Classes and Workshops

 

Community Circus Classes 

for Adults and Children

Spring Timetable


Sweet Circus is a non-profit community circus based in Eastbourne.  We believe passionately in the ability of circus to improve physical, mental and social health, and that circus is for every body!  We run a range of weekly classes in and around Eastbourne which are friendly, welcoming and full of fun.  As well as monthly fortnightly and one off sessions.

Classes can be booked via our booking site: GymCatch 

Most of our classes are open to all on a sliding scale payment system so you can choose how much to pay!

CLASSES FOR ADULTS

(Scroll down for Adult & Youth classes and children and youth classes)

Sweet Circus are experts in providing welcoming friendly classes that will build your confidence alongside your strength and fitness.  Our primary aim is that you feel safe, included and have a great time.  While it is nice to bring a friend, this is entirely unnecessary, just come along and you'll make new training buddies.  We all just relish in celebrating your effort and sharing your enjoyment!

Aerial Hoop:
Aerial Hoop is the most popular form of aerial fitness and even those who move on to other disciplines tend to start here.  We offer a Beginners class for those who are just staring their aerial journey and a Beginner + /  Improvers class which is suitable for those who have got the fundamentals down.  The aim is to build your confidence and strength working on mounts, moves and poses building a whole vocabulary of aerial movement.  There is also Intermediate Hoop Flow for those who have been doing Hoop for a while and need an additional level of challenge. 

Aerial Sling:
Aerial Sling is in many ways a kinder piece of equipment, it is soft and supportive compared to other aerial disciplines and can be graceful and flowy. It is great for building core strength and aerial confidence. This beginner class will be suitable for those who have never done any aerial and those with experience on other apparatus. 

Pelvic Health (for adults with a female anatomy):
Proactively take care of your pelvis and pelvic floor, it does so much more for us than help us with going (or not going) to the toilet! Our Pelvic Health certified body geek Sophie will help us strengthen, relax and gain conscious control over this all important muscle and the surrounding muscles and joints. For aerialists and non-aerialists of all shapes and abilities.

Aerial Pilates:
It's Pilates, but in the air, wrapped in your own supporting hammock - suitable for all levels!

50+ Social Circus:
Circus is proven to promote and maintain brain health and can guard against brain function deterioration or diseases as we age.  You can expect to feel a little confused or disco-ordinated at times, and that’s when we all have a giggle and encourage each other to try again.
We’ll be using juggling, hula hoop, diabolo, feather balancing and all sorts of circus inspired activities to keep you moving, improving your agility, balance and coordination and ensuring you stay socially active also.  All activities are provided with levels and you will work at your own pace, we will adapt activities for those who need to sit, or indeed are super fit and strong.
The best bit is – you will learn a party trick or two to impress even the grandchildren 😊

This class is run on a donation only basis!

Adult & Youth Classes (14+)

We know that aerial classes are for some the small slice of me time in the week, which is why the classes above are Adult only.  However, Youth and adults use the same size equipment and can be a really positive influence on each other, not to mention you might want to attend with your own young person, so we have a selection of classes that are open to anyone age 14+.  We have in place rigorous safeguarding procedures which you can read in full here.

Beginner + / Improver Hoop: A fantastic class for those who are able to confidently and independently mount the hoop.  We'll be taking you to the next stage, improving strength, stamina, control and your hoop vocabulary.

All Level Silks: Whether you're starting silks, or looking to finesse your fabric movements, this is the class for you! This will be a skill and technique based class, looking to teach you all the foundational skills for fabrics, for both the brand new beginner and for those looking to work out a new way to wrap, a different way to roll, or yet another way to climb the curtains! Led by our body geek and technique guru, Sophie, come along and get strong on the vertical!

Trapeze: Static Trapeze is a great piece of aerial equipment combining a hard bar, like hoop, and movable ropes more similar to silks. You will gain great core strength learning to creatively manoeuvre yourself around the trapeze with our friendly team. Taught by Miz the Trapeze Clown (and sometimes Lollipop Laura) giggles are guaranteed. Suitable for beginner plus to intermediate.

Aerial Conditioning: If you want to speed up your strength, technique and stamina gains for Aerial or just in general this is the class for you. We'll work you hard in this fun but bootcamp style session and you will feel the benefits. You can expect to spend time on and off the equipment working on all over strength, fitness, and physical control.

Juggle Fit: Juggling is one of the most effective activities for all round fitness. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE ABLE TO JUGGLE TO JOIN, but you might learn after a few weeks! We will use the principles of juggling to help develop your cardiovascular fitness, all over body strength, balance, agility, coordination, proprioception, all whilst growing additional brain cells and synapses - YES juggling really does do all those things, and the best bit is, it really doesn't matter if you are any good at it. It is the act of trying that makes the difference. Just as an added bonus, it builds confidence and resilience and is darn good fun, we challenge you not to laugh, giggle, snigger or smile whilst attempting some of the somewhat unusual tasks we have in store for you!

Acro & Balance: This new class is all about strength and control as you learn to support each other in various acro poses, and working towards the handstand. We'll be starting from the very beginning in this exciting new class! You do not need to bring a partner, you will be mixed up and grouped within class, but you will need to be comfortable working with other students and spotting each other as instructed.

