AIRCRAFT CIRCUS

FOUNDATION COURSE IN CIRCUS ARTS

- 16 WEEK INTENSIVE -

www.aircrafcircus.com
 THE COURSE
The Foundation Course in Circus arts is for those individuals who would like to gain a solid and
rounded foundation in aerial and acrobatic core disciplines. Importance is given to gaining strength,
increasing fexibility and preventing injury. The course has been designed to help students develop
into professional artists within a safe and structured group environment.

The timetable runs for 16 weeks, Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5.00pm, with a 1 week half-term break.
Each day students will be taught up to 4 physical, creative and complementary classes:

Aerial Core - Static Trapeze, Hoop, Rope, Silks and Flying Trapeze
Acrobatic Core – Tumbling, Trampet, Acrobalance, Chinese Pole and Handstands
Equilibristics - Juggling, Hula Hoop, Unicycle and Diablo
Specialist Skills - Tightwire, Dance Trapeze, Harness and Stilts
Performance - Improvisation, Ensemble, Physical Theatre and Act Creation
Technical Skills - Rigging and Safety
Complimentary Skills – Dance, Conditioning, Flexibility, Extension, Injury Prevention and Journals

We are looking for disciplined and creative individuals with a passion for learning. It is not necessary
to have prior knowledge of aerial or acrobatic skills, however you WILL need to be ft. You will be
required to audition in theatre, dance, acrobatic or circus related skills so some prior experience is
advised. Auditions can be purely skill based rather than “performed” if preferred.

AirCraft Circus also ofers an introduction to the rigging of equipment and an introduction to lighting
and sound, as well as tasters in specialist circus circus skills such as Harness and Dance Trapeze.
As the Course progresses there will be more emphasis on act creation and performance skills,
leading to an end of term showcase.

Handstands lesson

Aerial Hoop lesson with

course director Lucy Francis

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 DATES AND FEES
The Foundation Course runs three times per
year:
September to December
January to April
May to August

- Classes run as usual on bank holidays during

the course.
Entry to the course is by AUDITION ONLY.
Auditions are FREE.

The audition will involve a tour of the space and

an introduction with one of the AirCraft Circus
team. We will assess applicants' strength and
fexibility through a series of exercises and
games. This will allow us to judge your suitability
for the course and for you to gain a taste of what
will be involved.

You will be required to perform an informal two

minute demo of your chosen skill. This could be
aerial or ground-based in the medium of circus,
dance, theatre or gymnastics.

This is followed by a private interview with the

course director. This is your chance to discuss
any queries, concerns or ambitions you may have. Foundation Course Alumni Claire O'Neill

If you are interested in joining the course please

send your CV and covering letter to:
lucy@aircraftcircus.com

Course Fees
The total cost of the course is £3600 for the 16
weeks.
A deposit of £720 will be required to secure your
place if accepted.
Please note this is a private course, and as yet
there is no funding available for individual
applicants. However some students do fnd
sponsorship.
AirCraft Circus director Lucy Francis
with Michael Patterson

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Students take part in a Flying Trapeze lesson

