Rising Stars 2019 – 2020 Registration Packet

Overview of Circus Center’s Pre-Professional Youth Program Circus Center’s Pre-Professional Youth Program is a yearlong training program. Students ​ are asked to commit to the entire year. The program is open to students ages 7–18 ​ (exceptions for skilled younger students may be made). Students build a solid foundation in the basic skills of circus, including strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Our Pre- Professional Youth Program has three levels: Rising Stars, Super Novas, and the Youth Circus.

● Rising Stars: In the Fall term students develop the foundational strength, flexibility, coordination, and discipline to train circus through , and flexibility classes. In the Spring term, students can choose to build on the basic skills in the disciplines of circus arts: balance, juggling, acrobatics, aerial arts, clowning and . ● SuperNovas: In the Fall term students begin to specialize, choosing two areas to focus on among the major disciplines of circus arts: balance, juggling, acrobatics, aerial arts and contortion. In the Spring term they begin to work towards putting groups acts together highlighting their specialties. ● SF Youth Circus: Once students are accepted into the SF Youth Circus, students will train at an advanced level and develop a high level of technique and proficiency in a major and minor circus discipline of their choice.

Throughout all the levels, students train acrobatics, juggling and flexibility. In the two upper levels students have a required dance component to their curriculum. Students will also study basic performance skills including acting and clowning to round out their comfort with performing. For those students who want it and work for it, Circus Center’s Pre-Professional Youth Program has a long history of preparing young people for elite training and careers in the circus. Even for students who do not pursue a career in the circus, the exposure to high- level training builds discipline, commitment, and confidence that will serve them well in any path they choose.

Rising Stars (ages 7-14): Students who are ready to commit to serious circus training ​ start their journey in our Rising Stars program. In Rising Stars, students develop the strength, flexibility, coordination, and discipline to train circus. Students focus on conditioning, stretching, and tumbling while being introduced to basic circus skills in the first semester.

● Students are required to complete 60 hours of training over the summer to

prepare for the school year ● From September-May, Rising Stars train on Tuesdays and Thursdays from ​ 4:00 - 6:20 pm ● Rising Stars students do a final recital in May ● Rising Stars students have 10 allowed absences for September-May ​

Rising Stars Leadership Team

Abigail Munn – Education Director, Interim Youth Program Director: An accomplished ​ ​ dancer, choreographer, and aerialist, Abigail holds a BFA in Modern Dance from UC Santa Barbara. She made her first appearance in the ring as a child with San Francisco’s . She has since performed with Lone Star Circus, Zoppé Italian Family Circus, New Pickle Circus, Cabaret Verdelet, Circus Cabaret, Tease-O-Rama, Va Va Voom Room, and The Velvet Hammer Burlesque, to name a few. Abigail was featured in the New York Times for Alma Esperanza Cunningham’s work “Princess.” She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Circus Bella, where she has conceived, produced, and directed most of its productions for the past eleven years.

Jiggidy Jives – Head Coach of RS, Acrobatics: A jack-of-all-trades performer, Jives has ​ been teaching acrobatics and at Circus Center for 14 years. He specializes in meteor bowls, acrobatics, and .

Miriam Telles- Trapeze: As a native San Franciscan, Miriam remembers the thrill of ​ going to Pickle Family Circus shows as a child. In her youth and teen years she was a competitive gymnast and didn’t find circus until after college. She began with flying trapeze and expanded into training on other aerial apparatuses, although trapeze is still her main love. She began her training at Circus Center in 2001 and later went on to train with Serenity Smith at NECCA in Brattleboro, Vermont. She has been an aerial instructor at Circus Center since 2006. She performed with Vau de Vire, Earth Circus, Paradox Productions, and Trapeze World from 2005-2013. In 2013, she had her son, Rowan. She has always enjoyed working with kids and after having one of her own she has an even greater appreciation for how special it is to be in a position to nurture the talents of her young students at Circus Center. She feels privileged to coach these kids and witness their progress as young athletes and performers.

Adam Roy – Balance, Juggling and Clowning: Adam is a creative arts educator and ​ graduate of SF Circus Center's Conservatory. Adam has a particular interest in

balance, acrobatics and the wonderful world of comedic acting and mime. Bay Area theater credits include Children's Fairyland, Central Works, PlayGround, OASIS, Golden Thread, Marin Shakespeare and SF Playhouse. Adam is happy to share the madness with children, and especially enjoys helping them find their own passions and strengths through circus.

Zephaniah Bensaid- Trapeze and Balance: Zephaniah Strand Bensaid basically grew ​ up at Circus Center -- they arrived here at age 10, proceeded to never leave, and are still here a decade later! They graduated from the Youth Circus in 2017 as a trapeze artist, and these days, they assist in a variety of capacities for a variety of tasks all over the building, in addition to teaching in the youth programs and running spotlight for shows. They've recently found a true passion in the more tech and backstage aspects of the shows, and they'll be a ClownCon student in the 2019-2020 year! You can probably find them around the building if you need help with anything. They like to be helpful!

