Pre-Pro 2020-21 Registration Packet We believe now more than ever that connection to community, a belief in one’s own ability to make art, and regular physical activity are vitally important to the health of our youth. In a normal year, Circus Center’s Pre-Professional Youth Program is a yearlong training program in which students are asked to commit to the entire year. We all know that in this time of uncertainty, that is not a reasonable expectation so we will be planning and enrolling students 5 weeks at a time. Each 5 week session will have a set weekly schedule of classes and instructors, allowing students to progress over the course of the year as some new specialty skills and instructors are introduced each month, while the core of instructors listed below remain the same. Our goal in planning each session will be with an eye toward maintaining skills, focusing on the training that can be done effectively online, and strengthening our community bonds until we can all train in-person together again. 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. 2020-2021 Program Overview Circus Center’s Pre-Professional training coaches are committed to offering well-organized and fun training to the students who enroll each month. Each day will involve ensemble time together to warm up and cool down, and then smaller break out groups with instructors to work on flexibility, conditioning, handstands, acrobatics, juggling, hula hoop, performance skills and more. Super Novas and Youth Circus students will be given 6 adult rec online ​ classes per 5 week session to be used on complementary training to support each student’s individual training goals (this is the opportunity for a contortion, juggling or handstand ​ specialist to get additional training outside the program each week). This is not a replacement for training days missed, but in addition to their normal weekly training days. In the level-specific information below we provide detailed information about the schedule, space requirements, equipment needs and more. Circus Center is committed to helping families stay connected during this difficult time so if after reviewing this packet you have any questions about technology, space limitations, equipment needs, school schedule, or other issues please do not hesitate to get in touch. Parent Involvement and Orientation We encourage parents to be involved in their child’s training. It is important to us that you communicate problems, concerns, and special needs. We work very hard to meet each child’s unique needs. We can only do this if we have a full picture of what is going on with each student. In the fall as the program commences, we have orientations for the parents and students in each level. This year orientation for each level will take ​ place on the first day of training, on Zoom. We go over schedules and expectations ​ for the year. This is also a great time to meet the coaches as well as other parents of students in the program and ask questions about these uncertain times of the COVID Pandemic. If a parent is unable to attend orientation, it will be recorded and uploaded to the Youth Families Webpage for you to view. YOUTH FAMILIES WEBPAGE www.circuscenter.org/Youth-Families ​ Ever read an email but when you go back to look for it, it’s gone? Can’t remember who to ask or where to look? We’ve got you - The Youth Families Webpage exists solely for ​ ​ students and families of the Pre-Professional Department. This is your GO-TO for documentation, reminders, and to keep you as updated as possible during the year. 2 Rising Stars (Ages 8-14) ​ Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-6:15pm 2 Day Training (5.5 hrs per week, 27.5 hrs per session) Price per 5wk session: $399 First day of training & Orientation: Tuesday, September 1, 2020 Example Weekly Schedule (this is representative of the variety and schedule of training. The ​ schedule will change from month to month and this is not a guarantee of any particular specialty or instructor) Equipment List: Each student must have on hand ​ 3 scarves 3 juggling balls or bean bags 2 yoga blocks Yoga mat (preferably thick) (Links to recommended items are listed on the Youth Families Webpage if you do not ​ already have your own, contact Circus Center if financial hardship is an issue and we may be able to provide items on loan) 3 Super Novas (Ages 9-15) Mondays, Tuesdays​ and Thursdays 3:30-6:15pm 3 Day Training (8.25 hrs per week, 41.25hrs per session) Price per 5wk session: $599 6 adult rec online classes are given per 5wk session to be used as complementary training