Spotlight on the Circus
This is the first installment of a six-part series in which we take a closer look at circus performers and their careers. We will cover a range of content including interviews with circus performers, stories from the cirque du soleil and PY1. We will also give you some industry tips and career guidance!
When you think of the circus, what comes to mind? Maybe an image of a clown riding a unicycle while juggling bowling pins? Me too. But the circus is much more than that. The circus is filled with incredibly talented artists and performers who have trained for years to take the stage and amaze you.
Types of circus acts
A quick Wikipedia search (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_circus_skills) reveals over 93 different circus skills that are performed by artists in shows such as Cirque du Soleil and Barnum and Bailey!
Different circus acts require different skills, but they all take a lot of practice. Acrobats and balancers use their bodies in artistic and amazing ways to entertain their guests. Chair balancers, jugglers and knife throwers use objects to give you a thrill! While stilt walkers and unicycle riders can captivate your attention as they move around the stage. Meanwhile, behind stage makeup artists create a variety of colorful and mysterious characters for the performers to be on stage.
Where can I train to be a circus performer?
If you are looking for circus jobs, the first step is to complete some training. There are a number of very good organizations and schools which provide training and opportunities to artists.
La Caserne- school of performing arts located in Montreal Canada.
https://ccse.ca/les-secteurs/www-ccse-ca/
La Tohue- Theater and school located in circus art city
En Piste- an organization which provides group workshops, individualized training and career support for circus artists in Canada.
Ecole Nationale de cirque – a school in Montreal Canada which offers higher education for the arts with programs at the high school and post-secondary level.
https://ecolenationaledecirque.ca/en/school
Paragym- an adult gymnastics training center in Montreal, Canada for all acrobatic sports related to Gymnastics, Parkour, Tricking and Circus
https://www.paragym.com/en/who-are-we/
Ecole de Cirque Verdun- an NPO (Verdun, Quebec, Canada) whose mission is to make circus arts known to families, individuals of all ages, social and corporate groups while allowing the community to benefit from the social and economic spinoffs of its activities
Le Château de Cirque- (Rue St. Denis, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) an aerial lesson training school where you can try the flying trapeze, the fabric, the hoop, the fixed trapeze, the straps, the smooth rope and the Chinese pole. Acro-yoga, hand-to-hand and flexibility classes are also offered.
https://www.chateau-cirque.com/
Where can I see some circus performers in action?
The Monastère- (St.Catherine St. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) a non-profit organization which offers it’s audience the opportunity to see amazing circus performers in the form of a cabaret show!
https://le-monastere.ca/en/home-en/
Theatre St-Denis- presents les 7 doigts, an immersive circus cabaret in Montreal, Quebec.
https://theatrestdenis.com/en/event/les-7-doigts/
Cirque-Eloize- (Berri Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) has been a driving force in the circus art reinvention movement since 1993.
https://www.cirque-eloize.com/en/about/
Kalabante Productions- (17e Ave, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a non-profit organization seeking to promote both artists and visible minorities, African culture in particular. The production puts on incredible shows which include a fantastic artistic team of acrobats, dancers, singers, contortionists.
