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 Big top dreams: Trapeze artist Guimond to open new circus school August 17, 2002 By Andrea Nemetz - Entertainment Reporter/Halifax Herald For anyone who's ever dreamed of running away to join the circus, Anais Guimond's new school might help put them on the road. Guimond, who wowed audiences at this year's Nova Scotia International Tattoo with her bungee-trapeze performance, will open Atlantic Canada's first circus school this fall. Called Atlantic Cirque, the school will offer classes in circus arts such as trampoline, trapeze, high wire, acrobatics and contortions for toddlers to adults. Guimond will hold information and pre-registration sessions in the Bedford room at the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel on Sunday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 pm.m. Designed for parents to ask questions, she'll also have circus photos and items for children to play with. "I have the financing secured and I hope to start classes the week of Sept. 17," says Guimond, who opened a circus school in her native Quebec in 1998, with her now ex-boyfriend. That school, called Cirque de l'odyssee, is still running under her former partner's guidance and students are now performing with a variety of shows, she says. Former gymnast Guimond, who trained with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas for a year, debuted as a professional acrobat in the Elastic Gymnastics show in Orlando, Fla. shortly after finishing high school. She performed solo for more than 700 shows with Cabaret de Quebec's Les Folies de Paris and Le Theatre des Nouveautes in Montreal between 1998 and 2000. She's also co-hosted TSN's Caribbean Workout and is currently working on the Halifax-produced TV show Made In Canada. At Atlantic Cirque, Guimond will offer classes for three to five year-olds, who will participate with their parents, and introduction to circus skills classes for children aged six to 17, divided by age. She'd also like to offer classes for adults and corporate programs - a half day at circus school instead of at a golf tournament for example. A Francophone who speaks excellent English, Guimond also plans to offer circus classes in French as well as English. "Halifax is ready for a circus school," she says noting the Buskers' Festival, running to Sunday, always generates interest in acrobatics. No gymnastic skill or special flexibility is required, just motivated, energetic children and both boys and girls are encouraged to participate in this non-traditional circus school (no animals are involved, it's circus Cirque du Soleil style). The school's location has yet to be determined, but Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter Kelly is working with Guimond to find an appropriate location, she says. One of the spots she's considering is the gymnasium of Ecole Beaufort in Halifax's south end.
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