Mega Williams Gallagher- Contortion: bio coming soon

Rising Stars 2019-2020 Calendar

Below is a full list of important dates. While we hope to stick to this schedule, changes may be necessary. Please add these dates to your personal calendar. ​

FALL TERM: August 27 – December 20 ● Rising Stars Fall Session begins: August 27 ​ ● Rising Stars Student and Parent Orientation: Thursday, August 29, 4:00- 6:20 pm ​ (parents join at 5:00) ● No Class for Labor Day: Monday, September 2 ​ ● Rising Stars Parent Observation Day: Thursday, October 17 from 5:00-6:20 pm ​ ● No Class for Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 28 ​ ● Winter Showcase Performances “Walk Around” (pick one show to attend, or both): o Saturday, December 14: Call 5:00 pm, Show at 7:30 pm o Sunday, December 15: Call 11:30 am, Show at 2:00 pm ● Last Day of Rising Stars before Winter Break: Thursday, December 19 ​

WINTER/SPRING TERM: January 7 – May 28 ● Rising Stars Resume: Tuesday, January 7 ​ ● Mid-Year Evaluations: January 14 and 16 during class ​ ● Parent Teacher Conferences: January-February ​

● Discussion Group – Circus Careers: Friday, February 7, 6:30-8 pm ​ ● Rising Stars Parent Observation Day: Tuesday, February 11, 5:00-6:20 pm ​ ● End-of-Year Recital: Saturday, May 16 Call at 2pm, show at 4pm ​ ● Rising Stars Evaluations: Tuesday, May 26, 4:00-6:20 ​ ● Auditions for Super Novas: Wednesday May 27, 4:00-6:00 pm ​ ● Last Day of Rising Stars: Thursday, May 28 ​ ● End of Year - Pizza and Circus Movie Night: Friday, May 29, 5:30-8:30 pm ​

SUMMER TERM: June 8 – August 14, 2019

● End-of-Year Conferences: throughout June ​ ● Advanced Camp: Dates and exact plans TBD by November 1, 2019 ​

Attendance and Dress Policy

Circus Center’s Pre-Professional students are expected to make a commitment to this intense and time-consuming program. Circus is an extremely difficult and demanding discipline that requires time, dedication, and focus. Students must manage their time so that they are able to complete their schoolwork and family commitments while also making time for circus. This requires a commitment from the family as well. It is imperative that students attend all classes and rehearsals. Missing class hampers students’ progress in their training. Missing rehearsal slows down progress on the show and is unfair to the rest of the ensemble.

We understand that life happens and sometimes absences are necessary. Similar to adults in the workplace, students in our program are allotted a certain number of absences for the year. We hope that students will not need to use all of these. Absences may be used if the child is sick, has a mandatory school event, or an unavoidable family commitment. Students who miss more than their allotted absences will be put on Probation. If an additional absence occurs while on Probation, the student will not be able to perform in the show for that term. Additional absences while on Probation will result in the students being asked to leave the program. No refunds are given in this situation. Rising Stars are allowed 10 ​ absences from August – May.

There are some dates throughout the year that are mandatory. These include the orientation, evaluations, performances, and key rehearsals leading up to performances. Absences may NOT be used for mandatory dates. If a student is absent on a Mandatory ​

date, they will automatically be put on probation. The exception is if the student is sick, ​ has a religious holiday, or has a mandatory school commitment. In one of these cases, we expect a note from your doctor, religious community, or school. We encourage families to plan vacations and travel during our breaks. We will circulate a calendar that details all Mandatory Dates and Breaks in the next 10 days.

We know that some students struggle to arrive on time for class due to commutes or late school dismissal. Students warm up from 4:00-4:30. Warming up is extremely important for safe training. If your child will regularly be arriving late, please be sure to note this in the registration form. If your child is unable to arrive by 4:20 pm, this is not the ​ program for them. It is unsafe and disruptive to have students arriving past 4:20 pm. ​

We understand this is a strict policy. However, this commitment is necessary for students to effectively train at a high level. This program is NOT for everyone. If this seems beyond what you are able to commit to, we encourage you to consider training in our Recreational Program which has a variety of classes and levels.

All students in our pre professional programs should wear form- fitting activewear and are expected to be clean. Students should have tights or pants that can cover their knees to avoid burns. No jeans or jewelry are allowed at any time. Hair must be tied back and away from face. Braids are highly recommended. Girls who need bras should wear sports bras.

Fees and Payment Policy

• Rising Stars Tuition (required): $4700 All production expenses are included in ​ ​ your tuition. Additional classes/workshops, performance face makeup, undergarments, and shoes are not included and will need to be purchased separately. • Uniform/Costume Fee (required): $50 This fee helps to cover the cost ​ ​ of costumes for the shows and includes a Rising Stars t-shirt for each student to keep.

Payment Dates

● August 8, 2019: $500 (Deposit) ● September 3, 2019: $1430 (First Tuition Installment & Uniform/Costume Fee, Registration Form Due)

● December 2, 2019: $1645 (Second Tuition Installment) ● January 27, 2020: $1175 (Final Tuition Installment)

Program Withdrawal Enrollment in Circus Center’s Youth Program runs from August 27 ​ through May 29. Payment for required Summer training is separate. Once committed to the program, students are expected to participate in the full year. It doesn’t happen often, but unforeseen events can lead to withdrawal from the Youth Program.

Withdrawal Date and Associated Terms: • Aug. 8 – Sept. 30: Any paid tuition will be refunded in full, less the nonrefundable $500 deposit and $50 uniform fee. • Oct. 1 – Dec. 20: Tuition will be prorated to 50% of total fees and will be due payable immediately, less the nonrefundable $500 deposit and $50 uniform fee. • Dec. 21 - May 29: Any remaining tuition balance will be due payable immediately. No refunds.

Financial Assistance Circus Center has a limited amount of need-based financial aid ​ available to qualifying students. Applications are available online at http://circuscenter.org/tuition-assistance. Please complete by August 1 for priority ​ consideration.

Discounts - Discounts cannot be stacked. One discount per family please. ​ ● Advance Full Pay: Families who pay in full by August 20 will receive a 5% discount. ​ ● Sibling: Families with more than one child enrolled in our Youth Program (includes ​ Recreational and Pre-Professional Programs) receive a 5% discount on the younger child's/children's tuition.