Juggle Mondays: It you don't know about it yet - Juggling is perhaps one of the most effective routes to life long, physical, mental and social life. It develops agility, balance, and coordination, can be done by anyone any where, it even improves your brain power - honestly - ask about it and we'll joyfully give you all the geeky details :) Learn to Jugglers and Beginners will be taught from 7.35 to 8.10 and Improvers / Intermediate jugglers will be taught 8.15 - 8.55. But all are welcome to hang out in the space and practice for the duration.

Strings & Balls: This is both a taught and open practice session working with juggling and flow equipment such as juggling, hula hoop, diabolo and plate spinning. Age 12 + with parent / carer supervision, or age 16+ independently. 

SEND Youth (and carer) Circus:  This class is designed for young people with SEND to engage in circus play with their parent / carer.



Prices:
Most classes are offered on a sliding scale payment scheme - you choose how much to pay:
Minimum payment = £12 Recommended payment £15
Or buy a 6 class bundle £60
Supported 6 class bundle £48 (For people living in low income households) 
Some classes are funded by a variety of funders, currently SEND Youth Circus is offered for free / donation only.  Beginners Sling, Hoop, and Juggle Fit are all subsidised by the National Lottery, making the minimum payment just £8, and there is a four class bundle available for these sessions at £25.
Online booking is available via Gymcatch - https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/4095/events

 


If you have any questions at all feel free to drop us a line: info@sweetcircus.net
If you don't see what your looking for here, get in touch and tell us about it, we're always keen to hear new ideas!

CLASSES FOR KIDS & YOUTH

Our expert team of instructors will use circus to develop an interest and enjoyment in physical activity.  Focused on physical and emotional literacy we will encourage the development of agility, balance, coordination, confidence , resilience and social skills.
Our specialist team of instructors are certified and experienced in working with children of all ages including those with SEND and neurological, learning or physical differences.

Some of our sessions are funded others are subject to our standard sliding scale fees:

Individual / Trial Session

Minimum payment = £9.50 Recommended payment = £12 

Term Booking (6 weeks)

Minimum payment = £50 Recommended payment = £60

6 Class Bundle = £60

Supported 6 class bundle= £48 (for people in a low income household)

*** Our Youth Circus & Support is supported by Youth UK & the Pears Foundation which subsidise the fees.  Minis & Juniors Circus and SEND & Friends Circus are provided by East Sussex County Council Family Hubs and currently cost just £5.  ***

Home Ed Circus: All the fun of the Circus for the home ed community. This session includes a different ground skill each week such as juggling, hula hoop, spinning plates, diablo or poi as well as time spent in the air on the aerial hoop, sling, silks or trapeze. The focus is on enjoyment, agility, balance and coordination along with developing confidence and resilience.  Age 6+

Home Ed & School Leaver Arts Award Group: These sessions will work best for young people already attending our classes and gives them the opportunity to work towards qualifications.  We will do a mixture of aerial, ground skills and portfolio work.

Circus Kids and SEND: A little bit of juggling and spinning plates but mostly the ever popular aerial hoop, trapeze or fabric.  This after school session is suitable for children aged 5 - 10 including those with SEND that need a smaller class or slower pace.

Minis and Juniors Circus (age 4 - 11):  This class is very much focused on fun, confidence and emotion regulation.  So whether your little one has no sense of danger or is just too shy to come out of their shell this is the perfect experience for them.  A different ground skill each week followed by time up in the air :) 

Youth Group Classes

We have a strong and supportive youth group for whom circus is as much about friendship and socialising as it is about being active.  These fitness, strength and skills based sessions are focussed on self esteem, confidence, resilience, peer support, positive self-image, and making healthy choices. 
There is a deliberate overlap of ages from kids to youth and youth to adult to aid transition and meet children and young people according to their stage rather than age. 

Youth Aerial:
Aerial sessions are all about developing confidence by getting off the ground in an aerial hoop, trapeze or silks. Age 9 - 18

Youth Circus & Support:
This is an extended session which includes social time, ground skills such as juggling and plate spinning and all the Aerial fun. A youth councillor is part of the delivery team offering 10 minute check ins through out the session providing guidance, signposting and counselling  within the class.  This session is supported by UK Youth and the Pears Foundation. Age 10.5 - early 20s
CIRCUS FUTURES:
This is an invitation only session for our children and young people who have the potential to perform or compete in the future or go on to pursue a career related to circus. Not everyone wants to develop their skills in this way so this  course is some time set aside for those who are willing to commit to working hard, looking after themselves both in and outside of the session, and bring the right 'can do' attitude to class.

Students need to be attending other regular training with us such as another class, regular private lessons or work experience. If you have not yet been invited yet, but feel like this is for you, please do have a chat with us and we can guide you as to what you need to do in order to attend this class. In the future we aim to attract funding to this project.

Adult and Youth Classes
Youth & Adult classes are a great way to slowly work towards entering the adult world and get more upside down time.  You can attend with your parent or without, these classes are for anyone aged 14+.  Looking in the Adult and youth section above for more info.

 

OUR VENUES:
Sweet Circus, Ball Hall, 18 Bourne Street, Eastbourne, BN21 8ER
St. Elisabeth's Church, Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, BN20 8QX
If you would like to give Sweet Circus a try  book a class - we can pretty much guarantee you will have a good time :)

For further information on how to book click here:  Quick guide for the tech nervous!

Can't see what you're looking for?  Have a question? Would like to discuss your child's needs? Please do get in touch: info@sweetcircus.net / 07718 996853


Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more circus at home fun: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCumXttGUw5-klHslB4gayVQ





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