progressions and solutions that help students identify their personal obstacles and learn how to surpass them. We’ll address common issues Megan has seen in her own students over ten-plus years of teaching and any roadblocks that participants are seeing in students they teach, as well as obstacles that participants themselves may be facing. Learning to balance a handstand is often the sole goal of beginning handstand students, and it doesn’t have to be a magical, mystical process; its components can be explained, isolated, drilled, and integrated. This workshop will focus on conveying a lot of material in a short amount of time so that educators have a greater understanding of the components of balance and large toolbox of drills to bring back to their students and use over the course of many months. Megan has been teaching handstands since 2007 and is passionate about understanding them in minute detail and demystifying their basic components.

Speakers

Megan Gendell

PSCA/Circadium

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

11:15am EDT

Magic Effects Workshop

Limited Capacity full

This workshop is a crash course in the art of magic for circus artists and educators. Joe Culpepper* will share secret sleight-of-hand techniques and research tools for adapting magic effects to your shows. You will learn how to make objects magically appear, transform, and vanish. Most important of all, you will learn how to think and direct attention like a magician. No previous magic experience necessary. Joe's first job was teaching at his hometown's magic shop in Sacramento, California, in 1998. He currently teaches magic at Montreal's National Circus School.

Speakers

Joe Culpepper

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend); Introductory (this class will be taught for those with no experience with this discipline or area)

11:15am EDT

Shoulders upside down and right side up

Limited Capacity filling up

This workshop will look at shoulder engagement and upper body position in hanging and basic inverted positions with the recreational adult aerialist in mind. We’ll discuss and explore the ever elusive “shrug” and common cheats and compensations, as well as tips and tricks to getting your beginner adult students upside down strongly and consistently. Participants will be both practicing skills and observing to understand both what do these things look like and what do they feel like. This workshop is for anyone who teaches people how to hang on their arms, especially those working with recreational adult students. Lauren is a aerial coach, personal trainer, and Pilates instructor who is one half of the teacher training team at Versatile Arts.

Speakers

Lauren Kehl

Versatile Arts

Friday October 5, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

12:45pm EDT

Social Circus Consulting [ON-SITE SIGN UP REQUIRED]

Social Circus Consulting Option
Past conference attendees have requested one-on-one advice about their social circus plans, dreams or organizations. Often, such conversations have taken place informally. This year, we are making this available in an organized way, so that they are easily accessible to all.

Five experienced social circus practitioners – Jen Agans, Zoe Brookes, Amy Christian, Dan Roberts and David Hunt - will offer up to 3 30-minute sessions during the course of the conference. In the attache document, you’ll find a brief bio on each and how the type of problems they can best address. If you’d like to book a session with them, sign-up sheets will be available on-site at EdCon. Together, you will find a mutually convenient time for the session.

Questions can be addressed to Alisan Funk: alisan@americancircuseducators.org

Speakers

Jen Agans

Assistant Professor, Penn State University

Dr. Jen Agans is an assistant professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at the Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on adolescent and young adult physical activity, and the ways in which active recreation can contribute to well-being. Dr. Agans also serves... Read More →

Zoe Brookes

Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad

Amy Christian

Staff Artist, Wise Fool New Mexico

Amy Christian has been designing and implementing physical and visual arts programming since 1989. A founder and past director of Wise Fool New Mexico, Amy brings insight, passion and commitment to the work of building community and promoting equity thru the arts of circus and street... Read More →

David Hunt - Virtual Only

Executive / Artistic Director, Prescott Circus

David Hunt, Prescott Circus Theatre, Executive / Artistic Director. David has over 18 years of experience in performing arts, program development, and arts administration. He is the co-founder of Circus Bella, a San Francisco based professional, open-air circus that stages an annual... Read More →

Dan Roberts

Executive Director, CircEsteem

Dan brings a diverse background in social circus, arts education, youth advocacy and non-profit leadership to CircEsteem. He began his career in social circus in Chicago, serving as the associate director of CircEsteem from 2004-2007. He went on to work as an artist-in-residence... Read More →

Social Circus Consulting Option pdf

Friday October 5, 2018 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT
Snack Bar 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus
Tags Members of social circus network, those who want to be members of social circus network

12:45pm EDT

Lunch (On Your Own)

There are a variety of quick and affordable food options within walking distance from our venue!

Friday October 5, 2018 12:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

2:00pm EDT

Fumbling Towards Equity: Addressing race, class, privilege, and other uncomfortable topics in social circus

Limited Capacity filling up

Class, race and culture affect our circus teaching in multiple ways, impacting both teacher-student interactions and student-student dynamics within the classroom. Research has shown that even those of us who are strongly committed to inclusivity may harbor unconscious assumptions and biases that undercut our goals of fairness, equity and flourishing for all of our students. This collaborative workshop – intended for any and all circus educators - will help participants recognize the role of racial, cultural and socioeconomic differences in their work and think constructively about how to better reach students from diverse backgrounds. Through a combination of joint discussion, small-group activities and guided exercises, participants will share strategies and gain ideas and tools that they can put to practical use in their future classes. Leah and Kate have been working in social justice and social circus for a combination of over 20 years.

Speakers

Leah Abel

Co-Founder, Circus Up

LEAH JAMES ABEL sprang about in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has continued performing and teaching from New York to China and Korea — dancing, clowning, stilting, twisting around trapezes, or parading around with someone standing on her shoulders. She performs on a wide variety... Read More →

Kate Magram

Coach, Administrative Manager, Circus Up!

Social circus, disability issues, anti-bias education, circus to change the world; anything to change the world. (That's the answer to the question "What should people talk to you about?" But you can actually talk to me about pretty much anything.)I'm a physical therapist specializing... Read More →

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Circus Up
Subject Race and Culture
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Researching Circus Arts

Limited Capacity full

This workshop is a presentation and guided discussion about the research initiatives investigating circus arts. The workshop will include resources to access current work, and aim to collect more knowledge about conferences, web directories, organizations and individuals contributing to research in circus arts.

Speakers

Alisan Funk

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Lounge B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

Subject Gender and Identity in circus teaching
Tags Open (anyone can attend);

2:00pm EDT

ACE Safety Program

Limited Capacity seats available

At this year's ACE Safety Network discussion, we'd like to hear from you, whether your program is already part of the network or looking into applying for membership. What do you want to get out of it? What could we provide that would make it even more valuable to your studio?

We'll also talk about the "re-branding" of the program as a network rather than a recognition, and about the more formal agreement we are developing in order to ensure that member programs continue to uphold the standards for which they were accepted into the network.

Speakers

Beverly H Sobelman

Owner and Executive Director, Versatile Arts

In addition to running Versatile Arts, I'm also a founding member of the ACE Safety Program committee and I've developed VAMP, a circus-centric software platform for studio management.

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags Open

2:00pm EDT

Career Circus Education - Roundtable Discussion

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

AYCO/ACE

Executive Director, AYCO/ACE

Circus can change the world!

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags ?

2:00pm EDT

Common Rigging Mistakes

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Jonathan Deull

Director, Zip Zap Circus USA

For more than thirty years, Jonathan Deull has been a show business maid-of-all-work. He has extensive experience in many aspects of live entertainment production – including service as Executive Vice President of Clark Transfer, the theatrical transportation and logistics company... Read More →

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 3 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

2:00pm EDT

Fabric Puzzles

Limited Capacity filling up

1) Fabric Puzzles (Intermediate/Advanced)
This is a fantastic workshops for instructors who have students moving toward performing or who perform regularly that are interested in finding unique and creative movement between skills and sequences. This workshop builds on sequences students regularly practice as well as sequences shown by the instructor. It is a great challenge for instructors who are ready to step outside the box and move toward a more creative practice and teaching environment. Students are challenged artistically as well as physically in this creative lab. Prerequisite: Must know at least 4 sequences and exhibit comfort in the fabric.

Speakers

Leisha Knight

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 2 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level

2:00pm EDT

Introduction to Duo Trapeze

Limited Capacity full

A creative approach to traditional and non-traditional methods of sharing space and body weight on a trapeze. All bodies are welcome - basing and flying roles will be explored, reversed and turned on their heads.

Elsie Smith performed duo swinging trapeze for Cirque du Soleil and has been teaching around the world for nearly 30 years.

Speakers

Elsie Smith

Founder/Artistic Director, Nimble Arts

Elsie Smith is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the New England Center for Circus Arts in Brattleboro, VT, and is an award winning aerialist with over 30 years of teaching and performing. She is also a member of the ACE Safety Committee.

