Company: AKmē Instant Circus Performance Company

AUDITIONS

Sunday, August 18th 2024

2:00-4:00pm

Open to Akrosphere students Level 2 and above!

Auditions are Sunday, August 18th from 2-4pm. Students are asked to prepare a 1-3 minute solo act on their apparatus. Following this, they will take a technique class with Coach Michael (our company director) on the apparatus of their choice.

Company is a space to learn how to become an advanced athlete and performer. There are several events throughout the year that company is provided to perform in! As well as opportunities to travel to youth circus festivals and events across the nation.

Company auditions for AKmē Instant Circus take place twice per year in January and in August. We are auditioning for spaces in our Company Levels 1, Company Level 2, and Company Level 3 classes.

We think being part of AKme Instant Circus Company is very special, and we’re excited to see you at auditions!

Please submit this form to Audition.

company expectations

As an AKmē Company member, you / your child will be representing our studio. You will also be a role model for other circus students and circus parents in our studio. It is very important that both you and your child maintain a positive attitude and be respectful toward teachers, choreographers, and other students.

There are three levels of company – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Each level has its own training time and show at the end of the year. Placement in one of these levels will be decided by the Akrosphere coaches as a group.

Company Classes are on Sundays:

Beginner company class is at 12:30 – 2pm

Intermediate company class is 1:45 to 3:15pm

Advanced company class is 3:00 – 4:45pm

When students are accepted into Company, the training expectations are 2-5 hours of open gym time at Akrosphere, one of those hours can be class time. (And company students are allowed to open gym/train many times outside of just the normal open gym times.) Company receives first priority on any guest workshops or instructors that come into town for special events as well as receive discounted rates for private work with Akrosphere coaches. Company members can also be provided with opportunities to learn to coach, which can eventually lead to paid coaching for summer camps, birthday parties, trial days, subbing classes, and other events.

We do want to note that just because a student is in level 2 that does not mean company is a good fit just yet. The effort put into training directly affects the results in athletics and performing. Company members are especially expected to follow all akrosphere rules and to set an example as students at the gym.

We expect every AKmē Instant Circus Company member to be at all AKmē shows, regardless if performing or not. Backstage duties, rigging, mats, etc are all important parts of a contemporary circus show; therefore, all company members, performing and not, will be assigned backstage duties. Students not performing will still have costumes and acts ready to go, in case of a scheduled act being unable to perform.

We also expect every AKmē Instant Circus Company member to help at all studio events, such as Showcases, Parent’s Night Out, etc. The company is largely funded through our Akrosphere classes, and these studio events are crucial in keeping those classes in good financial standings.

classes & fees

We expect every AKmē Company member to attend all their classes and company rehearsals on Sundays. We have a strict attendance policy for both weekly classes and rehearsals for safety reasons.

Company is a class that meets on Sundays here at Akrosphere. There is a monthly fee of $149 for all company members for this class. This fee goes towards covering the coaching time for the weekly company class and additional open gym time, plus costuming, special equipment, etc.

There will be opportunities for company members to occasionally attend conferences, competitions, shows, and the like. If we choose to go to these extra activities, you will have the option not to go. If you choose to attend, you will be responsible for all associated fees.

Full list of all terms and responsibilities will be available to you prior to signing a company contract.

costumes

For Company performances, we do our best to provide costumes for the performers. The exception for this is specialty costumes for our professional shows, but these are rare, and you will be notified long beforehand and given the opportunity not to participate.

All company members are responsible for providing appropriate “no-show” undergarments for all their costumes. These include your skin color (or occasionally black) dance bras, footless / convertible nude tights, liner leotards, dance belts, etc., depending on the nature of the costumes involved. This is mandatory, and Akrosphere does not provide undergarments.

about us

AKmē Instant Circus, the professional performing company of Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts, was formed in January of 2017. With attention to artistry and using circus as a form of communication, AKmē coaches and directors strive to create the perfect atmosphere to turn athletes into artists. Given that, our performing company members make lasting impressions on their audiences. Our company members, ranging in age from 10-19, perform artistic works with deeper meanings. Moreover, each company member, regardless of their age, choreographs their own works. Our company directors act as artistic mentors, explicitly asking questions to help the performer dig deeper and guiding choices to help the performer say what they are trying to express. As a result, “out of the mouths of babes” comes thought-provoking artistic works, purely created with the performer’s voice.

