Specialty Workshops
For Intermediate Students to Professional Aerialists
Taught by : Shayna Swanson
Fee: $40. $35 for Cirque School Series owners.
Workshop Description:
Those ropes on your Trapeze can do so much more than keep your bar in the air—they're a veritable playground of their own. Once you start looking at your aerial work through the lens of another apparatus an entirely new movement vocabulary opens up. This class will utilize the principles of corde lisse, or free rope, to teach rope tricks, as well as to train our minds to "think outside the trapeze". Class will begin with Shayna's unique "trapeze barre" warm up that transposes traditional ballet bar exercises onto the trapeze to develop balance and focus. Following, students will learn skills on both the corde lisse and trapeze ropes with the final goal of using the bar as only a starting point.
About Shayna Swanson: Shayna's aerial performances have been seen in such shows and venues as: Pegasus Variete, Bensheim (Germany), Moisture Festival of Variety Arts (Seattle, WA), El Circo Cheapo Cabaret (Chicago, IL), Kim Tom International Clown Festival (Shanghai, China), Chicago Lyric Opera, Zoppe Family Circus, Toffo’s Circus (London, England) and Circus Maniacs Cabaret (Bristol, England) to name a few. Check her out at www.aerialgirl.com
Above the Bar, Corde Lisse {Rope} for Trapeze
Cirque School offers speciality workshops with experts in diverse fields from Jump Roping, Hula Hooping , Corde Lisse and more. Taught by industry veterans, these exclusive workshops offer an opportunity for professionals, emerging professionals and students alike to bring their acts or skills to the next level. Don't miss these opportunities to take advantage of these super star specialists!
Future
5640 1/2 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Click HERE for directions to our studio.
When : Saturday, April 3rd, 3-4:30 p.m.
Open to anyone. 20 student maximum.
Taught by: Jamie Bechtold from Dancing Spiral
Fee : $25 paid by 3/5. $20 for package holders. $30 at the door.
Workshop Description:
In this workshop you will learn some of the foundational moves of hoop dance including waist hooping, hip hooping, lifting the hoop on and off your body (corkscrews), some beginning level tricks, and more. You will also learn some basic combinations and start to dance with the hoop. Whether you want to hoop for fun, fitness, or professionally, this class will give you an excellent foundation!
~Weight Loss (you can burn 400-600 calories in one class!)
~ Increase in muscle strength, tone and flexibility
~Increase in cardiovascular endurance
~Decrease in stress
~Decrease in physical and emotional tension
~More feelings of JOY and BLISS
~More Laughter, giggles, play and FUN!!! (and much more!)
Classes are fun, light and challenging and her attention to details and excellent troubleshooting skills makes it so anyone can learn to hoop! Prepare for lots of laughter in every class!
About Jamie Bechtold: Jamie has been teaching hoop since 2005. She is one of few Certified Hoopnotica Master Level Teachers and formerly led Hoopnotica classes and teacher trainings. Jamie teaches beginning to professional level classes and her knowledge of movement, dance and healing come through in everything she teaches.
Introduction to Hoop Dance
11-12:30 Comic/Character
12:30-2 Acrobatic/Aerial
The creative team of Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory is now casting for it's upcoming project: "Boom Town".
“Boom Town”, where early gold mining inspired machines serve as the playground for prospectors and adventure seekers. www.cirquemechanics.com
Looking For:
•Comic/Clown/Character artists with established material appropriate for an 1860's setting.
•Acrobats with a background in chinese poles / trampoline / tumbling
•Female aerialist to perform strap or other single point act under a pedal driven crane device
•Female handstand artist to perform a multi level hand balance act
Please come prepared to show us your act if you have one and let us know of any of your technical needs. Please facebook message our group page or send an email to casting@cirquemechanics.com to secure a spot.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Chris Lashua & Aloysia Gavre
Casting Call for Professional Circus Artists
All Levels
Taught by : Sagiv Ben Binyamin
Fee: $30.
Workshop Description:
Students will learn how to find their correct alignment, balance and control while in the hand stand. Intermediate to Advanced students will have their hand stand form corrected to help learn to press up and find varied positions of keeping their balance from straight to contorted. Diverse stretches and technical exercises will be taught to enable the student to continue their work on their own.
Specialty Hand Stand Workshop with Sagiv
When : Monday June 7, June 14, June 21, June 28, 1-4 p.m.
OPEN TO ALL PERFORMERS TO STRENGTHEN AUDITIONS, POLISH ACTS, HONE CHARACTER WORK, SHARPEN SENSE OF HUMOR, AND ELEVATE STAGE PRESENCE.