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments)

2:00pm EDT

Neck fitness: addressing the overlooked

Limited Capacity full

This active workshop will shine light on one of the most vital yet typically under-trained areas of the body; the neck. Neck fitness can help with issues such as lightheadedness and reduce the likelihood of whiplash type traumas. Presented will be a basic overview of neck and head biomechanics. Easy ways to assess neck function and simple and effective approaches for developing strength and stability of this critical area will be practiced. My expertise as both a rehabilitative therapist and circus instructor has giving me a keen insight into the importance of having a strong neck and the tools with which to create one.

Speakers

Jim Donak

Owner, Diving Buddah

Jim's fascination with the human body and its potential began over 50 years ago when he began teaching himself anatomy and physiology. Since then, he has committed himself to in-depth studies of the movement and healing arts, including, Tai Chi, The Alexander Technique, Neuro-Linguistic... Read More →

Neck Fitness images pdf

Friday October 5, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Flexibility
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:30pm EDT

Coffee Break

Friday October 5, 2018 3:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
TBA

3:45pm EDT

ACE/AYCO Health & Wellness Committee Update on Abuse Prevention & Response Efforts

Limited Capacity seats available

A broad conversation about the state of the industry given recent history, ACE/AYCO's role/resources, the committee's role, and a vision of and plan/strategy for where we go from here. Panelists include ACE/AYCO leadership and Wellness Committee members.

Speakers

AYCO/ACE

Executive Director, AYCO/ACE

Circus can change the world!

Marci Diamond

Cofounder/Director, Diamond Family Circus

Professional circus performer, & coach Marci Diamond, M.P.A., SAG-AFTRA. AEA, co-founded Diamond Family Circus (www.diamondcircus.com), an Associate Member of the AYCO/ACE Social Circus Network. Marci is also a consultant/trainer on sexual & domestic violence, social circus, and performing... Read More →

Anne Miller

Suspend

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

3:45pm EDT

LGBTQ+ 101

Limited Capacity seats available

This class is being offered for anyone who wants an introduction (or a refresher!) on the terms and ideas related to identities in the trans and LGBQ communities. Members of the ACE Youth Committee will answer questions interview-style to cover a range of topics including definitions of terms, why gender is not a binary, and how to respectfully address and include people of all gender presentations and sexual orientations. There will be time for an audience Q&A, so bring your misunderstandings, misconceptions, and wonderings! While this workshop is not directly circus-related, it ties in with the following day's workshop: Queering Circus. This class is not a pre-requisite for the Queering Circus workshop, however, folks who would like to attend QC and need a 101-level introduction to terminology and ideas are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop, as the basics of LGBTQ+ vocabulary will not be covered in Queering Circus. The panel and Q&A will be facilitated by Johnny Blazes of Esh Circus Arts.

Speakers

Leah Abel

Co-Founder, Circus Up

Johnny Blazes

Manager, Coach, Esh Circus Arts

Beau Cromartie

T Lawrence-Simon

Ruth Schultz

Natasha Shatzkin

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Lounge B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Esh Circus Arts
Subject Gender and Identity in circus teaching

3:45pm EDT

2018 US Circus Survey Results

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenting the results of the 2018 US Circus Survey. We'll be talking about what we found out from our respondents, where we need to know more, and how we can use this data help our industry going forward. Led by Sonja Harpstead, who organized the 2011 AYCO Survey.

Speakers

Sonja Harpstead

Sonja performs and teaches in and around the New York City area. She focuses on tightwire and partner aerial. She's been teaching children physical skills for the last 15 years and circus skills specifically for the last 7 years, with an MA in circus education and its possible pathways... Read More →

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

Revolution for Harmony! Circus partnership between Circus Harmony and the National Circus School of Puerto Rico

Limited Capacity filling up

“Art is what unites us in our community,” he said. “It is an activation of the abandoned spaces. It’s an action of reclaiming community. It’s not just drawing, or painting, or making sculptures, but a vision of community, of uniting people to make public spaces better.” This quote is from Edgardo Larregui Rodriguez, a social artist who believes that circus, and all art, is able to lift communities up and create connection. This summer, Circus Harmony’s St. Louis Arches formed a Peace through Pyramids partnership with Escuala National de Circo Puerto Rico and their social circus troupe, the Revolution Circus. Together, 11 flying children from Circus Harmony and their Puerto Rican counterparts created a show together and brought the joy, inspiration, and hope of the circus to parts of Puerto Rico that were hardest hit by Hurricane Maria. Learn how, why and what happened on this Revolution for Harmony Circus Tour from people from both organizations, Circus Harmony’s Jessica Hentoff who has been doing social circus work since the 1980s, her daughter Elliana Hentoff-Killian, who grew up as a member of a social circus and is now a lead coach, and Jafet Irizarry, Leslynette Ramos Irizarry, Glorimar Sierra, the passionate trio of people who recently started Circo Social de Puerto Rico!

Speakers

Jessica Hentoff

Artistic/Executive Director, Circus Harmony

Jessica Hentoff has been teaching and performing circus arts for over 40 years. She’s been using circus arts to motivate social change since founding the St. Louis Arches in 1989. She created Circus Harmony in 2001 to expand circus opportunities for St. Louis youth. Ms. Hentoff... Read More →

Eliana Hentoff-Killian

Jafet Irizarry

Leslynet Ramos Irizarry

Glorimar Sierra

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

From Page to Stage- Creating circus storytelling grounded in educational standards and literacy skills

Limited Capacity full

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to try out the creation process that StoryUp! uses to integrate circus and literacy. We will discuss how to include state education standards, literacy skills, and interdisciplinary modules. Participants can expect to collaborate with others through ground movement and aerials. This workshop is designed for those interested in integrating educational standards and literacy skills into circus performance. StoryUp! members have gone through aerial teacher training, and are approved teaching artists with Durham Public Schools.

Speakers

Amy Godfrey

StoryUp! Aerial Theater

Katie Rebich

StoryUp! Aerial Theater

Katie Rebich is an internationally experienced circus coach and performer for over 10 years. Her formal clown training began in 2013 as a part of the Aloft Full Time Training Program. She has since continued clown studies with Dody DiSanto, Rich Potter, and Remi Jacques. For her... Read More →

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Host Organization StoryUp!
Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

Introduction to German Wheel

Limited Capacity filling up

Get a thorough and awesome introduction to the German wheel in this beginner workshop that's suitable for coaches, performers, or anyone who just wants to have some fun. You’ll learn to rock on the wheel, roll with a partner, do cartwheels, and much more. This workshop will introduce the fundamental skills you need to progress further with wheel, and it’s also a great refresher for anyone with some prior experience. Carly Schuna, the instructor, is a four-time competitive wheel national champion.

Speakers

Carly Schuna

Secretary, German Wheel Coach, Madison Circus Space

Carly Schuna has been coaching German wheel, trapeze, and other circus arts for nearly 10 years. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit Madison Circus Space in Madison, WI and of her own circus company, Head Over Wheels Circus. Carly is also a five-time German wheel national champion... Read More →

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Acrobatics
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Introductory (this class will be taught for those with no experience with this discipline or area)

3:45pm EDT

Re-thinking the Warm-Up: 9 Movement Must-Haves for your Group Warm-Up (and why they’re “must haves”)

Limited Capacity full

Optimally preparing the body for training requires more than just raising the temperature of our muscles. The movements we do as part of our group warm-ups give us the opportunity to address the body’s “weak links” by reducing tension in overactive muscles and activating underactive muscles. With the balance of appropriate muscle tension restored, the use of functional movement patterns helps to make these changes “stick”. Most of our students come to us after days spent sitting and/or looking down at their computers or phones. Each of the “must-haves” to be presented is intended to address the most common muscular imbalances and compensatory movement patterns that develop as a result of our “modern lifestyles”. Participants will have the opportunity to try each of these movements and for each “must have” exercise, we will provide suggested coaching cues and discuss the common pitfalls.

Speakers

Mike Denton

Theresa Racicot

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

Shoulder Engagement in Hanging and Handstands

Limited Capacity full

Shoulder Engagement in Hanging and Handstands, tips and tricks for educating students with a variety of flexibility, from those with a lack of range of motion to those with hyper-mobility. Being able to have your arms overhead in a stable and controlled position is the basis of aerial and hand-balancing. From a solid base students can have greater success. With this in mind, we will cover shoulder bio-mechanics with the arms overhead in both pushing and pulling situations. Assessing common student compensation patterns, we will discuss cues and exercises that will help you help them achieve their goals with strong and safe shoulders. This will be a lecture/discussion format where the participants should feel free to ask questions. Participants will have the opportunity to try the exercises and get feedback on their performance. This workshop is designed for educators and those interested in the human body in a passionate fun and deeply nerdy way. Dr. Emily Scherb is a veteran circus instructor and physical therapist for circus artists.