First day of training & Orientation: Monday, August 31, 2020 Example Weekly Schedule (this is representative of the variety and schedule of training. The schedule ​ will change from month to month and this is not a guarantee of any particular specialty or instructor) Equipment List: Everyone must have on hand unless otherwise noted **CC can loan item ​ 3 bean bags 3 scarves 4 bean bags (Intermediate jugglers) Pack of thera-band loops Clubs (Intermediate jugglers) 1 Hula Hoop Rolla Bolla (Specialists) 2 yoga blocks 2 Sliders Yoga Mat (preferably thick) (Links to recommended items are listed on the Youth Families Webpage if you do not already have your ​ own. Contact Circus Center if financial hardship is an issue and we may be able to provide items on loan) 4 Youth Circus (Ages 10-18) ​ Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 3:30-6:15pm 3 Day Training (8.25 hrs per week, 41.25hrs per session) Price per 5wk session: $599 6 adult rec online classes are given per 5wk session to be used as complementary training First day of training & Orientation: Monday, August 31, 2020 Example Weekly Schedule (this is representative of the variety and schedule of training. The schedule ​ will change from month to month and this is not a guarantee of any particular specialty or instructor) Equipment List: *only certain students need this item, **CC an loan this item ​ 1 Hula Hoop ** Ankle weights (2.5 lbs) 1 Hoop Diving hoop */** Wrist weights (2.5 lbs) 2 yoga blocks Yoga Mat (preferably thick) 1 Panel Mat (5x10)** Juggling clubs*/** 3 Juggling Balls/Bean Bags 2 Additional juggling balls/bean bags* (Links to recommended items are posted on the Youth Families Webpage if you do not already ​ have your own. Contact Circus Center if financial hardship is an issue and we may be able to provide items on loan) 5 San Francisco’s Circus Center Pre-Professional Training Team Xiaohong Weng - Acrobatics: Xiaohong Weng started training in gymnastics at ​ ​ the age of 7, before he joined the famed Nanjing Acrobatics Troupe. He had 4 years of professional training in gymnastics and was a high level competitive gymnast in China. He joined the circus and learned many traditional Chinese acrobatics acts, such as Chinese Pole, Chair-balancing, Hoop Diving, Chinese Lion Dance, and Partner Hand-balancing. As a skilled tumbler and hand-balancer, Xiaohong has performed extensively in China, the USA, and internationally. For the last decade he has been a senior instructor at Circus Center. He currently performs with Jennings McCown in an elegant double hand-to-hand acrobatics act. Elena Panova – Trapeze: Born in Murom, Russia, Elena Panova is a graduate of ​ ​ Moscow's Circus and Variety College, where she specialized as an aerialist. Under the guidance of the famous training tandem of Tereza Durova and Viktor Fomin, she created a groundbreaking swinging trapeze act that redefined swinging trapeze as it is performed today all over the world. Elena won a gold medal and the Ministry of Culture award at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris in 1987, and the gold medal at the 1988 All-Union Circus Artists Competition of the USSR. For over twenty years, she has performed in major circuses and variety and theater shows on four continents, including the Moscow Circus, Circus Knie, the Cirque d'Hiver-Bouglione in Paris, Circus Carré in Amsterdam, the Victorian Arts Center in Melbourne, and the Big Apple Circus. She has also been a judge several times at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris. Elena moved to the United States in 1991. She started teaching at Circus Center in 2004. Ashe Giovanni – Acrobatics and Tissu: Ashe Giovanni was an athlete and ​ ​ advanced drama student in school before she discovered circus. She started performing as a professional aerialist, showgirl and fire performer in 2009. Starting in Michigan with a local circus company, she went on to tour nationally and then co-found Bangarang Circus; a performing troupe and instructional school based in Grand Rapids. As an improvisational actress, she was one of the original members of the now worldwide interactive dinner theater company, The Murder Mystery Company. Ashe has trained and performed an extensive variety of aerial and ground skills such as (Tissu, Lyra, Corde Lisse, Static Trapeze, Sling, Straps, Aerial Cube, Partner & Group Acrobatics, Hula Hoop, Juggling, Clowning, Fire spinning and eating.) As a Certified TRX instructor, she fuses her circus and fitness training together in her teaching, which takes conditioning for circus arts to a whole new level.