Cloughjordan Circus Club

Cloughjordan Circus Club – A non-profit circus school in Ireland

Cloughjordan Circus Club is a non-profit circus school founded in 2010 by artist and educator Joanna Williams . Located in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary, Ireland, it offers children and young people a regular program of discovery and practice of circus arts.

The association was created to offer young people living in rural areas a space for artistic expression, meeting others, and physical activity. It welcomes participants from Cloughjordan and the surrounding communities.

Weekly classes for young people

Circus classes are held every Monday during school terms, at St Kieran's Hall , in Cloughjordan.

The school offers three groups: Beginners for children aged 8 to 9, Juniors for 10 to 12 years old and Teens from 13 years old.

This organization allows participants to discover circus techniques and progress in an environment adapted to their age and experience.

A wide variety of disciplines

Cloughjordan Circus Club teaches several families of circus disciplines.

Manipulation activities include juggling, diabolo, hula-hoop, Chinese plates, flowersticks and various object manipulation techniques.

Balance disciplines include unicycling, stilts, American roller, balance ball and tightrope walking.

Students also discover duo acrobatics , human pyramids, hand balances and other forms of group acrobatics.

Dance, physical theatre, clowning, puppetry and percussion enrich this artistic approach.

A creative and collective pedagogy

The teaching combines technical learning , experimentation and creation .

Students are encouraged to discover new skills, develop their coordination and gain confidence in their abilities.

Group activities promote mutual support, communication and mutual respect.

The circus thus becomes a means of developing personal expression while participating in a common project.

Shows and artistic projects

Cloughjordan Circus Club supports young people in creating shows and public presentations.

Participants can take part in projects intended for festivals, parades and cultural events.

Preparing for performances allows them to experience group work, building an act, and interacting with the public.

Internships and meetings

In addition to weekly classes, the association organizes workshops during the holidays and masterclasses led by guest speakers.

It also encourages participation in national gatherings of young circus performers, notably the Irish Youth Circus Gathering .

These exchanges allow students to discover other practices and to meet young people who share their interest in circus arts.

An experienced team

The artistic direction is provided by Joanna Williams , who has extensive experience in teaching youth circus arts.

The teaching team presented by the association also includes Pete Moran and Molly O'Brien .

The instructors combine their technical and artistic skills to support students in their learning and creative projects.

A community commitment

Cloughjordan Circus Club also develops programs for schools, youth groups and communities in the region.

The association carries out participatory and inclusive projects, as well as initiatives promoting the involvement of older members in supervision and collective life.

Through its regular teaching, performances and community projects, Cloughjordan Circus Club helps to make circus arts accessible to young people living in rural areas of Ireland.