Speakers

Emily Scherb

Doctor of Physical Therapy, The Circus Doc

Dr Emily Scherb earned her Doctorate In Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. She has been a practicing circus artist for over thirty years and has worked as an aerial and flying trapeze instructor across the US.As founder and owner of The Circus Doc, Dr. Scherb... Read More →

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

3:45pm EDT

Teaching Contact Juggling: Basics and Benefits

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop introduces contact juggling as a fun, rewarding, and beneficial circus art. I have found that it is an apparatus which increases general body awareness, fine motor control, and balance. We will be learning the basics of contact juggling as well as some tips and techniques I have found useful in teaching. Skills will include dexterity warm-ups, finger games, balance stalls, isolations and some bodyrolling. No experience is required, all skill levels welcome!

Speakers

Sam Boyles

Friday October 5, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Gym 4 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Juggling

6:15pm EDT

Social Circus Mingle

This will be an informal opportunity for anyone interested in Social Circus to come and chat with staff from members of the AYCO Social Circus Network.

Speakers

Jen Agans

Assistant Professor, Penn State University

Zoe Brookes

Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad

David Hunt - Virtual Only

Executive / Artistic Director, Prescott Circus

Friday October 5, 2018 6:15pm - 7:00pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

7:30pm EDT

Community Showcase

Limited Capacity seats available

Friday October 5, 2018 7:30pm - 10:00pm EDT
TBA

9:30am EDT

Recreational Adaptive Circus Training: First Lesson on the Spanish Web plus more

Limited Capacity seats available

Description: We will look very closely at some of the beginner Spanish Web/rope tricks in the ACSTM (Aerial Circus Safety and Training Manual). We will discuss and demonstrate how to break down tricks and create Adaptive Progressions using “baby steps” so that those with developmental delays and/or physical challenges can begin to learn Aerial (Spanish Web/rope) tricks at their own pace.

Speakers

Carrie Heller - Virtual Only

Founder and Director, Circus Arts Institute, LLC

Lauren Taglialatela

Full Professor, Kennesaw State University

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Gym 2 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Adaptive Circus, high physical engagement

Host Organization Circus Arts Institute, LLC
Skills Aerial
Subject Adaptive Circus
Tags This workshop has another kind of prerequisite (specify in comments)

9:30am EDT

Moving from Safe Space to Brave Space: Challenging White Privilege in Our Circus Communities

Limited Capacity seats available

How does white privilege show up and play out in our circus community and spaces? Let's dig into how privilege informs, benefits, and is supported in the circus world AND more importantly how we can support each other in the often scary and uncomfortable work of challenging and dismantling these oppressive norms. The goal is to create Brave Spaces where we can all show up fully, spaces where we allow ourselves and our assumptions to be challenged. We are a community of folks who have come together to make it safe for people to literally dangle from their toes... We can most certainly take on this challenge together!

Speakers

Amy Christian

Staff Artist, Wise Fool New Mexico

Alanna Herrera

Youth Programs Director, Wise Fool NM

Brave Space Workshop Resources 2018 pdf

White Supremacy Culture docx

Continuum AntiRacist pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Lounge B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Low Physical Engagement

9:30am EDT

Director-Owner Roundtable

Limited Capacity seats available

Director's roundtable for discusssion betweeen studio owners

Speakers

Shana Kennedy

Executive Director, Circadium

Circus higher education!

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Circadium
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags Studio owner/directors only

9:30am EDT

Social Circus Series 1: Let's Grow Social Circus!

Limited Capacity seats available

Part 1 of a 3 part Social Circus Series
Zoe Brookes, Charlotte Byram and Jen Agans have curated a series of workshops on starting social circuses and demonstrating their impact to funders, focused on those areas that many working in the field find most challenging. Each part of the series builds on the next, so come to them all, or jump in at the part that reflects the challenges you’re working on now.
This session will provide an introduction to what it takes to build a social circus, and to become a member of the AYCO Social Circus Network. We’ll cover the key elements that need to be in place for social circus to be effective, and how you can get help to build those elements. Bring your ideas and your idealism and lets build. Leader: Zoe Brookes, Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad; Leader of the AYCO Social Circus Initiative Phases 1 and 2.

Speakers

Zoe Brookes

Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad

Social Circus Series Description pdf

Let's Grow Social Circus pptx

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Trenton Circus Squad
Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

9:30am EDT

CircusYoga Tools of Teachers

Limited Capacity seats available

CircusYoga Tools of Teachers Are you a teacher, therapist or parent looking to improve your toolbox of games that make leading groups fun, easy and active? Spend an intensive and experiential hour or two with CircusYoga co-founders Kevin and Erin Maile O’Keefe learning practices they have developed over 40 years of teaching dance, theatre, yoga and circus. All of the practices develop inclusion, connection, co-authorship and empathy in the group learning process and can be adaptable to any classroom, population or curriculum.

Speakers

Erin O'Keefe

Kevin OKeefe

Artistic Director, Circus Minimus

CircusYoga for the Whole Family, Social Circus in India, In-school circus curriulums, AYCO founder,

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

9:30am EDT

Intro to Rigging

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Jonathan Deull

Director, Zip Zap Circus USA

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors

9:30am EDT

Introduction to German Wheel

Limited Capacity full

Speakers

Carly Schuna

Secretary, German Wheel Coach, Madison Circus Space

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Acrobatics
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Introductory (this class will be taught for those with no experience with this discipline or area)

9:30am EDT

Let's make 5 balls the expectation!

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Richard Kennison

Circadium

Richard Kennison has coached many award winning jugglers including Kellin Quinn,Book Kennison, Ashley Ellis, Delaney Bayles, Thom Wall, and Tony Pezzo. Richard received the International Jugglers Association Excellence in Education award in 2012. Richard is the Chair of the Juggling... Read More →

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Juggling

9:30am EDT

Make it Mean Something: exercises for theatrical improvisation on aerial apparata.

Limited Capacity filling up

Want to help your students make aerial acts that tell a story or just bring another level of fun and creative expression to their aerial learning? This workshop will guide participants through two physical theater-based aerial improvisation exercises, as well as provide an overview of a number of other improvisation exercises and some great tips on how and when to use these exercises with adult and older youth students. The workshop is designed for teachers of both recreational and more pre-professional students. The instructor, Ilana Rose is the Programs Director and Head Coach at Wise Fool NM and has been using these exercises to great delight in her aerial classes for the last 4 years, since attending Circomedia School of Physical Theater and Circus.

Speakers

Ilana Blankman

Aerial Improv Exercises docx

Flash Fiction for Trapeze Improv docx

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Gym 3 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments);

9:30am EDT

Making circus that matters: Artistic tools beyond technique

Limited Capacity filling up

Sometimes the difference between a circus act that’s physically amazing but doesn’t quite move or reach us, and one that’s not only technical but also thematically or emotionally resonant and memorable, is whether the act (and its tricks) are grounded in something authentic, coming from a desire to communicate something, or evocative of an aspect of the human experience. First we’ll talk about tools that circus can (and often does) borrow from theater—exploring choices about characters, themes, structures, as well as unique relationships to time, space, apparatus, and audience. Then, we’ll watch and analyze video clips of a variety of circus acts and discuss what artistic choices help make these acts both striking and resonant. Finally, we'll talk about how to collect feedback on a new piece in a way that’s validating, useful, and empowering for the artist. This workshop is designed for people who teach circus artists (of any age) and/or who direct circus acts, shows, and showcases. (Circus artists themselves are welcome as well.) It is a gentle introduction to thinking about dramaturgy in circus, focusing on the artistic choices themselves. L has been teaching this workshop around the country since 2015, and has been a panelist on Contemporary Circus Dramaturgy at festivals and conferences in Chicago, San Francisco, and Montreal. NOTE: Participants are invited to submit videos of circus acts/excerpts that they find artistically striking, moving, or resonant and that they would be interested in analyzing as a group as part of the workshop. (You can email those videolinks to lauren.m.feldman@gmail.com.) The video-discussion part of the workshop may include videos from both L and from workshop participants.

Speakers

L M Feldman

Instructor, Circadium

L M Feldman is a Philadelphia-based circus & theater artist whose work is brave, playful, and personal – wrestling with the world we live in, asking questions, challenging norms, and inviting human connection. She freelances as a performer, playwright, collaborator/deviser, artistic... Read More →

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

9:30am EDT

Master the Backhandspring

Limited Capacity full

Master the Back Handspring! Simple steps to effectively teach a back handspring. In this workshop, we will deconstruct a back handspring into its essential parts to build a better understanding of the dynamics of the skill. Participants will learn how to utilize walls, mats, and barrels for scaffolded drills that make a back handspring accessible for all ages and ability levels. We will focus on identifying the body shapes necessary to advance the skill through progressions that allow it to be spotted safely and performed independently. We will also discuss common errors and explore strategies for correcting form.

