Are the days of simply running away to join the circus and becoming a success over?
Listening to Howard Richard, director of creation for the world renowned National Circus School (NCS) in Montreal, the answer is not quite.
Of course, they can run away to the circus once they have finished with us, he quipped, adding schools such as the NCS have emerged in the past few decades to meet the demand for talent that is more well-rounded than those from previous generations of circus performers.
Many of the circus companies are in that place where its not merely the idea of a performer doing their number (act) for five minutes, Richard said. With a show that can be an hour or more in duration, its the idea of what else are you able to give.
Thats the edge schools like NCS try to instil in their students.
Richard explained that much of the talent under the big top in years past came from circus families who handed over the reins of the show to offspring. Plus, other emerging talents were discovered as street performers.
Some of that still happens today, but increasingly talent is gravitating to the more formal training route. And the NCS, with a student enrolment of around 150, attracts students from across the globe, such as Richmonds Angela McIlroy Wagar who will be completing her Grade 12 year there starting in August.
They (student performers) can come from a gymnastics or dancing background, and these are very much movement oriented disciplines. And this (NCS) is one way of getting that training, Richard said.
But its not just all circus-specific schooling at the NCS, which was founded 30 years ago and now operates out of a 7,200-square-metre facility which opened in 2003. It also offers academic courses for those in the high school program. And older students can enrol in the college level program that includes courses to help prepare them for the business life as a professional circus performer.
Its the idea that the student is eventually out there, and they have to do things like negotiate a contract, negotiate their environment. So, its important they have training in that as well, Richard said.
Plus, they learn to promote themselves through development of their own website, DVDs and presence on social media.
Its great to have talent, and there are many talented people coming up, Richard said. But youve also got to get yourself noticed.
At the core of the NCS is the circus training which focuses on acrobatics, aerials, acting, balance, dance, physical preparation and flexibility.
We want to offer the student the most potential for when they, in later years, audition, decide to found a company, or take up gigs in the corporate world where they have a high level of training that allows them to realize their dreams, whatever they may be, Richard said. And we have seen that when they are through schooling here, they are able to audition for most of the circus companies around the world.
Judging by the success rate of students entering the professional world, its working. The NCS boasts a placement rate of 95 per cent of graduating students. Currently, 30 are with Cirque du Soleil, spread across 12 different shows.
Five of the seven founding members of The 7 Fingers company are NCS grads. And 20 other former NCS students are performing in three of their shows.
Some of our students who have not even graduated already have their year lined up for 2014, Richard said. Some have already been accepted into companies in Europe and Canada. The placement rate is extremely high at this time.
But to make it in the highly specialized and competitive world of a circus performing, it takes that something extra. And that comes from within, Richard said.
Is there a fire, a passion, a curiosity, he said.