Taught by: Stefan Haves
Per-Class: $60.00
Series of 4: $50.00 per Class
About Stefan Haves: Stefan is a Casting Partner with CIRQUE DU SOLEIL and a co-creator with Director David Shiner of clown acts and acting moments in KOOZA, the Cirque big-top show. He was the Writer/Director of Teatro Zinzanni - a dinner circus in San Francisco and Seattle for six years. Stefan currently conducts workshops in Seattle, San Francisco, and in Las Vegas where he works with clowns and characters from "Believe," "La Reve," "O," "Zumanity" and "Mystere.” This year, in Los Angeles, Stefan will be scouting and conducting auditions with CIRQUE DU SOLEIL in April for Clowns and Characters and producing and directing a Vaudeville show - L.A. FOLLIES at the Coronet Theater in West Hollywood in May.
Please Note: Taking workshop in no way guarantees an audition with Cirque du Soleil although tools and techniques will be honed and explored to help in any and all theatrical ventures. It's fun too!
Performer Intensive: Clown with Stefan Haves
Contortion and Flexibility Workshop
October 3rd, 3-5 p.m.
September 25th, 3-5 p.m.
Intermediate Levels (already has splits and a comfortable backbend)
Taught by : Gana Ganchimeg
Fee: $40.
Gana teaches Mongolian technique-based exercises geared towards increasing flexibility in the back, hips and shoulders. She will also focus on learning and achieving greater control in forearm, chest and hand balances. Active flexibility is stressed, along with attaining proper alignment and form in all positions. Students will learn stretching exercises that they can duplicate at home.
Contortion and Flexibility Workshops
Taught by : Serchmaa Byamba
Fee: $40 or workshop package.
Cirque School LA is proud to present both beginner and advanced workshops with Serchmaa.
Circus Style Stretching: How to Increase Your Range of Motion (Beginner)
Saturday, June 25th, 3-5pm [Register]
Always wanted to do a backbend? A split? Touch your toes? Learn how to safely increase your range of motion using the wisdom and body awareness derived from Mongolian style circus contortion. Discover how it is possible for any body to become stronger and more flexible using the correct techniques. Feel how stretching can help to decrease muscle pain and stress. This class is ideal for dancers, martial artists, athletes, and others who wish to move the body with greater freedom and ease.
Contortion Training: How to Take your Skills to the Next Level (advanced)
Sunday, June 26th, 2:00-4:00 [Register]
Benefit from Serchmaa’s extensive experience and knowledge of contortion technique and poses. Learn how to deepen your bend, correct your position, and discover some new positions derived from traditional and contemporary Mongolian contortion. This is the ideal opportunity to find answers to any challenges or obstacles in your training. Professional contortionists, yogis, and gymnasts will enjoy this workshop.
Serchmaa Byamba is the director of the contortion program at San Francisco Circus Center where she has trained many of the emerging contortionists working in the field today. Her program includes instruction for professional level contortionists, and flexibility training for those seeking to safely increase their range of motion. Serchmaa studied with the world’s preeminent contortion legend, Tsend-auysh at the Mongolian National Circus in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She toured the world, winning awards at circus competitions in Europe, before turning her attention to training the next generation. With over 25 years of experience, Serchmaa is one of the most sought after and esteemed contortion instructors in the United States, attracting students from around the globe.
March 25th 7-8:30 p.m. 
All Levels
Taught by : Ivan Dotsenko
Fee: $30.
Workshop Description:
Cirque School welcomes Moscow State Circus Hula Hoop performer Ivan Dotsenko. This workshop will focus on spinning and rhythmic gymnastic technique for beginners and multi-hoop spinning and juggling as well as acrobatic hoop manipulation for intermediate/advanced Hula Hoopers.
About Ivan:
Ivan Dotsenko has been performing since the age of ten, hailing from a multi-generation circus family, Ivan has performed in over ten countries and three continents. Touring the world as young performer, learning the art of circus from his own longstanding family traditions, Ivan's performance repertoire includes the Black Pool Circus (England), Circus Aytayde (Mexico), The Moscow State Circus (East and Western European tours), Disney World (U.S.A.), Cirque Productions (U.S.A.). Working alongside rhythmic gymnast champions, Ivan has developed an exciting, original and dynamic Hula Hoop manipulation/juggling act that has been performed across the U.S.A. in hundreds of venues. Ivan also recently appeared in the Broadway production of Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy and toured North America with his act Tempo Trapeze with aerial partner Carly Sheridan.
Hula hoop for anybody with any body
June 26, 4-6:00 p.m. [Register]
All Levels
Taught by: Sagiv Ben Binyamin & Aloysia Gavre
Fee: $40 or workshop package.