Speakers

Karen Ladd

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, Circadium & Trenton Circus Squad

Saturday October 6, 2018 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Acrobatics
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Queering Circus

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will not cover the basics of LGBTQ+ vocabulary and concepts. If you have questions like "what does 'queering' mean?" or "what is the difference between 'trans', 'transgender', and 'transgendered'?" please consider attending LGBTQ+ 101 on Friday.

Join Johnny Blazes of Esh Circus Arts for an intersectional discussion on ways to create safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ youth and adults in the circus world, both in the studio and onstage. Johnny will share thoughts on strategies and policies that have worked at Esh, and open the floor for discussion among participants about how to adapt those ideas for different regions, age groups, and populations. This workshop is open to educators, administrators, parents, and anyone else with a stake in creating a more welcoming circus community. As a long-time educator and LGBTQ advocate, Johnny brings many years of personal and professional experience to the conversation, as well as a desire to hear *your* ideas, setback, and solutions. Let's dream big together!

Speakers

Johnny Blazes

Manager, Coach, Esh Circus Arts

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Esh Circus Arts
Subject Gender and Identity in circus teaching
Tags Open; Prerequisite Comment

11:15am EDT

Concepts of Universal Design for Learning and its Connection to Circus Education

Limited Capacity filling up

Universal design for learning (UDL) is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Although circus is readily adaptable, the application of UDL can be utilized by circus educators to engage all students. If you have explained the instructions to that student 400 times and they still don’t understand, UDL may help you vary the instructional goals, methods, and materials that can be adjusted to meet individual needs. This lecture-based workshop will help you understand access the different kinds of learning styles. This workshop is beneficial for program managers, circus curriculum creators, and circus educators. The presenter has extensive experience facilitating community group programs with UDL and offering consultative lectures to public schools to incorporate more UDL concepts into their lessons.

Speakers

Suzanne Rappaport

Occupational Therapist, Circus for Survivors

Dr. Suzanne Rappaport piloted and researched OT circus interventions for many populations. She has presented her research at the Massachusetts Association of Occupational Therapy (MAOT) in Norwood, MA in 2011, 2013, & 2014 and at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW... Read More →

UDL for Circus Education pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

For-Profit or Non-Profit? A roundtable discussion

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Jamie Hodgson

Executive Director, New England Center for Circus Arts

Shana Kennedy

Executive Director, Circadium

Circus higher education!

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags ?

11:15am EDT

Social Circus Series 2: Show us what you do! Using models to explain your program impact.

Limited Capacity seats available

Part 2 of a 3 part Social Circus Series
Zoe Brookes, Charlotte Byram and Jen Agans have curated a series of workshops on starting social circuses and demonstrating their impact to funders, focused on those areas that many working in the field find most challenging. Each part of the series builds on the next, so come to them all, or jump in at the part that reflects the challenges you’re working on now.
This session:
Does the very word "evaluation" make you quiver with fear? No need for that! Evaluation is a hot topic in the arts world today (especially with funders), and getting started is easier than you might think.

How do I show funders and supporters the real impact my program is creating through circus? What’s a logic model or a theory of change? Is there a difference between an output and an outcome? And why does any of this matter? If you’re looking to take the next step into social circus, join us for this hands-on workshop and learn to use models to demonstrate your program’s impact. Models, such as logic models and theories of change, are powerful tools to unify your leadership team, clarify your program’s purpose, prioritize, identify program gaps, and lay out your evaluation plan. Sometimes required by grants, and essential to not wasting your time in collecting the wrong data, models will make your life better. In this collaborative talk, we will work together as a group on an example, answer questions, and get you on the joyful path of clear program planning.

Intended for program managers and coordinators, grant writers, those curious about evaluation, and those just starting their program or just starting to realize they should collect data on an existing program. Unless you have already designed and thoroughly understand your social circus program’s logic model, this workshop is for you.

Charlotte Byram MPH is a social circus researcher and the current Development Manager & Evaluation Specialist at Circus Harmony in St. Louis.

Speakers

Charlotte Byram

Development & Evaluation Manager, Circus Harmony

Social Circus Series Description pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Circus Harmony
Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend); Introductory

11:15am EDT

"Aerial Theatre and Act Creation"

Limited Capacity full

A favorite of performing artists, this workshop focuses on ensemble building OR personal act creation. Come as a team, ready to build stage presence and teamwork in performance contexts, or come as an individual, ready to sharpen your performance skills and learn to communicate clear messages to your audience. We will work with physical theatre and improvisation exercises to find the stories our aerial tricks want to tell. Pre-requisites: Enough comfort on an aerial apparatus of your choice to focus on expression, not skill building.

Learn from the creator of Memphis's longest running theatrical circus show, "Night Shift"-3 years of aerial theatre and counting! In addition to her work with "Night Shift", Callie has vast experience adapting and choreographing theatre for circus arts. Her recent projects include: Edward Ablee’s classic play, “The Zoo Story” and Mark Ravenhill's "(Pool) no water" adapted for circus theatre, as well as teaching Aerial Theatre at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, for almost 2 years.

Speakers

Callie Compton

Creative Director, Weightless Aerial Company

I've been circus-ing 8 years professionally and teaching aerial for 6 years. As the resident aerial instructor at Rhodes College, I specialize in circus theatre and translating movement into stories. I am trained in aerial silks, hoop, doubles aerial, spansets, chains, trapeze/triple... Read More →

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 3 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Host Organization Weightless Aerial Company
Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level

11:15am EDT

Clown - Gag writing for groups

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Jesse Dryden

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)

11:15am EDT

Exploring Meathooks and Reverse Meathooks on Straps: Tips, Tricks, and Theory.

Limited Capacity filling up

Arguably the most popular and desired one arm positions are the "meathook" and the "reverse meathook" (or flag). This workshop will take an in depth look into both positions, including various ways to get in to the positions, alternate drills or modifications, and the anatomical reasoning behind such an approach. This workshop is designed for students and educators who have a very strong aerial practice and want to learn how to safely progress to higher level skills. Shannon has been giving lessons, classes, and workshops with this material for the past three years.

Speakers

Shannon McKenna

The Artist Athlete

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level

11:15am EDT

Flexibility: everything you’ve wanted to know and then some

Limited Capacity filling up

This Q&A style workshop will include but not be limited to the following topics: what happens when you stretch, what are the safest/fastest ways to develop flexibility, managing hypermobility, what is functional flexibility. This workshop will benefit everyone and is designed for those who are curious and wish to be better educated with science-based approaches to training and gain a better understanding of what they are doing and why as it pertains to flexibility. This has been my area of expertise for close to 40 years, I am confident you will find practical value in the information presented.

Speakers

Jim Donak

Owner, Diving Buddah

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Flexibility
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Literally Physics

Limited Capacity filling up

This workshop will introduce basic physics concepts including center of mass, torque, and moment of inertia, with a particular focus on how these concepts can be applied to teaching and adapting circus disciplines. This will be discussion- and concept-based. No background in Physics or Mathematics is necessary. The goal of the workshop is to show how certain laws and theories of physics can be used to teach and troubleshoot unfamiliar skills, to work out how balance points function mechanically, and how to spot mechanical problems in students' forms. I have been teaching high school Physics for 4(ish) years, and once I started looking at my acrobatics practice with some basic physics in mind, I have found it much easier to conceptualize, learn, and troubleshoot certain new skills. I also use Physics to teach juggling technique (I know why students walk forward when they first learn to juggle). I am interested in how this could be applied in other arts as well, such as aerials, cyr wheel, etc.

Speakers

Michael Smith

Michael "MJ" Smith taught juggling for 14 years with the Great Y Circus in Redlands and 2 years with Kinetic Theory in Los Angeles. He is currently a distance-learning high school Physics, Math, and Science teacher. Somewhere in there is a decade+ of partner and group acrobatic experience... Read More →

Saturday October 6, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

12:45pm EDT

Social Circus Consulting [ON-SITE SIGN UP REQUIRED]

Speakers

Jen Agans

Assistant Professor, Penn State University

Zoe Brookes

Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad

Amy Christian

Staff Artist, Wise Fool New Mexico

David Hunt - Virtual Only

Executive / Artistic Director, Prescott Circus

Dan Roberts

Executive Director, CircEsteem

Social Circus Consulting Option pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT
Snack Bar 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus

12:45pm EDT

Lunch (On Your Own)

There are a variety of quick and affordable food options within walking distance from our venue!

Saturday October 6, 2018 12:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

1:15pm EDT

Big Gay Lunch!!

