Circus arts teachers instruct students in a recreational context in the various circus techniques and acts such as trapeze acts, juggling, mime, acrobatics, hooping, tightrope walking, object manipulation, unicycling tricks, etc. They provide students with a notion of circus history and repertoire but mainly focus on a practice-based approach in their courses, in which they assist students in experimenting with and mastering different circus techniques, styles, and acts and encourage them to develop their own style. They cast, direct, and produce circus performances and coordinate the technical production and possible set, props, and costume usage on stage.
Circus arts teachers typically perform the following tasks:
Develop a comprehensive curriculum that introduces students to a variety of circus disciplines, techniques, and performance styles. Design lesson plans, skill progressions, and training exercises tailored to students’ age, skill level, and individual goals, while ensuring a balance between skill development, creativity, and safety.
Teach fundamental circus skills and techniques, such as tumbling, balance, flexibility, strength training, and coordination exercises. Provide hands-on instruction, demonstrations, and personalized feedback to help students master basic and advanced circus maneuvers and build proficiency in their chosen disciplines.
Train students in aerial disciplines, including aerial silks, trapeze, lyra, and rope, by teaching proper technique, safety protocols, and performance choreography. Guide students through progressive skill development, spotting techniques, and conditioning exercises to enhance aerial strength, flexibility, and control in the air.
Instruct students in acrobatic skills, such as handstands, cartwheels, flips, and partner acrobatics, through structured drills, progressions, and spotting techniques. Emphasize proper body alignment, balance, and coordination to help students execute acrobatic maneuvers safely and confidently.
Teach students the art of juggling, prop manipulation, and object-balancing techniques through hands-on practice, repetition drills, and creative exploration. Introduce students to a variety of circus props, such as balls, rings, clubs, diabolo, and devil sticks, and guide them in developing dexterity, timing, and rhythm in their performances.
Explore the principles of clowning, physical comedy, and character development with students, encouraging them to develop their own unique clown personas and comedic routines. Teach improvisation, mime, slapstick, and audience interaction techniques to help students create engaging and entertaining clown acts.
Rehearse choreographed routines, refining performance skills, and providing feedback on presentation, timing, and stage presence to prepare students for public performances, showcases, and recitals. Collaborate with students to create original acts, group routines, and ensemble performances that showcase their talents and creativity.
Implement safety guidelines, equipment inspections, and risk management protocols in circus training environments to prioritize student safety. Teach students proper spotting techniques, injury prevention strategies, and emergency procedures to minimize risks and promote a safe training environment for all participants.
Foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment where students can share ideas, collaborate on group projects, and provide constructive feedback to one another. Encourage teamwork, communication, and mutual respect among students to promote a positive and inclusive circus community.
Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and emerging techniques in circus arts education through professional development opportunities, workshops, and conferences. Engage in ongoing training and skill development to expand expertise in circus disciplines and pedagogical approaches.
Engage with the local community by offering circus workshops, outreach programs, and community performances that promote the benefits of circus arts education and inspire interest in the circus as an art form. Collaborate with schools, community centers, and youth organizations to expand access to circus education and enrichment opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
Maintain open communication with parents, guardians, and families to provide updates on students’ progress, upcoming performances, and opportunities for involvement in circus activities. Share information about class schedules, tuition fees, and performance logistics to ensure families are well-informed and engaged in their child’s circus education journey.
The following job titles also refer to circus arts teacher:
circus arts trainer circus teacher trainer in circus arts teacher of circus arts instructor of circus arts circus arts instructor circus arts teaching practitioner circus arts educator
Circus Arts Teachers work in a variety of settings, including circus schools, performing arts academies, community centers, and recreational facilities. They may teach classes during after-school hours, evenings, weekends, or summer camps to accommodate students’ schedules and performance commitments. Circus Arts Teachers may travel to attend circus festivals, workshops, or performance opportunities, both locally and internationally.
A combination of formal training, professional experience, and artistic expertise is typically required for positions as a Circus Arts Teacher. While there are no strict educational requirements, many Circus Arts Teachers have backgrounds in circus performance, gymnastics, dance, theater, or physical education. Practical experience in circus arts disciplines, such as acrobatics, aerial arts, juggling, or clowning, is essential.
Circus Arts Teachers may also have certifications or training in circus pedagogy, teaching methodologies, or safety standards from recognized circus schools or organizations. Continuous professional development and engagement in circus arts training, performances, and workshops contribute to ongoing growth and expertise as a Circus Arts Teacher.
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of circus arts teacher.
Circus aesthetics: The way the circus concepts and traditions have evolved through time and their artistic meaning.
Circus vocabulary: The specific terminology related to the circus activities.
Acting and directing techniques: A range of training and rehearsal techniques that seek to encourage emotionally expressive performances. These techniques address all aspects of making a film, play, or performance in general.
Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people is characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, equal participation, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective use of ideas, etc.
