Circus Center
Encyclopedia
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.
was founded by Peggy Snider and Larry Pisoni. Ten years later, the San Francisco School of Circus Arts was founded by Wendy Parkman and Judy Finelli as a project of the Pickle Family Circus. The school was then located at the Pickle headquarters in an old church on San Francisco's Potrero Hill. It took two years for Hannah Kahn to take the control of the school, directing it over the next 10 years. In 1990, Master instructor Lu Yi was hired with the mandate of developing the most comprehensive Chinese acrobatics program outside of China. Three years later, the school was incorporated as a separate non-profit corporation, and moved into a vacant Polytech high school gymnasium in the Haight-Ashbury district. In 1996, the San Francisco Circus was established, and later that year the school staged its first student production, Zoppo!, a show that played to a sold-out house at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason
.
Four years passed before the San Francisco School of Circus Arts purchased the New Pickle Circus from the Santa Cruz-based non-profit organization that had produced the company's shows since 1993. All of the purchase price was raised from contributed sources, and from this date on, all of the organization's professional productions are staged under the banner of the New Pickle Circus. Student productions are produced under the name "San Francisco Circus". The Clown Conservatory
program was then started with a grant from the NEA as the only year-long professional circus clown training program in the United States. In 2001, the board of directors changed the corporation's name to Circus Center, reflecting the fact that the organization now encompasses more than a school.
, including Chinese acrobatics
, contortion
, Chinese pole
, juggling
, teeterboard
, trampoline
, static trapeze
, flying trapeze
, aerial hoop
, aerial silk and aerial straps
. It also offers the unique two-year Clown Conservatory
program and various workshops.
History
In 1974 the Pickle Family CircusPickle Family Circus
The Pickle Family Circus was a small circus founded in 1974 in San Francisco, California, USA. The circus formed an important part of the renewal of the American circus. They also influenced the creation of Cirque du Soleil in Montreal...
was founded by Peggy Snider and Larry Pisoni. Ten years later, the San Francisco School of Circus Arts was founded by Wendy Parkman and Judy Finelli as a project of the Pickle Family Circus. The school was then located at the Pickle headquarters in an old church on San Francisco's Potrero Hill. It took two years for Hannah Kahn to take the control of the school, directing it over the next 10 years. In 1990, Master instructor Lu Yi was hired with the mandate of developing the most comprehensive Chinese acrobatics program outside of China. Three years later, the school was incorporated as a separate non-profit corporation, and moved into a vacant Polytech high school gymnasium in the Haight-Ashbury district. In 1996, the San Francisco Circus was established, and later that year the school staged its first student production, Zoppo!, a show that played to a sold-out house at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason
Fort Mason
Fort Mason, once known as San Francisco Port of Embarkation, US Army, in San Francisco, California, is a former United States Army post located in the northern Marina District, alongside San Francisco Bay. Fort Mason served as an Army post for more than 100 years, initially as a coastal defense...
.
Four years passed before the San Francisco School of Circus Arts purchased the New Pickle Circus from the Santa Cruz-based non-profit organization that had produced the company's shows since 1993. All of the purchase price was raised from contributed sources, and from this date on, all of the organization's professional productions are staged under the banner of the New Pickle Circus. Student productions are produced under the name "San Francisco Circus". The Clown Conservatory
Clown conservatory
The Clown Conservatory is a private performing arts school in San Francisco, CA.It is the only year-long professional circus and theatrical clown training program in America....
program was then started with a grant from the NEA as the only year-long professional circus clown training program in the United States. In 2001, the board of directors changed the corporation's name to Circus Center, reflecting the fact that the organization now encompasses more than a school.
Major programs
The school currently offers classes and private instruction in numerous circus skillsCircus skills
Circus skills are a group of pursuits that have been performed as entertainment in circus, sideshow, busking or variety/vaudeville/music hall shows. Most circus skills are still being performed today. Many are also practiced by non-performers as a hobby....
, including Chinese acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
, contortion
Contortion
thumb|upright|Contortionist performingContortion is an unusual form of physical display which involves the dramatic bending and flexing of the human body. Contortion is often part of acrobatics and circus acts...
, Chinese pole
Chinese pole
Chinese poles are vertical poles of aluminium on which circus performers climb, slide down and hold poses. The poles are generally between 3 and 9 metres in height and approximately 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Some poles have a slightly larger pole that rotates around the static central pole...
, 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...
, teeterboard
Teeterboard
The teeterboard is an acrobatic apparatus that resembles a playground seesaw. The strongest teeterboards are made of oak . The board is divided in the middle by a fulcrum made of welded steel. At each end of the board is a square padded area, where a performer stands on a 45-degree incline before...
, trampoline
Trampoline
A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes....
, 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....
, flying trapeze
Flying Trapeze
The flying trapeze is a specific form of the trapeze in which a performer jumps from a platform with the trapeze so that gravity makes the trapeze swing....
, aerial hoop
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...
, aerial silk and aerial straps
Aerial straps
Straps, also known as aerial straps, are a type of aerial apparatus on which various feats of strength and flexibility may be performed, often in the context of a circus performance. It is a cotton or nylon web apparatus that looks like two suspended ribbons...
. It also offers the unique two-year Clown Conservatory
Clown conservatory
The Clown Conservatory is a private performing arts school in San Francisco, CA.It is the only year-long professional circus and theatrical clown training program in America....
program and various workshops.