Limited Capacity seats available

Open to all LGBTQIA+ individuals! Bring your own lunch! Socialize!

Speakers

Beau Cromartie

Ruth Schultz

Natasha Shatzkin

Saturday October 6, 2018 1:15pm - 2:00pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

1:15pm EDT

VAMP: a Circus-centric alternative to MindBody

Limited Capacity full

Short demonstrations/information sessions about VAMP, a new registration and client management system specifically designed for circus schools. If you can't make either of the scheduled sessions but are interested in the system, please see Bev about arranging another time to meet up.

Speakers

Beverly H Sobelman

Owner and Executive Director, Versatile Arts

In addition to running Versatile Arts, I'm also a founding member of the ACE Safety Program committee and I've developed VAMP, a circus-centric software platform for studio management.

Saturday October 6, 2018 1:15pm - 2:00pm EDT
Snack Bar 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors

2:00pm EDT

Circus and Accessibility: Moving Forward Together

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will explore issues around circus and accessibility, particularly physical access to circus. We will discuss both our legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as instructors working in “places of public accommodation,” and how they dovetail with our desire - as well as our ethical and moral responsibility - to make the joy and practice of circus arts as accessible as possible while still maintaining participant and staff safety. We will work together to continue to move this important conversation forward within our community in terms of exploring how we can ensure that our programs are as accessible as possible, and that our educators are as equipped as possible to work with a wide range of learners. This involves thinking about our programs and the skills we teach, and exploring creative adaptations we can make so that what we do will be more accessible. The first half of this workshop will briefly cover the concepts of “disability,” and examine not only the barriers to access that people with disabilities encounter, but our own barriers that may be contributing, and how to address these effectively. The second half of this workshop will involve small-group discussions using sample scenarios, and brainstorming solutions and ideas together. This workshop is ideal for all circus educators and program directors, both with and without disabilities. Kate Magram has a clinical doctorate in physical therapy, specializing in pediatrics, and has been teaching circus to youth and adults for about 20 years; she is passionate about accessibility in circus and other fields.

Speakers

Kate Magram

Coach, Administrative Manager, Circus Up!

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Adaptive Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Conversation
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Digital Marketing and Social Media for Circus Studios

Limited Capacity filling up

Winnie Hsia and Joanna Wright will discuss the methods they have used to market Sky Candy, one of the biggest and most successful recreational circus arts studios in the country. Topics will include how to design and implement effective Facebook and Google Adwords campaigns, how to target your desired audience effectively, how to use both paid and unpaid modes of digital communication to market to prospective students, and how to choose which platforms you use for digital marketing. This presentation will be useful for studio owners who wish to improve their marketing and social media strategy. Winnie and Joanna bring over a decade of combined marketing and social media experience at various companies, including Infochimps, Whole Foods and, of course, Sky Candy.

Speakers

Joanna Wright

Teacher, Sky Candy

ACE EdCon 2018 Digital Marketing Presentation pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Sky Candy
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags This requires you to be an owner or company director

2:00pm EDT

Safety Beyond Mats: Principles, processes and practices to prevent sexual, physical and emotional abuse in circus education; examples from the field

Limited Capacity seats available

Keeping staff and students safe is one of the main focuses of every circus school and circus program. Complementing equipment and other physical safety issues that circus programs must fully address, safety from emotional, verbal, sexual and physical abuse need to be carefully and intentionally addressed and infused throughout our circus program policies, practices and training, in accordance with AYCO's core competencies for developmental circus arts (see http://www. americancircuseducators.org/ core-competencies/, and all applicable state and local laws & regulations). Every program is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all set of policies that will work for every school.

This workshop will discuss the process of developing anti-abuse policies for our programs. We will look at two examples of how programs took on this task. Marci Diamond and Jen Carlo will discuss the process at Circus Smirkus and Henry Wheaton will talk about the process that SHOW Circus Studio went through to create their Culture of Safety.

Speakers

Jennifer Carlo

Executive Director, Circus Smirkus

Jennifer Carlo was a university vice president for student affairs for many years and still teaches at the university level.

Marci Diamond

Cofounder/Director, Diamond Family Circus

Henry Wheaton

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags ?

2:00pm EDT

Customizing Social Circus

Limited Capacity seats available

After completing this workshop, participants will be inspired to reevaluate how they implement social circus methodologies and begin formulating plans to use social circus to address unsolved issues in their communities.

Speakers

Dan Roberts

Executive Director, CircEsteem

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

2:00pm EDT

Resilience: Adverse Childhood Experiences, The Neurobiology of Stress, and Building a Trauma-Informed Circus Program

Limited Capacity seats available

Childhood experiences, whether positive or negative, have the potential to impact a person’s entire life course. As circus educators, we may come into contact with children or adults who may have experienced or may be struggling with traumatic or stressful events. These traumatic and stressful experiences often leave their mark in the form of challenging behavior or socio-emotional difficulties. In some cases, these adverse childhood experiences can even results in significant physical health problems in adulthood. How can we use what we know about trauma/stress and child/human development to create sensitive and responsive circus education programs to promote resilience in our trainees and overall community-at -large? In this workshop, Dr. Lau will present a lecture reviewing what we know from the literature about adverse childhood experiences, the neurobiology of stress, and the impact of toxic stress on child development. She will discuss how all these can ultimately influence behavior, socio-emotional development, and physical health. She will also present and facilitate discussions with participants on practical ways of incorporating this knowledge and ways of building a trauma-informed training program. Activities in this workshop will primarily involve: active listening during the presentation, participating in small group discussions with other participants, and potential experiential activities related to stressful events and ways of managing stress. This workshop is designed for teachers, managers, administrators of circus education programs, and/or anyone interested in understanding the multiple ways in which trauma and toxic stress affect individuals and anyone wanting to respond more sensitively and holistically to challenging behavioral or socio-emotional difficulties that may manifest in the classroom. Dr. Lau is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Southern California and specializing in infant and childhood mental health, family systems, stress/resilience, and trauma.

Speakers

Lynette Lau

ACE EdCon 2018 Resilience pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

1 ball, 2 ball and 3 ball games for teaching youth too young to learn to juggle.

Limited Capacity full

This workshop will share with you Twenty 1 ball, 2 ball and 3 ball games for youth a bit too young to accomplish 3 ball juggling. These exercises are fun and are great for getting students ready for the three ball cascade. These games and exercises use beanbags not scarves. These exercises don't just fill time but are legitimate precursors to 3 ball cascade success.

Speakers

Richard Kennison

Circadium

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Juggling
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Analyzing Hoop Beats

Limited Capacity filling up

In this workshop, we will cover teaching all types of beats on aerial hoop, but specifically focusing on how to correct the different issues that students' often present. Looking at what is happening in their beat, and reading their body and the hoop to tell you what is going wrong in their swing. We will be doing beats on the apparatus as well as looking at media I will be bringing of my students and their different "quirks". This workshop is designed for teachers who work with students on dynamics, or are using beats in their own training, but not sure yet how to bring beats to their students. T has taught all over the world, and has created the Hoop Artist Teacher Training program to help raise up the knowledge of aerial hoop teaching in the aerial and pole communities.

Speakers

T Lawrence-Simon

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Lounge B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has another kind of prerequisite (specify in comments)

2:00pm EDT

Beyond Body Language: New Understandings of Meaningful Movement, Research Experiences, and Community

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation and discussion-based workshop will cover two main topics – the findings of recent thesis research on aerial training and the insights of the director of the studio that hosted this research. First, we will explore dynamics of community building and the cultivation/transmission of embodied knowledge in an aerial arts studio through an anthropological lens. Specifically, we present an analysis of Hollow Body as a significant exercise for conditioning and also socialization into the studio culture. Then we will engage experiences of the director as a supporter of the project, research participant, and her reflections on the findings.

Throughout this presentation we will go through some of the training movements/exercises that we discussed as significant. Having contextualized executing and instructing Hollow Body as a resource to the culture of this aerial arts studio, we invite reflection into how these foundational exercises may be meaningful in your studios and practices. We will invite discussion on these exercises and how hosting/supporting research can promote new insights.

This workshop is open to anyone who is interested in exploring the ways students and teachers establish training practices and build community through experiencing shared understandings of movement. We especially encourage studio directors and instructors who are curious about hosting and participating in academic research to attend.

Joanie has gained useful insights from this project and continues to seek opportunities for research partnerships with Northern Arizona University; kevin has written and presented extensively on this topic in academic forums and is excited to share their research directly with circus educators.

