The ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts is dedicated to the preservation, development and enhancement of ancient and contemporary circus arts, including Juggling, Clowning, Magic and Acrobatics with an emphasis on all aspects of performance and production. Programs will range from master classes with resident performers to technical and artistic apprenticeships to summer camp.
Funding for the ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts is provided by individual contributions and grants. For further information, contact Executive Director Annie Jamison and Managing Director Markus Kunz at zica-funding (at) onereel.org.
The first program of the Institute, Camp ZinZanni, will be launched in Seattle this summer with two six-day Juggling Camps for children ages 11 to 15.
Camp ZinZanni makes its debut July 21 through 26 with a six-day comprehensive session, followed by a second session August 4 through August 9. Forty campers per session will have the opportunity to learn the basics of Juggling and Character/Scene Development through hands-on instruction and workshops with Teatro ZinZanni cast members. Each session will culminate in a free revue-style performance for family and friends under Teatro ZinZanni's antique red velvet spiegeltent. Cost per camper is $350 per session.
“The world we create each night at Teatro ZinZanni is deeply rooted in centuries of circus, theatre and music tradition. Most of our artists started their training as very young children and many of them are third or fourth generation artists,” said Norm Langill. “Bringing along the next generation is the natural, expected thing. As we approach our tenth anniversary, we recognize the need to not only preserve these increasingly rare art forms but to provide much-needed professional training opportunities for both artists and artisans to continue refining, defining and improving their craft.
“The long range vision for ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts is to create learning opportunities for dedicated students of all ages in Seattle and San Francisco and any other communities we may expand to,” continued Langill. “We begin with the Juggling Camp this summer in Seattle and hope to quickly expand it to multi-disciplinary tracks including Clowning, Magic, and Acrobatics.
“It’s one thing to teach a kid to juggle but it’s a deeper, richer experience to teach a child how to create and perform in character,” concluded Langill. “Under the tutelage of our artists, ZinZanni campers will learn skills that will instill them with confidence throughout their lives.”
