A circus performance in a public park

Performance Troupe – Club & Team

Advance Your Skills to the Next Level

Description

CircEsteem’s Performance Troupe is designed for experienced youth seeking to advance their skills to the next level and participate in performance opportunities through CircEsteem. While a great portion of time is spent toward skill building and act creation, this program also focuses on social/emotional skill building: topics may include self-advocacy, healthy relationships, nutrition, and responsible decision-making.

5-8pm – Team: M, W, F
5-8pm –
Club: T, F
9am-1pm –
Team and Club are automatically enrolled in CYC and CDI on Saturdays
Ages 10-19

Financial Aid
Programs

CircEsteem’s Performance Troupe is made up of two programs:

Club

Club is for youth who want to develop their circus and performance skills, benefit from being part of the CircEsteem community, and commit 10 hours a week.  

This program is for youth ages 10-18 and works in parallel with Team. 

Club meets on Tuesday and Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. 

Registration for Club requires prior class or camp experience with CircEsteem or similar youth circus group.

Team

Team takes place four days a week for a total of 13 hours and gives its members the opportunity to focus more intensely on achieving higher level circus, performance skills and physical fitness, as well as introducing them to leadership and mentoring opportunities. 

This program is for youth ages 13-18 and requires an audition to join.  

Team meets on Monday, Wednesday & Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. 

The youth who participate in Performance Troupe are required to maintain good grades at school and to support the younger children of CircEsteem through the Teen Leadership program.

Teen Leadership Program

For direct inquiries, please contact the Performance Troupe Coordinator, Elsa Thompson.

Youth ages 14 and older can earn service learning hours by aiding the CYC program. 

Responsibilities will be delegated by the Program Coordinator and may include:

  • Co-teaching or teaching a station.
  • Preparing and cleaning up after snack 
  • Being a teen buddy to a group of younger students (the minis)
  • Assisting the Tots program

Participation in the Teen Leadership Program is required for all Team members, and teen youth who wish to work at Summer Camp or be paid for Workshops.

A child working on homework with a mentor
A child working on homework with a mentor
A child working on homework with a mentor
Refund & Cancellation Policies

Cancellations – CircEsteem reserves the right to cancel a class due to insufficient enrollment. In such a case, a full refund will be issued.

Drops – Students voluntarily withdrawing from a class after the registration deadline do not receive a refund.

Missed Classes – CircEsteem cannot pro-rate tuition based on anticipated or unanticipated absences.

Refunds – CircEsteem does not offer refunds except in the case that a class is cancelled by CircEsteem.

Annual Student Administration Fee – The non-refundable $30 per student fee is due upon initial registration and on your anniversary date, thereafter. This fee covers administrative and processing costs.

More Programs

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Children practicing their moves

Chicago Youth Circus

Participants choose from Skill Stations ranging from juggling, unicycle, gym wheel, trapeze, silks, lyra, clowning, and many other CircEsteem circus skills.

An instructor teaching a child to use a diabolo

After School Activities

CircEsteem has built after-school and in-school programming to help students develop confidence and build flexibility, balance, coordination, strength and self-esteem through circus mastery.

A girl smiles while hanging in an aerial hoop

Summer Camp

Summer Circus Camp is a fun, safe, supportive environment where children explore the Circus Arts and develop self-confidence, self-esteem, physical awareness and an understanding of the potential they possess.

A child working on homework with a mentor

HomeWork & CircusWork

HomeWork & CircusWork (HWCW) is a free after-school tutoring and circus arts program. This program emphasizes self-esteem, teamwork and resilience; and is a safe space for all youth.