2026 Cirquehaus
Festival
November 9 -16
Workshops Descriptions:
Aerial:
Aerial Chains: Introduction
Explore the possibilities of shape and space on the chain sling. This workshop will introduce foundational aerial chains skills, sequences and technique. You will learn to control the apparatus by understanding its underlying mechanics, and exploring beginner shapes, rolls and transitions.
Prerequisites: Some aerial or acro experience.
Aerial Chains: Sequences
Elevate your skills and deepen your understanding of the chain sling! We will explore intermediate level skills, breaking down the mechanics and getting comfortable sequencing those skills together fluidly. Building on the foundational techniques learned in the Aerial Chains FUNdamentals workshop, this workshop is perfect for those ready to take their chains practice to the next level!
Prerequisites: Some experience with Aerial Chains
For Both: Please wear clothing to protect your skin: Thick socks or ankle coverings, long leggings or pants that cover your knees and shins, and long sleeve shirts that cover arms and waist.
Aerial Chains with Summer
Aerial Pole with Donna
Aerial Pole: Foundations
This workshop focuses on applying pole dance techniques and skills on an aerial pole rigged 1.5 feet off the ground. We will break down aerial pole mechanics, conditioning techniques, various types of mounts, ways to generate a consistent and powerful spin, and then apply this information in a variety of combinations higher in the air.
Kips, Flips + Splits
Donna’s signature pole tricks and combos - a mix of things that are dynamic and flexibility based, both closer to the ground and higher in the air! This workshop offers one dynamic low-flow combo, one aerial dynamic combo, and a spin pole combo. Some experience recommended.
Spin Technique
This workshop is a deep dive into the many-layered world of hoop-specific spin technique: how to work with the floor and the weight of your apparatus to create precise and powerful momentum. After working through various methods of generating spin and using flares to get where you wanna go, we'll work though a few of Jenny's favorite signature phrases which illustrate some choreographic opportunities only a serious spin can provide.
Spin Choreo
For aerialists already comfortable with spinning and unafraid of fraternizing with the squishier end of the apparatus spectrum, this workshop focuses on skills and phrases that utilize the rope above the hoop. Fear not the dreaded scratchy spanset - Jenny will bring a couple of nice friendly hoop ropes to share. Her aim is to grow students' comfort and curiosity in exploring above the bar, with a focus on safety and awareness within this potentially new and challenging environment.
Aerial Hoop with Jenny Tufts
Flares and Center Spins
Come learn to use the momentum of the spin to make your flare feel easy-breezy, or lock into your center spin. We’ll learn how to maximize your power and speed by working with and through the horizontal and vertical axes of the spin.
When your flare is executed well, everything else will become easier. Unlock skills ranging from flare-to-straddle to flare-to-mushu by finessing your understanding of the pathways, timing, and specific muscular activation that will launch your hips skyward.
We’ll explore the ways that our center spin and flare use the same forces in opposite ways, and finish by learning how to stack the skeleton to become a blur, touching on vertical nutcracker/candlestick for students who are ready.
This is an open level class, so I will work with you on the specifics of your goals while offering my insights on the fundamental techniques that apply to any flare or spin.
Swinging
Want swings that feel like flying?
Come learn to soften the impact on your shoulders, accelerate the power of your beat, and shoot your body into the clouds. We’ll begin by learning drills on the floor to protect the rotator cuff, properly lock in the core, and use explosive kicking and pulling power. We’ll start swinging by working on front/back and front/front (aka side/side) beats on one or two arms. For students who are ready, we can progress towards dislocs, inlocs, and soleils. This is an open level class, where the fundamentals will be put to use with each progressive skill.
Aerial Straps with Alisa Mae
Aerial Straps with Matthew Morgan
Aerial Straps: Butterflies and Roll Ups
In this workshop we will cover butterflies — including entrances to front and back balance, rolling smoothly between each position, dynamic tempos into the full twist, and jumping acrobatically into the positions. We will also explore arm rollup variations and tips including rolling up with one or no wrap, focusing on mastering every part of the skill rather than chucking yourself quickly through the roll.
Reverse spins
In this workshop we will cover all things reverse spin, covering skills such as flare to meathook, lock off, back balance, and more. If you want to expand your spinning technique and learn to spin in a new direction, this is the workshop for you
Check out schedules / teaching team from previous CirqueHaus Festivals