Circus school!? You might see this and laugh. You might see this and cheer. This might also seem like a foreign and ridiculous endeavor. But it’s real. I do want to run away with a circus, and I’ve been working towards this dream for a long time. As it turns out, it’s not all lion taming, tutu wearing, tight rope walking, train hopping, vagabonds who join the circus. Instead, it is rigorously trained professionals with an extreme dedication that make up the thousands of travelling and community based circuses around the world.

My goal is to pursue a career in circus, both in performing and in teaching aerial, acrobatics, and theatre. The optimal way to go about achieving this is by having an opportunity to train on a full-time basis with experienced instructors/performers and surround myself with people who share a similar passion to my own. I found a school that seems to be a perfect fit. Circomedia is based in Bristol, UK. They offer many programs including the Professional Diploma in Contemporary Circus with Physical Theatre into which I have been accepted.

“Our courses combine high-calibre skills tuition and body training with the development of creative thinking, presentational flair and business know-how, resulting in accomplished creative artists that challenge the perceptions of circus and physical performance.

This unique approach to training ensures graduates have the skills and confidence to build successful careers using circus and physical performance to communicate their stories” (http://www.circomedia.com/about-full-time-training.html).

It has not been an easy application process. I spent months training obsessively, weeks building an audition video, and all of the change in my pocket to get me to two separate auditions that took place a very far away from home. These full day auditions took every bit of nerve and grit I could muster, but at the end of both of them I felt full of joy and humility...not to mention, sweat. I have never been more proud of myself. I knew that I made the right choice travelling that far, and if nothing else, that it at least made me feel good.  As it turns out, none of this was in vain. I was accepted to both schools that I auditioned for! I’ve chosen Circomedia as the best option for me, and they offered to usher me into the second year diploma course, which I am due to start in September.

I thought that was the hard part. I was wrong. So, here it goes.

Now comes the part where I ask for your support in pursuing this amazing opportunity. If you know me well, you know that I have difficulty asking for help at times. I am swallowing this one down. It would mean the world to me to make this happen. Anything you could offer would go straight to my tuition (£6910 or $9216.90), my visa, or my plane ticket. I realize that we all have a dream chasing fund that needs filling, but if you could share a tiny bit of yours with me now, then I hope to return the favor in one way or another in the future.

Thanks for all of the love and support you have shown me already!

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