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 Atlantic Cirque Flying High on Fourth Anniversary September 13, 2005 Before you run off to join the circus, you might want to consider taking a class or two to get physically prepared. Anais Guimond makes it easy for you. Whether you're interested in learning how to use the trapeze, ride a unicycle, perform a human pyramid or simply learn how to juggle, she offers classes for children as young as three years old to adults seeking to test their skills on the high wires at the Atlantic Cirque. After three years of operating out of the gym at Halifax's Shambala School, Guimond is moving the region's only school of circus arts to a new location in Burnside Industrial Park. Located at 10 Ilsley Ave, Suite 12, Guimond is excited that Atlantic Cirque will finally have its own home. The new space will mean that the school will be able to expand the courses it offers when its new fall sessions start on Sept 19. Aside from now being able to offer circus classes seven days a week, the school will also offer classes for younger children, starting at three years old and yoga classes at lunch time for people working in Burnside who want a bit of exercise and relaxation mid-day. Guimond is also venturing into corporate team building. With a group of about 10 people, Guimond will teach techniques everything from how to sing on a trapeze to how to climb a rope to walking on stilts and riding the tricycle. "It's just a fun way to get everyone on the same level", she says. Starting the only circus school east of Montreal hasn't been easy for Guimond. She moved to Halifax four years ago from Quebec City, after falling in love with the city during a summer vacation. Barely speaking any English at the time, she came armed only with her circus talents. She has trained with the Cirque du Soleil in Montreal and Las Vegas. Performing trapeze at the Tattoo helped to get her name out and advertise her circus training skills. With $30,000 in loans, some of which were from ACOA, she set out to start her school. She used $29,000 to buy equipment and kept $1,000 to pay for rent. "I crossed my fingers", she said. "We haven't gotten any more financing since then", she says. "We're just repaying the loan now". After setting a goal of initially attracting 42 students, within three weeks of opening she had 75 students. Knowing people in the media and the acting world, helped her to get the word out. She received full-page stories in local newspapers and appeared five times on Breakfast Television. "There was a lot of interest. It was so unique", she says. Last year she was averaging 90 to 100 students per session. She runs three sessions per year. And this year she hopes to get that number up to 120. Running the school is a full-time job for Guimond and she hopes to soon hire a full-time circus coach. She currently has about five teachers who work on contract. Another dream of Guimond's is to develop a circus troupe in Halifax for students 13 years and older.
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