Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) is a contemporary circus
school in Philadelphia, and is the only one in the region. It began in June 2008.
The curriculum includes aerial skills, such as static trapeze
, corde lisse
or rope, lyra
) and juggling
, unicycling, tightwire, tumbling
, Chinese acrobatics, physical conditioning and other circus arts. Class sessions run four times per year, for eight weeks per session. Classes are for all ages, ranging from children 18 months and older, to adults of any age.
In addition to ongoing classes, PSCA offers introductory workshops that are around one hour in length. They introduce potential students to aerials, circus arts, or children's circus arts. These special workshops require no prior experience in circus arts or formal training. The workshops also provide a forum for participants to try out aerials, circus arts and children's circus arts without the commitment of an eight week session.
PSCA has expanded from a school where one can learn circus arts to a performing arts organization that offers performances on-site and in the community. PSCA is a regular participant in the Philadelphia International Children's Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Chestnut Hill Fall for Arts festival, and other community celebrations. The school presents an annual fall cabaret performance every November. PSCA is also participating in the Kimmel Center for the Arts "Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts" in spring, 2011. The school is also the home to several performances that are part of the Philadelphia Live Arts/Fringe Festival. In 2009, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts attracted 1,500 patrons to performances and events.
Additional activities at the PSCA studio include children's birthday parties
, wedding
and social events, private lessons, corporate team-building workshops, guest workshops, and school vacation
activities.
, in England.
She began teaching aerial skills in her home's backyard in 2001. In 2006, Kennedy formed Air Play, which would become a performance and teaching company. In 2008, Kennedy opened the full-fledged school facility known today as Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. The school attracts students are all ages and all levels, coming from the local area (Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, South Jersey) all the way to New York City. The studio space is 3200 square feet (297.3 m²) located in a renovated bowling alley with picture windows that overlook neighboring gardens, an elevated observation deck, rigging points for 18 pieces of aerial equipment and an expanse of bamboo flooring.
PSCA is an affiliate member of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In 2010, PSCA was named "Best Children's Entertainment Winner" by the voters and readers of MyPHL17 Hotlist/Cityvoter for children's entertainment. In 2009, PSCA was named "Best of Philadelphia" by Philadelphia Magazine for children's classes.
People have traveled from as far as Brooklyn
, New York and Wilmington, Delaware
, to attend the school.
in San Francisco, and Aircraft in Boston; the latter was founded by Jill Maio, who was trained by Kennedy.
Contemporary circus
Contemporary circus, or nouveau cirque , is a genre of performing art developed in the later 20th century in which a story or a theme is conveyed through traditional circus skills. Animals are rarely used in this type of circus, and traditional circus skills are blended with a more character-driven...
school in Philadelphia, and is the only one in the region. It began in June 2008.
The curriculum includes aerial skills, such as static trapeze
Static trapeze
Static trapeze, also known as fixed trapeze, is a type of circus art performed on the trapeze. In contrast to the other forms of trapeze, on static trapeze the bars and ropes mainly stay in place....
, corde lisse
Corde lisse
Corde lisse is an aerial circus skill or act that involves acrobatics on a vertically hanging rope. The name is French for "smooth rope".- Description :...
or rope, lyra
Aerial Hoop
The aerial hoop is a circular steel apparatus suspended from the ceiling, on which circus artists may perform aerial acrobatics. The hoop sometimes has a hand loop and a bar across the top...
) and juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
, unicycling, tightwire, tumbling
Tumbling (gymnastics)
In gymnastics, tumbling, also known as power tumbling is an acrobatic sporting discipline which combines some of the skills of artistic gymnastics on the floor with those of trampolining. It is practised on a 25 metre long spring track...
, Chinese acrobatics, physical conditioning and other circus arts. Class sessions run four times per year, for eight weeks per session. Classes are for all ages, ranging from children 18 months and older, to adults of any age.
In addition to ongoing classes, PSCA offers introductory workshops that are around one hour in length. They introduce potential students to aerials, circus arts, or children's circus arts. These special workshops require no prior experience in circus arts or formal training. The workshops also provide a forum for participants to try out aerials, circus arts and children's circus arts without the commitment of an eight week session.
PSCA has expanded from a school where one can learn circus arts to a performing arts organization that offers performances on-site and in the community. PSCA is a regular participant in the Philadelphia International Children's Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Chestnut Hill Fall for Arts festival, and other community celebrations. The school presents an annual fall cabaret performance every November. PSCA is also participating in the Kimmel Center for the Arts "Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts" in spring, 2011. The school is also the home to several performances that are part of the Philadelphia Live Arts/Fringe Festival. In 2009, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts attracted 1,500 patrons to performances and events.
Summer camp
Every summer, PSCA presents summer camp for children of all ages. The Youth Camp gives children the opportunity to develop skills on the trapeze, aerial rope and silks, juggling, unicycling, plate-spinning, diabolo, devil sticks, tightwire, rolling globe, rola-bola, clowning and tumbling. The Youth Camp also includes activities such as dance and performance classes, student showtimes, lunchtimes in the park, co-operative games. Children must be seven years old and have completed the first grade to attend youth camp. Kindercamp is for children five to six years old. This one-week program places a greater emphasis on play and exploration. Children will learn how to do trapeze, aerial rope and silks, feather-balancing, scarf-juggling, plate-spinning, tightwire, rolling globe, tumbling and obstacle courses. The camp also includes playground visits, arts and crafts projects, as well as rest time.Additional activities at the PSCA studio include children's birthday parties
Birthday party
A birthday party is a party to celebrate the anniversary of one's birth.Birthday Party may also refer to:- Theatre, film, and television :* The Birthday Party , a 1958 play by Harold Pinter...
, wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
and social events, private lessons, corporate team-building workshops, guest workshops, and school vacation
Vacation
A vacation or holiday is a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations...
activities.
History
PSCA was founded by Shana Kennedy, who is the director. Kennedy trained as an aerialist and a juggler at CircomediaCircomedia
Circomedia is a school for contemporary circus and physical theatre based in Bristol, England. The school offers a variety of training courses and workshops that teach circus skills in the context of physical theatre, performance and creativity....
, in England.
She began teaching aerial skills in her home's backyard in 2001. In 2006, Kennedy formed Air Play, which would become a performance and teaching company. In 2008, Kennedy opened the full-fledged school facility known today as Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. The school attracts students are all ages and all levels, coming from the local area (Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, South Jersey) all the way to New York City. The studio space is 3200 square feet (297.3 m²) located in a renovated bowling alley with picture windows that overlook neighboring gardens, an elevated observation deck, rigging points for 18 pieces of aerial equipment and an expanse of bamboo flooring.
PSCA is an affiliate member of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In 2010, PSCA was named "Best Children's Entertainment Winner" by the voters and readers of MyPHL17 Hotlist/Cityvoter for children's entertainment. In 2009, PSCA was named "Best of Philadelphia" by Philadelphia Magazine for children's classes.
People have traveled from as far as Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York and Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, to attend the school.
Similar schools
Other schools include Aloft Loft in Chicago, Circus CenterCircus Center
Circus Center is one of the foremost circus schools in the western United States. It was founded in 1984 by Wendy Parkman and Judy Finelli as the San Francisco School of Circus Arts.- History :...
in San Francisco, and Aircraft in Boston; the latter was founded by Jill Maio, who was trained by Kennedy.