Speakers

Joanie Garcia

Co-Owner, Momentum Aerial

Hi, Im Joanie. I am one of the co-owners of Momentum Aerial, based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Our studio is a bustling school, with over 100 weekly classes and 400 students. We focus on recreational training for the community of Flagstaff. I love working with kids and teens, and I also... Read More →

kevin shaw

student and researcher

Hi, I'm kevin! I am an aerial student and a social researcher. I am one of the co-presenters for Beyond Body Language, a discussion on building community and research partnerships through using and examining language and movement. I have been a student of pole and other aerial apparatuses... Read More →

BeyondBodyLangauageShawandGarciaACE2018Oct4 pptx

shawkToNameExplainandDo pdf

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Momentum Aerial Arts
Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Inventive Trapeze Pathways and Sequences

Limited Capacity full

Learn inventive trapeze sequences to bring back to your own students, working through progressions that build the components phase by phase into final choreographic phrases that can be modified based on student capability. We'll talk about concepts that make the pathways work, common student pitfalls and cues that can help, and ways to expand these pathways in new directions. Sequences will focus on navigating and understanding moving in/around the trapeze ropes and rolling and twisting around the bar. This workshop is designed for teachers of int/adv trapeze students looking for new material and inspiration. Megan has been trapezing since 2006, graduated NECCA’s Pro-Track, and completed the Nimble Arts intermediate trapeze teacher training. She is a constant researcher and creator in the air, and while she loves to share her work on Instagram (@megangendell), she likes sharing it in person even more.

Speakers

Megan Gendell

PSCA/Circadium

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments)

2:00pm EDT

Performing Fabric

Limited Capacity seats available

2)Performing Fabric (Intermediate/Advanced)
This workshop is designed for instructors who have students with an act or who are working on an act. It is performance based, uses groundwork as well as aerial work to help instructors bring out the character and personality in their students. It is meant to take you performance to the next level, beyond skills and sequences to showbusiness.
Prerequisite: have an act or are working on an act and have sequences that students can perform!

Speakers

Leisha Knight

Saturday October 6, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 3 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level

3:30pm EDT

Coffee Break

Saturday October 6, 2018 3:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
TBA

3:45pm EDT

Keynote: Social Justice Matters! A Social Justice Method of Practice for Artists, Activists, and Educators

Limited Capacity seats available

As patterns of economic inequality and racism increase, artists, activists, and educators are on the frontlines of our current sociopolitical crisis. Yet we are often at a loss as to how to explore and discuss the effects of socio-economic problems with individuals, families, and communities. This presentation will introduce the liberation health framework; a social justice focused method of practice that integrates analysis of cultural and social forces with traditional teaching methods. Following an overview of liberation health theory and methodology, participants will explore applications of the model to ongoing teaching and artistic practices.

Speakers

chloefrankel

Chloe Frankel, LICSW, is a clinical social worker, youth worker, and arts educator from Boston, MA. Trained as a community-based advocate and family therapist, Chloe conducted in-home therapy with children and families for eleven years and is a contributing author to the book Social... Read More →

AYCO keynote pptx

Saturday October 6, 2018 3:45pm - 5:00pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

5:00pm EDT

Raffle Drawing!

Saturday October 6, 2018 5:00pm - 5:15pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

5:15pm EDT

Dinner (On Your Own)

There are a variety of quick and affordable food options within walking distance from our venue!

Saturday October 6, 2018 5:15pm - 7:30pm EDT
TBA

6:30pm EDT

Reg Bolton Pub Crawl

In memory of beloved circus educator Reg Bolton. Starting location will be at Twain's Brewpub where we will have pool tables and light appetizers waiting for you. Please note that after 9pm this venue becomes strictly 21+.

Saturday October 6, 2018 6:30pm - 9:00pm EDT
Twain's Brewpub

9:15am EDT

Morning Meeting

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

AYCO/ACE

Executive Director, AYCO/ACE

Circus can change the world!

Sunday October 7, 2018 9:15am - 9:30am EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

9:30am EDT

Keynote: Prioritizing Child Protection in the Circus Community

Limited Capacity seats available

YPAD/ YPAG discount code and link to materials: https://www.ypad4change.org/ace/

Save 25% off Youth Protection Advocated in Dance (YPAD) Certification!
An Exclusive for ACE EdCon Attendees!
Use code: ace2018 at check out.
Hurry! Offer expires November 1st

Speakers

Sammi Rader

Sammi Rader has a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Psychology witha minor in Dance Education. Sammi currently serves as a consultant and AdvisoryPanel member for Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD). Sammi is grateful forher service with YPAD because it allows... Read More →

YPAD ACE Keynote Presentation 10 7 18 pptx

Sunday October 7, 2018 9:30am - 10:45am EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

11:15am EDT

Neurobehavioral approach to learning and memory in circus arts

Limited Capacity seats available

This will be lecture based, with time for discussion. They are designed for educators, but can be open enrollment. The presenter has a PhD in clinical neuropsychology.

Speakers

Anne Miller

Suspend

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Adaptive Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Adaptive Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Conversation on Healthy Relationships in the workplace

Limited Capacity seats available

Building, sustaining and modeling healthy relationships is an important component of the work we do as circus educators. In this interactive workshop, we'll be exploring some best practices for encouraging a harassment free working environment through the use of examples and discussion. Participants should come out of this session with some basic tools to begin conversations and implementation in their own programs.

Kristina Wicke, Executive Director at SANCA - School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts, will lead this conversation about creating and sustaining healthy relationships in the workplace between co-workers, and with students.

Speakers

Kristina Wicke

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural

11:15am EDT

SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION & RESPONSE BASIC TRAINING FOR CIRCUS PROGRAMS

Limited Capacity seats available

All EdCon participants are invited to participate in a sample basic training on this topic developed specifically for circus program leadership/coaches/staff. Gain information and perspectives on how to address abuse prevention/response within a circus program context, and what else you may need to consider in developing additional and ongoing training for your program, with the understanding that ongoing training needs to be geared specifically to each program's policies and practices as they evolve, and in partnership with local resources such as RCCs, CACs, etc.

Speakers

Marci Diamond

Cofounder/Director, Diamond Family Circus

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Lounge B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

11:15am EDT

Social Circus Series 3: Using data to assess program outcomes

Limited Capacity seats available

Part 3 of a 3-part Social Circus Series
Zoe Brookes, Charlotte Byram and Jen Agans have curated a series of workshops on starting social circuses and demonstrating their impact to funders, focused on those areas that many working in the field find most challenging. Each part of the series builds on the next, so come to them all, or jump in at the part that reflects the challenges you’re working on now.

This session is the final session of the series, but you do not need to have attended the other sessions to come to this one!
You know your program works and you have plenty of anecdotes to prove it, but you (or your potential funders) want to have some more rigorous evidence of program outcomes. Or maybe you already have an evaluation system in place, but you’re not happy with it and you want to learn about other options. Come to this workshop to learn about using scientifically-validated measures to assess the impact of your program.
This workshop will introduce the AYCO/ACE Program Evaluation Toolbox, a step-by-step system designed to help circus programs conduct rigorous, yet accessible, evaluation. In this workshop, we will walk through the Toolbox and explore how to apply each step to your program, focusing on selecting appropriate measures and collecting survey data from participants. After completing the workshop, participants will be familiar with the resources in the AYCO/ACE Evaluation Toolbox and be ready to use it or other rigorous systems of data collection to evaluate their own programs.
This workshop is recommended for directors, senior staff, or administrators as well as anyone else interested in program evaluation, regardless of your level of evaluation experience. For those new to evaluation, the first two workshops in the Social Circus Series are recommended prior to attending this one.
Find the Toolbox online at: http://www.americancircuseducators.org/program-evaluation-toolbox.

Speakers

Jen Agans

Assistant Professor, Penn State University

Social Circus Series Description pdf

AYCO Evaluation presentation for EdCon 2018 pptx

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

How to Spot, Teach, and Do Human Pyramids: Foundational Techniques

Limited Capacity filling up

The topics included in this workshop include individual balancing skills and positions for basing, two person basic trust building and counterbalancing exercises, as well as 3+ person pyramids. The foundations of teaching and spotting these pyramids safely will be covered as well. This workshop is intended for those interested in adding basic features of partner balancing/pyramid building to their resources for community and confidence building exercises. We will do some games if we have time! Steve Seaberg has been working with many groups to build pyramids, both dynamic and static, for over 20 years and can't wait to share his experience with others!