past performances

Since their formation, they have performed on the National stage in the VivaFest International Circus Festival in Las Vegas, the Southern Fried Circus Festival in Texas, and the CADE Festival in North Carolina. Additionally, they have been seen numerous times in the around Atlanta at the Aurora Theatre, the Georgia Aquarium, the Angels Showcase Benefit, the Girl Scouts of America Summer Outdoor Festival, Atlanta Aerial Arts Festival, the Tower of Talent Benefit Gala, the DrawChange 5K, the Paint Gwinnett Pink Festival, and on the MainStage at the Aurora Theatre.

looking ahead

We have upcoming shows at the Aurora Theatre in December 2024, plus performances at local festivals and events. In June of 2025, look for our brand new production, performing at the Aurora Theatre, plus a full scale circus show at Akrosphere’s In-Studio theatre.

Additionally, many of our performers have graduated and are now doing circus with the National Centre for Circus Arts in London, École de Cirque de Québec in Canada, or are touring with various shows nationally and internationally. Furthermore, several of our current performers are preparing for their own auditions for internationally recognized circus schools and companies, and will be auditioning throughout the upcoming year.

Got Questions?

Click HERE for our FAQ Guide!

225 Curie Dr, Suite 700 :: Alpharetta, GA :: 30005

Akrosphere: Aerial Conditioning at Home

A note from Jen, “Head Monkey Wrangler” of Akrosphere Aerial & Circus Arts:

Aerial conditioning at home! You asked for it, you got it!

Arms:

Pull-ups!!!!!!! First of all, pull-ups are kind of the almighty exercise in the world of aerial arts. However, if you don’t have a pull-up bar, simply find a playground!
Shoulder shrugs. Similarly, these can be done at home or at the nearest playground. These are important for maintaining strength in the lat muscles. As a matter of fact, these are the muscles we use to climb, invert, and hang with good technique to protect our sacred shoulders.
Monkey bars. (Now, are you noticing a theme here?). As above, run to the nearest playground and swing and climb on the monkey bars!
Tricep/circus pushups. Different from military pushups, because in these we keep are elbows pinned to our sides/ribs as we come down. Thus, they work the lats, which for circus folk, are more important than the pecs. Conversely, the pecs are worked in military pushups.

Abs:

Hollow body. Generally speaking, these are everyone’s favorite…not! It’s not your favorite aerial conditioning exercise because it’s difficult! True, they’re not fun to train. However, they’re oh so important! One minute hold with PROPER technique. Although, I have to tell you that the length of time don’t mean beans if the technique ain’t right.
Plank. All things considered, another ALMIGHTY circus exercise. Truly, planks are EVERYTHING! Do them on their hands and not their elbows. Also, technique matters, folks! Fingers spread out, hands directly under shoulders, ribs tucked in, belly button up to the ceiling but butt down, butt cheeks squeezed, ankles together, and gaze about 12″ past the hands. In this case, hold for about a minute.
Consequently, we have plank variations for when they become “easy”:
- First, plank with the hands gripping tennis balls instead of the ground. Specifically, this will help with shoulder stability. (Hello, Cyr wheel students!).
- Second, side plank on one hand. Likewise, this also helps with shoulder stability AND works the oblique muscles. Bonus!
- Third, shoulder taps: while in plank, tap the opposite shoulder with your hand and then switch (ie. right hand to left shoulder and then left hand to right shoulder), 20 times, trying not to sway from side to side.

Tuck, pike, straddle ups. Now, these must be done in a hollow body. Firstly, start in hollow body and do a tuck up. Then return to hollow body. Next, do a pike up (aka a V-up) and return to hollow body. Lastly, do a straddle up and return to hollow body. Wash, rinse, repeat.

To sum up, each of these aerial conditioning exercises will help you tremendously.

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