Workshop Description:
Class will begin with the technical foundation of using counter weight to create balance in various acrobatic poses where all body sizes will learn to base or fly. The teachers will asses each students level and progress those who are ready to more complex balances of mixed strength and flexibility including: lifts, hand to foot and hand to hand balancing. Class will conclude with numerous partner stretches that you can do at home to increase both stretch and balance.
Pre-requisite: some athletic, dance or circus training. Come with a partner if you can though not essential.
Partner Balancing Workshop
Registering for multiple workshops? Consider a $70 workshop package!
Taught by: Jordann Baker
Fee: $35.00 or tricks package
Come and expand your aerial vocabulary on the Corde Lisse and Rope! This apparatus is the basis for aerial Fabric technique and has it's own character and nuances. The workshop will cover fundamental static tricks, holds and drops of Rope choreography that will leave you feeling more confident with your fabric technique!
Pre-requisite: Basic Aerial Fabric training. Climbing, Inversions and Basic Drops.
About Jordann: Before relocating to Los Angeles from NYC,
she taught aerial silks and trapeze at New York Circus Arts Academy
(now Circus Warehouse) and at the Streb Lab for Action Mechanics. In
2008, Jordann co-founded The Sky Box aerial theater and circus school
at the House of Yes in Brooklyn, where she was head instructor in the
aerial program. Jordann has performed at Bonnaroo Music Festival, Spiegeltent, NYC Aerial Dance Festival, in El Salvador, and in numerous venues around New York City. She has also performed regularly with Dzul Dance (NYC) and was the aerial consultant on the Broadway production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010). In class, Jordann emphasizes technique,
transitions, strength and fluidity. She is excited to be working with Cirque School LA!
Introduction to Corde Lisse/Rope with Jordann Baker
When : Tuesdays (7:30-9pm) and Sat (2-3:30pm) in July
Taught by: Timber Brown
Fee: $35.00 or Tricks Package
Acrobatic Pole Climbing exists as the core of the acrobats’ education in China as it is an integral developer of strength, agility, and spatial awareness. Learn to climb, flip, slide and maneuver yourself in, out and around the pole. This class will focus on the technique for learning tricks at any level, from beginner to advanced. We will work within your ability as Chinese poles has many elements for any range of athlete whether you are flexible or strong. This class will both leave you with a new level or soreness that you have never felt before and desire to climb every stop sign on your way to work.
What to wear: The class has specialized rubber poles that add friction for improved grip and safety. We recommend wearing a few layers minimum, or jeans that stretch. Tight clothes help, Under Armour tights work the best so the clothing does not wrap around the pole. Also a low profile tennis shoe works the best for climbing. Example - A good pair of Aqua Socks (Nike-Teva), Pumas or converse work great or a shoe similar with a minimalistic sole, a smooth sole that is close to the foot if you have them. If not, tennis shoes can work but will slightly hinder the learning ability.
Pre-requisite: some athletic, dance or circus training.
Chinese Acrobatic Pole Climbing
Register: [Aug 7]
All Levels
Fee: $35/per class or $120 for 4.
Workshop Description:
Cirque Kids Classes give young people the opportunity to learn circus skills in a non-competitive setting, while gaining a strong sense of body awareness, self-confidence, and community.
Designed specifically for youth, ages 7-13, our classes place emphasis on balance, coordination, creativity, strength and teamwork. Cirque Kids will learn aerial tricks on the trapeze and fabric, tumbling, low wire walking, juggling and partner balancing – all while having fun in a supportive and safe environment. All aerial tricks, wire skills and acrobatics are taught close to the ground, over mats and crash pads, expertly spotted by specially trained circus professionals. No prior experience is necessary.
Cirque Kids
When : Sunday Oct 2nd, Oct 9th, 6-7:30 PM 
Taught by: Aloysia Gavre
Fee: $35.00 or Tricks Package
This workshop will introduce you to developing comfort with performing as well as character development for your acts. Time will be spent in doing group theatrical exercises and then working on transferring those performance skills to your showcase act.
Performance workshop
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Cirque School is happy to welcome back Carly and Ivan who will be teaching workshops in Aerial Strap and Acrobatic Pole. All these workshops are $35.00 or Tricks Package.
Intro to Aerial Strap _______________________________
When : Fri March 23 5:30-7 PM
Work on the fundamentals needed for aerial strap. We will start with conditioning to learn all the basic 'roll-ups' and numerous exercises to gain a strong foundation for correct physical preparation to advance onto more intermediate strap skills. The workshop will also alternate between upper and lower body 'tricks' and focus on interesting wraps as well as how to use straps in a 'Loop' format. Anyone, from basic to advanced aerialist, can participate in the beginner straps workshop.