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 THE TEAM

Lucy Francis-Litton Nik Litton

Director and Trainer Technical Director and Trainer
Specialities: Flying Trapeze, Cradle, Swinging Specialities: Equilibristics, Acrobatics, Cradle,
Trapeze, Acrobalance and Flexibility Flying Trapeze and Rigging
Before life in the Circus, Lucy spent numerous hours Nik’s journey into the world of circus was late (32 years old)
either upside down, cartwheeling or leapfrogging & particularly circuitous (taking in Squash coach, Greek
EVERYWHERE. Aged 12 years old, Lucy’s passion of restaurant juggler & Kleeneze round, en route). Nik moved
gymnastics grew to obsession. Transferring over to to London in 1999 to attend the frst ever ‘Circus Degree’
Sports Acrobatics so she could specialise in Tumbling and at The Circus Space in Hoxton. It was here where he met
group Acrobatics, she soon became a member of the his now wife Lucy Francis, and they formed a cradle and
National squad and was National competitor for many Acrobalance duo “Double Trouble”. During the summer
years. Aged 18, in order to continue her training she season of 2002, they performed with The Flying Dudes as
specifcally moved to Leeds Metropolitan University part of their fying trapeze spectacle. At the same time
(Beckett Park Campus) to study for a degree in Sport and Alex Frith frst suggested living in a warehouse, which was
Exercise Science. The opportunity arose for Lucy to take the birth of the original ‘Hangar’.
up High Diving, as a side-line hobby! Her obsessive
nature and determination for perfection, led her to become Although, latterly, gravitating to the teaching & rigging of
British Masters High Diving Champion (1998 & 1999). This circus, Nik continued to perform throughout the noughties;
gave her a great grounding to become an all round in a Kids’ Clown Show, devised by Alex Frith; Acrobalance
International circus Acrobat and Aerialist. for Prince Charles; taught fying trapeze to Charlie
Dimmock, Penny Smith & Sadie Frost; Teeter-board base
After a number of gruelling auditions, Lucy was selected for CGI work in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory; juggled
to participate in the Circus Training programme for the and unicycled as a clown in “Pagliacci” at the Royal Opera
New Millennium Experience Company, which led into House; Doubles trapeze base at London’s Hippodrome;
performing in the Millennium Dome Central Show during few in harness in a French TGV advert; Counterweighted
the year 2000. Following on from this Aerial spectacular at the International Wella festival in Berlin; Group Acro base
and an ankle and knee operation, Lucy learnt Swinging at the Download festival 2011 and in front of 10,000 people
Trapeze and went of to Ibiza for a summer season at the O2 arena; he has rigged on Britain’s Got Talent &
Swinging in Privilege Nightclub for The Good Ship and the Olympic closing ceremony, to name a few!!! Nik’s
Manumission. In 2002 she had the opportunity to fulfl experience in circus is diverse.
one of her life-long ambitions, the Flying Trapeze. After
performing in front of The National Theatre and spending
the summer fying around in the air, Lucy broke her neck
and had to be pinned back together with a metal plate!
Not to be put of by this forced ‘rest’, Lucy fought back to
the Circus world, (via the stripping world) and went on to
wow audiences all around the World with her spectacular
and daring acts. Over the past 10 years, alongside her
performing career she teamed up with 3 others Mad
Hatter’s to set up a Circus School called AirCraft Circus,
popped out a baby and took another brief year out for
shoulder surgery. Despite all this Lucy continues to wow
audiences around the globe with new and exciting acts.
She currently performs Acrobalance, Hoop, Silks, Triples
Trapeze, Harness, Pole, Fire Fans and Fire Poi. A unique
performer in a league of her own.
Already a qualifed Gymnastics instructor, Lucy started to
train people in Circus Arts at the National Centre for
Circus Arts from 2001 to 2010. She was an aerial and
acrobatics trainer for the Degree, Adults, Youth, Corporate Lucy Francis and Nik Litton
and Intro Day programmes, before becoming the Head
Trainer for AirCraft Circus. With over 20 years teaching
experience if your serious about Circus Training then Lucy
is your girl!

www.aircrafcircus.com
 THE TRAINERS

Hauk Pattison Hayley Ingle Matt Hurry

Chinese Pole Rope Silks

Charlotte Dawson Yma Ziranek Wilson

Dance, Acrobatics, Handstands Static Trapeze & Doubles Trapeze

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 THE VENUE
AirCraft Circus is based in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The newly refurbished school boasts a
large aerial training space, creation studio and ftness studio, all dedicated to the full continuum of
circus arts training and associated practice.

The Aircraft Circus Foundation and Intermediate Courses have attracted students from across the
UK, Europe, Middle East, USA, South America, Australia, and from a breadth of backgrounds. Since
graduating, students from our courses have gone on to successful careers in circus and related
performance art professions.

www.aircrafcircus.com
 020 8317 8401

AirCraft Circus info@aircraftcircus.com

Unit 7A,
www.aircraftcircus.com
Mellish House, Harrington Way,
London. facebook.com/AirCraftCircus
SE18 5NR
twitter.com/aircraftcircus

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