(information in Spanish below)
PYCA is thrilled to be adding a circus club at Bethune School (1310 S. 15th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85007) to its schedule this 2022-2023 school year. The club will consist of up to 25 students from 4th grade and above who will meet after school on Mondays from 2:40pm to 4:10pm in the school gymnasium. This program is made possible by a grant from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture!
In circus club, 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. Students from the club also are given the opportunity to join PYCA students from other schools in optional performances at public events and festivals throughout the year and throughout the Phoenix area. No prior experience is necessary to be in the club – only a desire to attend regularly, try new things, and work cooperatively and creatively with other circus students while learning how to perform.
Participation in the club is free of charge, but is limited to 25 students. Membership is a privilege – to retain that privilege, students must maintain good grades at school and good behavior and attendance at both school and club practice sessions. Parental permission is required – and students must have transportation home from school when each practice concludes.
Registration forms are available in the school office and should be turned in (both sides filled out!) to the office. The waiver/registration form is also available online: (form in English here) (form in Spanish here)
Circus Club Coaches
Jens Larson
Director and founder of Phoenix Youth Circus Arts
Jens spent 19 years performing in circuses in the USA and around the world. He spent 14 years as a high school educator. He created PYCA in 2015 and became a circus educator! (Full bio, video links and pictures)
Melanie Webster
Melanie taught herself to juggle in 2006, and never stopped. Since then, she has thrown things at hundreds of people in the US and abroad, and developed her own flow style with clubs. She enjoys numbers juggling, passing club patterns, and the art of practicing to get better. Melanie uses positive reinforcement to help others believe in themselves, encouraging students to push past what they think is possible.
Dan Barber
Dan is an accomplished juggler and unicyclist who performs solo shows all over Arizona. On a good day you might find him atop a giraffe unicycle, juggling in one hand while creating a balloon animal one-handed in the other!
Bethune Elementary Circus Club (Espanol)
PYCA está encantada de agregar un club de circo en Bethune School (1310 S. 15th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85007) este año escolar 2022-2023. El club consistirá de hasta 25 estudiantes de 4º grado en adelante que se reunirán después de clases los lunes de 2:40 p. m. a 4:10 p. m. en el gimnasio de la escuela. ¡Este programa es posible gracias a una subvención de la Oficina de Arte y Cultura de Phoenix!
En el club de circo, los estudiantes aprenden los conceptos básicos de todas las artes circenses, como malabares (pelotas, anillos, diábolos, aros, poi), equilibrio (funambulismo, rola bola, monociclo, zancos), acrobacias ( volteretas, acrobacias en pareja, pirámides humanas, minitrampolín) y ser un payaso. Los estudiantes preparan actos para presentar en espectáculos realizados para la comunidad escolar. Los estudiantes del club también pueden particapar con 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. No se necesita experiencia previa para estar en el club, solo el deseo de asistir regularmente, probar cosas nuevas y trabajar de manera cooperativa y creativa con otros estudiantes de circo mientras aprenden a actuar.
La participación en el club es gratuita, pero está limitada a 25 estudiantes. La membresía es un privilegio: para conservar ese privilegio, los estudiantes deben mantener buenas calificaciones en la escuela y buen comportamiento y asistencia a las sesiones de práctica tanto de la escuela como del club. Se requiere el permiso de los padres, y los estudiantes deben tener transporte a casa desde la escuela cuando finaliza cada práctica.
Los formularios de inscripción están disponibles en la oficina de la escuela a partir del 15 de agosto y deben entregarse (¡llenados por ambos lados!) en la oficina antes del jueves 25 de agosto. La primera reunión del club será el 29 de agosto. El formulario de renuncia/registro también está disponible en línea: (formulario en español aquí)