We get many inquiries about Circus Arts,  and about joining our company.  Up until february of this year, we've been working out of facilities run by other movement companies.  We now have our own rehearsal and production space, dedicated soley to the Underground Circus.  Because of this,  we've been able to expand our company,  and can now offer professional training to artists. 

Although our goal is to train artists to professional level to perform with our company,  we're willing to also train performers whose goal is to audition for companies like Le Cirque du Soleil,  or institutions such as L'Ecole National du Cirque,  or the Quebec Circus School


Many of the people who have found us have the same kind of questions.  Hopefully this page will answer some of the most common


How can I sign up for classes?

-Sorry,  you can't.  The Underground Circus isn't a school , it's a circus company.  We do, however, provide training for people who have a passion for the circus arts,  and are interested in performing professionally

 

I'd love to join your group, and I'm very passionate about circus,  I want to perform more than anything,  but I can only train maybe one hour a week.

-That's called a recreational interest,  you really want to do circus arts as a hobby.   There are places you can do that,  we suggest  Cirkids.   To even start on a professional path, you have to commit a minimum of  six  hours a week to training.   A more realistic amount of training time would be at least 16 hours a week.  And that's nothing, compared to places like the National Circus School. 

 

What kind of shows do you do?

-Look around the website.   We do a mixture of  corporate and  public shows, trying for innovation, trying to define a west coast style, not just being a Cirque du Soleil clone.      Some of our contracts require travel.

 

How much does it cost?

Per hour, we have the lowest priced training in Vancouver.   We also have the highest level of professional training.  So far, every company member has earned more performing with us than they've paid us for teaching them.   We've set it up this way because in order to become a serious acrobat, some people's circumstances require them to go through a period as a starving artist.   We keep our prices as low as possible as our way of supporting high level Circus Arts in Vancouver.


Are you the right group for me?

Well,  the question is a bit more reciprocal than that,  but I know what you mean.  You'll have to ask yourself some questions:

    - Are you willing to treat circus training like a profession?  That means that no, you can't call in and say that you'd rather go to your friend's  party than train.  You have to commit to training as if it were a job.  

           Please read that last paragraph again


    - Do you understand what it means to work in a theatrical company?   You need to know that the directors have a responsibility to ...direct.   Which means that even if you really want to work  on your bit by yourself,  if the directors need you to work it another way,  or work on something else,  you have a responsibility to follow their direction.   When I started performing, I was told "check your ego at the door".  Some Buddist monks do it all the time,  everyone else does the best they can.
   

Am I too old/too young?

-For many reasons,  we don't accept people under the age of 16 into our company.  There are legal considerations involving parents, and working with minors that make some contracts very difficult.  Plus any young person who wants to perform with our company must have an adult attitude towards work.  We have a lot of fun when we train and perform,  we laugh a lot,  -but it's not high school. 

That being said,  we do have some minors that are valuable members of the company.

-Too old?  The oldest member of the troupe is 48,  and some performers with Le Cirque du Soleil are in their 60's.   With some of the high impact acts,  it's not a wise idea to try to get into them late in middle age.    It's important to monitor your body,  and not push it as if you were a young'un.


I have lots of ideas.  Will I have the opportunity to explore them?

Yes.  Yes, please.

If I want to train with you,  what's the next step?

Send an email with some information on yourself to  me,   peter@undergroundcircus.ca  and I'd be happy to discuss your situation.   Good luck,  and I hope to see you at the gym!



Peter Boulanger
 

 

 

 
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