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

Scholarship Application Deadline | May 15th at 6pm 

Limited opportunities are available for participants who qualify for financial assistance, including work trade, scholarships, or helper base. If you are seeking to take advantage of a work trade or scholarship to attend this intensive, please complete your application by Thursday, May 15 at 6pm PT.

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

• $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)

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+

Arthur Davis III 

Arthur Davis is a two-time world acrobatic champion, gymnastics Hall of Fame member, Cirque du Soleil Alumni, creator of the award winning AcroArmy for America’s Got Talent, and choreographer to multiple world champions. With 25 years of competitive and professional acrobatic experience he has developed a passion for coaching; empowering through technical practice, creative direction, and movement.  Arthur’s true joy is working with people to bring out their best selves in every aspect. He specializes in the acrobatic technique from the Russian tradition of Sports Acro in a way that is digestible and lasting. Creating a space for safety, efficient progression, embodied truth and supportive direction, Arthur is a master at the art of expression, communication and lifting others up.

Zeus and Phyllis

Lux

Lux has been a student of circus since 2002. He credits the start of his career to Chuck Johnson at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in Seattle (SANCA). He has since studied in over a dozen countries with teachers from around the globe. In the early 2000’s, Lux joined Primary Element, a Seattle-based Acro & Fire troupe. The trio performed together for many years, and in 2005, performed for Cirque Du Soleil at the celebration of Varekai’s 500th performance. Though he is now retired from the stage, Lux performed for many years in duo & trio acts. Lux began teaching Acro to recreational practitioners and professional acrobats in 2005. Over the past decade, his approach to teaching and creating acro content has earned him a loyal following across the globe.

Holland

Holland Lohse’s journey into circus began in childhood, riding unicycles down Colorado mountains and earning national titles in trampoline gymnastics and diving. Inspired by a Cirque du Soleil video in fifth grade, he pursued a career that’s taken him from South Africa to Shanghai, performing with Royal Caribbean, Cirque Mechanics, Le Grand Cirque, Jennifer Lopez, and Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE, The Beatles LOVE, SUBLIM, and ’Twas the Night. A two-time bronze medalist at Cirque de Demain, Holland is known for his original duo straps act and Ginger Rope performances. He brings boundary-pushing creativity to every stage and continues to inspire audiences with his daring and dedication.

Sienna

Ryan