Emerald City Acro Intensive 2026
Emerald City Acro Intensive 2026
The 2025 Emerald City Acro Intensive was a success, and we’re excited to announce the dates for 2026! Drumroll please… July 18-26, 2026
Work trade and BIPOC scholarship applications are due by April 24, 2026.
Workshop Overview
Join us from July 18-26, 2026! This intensive group and standing partner acrobatics training experience is designed for dedicated practitioners to build their skills during these 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.
Photo Credit: 2025 Emerald City Acro Intensive – VRistine Photography
Performance Track
NEW IN 2026! Introducing the Performance Track
New this year, a select group of intensive participants will have the chance to join our Performance Track, a unique opportunity to train, create, and perform as part of an ensemble acrobatic act. In addition to taking the skill-based classes with other students, performers will meet for focused creation sessions where they’ll learn how to build choreography, work on stage presence, create an act structure, develop group skills, and bring a fully realized act to life.
Led by Arthur Davis, this multi-level track is designed so every participant gets their moment to shine. Think of it as a structured playground for creativity—a place to experiment, collaborate, and discover what’s possible when movement and imagination collide. Participants will receive coaching on performance technique, stage presence, act structure, and the artistic process behind professional ensemble work.
And at the end of the week… they’ll take the stage.
Performance Track participants will debut their ensemble act in Sans Solo Trois, SANCA’s beloved annual acrobatic showcase. Now entering its third year, Sans Solo continues to rebel against the domination of solo circus acts by celebrating what happens when artists come together—duos, trios, and full-scale group pieces that blend strength, timing, trust, and a healthy dose of joyful chaos.
Workshop Coaches
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
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 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.
More coaches will be announced soon!
Photo Credit: 2025 Emerald City Acro Intensive – VRistine Photography
Example Workshops
- Dynamic entrances and exits to H2H (ex: Inlocates), Dynamics (like Drag-ups/Relocates/Jaegers/Pitch to Hand-to-Hand/Back Tuck on/)
- Dance lifts, adagio, and performance classes
- Banquine, Group Acro/Swings/Pitching, Trio work
- All things mono (foot and hand)
- Additional Circus Disciplines like Hand Balancing (flags, press, balances, entrances), Trampoline for flyers, Object manipulation for bases, Duo Straps
- Prehab/Rehab: Ankle sprain prevention, shoulder prehab, activating the kinetic chain (hip prehab), strength/flexibility/mobility workshops, rehab techniques
A Day in the Life
*There will be a full day off on Thursday, July 23, and an optional performance on July 25 (around 7pm)
- Warm-up
- Fundamentals
- Workshop
- Lunch
- Workshop/Open Training
- Workshop/Open Training/Performance Class/Additional Circus Class
- Open Training
- Cool Down
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
2702 6th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98134
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.
Pay Scale
- $750 (weekly gross income under $600)
- $875 (weekly gross income $600-$800)
- $1,000 (weekly gross income $800-$1,400)
- $1,200 (weekly gross income > $1,400)
- Option to pay extra/add a donation in addition to your ticket (help support our sliding scale & scholarships!)
Prerequisites
- Standing high-bird or standing side-star
- 30 sec handstand against the wall or free-standing
- Standing F2H – 15 sec, no steps- Safe entrance and exit from standing H2H, not requiring spotter
- L-base low and extended H2H (base laying on ground with elbows on ground, and then arms extended/straight)