Movement techniques: The various types of movement and physical postures undertaken for relaxation, body-mind integration, stress reduction, flexibility, core support, and rehabilitation purposes that are required for or underpin occupational performance.
These skills are necessary for the role of circus arts teacher.
Organise rehearsals: Manage, schedule and run rehearsals for the performance.
Guarantee students’ safety: Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.
Check the production schedule: Check the daily and long-term schedules for rehearsal, training, performances, season, tour, etc., taking into account the project timeline and all the preparations required by the production.
Practice circus disciplines: Have a very high level of practical and technical skills and competences of one or several chosen circus disciplines in order to enter into the professional circus field.
Develop a coaching style: Develop a style for coaching individuals or groups that ensures all participants are at ease, and are able to acquire the necessary skills and competences provided in the coaching in a positive and productive manner.
Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Define artistic vision: Continually develop and define a concrete artistic vision, starting with the proposal and continuing through to the finished product.
Bring out performers’ artistic potential: Motivate performers to take on challenges. Encourage peer-learning. Establish an environment for experimentation using various methods, such as improvisation.
Observe student’s progress: Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.
Manage student relationships: Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.
Select artistic materials to create artworks: Select artistic materials based on strength, colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the expected shape, color, etc. – even though the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink, water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material depending on the creative project.
Adapt teaching to student’s capabilities: Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.
Renew artistic practice: Stay informed on new trends and apply them on artistic experiences.
Apply teaching strategies: Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners’ level, goals, and priorities.
Maintain safe working conditions in performing arts: Verify the technical aspects of your workspace, costumes, props, etc. Eliminate potential hazards in your workspace or performance. Intervene actively in cases of accidents or illness.
Work with circus group: Work together with other circus artists and management. Make sure to do your part while keeping the performance as a whole in mind.
Demonstrate when teaching: Present to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.
Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
Teach circus acts: Share knowledge and abilities with other performers teaching them important circus skills.
Coordinate artistic production: Oversee the day-to-day coordination of production tasks so that the organisation fits within the desired artistic and business policies and in order to present productions in a uniform corporate identity to the public.
Provide lesson materials: Ensure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of circus arts teacher. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools are applicable to the assessment of students, programme participants, and employees. Different assessment strategies, such as initial, formative, summative, and self-assessment, are used for varying purposes.
Vocal techniques: The various techniques for using your voice correctly without exhausting or damaging it when changing voice in tone and volume.
Make-up techniques: The various techniques and tools for applying make-up.
Pronunciation techniques: The pronunciation techniques to properly and understandably pronounce words.
Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of circus arts teacher. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
Select music for performance: Select pieces of music for a live performance. Consider factors such as ensemble abilities, availability of scores and the need for musical variety.
Apply company policies: Apply the principles and rules that govern the activities and processes of an organisation.
Define rigging needs for circus acts: Define the specific safety, technical and performance needs for circus acts rigging in a technical rider or description.
Facilitate teamwork between students: Encourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.
Manage artistic project: Manage an artistic project. Determine project needs. Establish partnerships. Manage the budget, schedule, contractual agreements and assess the project.
Ensure safety of exercise environment: Select the correct training environment and assess risks to ensure it provides a safe, clean and friendly fitness environment and that it will be the best use of the environment in which clients are exercising.
Assess students: Evaluate the students’ (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.
Deal with public: To adopt a pleasant, professional and positive manner with all customers, anticipating their needs and passing customer complaints to a member of the management team (if necessary) in a calm, professional and non-confrontational manner.
Assist students with equipment: Provide assistance to students when working with (technical) equipment used in practice-based lessons and solve operational problems when necessary.
Develop curriculum: Develop and plan the learning goals and outcomes for education institutions, as well as the required teaching methods and potential education resources.
Develop educational activities: Develop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an exhibition, or it can be related to a specific discipline (theatre, dance, drawing, music, photography etc.). Liaise with storytellers, craftspeople and artists.
Use rope access techniques: Apply ropework to work in elevated position. Safely ascend and descend ropes, wearing a harness.
Analyse own performance: Understand, analyse and describe your own performance. Contextualize your work in one or various styles, trends, evolution, etc. Self-evaluate your work in rehearsals and performances.
Instruct riggers on assembly of circus rigging equipment: Instruct riggers in detail about intended use, place, requirements and safety issues of circus rigging equipment in order to ensure safe and accurate assembly and fit-up of the equipment.
Define artistic approach: Define your own artistic approach by analysing your previous work and your expertise, identifying the components of your creative signature, and starting from these explorations to describe your artistic vision.
Manage artistic career: Present yourself and your artistic approach. Position your work in target markets. Promote and market yourself and your oeuvre.
Assess artistic proposal: Identify the essence of a proposed artistic project. Assess the strong and weak points of the proposal. Judge whether to accept the proposal, and whether to propose modifications.