Intermediate/Advanced Aerial Strap _______________________________
When : Sun March 25, 12:30-2 PM
Focus on technique for 'roll-ups', with emphasis on placement and endurance. Most of the workshop will rely on upper body strength with only a few exercises relying on the lower body. Students will gain a better understanding of how to approach advanced tricks and how to continue progressing them independently without the risk of injury. As an indication of the strength needed to participate in the intermediate/advanced workshop, students should be capable to easily do between 7-10 'chin ups' on the trapeze bar.
Aerial Doubles w/ Carly on Trapeze, Fabric & Rope __________________
When : Sat March 24 3-4:30,Sun March 2-3:30
Come with or without a partner! -Learn, as a porter, how to safely "grip" your flyer and as a flyer how to be "held" safely by your porter. Focus on various "correct" grips (foot to foot, leg to leg, hands to ankles, arm to leg, hands to hands).
-Strengthening skills and tools for flyers and catchers and in some cases (when the duo is comprised of 2 people that are almost the same size) learn how to build strength so the skills are interchangeable
-Focus on creating combinations for endurance as well as understanding the importance of precision and communication when working in the air as a duo.
-Learn new "Catches" and "Duo tricks"!
Single Point Trapeze & Hoop Workshop ____________________
When : Fri March 23 5:30-7, Sun March 25 4-5:30
Explore how the single point trapeze combines aerial skills! Students will learn how to add spins, circle flights and forward/back swings to their current trapeze vocabulary. They will also discover how the single point trapeze makes use of space and opens up new aerial possibilities, whether it be with the creative use of the trapeze ropes or using the ground as a connection between combinations,
this workshop can offer something to all trapeze enthusiasts. Participants should have some experience working on the static trapeze. Please note the workshop will allow all participants to work with a puller.
Pole Intensive_______________________________

When : ...
Register: [---]
Build your strength on the pole! Workshop will focus on some exciting conditioning exercises to increase endurance and allow students to perform great tricks like the 'turning climb' and 'Flags'. A lot of emphasis will be placed on control of movement as well as different climbing techniques and unique transitions. A great workout for everyone (Beginners-Advanced).
About Ivan:
Ivan Dotsenko has been performing since the age of ten, hailing from a multi-generation circus family, Ivan has performed in over ten countries and three continents. Touring the world as young performer, learning the art of circus from his own longstanding family traditions, Ivan's performance repertoire includes the Black Pool Circus (England), Circus Aytayde (Mexico), The Moscow State Circus (East and Western European tours), Disney World (U.S.A.), Cirque Productions (U.S.A.).
About Carly:
Carly Sheridan earned an honors B.F.A. in Contemporary Dance from Canada's prestigious Concordia University. Carly has worked with many prominent international circus companies, notably Cirque du Soleil’s production of VAREKAI. She has performed at some of the world's top circus festival, including the all female festival in Sweden, Circus Princessan! She choreographs and coaches for performers from around the world and has coached aerial arts at dozens of schools in North America including the National Circus School of Montreal (ENC) in Canada.](Workshops_files/shapeimage_15.png)
Pole, Strap and Aerial DOUBLES w/ carly and Ivan
When: March 18, 3-5 PM
Fee: $35/per class or Tricks Package.
Learn to duel like the characters of The Princess Bride or Pirates of the Caribbean! This workshop will start with the fundamentals of theatrical swordplay, beginning with the principles of partnered combat and basic footwork, attacks, and parries, and will then move into learning and performing choreographed sword sequences in fine swashbuckling tradition. Unlike the sport of fencing, choreographed sword fighting relies on cooperation and mutual trust between partners; the emphasis is on safe, targeted movement that is combined with a performance aspect to give the illusion of a realistic fight scene. The ultimate goal is an act that will make audiences gasp and swoon while being a heck of a fun time to perform.
No experience necessary. Attire: Clean indoor sneakers.
About John:
John has worked as an actor, choreographer, sword fighter and stuntman for over twenty years in the professional theater, film and television industries. Recent credits include Gladiator the Musical, Pirate Camp, Outcast of Camelot, The Crusader, Dracula's Guest, Le Femme Musketeer and more. Other seminars include the YATC (Young Actor's Theatre Camp), Fresh I Filmworks, The Academy of Theatrical Combat, and the Cal Arts Theater program.
About Stepka:
Stepka is a stuntwoman and firearms wrangler for film and television; credits include Battlestar Galactica, NCIS, The Deadliest Warrior, Y: The Last Man, Blackout, and God Bless America. She has been training in and performing choreographed swordplay for over a decade, including broadsword, cutlass, rapier & dagger, katana, saber, smallsword, Chinese broadsword, sword & shield, and pretty much anything else with a blade. She is also a regular student at Cirque School LA, finding that circus offers a similarly enjoyable combination of athleticism and performance.
Beginning swords & Swashbuckling
Past
