Want to Join the Circus?

Had it with your everyday life? Thinking about leaving it all?

Why not join the circus?

You have until midnight January 18^th to get your application in for Canada's National Circus School, a world-renowned academy of circus arts for high school and college students.

But be prepared.  Recent graduate Chelsea O'Brian warns that to work under the big top, you have to work for it.

"It's very physically demanding. There's very long days.  It's like any sport, it's very physical, and you're doing a lot of performance related stuff.  Acting and dance too."

But executive director of the school, Marc Lalonde, says the hard work does pay off in the end.

"The labour market in circus is international so there is great mobility for the circus performers, because there is no language barrier.  And circus organizations in the western world are developing at a very fast pace, and on all continents.  So for well-trained performers, the market is very good.  The rate of employment for those who graduate from our school, in the month following their graduation, is about 95 percent."

Lalonde adds that part of the reason why circus performers have a fairly easy time finding work is because the world of circus arts has changed

"You don't run away with the circus anymore. And you don't train into families anymore.  There aren't that many circus families in this country, and we cannot rely on this to renew the performers."

That means the circus world needs to recruit people from all around the country, and around the world, to study at the Montreal-based school.  Anna is just finishing her final year of the high school program, and is getting ready to audition for the college portion.  She says that while it is a circus school - she's still a high school student

"I still have my regular school subjects to get my diploma, like math, French, English.  And that's about four or five hours a day.  Then we have four hours of training every single day, and we actually have a schedule with ‘Dance Class, Juggling, handstands, trampoline, and acrobatics.'"

However, these students don't have all the same things that you could find at your average high school.  No football games, no prom. But first year student Emma says it's worth it.

"I think it's because I'm doing what I love five hours a day, and I'm doing it as a career.  And it's awesome."

Auditions will be held in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal in early February.

Not quite ready for this year's audition?  Well, you can always apply next year, or take the summer course offered at the school.

Nationalcircusschool.ca

Ready to head for the big top, but missed the deadline?  There are Circus Arts programs and schools around the world.

Circusspace.com

Artmedia.com.au

Israelcircusschool.com

Astort.com

Circusflyers.tripod.com