{"id":8894,"date":"2013-09-25T20:29:39","date_gmt":"2013-09-26T00:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=8894"},"modified":"2013-09-27T12:08:40","modified_gmt":"2013-09-27T16:08:40","slug":"circus-college-comes-to-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/circus-college-comes-to-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Circus College Comes to Town"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 2013 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

A fool may be born every minute, but it takes four years to become a jester auguste.<\/em><\/h3>\n

By Frances Killea<\/p>\n

\"circus\"<\/a>The Circus Conservatory of America will glide into Thompson\u2019s Point in fall 2015, offering a BFA in circus studies. Think Cirque du Soleil, not Barnum & Bailey.<\/p>\n

\u201dWe\u2019re modeling our curriculum after other conservatories in the U.S., such as Juilliard and Tisch,\u201d says Peter Nielsen, one of seven founders with crackerjack histories in circus performance, coaching, and production. \u201cIt\u2019s an art form that has changed as much in 30 years as painting did between Van Gogh and Pollock\u2026Contemporary circus is combined with modern dance, serious theater, innovative and experimental multimedia, and physical comedy\u2026along with absolute athleticism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Postmodern Entertainment<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the school becomes the country\u2019s first accredited circus college, it will pair nicely with Montreal, \u201cthe global hub of circus\u201d and headquarters of Cirque du Soleil, established in 1984 but lately an electric agent of change in circus art. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing an interdisciplinary approach,\u201d Nielson says, to include Eurostyle showmanship and a touch of irony.<\/p>\n

Still, why Portland, beyond the vagabond allure of Thomson\u2019s Point?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe location is perfect. Transportation is a huge factor. The airport, Amtrak, buses, 295, an I-95 all end up right in Thompson\u2019s Point.\u201d That\u2019s important, since the CCA intends to attract and launch tours from existing schools in Canada and Vermont.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s our joie de vivre<\/em>. Nielson likes us for our attitude towards community-driven business and art, our DIY pluck: \u201cThere\u2019s a strong entrepreneurial flavor here, an integration between arts and business\u2026Circus is a fairly hip culture. I knew if I was going to attract circus artists, it had to be a pretty hip city…I figured Portland would know what to do with us. Boston doesn\u2019t hold that cachet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

October 2013
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