How has COVID-19 Affected Circus Schools?

Circus News

How Has COVID-19 Affected Circus Schools?

During this crazy time each person is affected in a different way. Many aspects of daily life have changed and circus schools and performance troupes are no exception. By now, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected each person in some way or another. Circus schools have been challenged to keep their students engaged and in-shape while remaining safe and healthy at home, as most of the country remains in some level of quarantine.

Stephan Cote, co-owner of Trapeze Las Vegas said, “Thanks to the amazing commitment of all the coaches and administration of TLV, we were able to quickly react and start an amazing offering of classes that we can put out on a daily basis.”

Trapeze Las Vegas was shut down in accordance with the stay-at-home order in Nevada per Governor Steve Sisolak on March 15. The staff at Trapeze Las Vegas jumped into action and by the second week of quarantine were rolling out classes for their students online. TLV continues to offer classes every day through the online program Zoom and have even found new disciplines they weren’t previously offering such as musical theater, hip-hop and makeup tutorials. Recently, TLV has launched an outdoor, socially distant training program at their flying trapeze rig. Students remain socially distant, train with the same coach while wearing masks and follow guidelines to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

The major transition to online and socially distant classes has been no easy task, however. Trapeze Las Vegas co-owner Lisa Cote said, “We have lost contact with some of our circus sisters through no fault of their own — internet access issues, finances, parents with more pressing survival needs, lack of structure to their day.”

Although this switch poses many challenges, we have found some good in this stay-at-home order and attempted to find a bit of normalcy through these trying times. Unfortunately, many circus schools were unable to continue to connect with their students and ended up closing their doors. Another circus troupe, Le PeTiT CiRqUe located in Los Angeles, is also offering online sessions to keep their troupe members in shape and their spirits high. “We have persevered, SO FAR,” said CEO Nathalie Gaulthier. “Tremendous community support that I am just so moved by. People donated, people wrote things that I never knew.”

Circus schools are hoping to get back to functioning normally as we continue to advance in the fight against the pandemic.

This article was originally published on Circus Is My Life,a blog written by the teenaged members of AYCO’s Hupsquad

Feature photo provided courtesy of Circus Runaway Photography
Tessa Wallington
Circus Artist, Student -United States
Born and raised in Las Vegas -- the Entertainment Capital of the World -- Tessa Wallington, 15, has been doing circus since 2015. She is a proud member of the Trapeze Las Vegas Aerial Angels, as well as a member of Le PeTiT CiRqUe, a Los Angeles-based performance troupe. Tessa is an all-around artist who loves trying new things but specializes as a base in both duo and group acrobatics, trapeze, specialty aerial, and other apparatuses. She is also experienced in acting, clowning, juggling and globe walking. When not doing circus, Tessa is cheering on her hometown team the UNLV Rebels, and working on improving her video production and article-writing skills at Coronado High School. Tessa loves her circus sisters and performs often with her flyer, Charlene, her younger sister, Tally, and her best friend Joelle. Tessa has been a member of AYCO’s Hup Squad since January 2019.
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Tessa Wallington

Born and raised in Las Vegas -- the Entertainment Capital of the World -- Tessa Wallington, 15, has been doing circus since 2015. She is a proud member of the Trapeze Las Vegas Aerial Angels, as well as a member of Le PeTiT CiRqUe, a Los Angeles-based performance troupe. Tessa is an all-around artist who loves trying new things but specializes as a base in both duo and group acrobatics, trapeze, specialty aerial, and other apparatuses. She is also experienced in acting, clowning, juggling and globe walking. When not doing circus, Tessa is cheering on her hometown team the UNLV Rebels, and working on improving her video production and article-writing skills at Coronado High School. Tessa loves her circus sisters and performs often with her flyer, Charlene, her younger sister, Tally, and her best friend Joelle. Tessa has been a member of AYCO’s Hup Squad since January 2019.