Speakers

Hilary Riall

Lead aerial teacher and trainer, Circus Arts Institute

Steve Seaberg

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Host Organization Circus Arts Institute
Skills Acrobatics
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Introductory

11:15am EDT

Mini-Trampoline

Limited Capacity full

Speakers

Eliana Hentoff-Killian

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 4 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Acrobatics

11:15am EDT

Physical Theatre for Aerialists: An Introduction to Aerial Performance and Storytelling

Limited Capacity full

What makes an aerial routine fun to watch? In this workshop, we will break down the basics of how to be an engaging aerial performer, and identify the tools that aerial performers can use to tell the story of their choosing. Participants should be intermediate level aerialists or higher, and will be asked to perform simple sequences in the air during this workshop- ideally, participants will come to the workshop with an idea for a routine or a work in progress that they would like to explore. Joanna Wright has spent the last ten years working on applying physical theatre principles to aerial work, and nothing brings her greater joy than helping aerialists find their creative voice.

Speakers

Joanna Wright

Teacher, Sky Candy

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments)

11:15am EDT

Refining Inversions Through Pilates

Limited Capacity filling up

Do you have students who have either never inverted or plateaued in their inversion strength? Pilates is an excellent tool for helping students recruit their entire body for big tasks! This workshop will begin with mat Pilates exercises that can be incorporated into any aerial warm-up. We will then transition into the air to analyze tuck, pike, straddle, and other inversions for full recruitment of kinetic chains (muscles connected by fascia working in succession). This analysis will give teachers more tools for observing and cueing movement. At the end of the workshop we will address specific questions about applications of Pilates in the aerial class.

Speakers

Julianna Hane

Director of Training, Born to Fly Teacher Trainings and Support

I am passionate about training aerial educators holistically through best practices in safety, technique, pedagogy, and anatomy. I am also a dance professor with a specialization in aerial dance.

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Gym 2 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

Song Circles for Social Inclusion

Limited Capacity seats available

Did you know that the musical accompaniment to the the world's first circus was provided by a choir of 60 children? Or that contemporary social-psychology and neuroscience has found a positive correlation between singing ability, self-image and social inclusion? In this workshop participants are invited to run away and join the chorus! Together we will explore some techniques of song leading, bringing our voices together in rhythm, melody and harmony while holding space for all levels of singing experience. Participants will walk away with the skills necessary to orchestrate and conduct song circles.

Speakers

James Green

Founder, Cirque In Progress

James is the founder of Cirque In Progress, a fledgling Social Circus Theater company. He studied physical theater with the Dell’Arte School, and received his Theater of the Oppressed facilitator training from the Mandala Center for Change, in Port Townsend, WA.

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching Theory
Tags Open (anyone can attend); Introductory

11:15am EDT

Teaching Strategies for Mixed-Level Classes

Limited Capacity filling up

Let's talk techniques for successfully managing a class with students at a range of skill levels! We'll discuss common pitfalls that coaches run into with mixed level classes and how to avoid them, as well as planning and class management tools that will help you serve the needs of *all* your students without leaving you exhausted. Workshop will include lecture, discussion, and small group work. This workshop is intended for teachers of adult and older youth students. Ellen has 10 years of experience as a movement and circus arts teacher and is a head coach and co-owner at Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, MA.

Speakers

Ellen Waylonis

Owner, Esh Circus Arts

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Esh Circus Arts
Skills Teaching and training theory
Subject Teaching Theory
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

11:15am EDT

To tuck or not to tuck?

Limited Capacity full

Why do we “tuck” the pelvis? What is hollow body? What is the difference between core strength and core control? In this workshop, we’ll look at the anatomy of the pelvis, spine, and core and begin to understand how our abdominal muscles should work optimally and what sorts of core dysfuntions we may see in ourselves and our students. Participants will practice and observe each other and learn basic ways to begin to change engagement and movement patterns that can easily be integrated into warm ups. This workshop is for anyone who teaches bodies how to move and is looking for more information on this topic. Lauren is an aerial coach, personal trainer, and Pilates instructor and is one half of the teacher trainers at Versatile Arts.

Speakers

Lauren Kehl

Versatile Arts

Sunday October 7, 2018 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

12:45pm EDT

Social Circus Consulting [ON-SITE SIGN UP REQUIRED]

Speakers

Jen Agans

Assistant Professor, Penn State University

Zoe Brookes

Executive Director, Trenton Circus Squad

Amy Christian

Staff Artist, Wise Fool New Mexico

David Hunt - Virtual Only

Executive / Artistic Director, Prescott Circus

Dan Roberts

Executive Director, CircEsteem

Social Circus Consulting Option pdf

Sunday October 7, 2018 12:45pm - 1:00pm EDT
Snack Bar 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus

12:45pm EDT

Lunch (On Your Own)

There are a variety of quick and affordable food options within walking distance from our venue!

Sunday October 7, 2018 12:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
TBA

12:45pm EDT

Organizational Learning Community Agreements to Advance Equity and Inclusivity

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn about the background, process, and recent implementation of The Circus Project's community-driven learning agreements followed by a group discussion to relfect on your organization's culture and potential avenues towards integrating an equity lens.

Link to more info: https://www.thecircusproject.org/learning-community-agreements

Speakers

Rhen Miles, CSWA

Pathways Manager, The Circus Project

Rhen Molly Miles manages the Pathways Program at the Circus Project. She also developed and facilitates a participatory program based in youth-adult partnerships called the Voice Project. Rhen is a Clinical Social Work Associate, working towards licensure and is currently teaching... Read More →

Learning Community Agreements pptx

Sunday October 7, 2018 12:45pm - 2:00pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

2:00pm EDT

Adaptive Circus and the Significance of the American with Disabilities Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Limited Capacity seats available

With the increase in circus programs accommodating students with disabilities in the United States, it is important to recognize and consider the effects of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). This legislation could effect adaptive circus practices. This workshop will investigate these laws, consider its implications on circus teachings, and demonstrate how to create best practices regarding circus and disabilities.

Speakers

Suzanne Rappaport

Occupational Therapist, Circus for Survivors

Adaptive Circus and ADA HIPPA pdf

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Adaptive Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Adaptive Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Introduction to Liberation Health theory and methodology

Limited Capacity seats available

Liberation Health is a theory and method of practice that helps individuals, families, and communities understand the personal, cultural, and institutional factors that contribute to their problems and act to change these conditions; to liberate themselves from both internal and external oppression. Come learn about the model and the many different ways it can be applied.

Speakers

chloefrankel

AYCO workshop 1 pptx

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Gender/Race/Social/Cultural, Talking and Listening

2:00pm EDT

Building an Inclusive Circus Community

Limited Capacity seats available

Winnie Hsia and Joanna Wright of Sky Candy in Austin, TX invite other studio owners to a round table discussion to share strategies for making circus studios more welcoming to all students. Topics of discussion will include an examination of the first impression a studio makes (both online and in person), how to welcome a diverse range of students effectively, and creating opportunities for performance and participation for everyone. Winnie and Joanna have spent the past eight years building a circus community that is truly inclusive- through thoughtful implementation of strategies to encourage diversity among their students, the team at Sky Candy has created one of the largest and most inclusive recreational schools in the country.

Speakers

Joanna Wright

Teacher, Sky Candy

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Sky Candy
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags This requires you to be an owner or company director

2:00pm EDT

VAMP: a Circus-centric alternative to MindBody

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Beverly H Sobelman

Owner and Executive Director, Versatile Arts

In addition to running Versatile Arts, I'm also a founding member of the ACE Safety Program committee and I've developed VAMP, a circus-centric software platform for studio management.

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Snack Bar 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors

2:00pm EDT

Social Circus Initatives around the world

Limited Capacity seats available

Discussion of social circus initiatives around the world.

Speakers

Dan Roberts

Executive Director, CircEsteem

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Lounge B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Social Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Social Circus
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Beyond Muscles: understanding kinetic chains

Limited Capacity filling up

Myths and misconceptions of muscle function is abundant. Using muscles to describe and explain movement is becoming outdated. It is time to evolve into a more contemporary integrated paradigm. This workshop will explore a revised understanding of how muscles relate to lines of force, range of motion, dynamic movement and how function comes down to balancing movement patterning. Welcome to a new world in which we also honour the role of the fascia and neurology with respect to the creation of strength. Be prepared to partake in movement games designed to help embody the presented information. After decades of experience I have a reputation for being an engaging presenter of complex concepts. I make training science fun, informative and relevant to your practice.

Speakers

Jim Donak

Owner, Diving Buddah

Beyond Muscles IMages pdf

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts

Skills Flexibility
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

C Is for C-Curve, It Rolls Enough For Me

Limited Capacity full

As vertical apparatus technique has evolved, the principles of "rolling up" and vocabulary issuing from those principles continue to change our perception of the possible. In this workshop, we will look at how to prepare the body for the sensation and the activity of roll-ups; how to introduce the concept, how to take it apart, how to spot, and how to coach a myriad of exercises involving the C-curve. This is a workshop for teachers and coaches who have advanced students, but would like more information about this advanced skill. Sarah Poole has been coaching advanced and professional students in rope and fabric for over 10 years in Montréal QC.

