The Clown Conservatory, which was started in the fall of 2000 with a grant from the NEA, is the only year-long circus clown training program in the United States. To date, 60 people have graduated from the program, many of whom are working professionally in circuses, theaters and puppet companies. The program has two major threads – skilled circus clowning and clowning in community.

Skilled circus clowning involves developing circus, musical and theatrical skills to a level that can be used as part of a “clown language”, which is unique to each individual. The structures that clowns use are old – the uniqueness is in how the gag is performed.

Clowning in community is an ongoing study of how clowns can make deep contributions to their communities, including the study of clowns in cultures from around the world as well as how clowns can enrich our local community.

The students will participate in monthly in-house performances, community performances and the annual Circus Center June Showcase. At the end of a year of study, most students have the skills and knowledge to begin building a professional performing career.

For more information about the program or to how to schedule an audition, please go to the Clown Conservatory's Web site .

Professional Aerial Program
Elena Panova, Director and Head Coach

2008/2009 Session

The Professional Aerial Program at Circus Center has been designed by Elena Panova for the training of aerial arts students who wish to pursue a professional circus career, and show the necessary abilities, both physical and psychological, for doing so. The Program covers a variety of aerial specialties, such as swinging trapeze, aerial perch (“bambou”), cloud swing, rope, aerial hoop (“cerceau”), etc., whether performed solo, in pair, or in group. The goal of the Program is to build aerial circus acts that can work professionally and compete on the international circus market.

It is a comprehensive and highly intensive training program that requires students’ total focus and dedication – including full commitment to all facets of the training provided, which encompasses ballet, acrobatics, acting, etc.: this peripheral training is an essential part of any truly professional circus training. Participating in the Professional Aerial Program at Circus Center cannot be regarded as a recreational activity: at a true professional level, circus is indeed a very demanding performing art.

Classes:
Weekly classes include:
o Specialty (Act) Training: 3 hours*
o Stretching: 1 _ hours
o Acrobatics: 6 hours
o Ballet: 2 hours
o Acting and Modular Classes: 2 hours (not included during the Trial Period).

Students who wish to enroll in the Professional Aerial Program must submit to a selection process and a three-month trial period.

Selection:
Applicants must send the following documents before May 30, 2008:

A. Résumé – including prior physical and artistic training, and professional performing experience if any, and also including name, address, date of birth, telephone number, e-mail address.

B. Letter of Intent – explaining why applicant wishes to enroll in the program, dreams, goals, ambitions, inspiration, etc.

C. Financial Statement – spelling out how applicant will support him/herself during training and pay tuition.

D . Videotape or DVD – including present act (aerial or else) if any, samples of physical and artistic skills (acrobatics, gymnastics, sports, ballet, dance, etc.), including:
- Flexibility: Splits, back bend;
- Strength: 10 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 10 leg lifts.

E. A short statement on camera – explaining why applicant wishes to enroll in the program (i.e. a short, spoken version of the letter of intent).

This package must be sent before May 30 to:
Professional Aerial Program
Attn.: Elena Panova
Circus Center
755 Frederick Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Applicants will be contacted individually.

Faculty:
Headed by Elena Panova, a graduate of the Moscow Circus School and an award-winning aerialist who performed internationally for twenty years in some of the world’s most prestigious circuses, the Aerial Program Faculty is composed exclusively of professional artists with a long and successful international career in the performing arts. This is one of the features that make this program unique in the US: Not only can the students learn aerial and circus techniques with extremely competent teachers, they can also take advantage of their practical knowledge of, and experience in, performing at the highest level on the international circus scene.

The permanent Faculty includes:
Irina Bazarova (Russia) – Acrobatics, Act Composition
Serchmaa Byamba (Mongolia) – Stretching, Contortion
Dominique Jando (France) – History, Acting
Angelo Rodriguez (Peru) – Aerial
Vladimir Ryazantsev (Russia) – Ballet, Dance
Jeremy Sheets (USA) – Aerial
Hélène Turcotte (Canada) – Aerial
Yury Zaghidko (Russia) – Acrobatics

For more information on the Professional Aerial Program, including the schedule of fees, please download this form: Aerial_Pro_Program.pdf