Circus in Performance course

A 12 week full time course covering acrobatics, trapeze, juggling, clowning, stilts, tightwire and more. No previous experience necessary.

A twelve-week intensive foundation course in circus skills for adults. Accredited by the Open College Network to level 3.

The course addresses all aspects of circus skills and performance, and culminates in planning, producing, preparing and performing a successful show. It will be hard work but fun and participants will need to be dedicated, determined and willing to work with a group of other artists.

There are seven main areas of study - the course trains participants in all areas of circus arts and allows them to specialise in two areas of particular interest:

1. Manipulation - e.g. juggling, diabolo, devil-stick, club-swinging

2. Equilibristics - e.g. unicycle, stilts, walking-globe, tight wire

3. Clowning - e.g. clowning and clown personae

4. Movement Arts & Dance - e.g. contemporary and street dance and movement for performance

5. Aerial - focussing on static trapeze and also including silks, hoop and rope

6. Acrobatics and Acrobalance - e.g tumbling, hand balancing, pyramids

7. Performance skills - e.g. energy, focus, improvisation, creating physical characters, chorus workAll seven disciplines are taught to level 2 after which learners specialise in some skills that they wish to take to level 3.

Each of these modules are taught by professional, practicing exponents of the art, many with national and international reputations.

Throughout the course the emphasis is on presentation rather than demonstration and various techniques will be explored to encourage the unique performer within us all. In addition the course covers many areas involved in performing professionally such as First Aid, Child Protection, Health and safety and how to survive as a self-employed circus performer.

Former Greentop learners have gone on to study at BTEC and Degree level at Circomedia and Circus Space and circus schools in other European countries and perform at Glastonbury, lbiza and at festivals across the globe. All learners are given complimentary membership of Greentop for one year, entitling them to discounted rates for most future events and workshops.

Greentop circus centre is based in a Victorian church that has been converted to a circus training space and performance venue. Situated on the north of the city, about 3 miles from the city centre, near J34 of the M1.