Speakers

Sarah Poole

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 2 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments)

2:00pm EDT

ChoreoLab: Activating Space

Limited Capacity seats available

Choreographers are scientists who research a range of topics from people, environment, literature – any topic, really – and then they set out to show an audience their discoveries through movement. ChoreoLab: Activating Space focuses on how relationships can be perceived through space and how to look at your choreography from an audience perspective in regards to space. The workshop will include light movement activities and discussion. Caroline Calouche is the Artistic Director of Caroline Calouche & Co., a non-profit dance and cirque organization in Charlotte, North Carolina whose work has been presented throughout the Southeast and in Europe. Learn more at carolinecalouche.org and carolinecalouche.com

Speakers

Caroline Calouche

Director, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center

Caroline's dancing roots began in the small town of Gastonia, North Carolina (12 miles outside Charlotte) and branched out Texas Christian University for two BFA degrees in Ballet and Modern Dance. From there she studied in Europe in Rome, Brussels and then completed a postgraduate... Read More →

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Media Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Host Organization Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center
Skills Creation and Choreography
Subject Creation and Choreography
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

2:00pm EDT

Game Lab

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Jesse Dryden

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)

2:00pm EDT

Rope Beats Break Down

Limited Capacity seats available

Strongly influenced by attending Alex Allan's dynamic rope teacher training last month, this workshop will go over the different kinds of beats and beat progressions on rope.

Pre Req: Must be comfortable hanging from hands for a decent amount of time. Being able to have straight legs in the air are very helpful for this workshop and are highly recommended.

Speakers

Christine Morano

Aerial Coach, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial

2:00pm EDT

Teaching Unicycle: From First Pedals to Center Ring

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will cover best practices for teaching beginning unicycle, as well as training methods and tips for teaching more experienced riders. We will cover unicycle sizing and maintenance, first steps (or pedals), spotting techniques, and how to teach key skills such as freemounting, idling, backwards, and more. We will also cover skill progressions for a few more advanced skills, and training methods to improve skill regardless of skill level. There will be time at the end to answer questions on any specific skills or topics that attendees may have. This will be a demonstration workshop, not an experiential one, so no unicycle or unicycle abilities required! I will spend most of the time talking, and using either a single student as an example, or demonstrating myself. This will allow us to cover more material in the short amount of time. Expect to take notes, feel free to take photos.

Speakers

Jesse AlFord

Head Coach, My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus

Jesse is the Head Coach with My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus. He has been unicycling for over 20 years, beginning in the Great Y Circus in Redlands, CA. He has competed at NAUCC (North American Unicycling Championships & Convention), and has taught unicycling workshops at AYCO events... Read More →

Sunday October 7, 2018 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Gym 4 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

3:30pm EDT

Coffee Break

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:30pm - 3:45pm EDT
TBA

3:45pm EDT

Circus and Accessibility: Moving Forward Together

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kate Magram

Coach, Administrative Manager, Circus Up!

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Dance Studio 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Adaptive Circus, Talking and Listening

Subject Conversation
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

Equipment Inventory and Inspections: Overview of a Prototype Tracking System

Limited Capacity full

Using free, web-based software, we developed a media-rich system for tracking inventory and equipment inspections, which catalogs each component owned by the organization. The software has capability for associating each record with photo and/or written documentation, filtering and sorting, and intersecting with links to vendors for re-ordering. We will demonstrate the use of the database we created, discuss considerations for developing your own system for tracking and inspecting equipment, and share a template database with participants who wish to adopt our system for their own uses. This system enabled us to track repairs, predict when equipment would need to be replaced, and easily check to see if we had a component being recalled in stock. Possessing a system like this not only provides the obvious ability of tracking equipment, but also increases safety and the ability to plan ahead in budgeting for equipment. This workshop is useful for participants that manage an inventory of equipment, whether it be for a small or large program. April and Alysha are successive education directors for Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance school, whose operations encompass more than 50 classes a week in two on site and multiple off site locations, and all the equipment required to run those classes.

Speakers

Alysha Perrin

Education Director, Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance

Alysha hails from Lake Tahoe, NV where she grew up dancing, tumbling, and skiing. She continued her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she earned her BFA in contemporary dance. She currently serves as the Education Director at Frequent Flyers® Aerial... Read More →

April Moore Skelton

Coach, Empyrean Arts, Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Meeting Room 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Owner/Manager/Studio Director, Talking and Listening

Host Organization Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

Clown 101: Play, Character, and Routines

Limited Capacity seats available

Clown 101 focuses on introductory clown. It covers play-based warm-up games, starting-to-find-your-character exercises, and full routines to develop play, character, timing, and stage presence. Participants will both experience the material themselves and get a breakdown of why these exercises work.

Speakers

Audrey Spinazola

Youth Companies Manager, SANCA

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Animal Crackers 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

3:45pm EDT

Consent Games for Circus

Limited Capacity seats available

Consent Games for Circus is a physical theater workshop offering circus instructors methods for teaching and practicing consent. Through playing games, participants will be invited to explore different elements of consent, such as: boundaries, desire, risk, verbal and non-verbal communication, social media, and power. Circus instructors interested in sexual assault and relationship violence prevention will find Consent Games for Circus valuable. Violet Defiant / Kathleen Livingston, PhD has been teaching college writing for 10 years, teaching circus for 5 years, and teaching trauma-informed movement for 2 years.

Speakers

Violet Defiant

Circus performer and instructor, Ann Arbor Aviary

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Studio A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Clown and Games
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags Open (anyone can attend);

3:45pm EDT

Creating Youth Driven Performances and Programs

Limited Capacity filling up

This workshop will cover creating shows driven by youth. I will present a step by step outline of how I go about guiding the creation shows with kids that are written, created and produced by them. This will include strategies for guiding youth to work collaboratively and dealing with conflict resolution. We will discuss strategies for guiding them, but leaving it to them as much as possible. This would be an interesting workshop for any youth circus teacher or program director. Katherine has spent the past 12 years leading youth circus programing and over this time has created a template and strategies for guiding them in creating their own theatrical and circus works.

Speakers

Katherine Tesch

Owner/Director, Desert Sky Community School

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Studio B 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Talking and Listening

Host Organization The Circus Academy of Tucson
Skills Teaching and training theory
Subject Teaching Theory
Tags Open (anyone can attend)

3:45pm EDT

Discovering Fundamental Aerial Alignment on Straps

Limited Capacity filling up

This workshop uses aerial straps to address fundamental movements and muscle activation for any aerial apparatus. It contains information and exercises to help students find three basic positions: pike, tuck, and straddle. Time allowing, it will also introduce how to translate this information to one arm technique. The goal is to learn to use the straps as a conditioning tool for any aerialists to gain greater mobility and strength. It is designed for aerialists and instructors seeking to deepen their understanding of aerial alignment, or discover a different approach to hanging upside down. Shannon has taught this workshop across the world for the past three years and recently written its contents in an approachable instructional manual.

Speakers

Shannon McKenna

The Artist Athlete

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Gym 1 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, high physical engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Teaching and Training (spotting etc.)
Tags This workshop has a physical skill level (specify in comments)

3:45pm EDT

Rigging lab

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Jonathan Deull

Director, Zip Zap Circus USA

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Gym 2 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Aerial
Subject Owners/Managers/Studio Directors

3:45pm EDT

Rolla Bolla

Limited Capacity filling up

Speakers

Jafet Irizarry

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Gym 4 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Acrobatics

3:45pm EDT

Teaching Contact Juggling: Basics and Benefits

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Sam Boyles

Sunday October 7, 2018 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Lounge A 231 Sycamore St. Decatur, GA

Teaching and Training Circus Arts, Low Physical Engagement

Skills Juggling

5:15pm EDT

Dinner (On Your Own)

There are a variety of quick and affordable food options within walking distance from our venue!

Sunday October 7, 2018 5:15pm - 7:30pm EDT
TBA

7:00pm EDT

Closing Social

Sunday October 7, 2018 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
TBA

10:00am EDT

Visit Local Circus Spaces!

All are open 10-12pm, please come by!

Circus Arts Institute - 206 Rogers St NE #214, Atlanta, GA 30317
There is a gate which needs a code to open:
To get in: press * and 0 at the same time, then enter 6466
To walk out: (enter code *6466*)

The Space ATL - 4620-A S Atlanta Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339

Inspire Aerial Arts - 549 Amsterdam Ave NE #5, Atlanta, GA 30306

Akrosphere - 390 Winkler Dr, Alpharetta, GA 30004

Sky Gym - 6780 Roswell Rd. Studio D100, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Sky Gym also has Open Gym from 10-12 for $15

Monday October 8, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT