Seattle Trapeze and Circus Arts Classes for Kids

!–paging_filter–pstrongSANCA/strongbrThey’ve always wanted to join the circus and now even the teeniest of tots can clown around at The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Jo Montgomery and Charles “Chuck” Johnson for children of all ages. From “Baby Me” all the way to the Professional Preparatory Program, SANCA’s year-round classes are taught with skill progression in mind, while camps expose kids to a variety of activities—acrobatics, trampoline, wire walking and more. Weeklong summer camps run through late August for ages 6–17 ($250–$450, plus $40 registration). a href=”http://www.sancaseattle.org” target=”_blank”sancaseattle.org/abrbrstrongZICA/strongbrStep into ZinZanni Institute for the Circus Arts’ 100-year-old Belgian spiegeltent, or “mirror tent,” and you feel magic in the air. “We tell a story,” says Markus Kunz, executive director of Queen Anne’s fabled Teatro ZinZanni, where ZICA was originally created. ZICA’s Camp ZinZanni offers weeklong camps ($350) through late August for kids ages 5–17 focusing on everything from aerial arts and clowning to juggling and more. “We’re putting technical skills in a theatrical context,” Kunz explains, and all students do a performance at the conclusion of each session. Camps sell out, so early registration is recommended. a href=”http://zica.zinzanni.org/” target=”_blank”zica.zinzanni.org br/abrstrongECTA/strongbrNothing says circus quite like the flying trapeze, and now kids have a chance to fly with the pros. Emerald City Trapeze Arts, run by husband-and-wife team Gary and Kari Kirkland, features a full-size flying trapeze rig that operates year-round in SoDo. Kids-only flying trapeze classes are designed for children ages 6–12 ($33 per hour, plus $26 lifetime membership fee) and teach basic skills while staying “fun and light-hearted,” Kari Kirkland says. Kids can keep honing their skills with private lessons or at regular two-hour open classes. a href=”http://www.emeraldcitytrapeze.com” target=”_blank”emeraldcitytrapeze.combr/a/p