ACCLAIM Academy at 7624 W Indian School Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85033 (acclaimacademy.org) has had a PYCA circus club since the 2014-2015 school year. Circus club is an extension of the school’s 25-year emphasis on character education and the arts. Circus club is free for the students and consists of up to 25 members from the 4th – 8th grades.
Students learn the basics of all the circus arts such as juggling (balls, rings, scarves, flower sticks, diabolos, hooping, poi), balancing (tight wire, rola bola, unicycling, stilt-walking), acrobatics (tumbling, partner acrobatics, human pyramids, mini-trampoline), and clowning! Students prepare acts to present at shows performed for the school community (such as the spring “Hooray for the Arts“). Students from the club also join PYCA students from other schools in optional performances at public events and festivals throughout the year and throughout the Phoenix area.
Circus club will have its first meeting for the 2023-2024 school year the day after Labor Day, Tuesday Sept 6. Registration forms will be available at the school office. A completed form is needs to be turned in to the office to begin attending the club. (Form in English) (Form in Spanish)
In 2021-2022, partial funding of the ACCLAIM Academy circus club was provided by the
Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture through appropriations from the Phoenix City Council.
The circus club meets on Tuesdays from 3:15PM – 4:45PM
Circus Club Coaches
Jens Larson – PYCA founder and director
Dave Davis – juggling and balancing specialist Athena Davis – juggling and acrobatic specialist
Athena is a former gymnast, and Dave is an all-around juggling geek! This husband and wife team have been attending and teaching workshops at juggling conventions nationally and internationally for years. They have been coaching PYCA classes and camps for the last 4 years (they can do pretty much everything we teach!) and have been the backbone of the Aerial Mirage juggling club for over 30 years.
The circus club participates in periodic arts presentations by all the classes at ACCLAIM Academy. Here are photos from several years ago of our Hurray for the Arts program
ACCLAIM Academy Circus Club (Espanol)
ACCLAIM Academy (7624 W Indian School Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85033 – acclaimacademy.org) ha tenido un club de circo PYCA desde el año escolar 2014-2015. Circus club es una extensión del énfasis de 25 años de la escuela en la educación del carácter y las artes. El club de circo es gratuito para los estudiantes y consta de hasta 25 miembros de 4° a 8.° grado.
Los estudiantes aprenden los conceptos básicos de todas las artes circenses, como malabares (pelotas, anillos, bufandas, palos de flores, diábolos, aros, poi), equilibrio (alambre tensado, rola bola, andar en monociclo, zancos), acrobacias (tumbling, acrobacias en pareja, pirámides humanas, mini-trampolín) y ser payasos! Los estudiantes preparan actos para presentar en espectáculos realizados para la comunidad escolar (como el “Hurra por las Artes”). Los estudiantes del club también se unen a estudiantes de PYCA de otras escuelas en presentaciones opcionales en eventos públicos y festivales durante todo el año y en toda el área de Phoenix.
Circus club tendrá su primera reunión para el año escolar 2023-2024 5 de septiembre. Los formularios de inscripción estarán disponibles en la oficina de la escuela. Se debe entregar un formulario completo en la oficina para comenzar a asistir al club. (Form in English) (Form in Spanish)
En 2021-2022, la Oficina de Artes y Cultura de Phoenix proporcionó financiación parcial del club de circo ACCLAIM Academy a través de asignaciones del Ayuntamiento de Phoenix.