Emerald City Acro Intensive 2025

Workshop Overview

Join us from June 28th to July 6th! This intensive group and standing partner acrobatics training experience is designed for dedicated practitioners to build their skills during 8 days of focused, goal-driven training.

Multiple progressive workshop tracks from beginner to advanced will allow participants to deepen their practice in specific areas such as dance lifts, dynamic partner skills, hand-to-hand, banquine, injury prevention, and more. Rather than simply learning isolated tricks, this experience supports long-term growth through structured training, personalized feedback, and a collaborative environment with world-renowned coaches.

Schedule

The intensive will run from June 28th to July 6th.
Daily sessions from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

There will be scheduled time for lunch and breaks each day. Please note:

  • July 2 and July 4 will be half-days
  • The first day (June 28) will begin slightly earlier, at 8:30 AM
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Flying Trapeze Attraction in Seattle Washington - Emerald City Trapeze Arts
Girl on Flying Trapeze at Emerald City Trapeze in Seattle

Training Space

The Intensive will take place at Emerald City Trapeze Arts, located just south of downtown Seattle in the former Canal Boiler Works building in SODO. The space features padded flooring, numerous sets of safety/spotting lines, and a variety of crash mats. 

Emerald City Trapeze Arts is operated by SANCA (School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts), one of the nation’s largest circus schools and a nonprofit dedicated to enriching our community through access to circus classes and performances. SANCA has grown from a one-room warehouse to two expansive 25,000+ square-foot circus facilities. SANCA’s core mission is to improve the mental, emotional, and physical health of children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities by engaging them in the joyous creativity of acrobatics and circus arts. Over the last 20 years, SANCA has provided over $2 million dollars in financial aid to ensure circus accessibility for all.

Emerald City Trapeze Arts
2702 6th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98134

Workshop Rates

Pay scale
  • $750 (weekly gross income under $600)
  • $875 (weekly gross income $600-800)
  • $1,000 (weekly gross income $800-1,200)
  • $1,150 (weekly gross income $1,200-$1,800)
  • $1,200+ (weekly gross income >$1,800)
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Girl on Flying Trapeze at Emerald City Trapeze in Seattle

Sample of Workshop Topics

  • Inlocates, Dynamics like Drag-ups/Relocates/Jaegers/Pitch to Hand-to-Hand/Back Tuck on/etc
  • Dance lifts, adagio, and performance classes
  • Banquine, Group Acro/Swings/Pitching, Trio work
  • Hand Balancing (flags, press, balances, entrances), Trampoline for flyers, Object manipulation for bases
  • All things mono (foot and hand)
  • Prehab/Rehab: Ankle sprain prevention, shoulder prehab, activating the kinetic chain (hip prehab), strength/flexibility/mobility workshops, rehab techniques

In the afternoons, students will have the option to engage in:

  • Open training 
  • A circus class that has been chosen for that day (e.g. trapeze, aerial silks, cyr wheel, straps)
  • Coached performance session: receive coaching on performance techniques and choreography with Arthur Davis

Required Skills

Participants are encouraged to attend with a partner, but it is not required. To create a supportive learning environment, acrobats will be required to have the following skills:

  • Standing High-bird or standing side-star
  • 30 sec HS against the wall or free standing
  • Standing F2H 15 sec – Safe entrance and exit from standing H2H (not requiring spotter)
  • Either: 2 entrances to low h2h (L-base, i.e. base laying down with elbows on ground) OR Low and extended H2H (L-base, i.e. base laying on ground with elbows on ground, and then arms extended/straight) 

Participants: Open to ages 16+

Workshop Coaches

Arthur Davis III 

Arthur Davis is a two-time world acrobatic champion, gymnastics Hall of Fame member, Cirque du Soleil alum, and creator of the award-winning AcroArmy from America’s Got Talent. He has choreographed for multiple world champions and brings over 25 years of experience in competitive and professional acrobatics. Arthur is passionate about coaching and empowering students through technical practice, creative direction, and movement. He specializes in the Russian tradition of Sports Acro and is known for making complex techniques digestible and lasting.

Zeus and Phyllis

Zeus and Phyllis collectively have over 20 years of performance experience. A breakdancer and ballet dancer who met on a cruise ship, they began their acro journey through trial and error as mostly self-taught artists. Their deep commitment to mastering foundational technique and developing a strong shared vocabulary is reflected in their meticulous training. Today, they are known for their dynamic partnership, approachable teaching style, and passion for sharing acro with students around the world.

Lux

Lux began his circus journey in 2002 at SANCA in Seattle, inspired by coach Chuck Johnson. He went on to train in over a dozen countries and performed extensively in duo and trio acts, including with the Seattle-based troupe Primary Element. In 2005, they were invited to perform for Cirque du Soleil during the celebration of Varekai’s 500th show. Though now retired from performing, Lux has become a respected teacher, writer, and leader in the global acro community. He currently teaches intermediate and advanced series in Seattle and regularly leads workshops and teacher trainings across the US.