Philadelphia School of Circus Arts

The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) is a contemporary circus school in Philadelphia. 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.

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.

...
Wikipedia