Resources for aerial artists in Edmonton

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Arts festivals in Edmonton showcasing aerial artists

  • Alberta Circus Arts Festival

    Hosted by Firefly Theatre and Circus, the festival showcases contemporary circus performances, along with professional development workshops, panels and discussions for industry professionals, and outreach opportunities for all.

    From cutting-edge performances to true-life inspirational stories, and dancing, flying chaos, the Alberta Circus Arts Festival is dedicated to the creation of a regional and national voice in contemporary Canadian circus and committed to sharing and experiencing world-class circus with the community. 

  • SkirtsAfire

    Founded in 2012, SkirtsAfire is Edmonton’s only theatre and multidisciplinary arts organization featuring women. Their programming reflects the true diversity of the thriving arts community in Alberta and Canada, and is adaptive in its approach in order to remain responsive to the needs of artists and audiences.

    SkirtsAfire Festival values diversity in the artists they represent and therefore welcomes artists of all diverse backgrounds, including cis and trans women, non-binary people, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and artists of all ethnicities and all abilities.

  • Expanse

    Expanse festival is a movement arts festival that focuses on body-based work from a cross-section of artists. expanse offers opportunity, inspiration, education, and community for artists and audiences who share a love and curiosity In physical performance.

    The festival has two main streams: a Performance Series of performance works by local, regional, national and international artists and the Expanse Community Outreach Program which encompasses a number of activities through which the festival interacts with the Edmonton Community at large.

  • NextFest

    NextFest shepherds the development of emerging artists. It is curated on the basis of providing development opportunities for emerging professional artists to hone their craft, gain experience, make contacts, and step forward as the future of professional arts.

    There are many ways in which artistic entities, products, and relationship have grown out of NextFest, and there are numerous examples of new works of theatre and dance, that may have never made it to the stage, and ongoing artist collaborations that may have never come to be, without the existence of NextFest.

Rigging & Aerial Resources in Edmonton & Canada

  • Continental Chain & Rigging LTD

    If you are looking for good quality & value slings, shackles, cables, pins, and most rigging supplies, you can find them right here in the city.

    Continental Chain & Rigging Website

  • AustriAlpin

    Local provider of good value carabiners made of steel and stainless steel as well as aluminium and CE certified. They also have O or D rings rated for aerials.

    AustriAlpin website

  • JuggleGear

    Alberta based aerial manufacturer & provider, they have almost anything you will ever need for your aerial performance.

    JuggleGear website

  • CircusConcepts

    Quebec based manufacturers and online shop. They design and create unique apparatus for some of the most prestigious companies in the country.

    CircusConcepts Website

Performing: Documents and General Information

  • Contracts

    Womack and Bowman have some info about how to write an aerial performance contract.

    W & B contract

  • Insurance

    En Piste National Circus Alliance provides insurance for their members.

    En Piste Insurance

  • Silks & Hammock Rigging

    Aerial Essentials provides videos on how to rig your aerial silks & hammock to a Rescue 8 or rings.

    Aerial Essentials rigging videos

  • Safety & Rigging

    FEDEC, the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools provides information about rigging and safety for professional aerialists.

    FEDEC Safety & Rigging

  • Safety & Rigging for Freestanding Rigs

    A fantastic premier on loads (static & dynamic), in general and specific to freestanding rigs. Required knowledge for a professional aerial artist.

    Circus concepts dynamic loads for rigs

  • Professional Training Manuals

    FEDEC provides free training manuals for professional circus artists on a variety of apparatus and disciplines.

    FEDEC Training Manuals

Training in Edmonton

  • Firefly Theatre and Circus

    One of the only circus companies in town, Firefly offers workshops and professional training sporadically.

    Firefly Theatre & Circus Website

  • Sapphire Circus Arts

    Recreational studio mainly focused on Silks, Hoop, and Trapeze classes for adults but also offering a few kids classes.

    Sapphire Circus Arts Website

  • Cirquetastic

    Mainly focused on kids & teens classes, they also have a strong recreational program in acro and trampoline.

    Cirquetastic website

  • Aradia Fitness

    Offers pole dancing, dance, and aerial fitness classes, focusing mainly on Silks, Hoop and Trapeze.

    Aradia Fitness website

Training in Canada

  • École Nationale de Cirque

    Located in Montreal, it is one of the most renowned professional circus schools in the world. ENC has preparatory & professional circus programs as well as instructor trainer and circus coach programs.

    École Nationale de Cirque

  • École de cirque de Québec

    ECQ offers professional programs as well as recreational programs in the city of Québec. For those living outside of the province, they also have winter and summer intensives.

    École de cirque de Québec

  • Circus Labs

    Circus Labs, in Langley BC, has an intensive circus program that includes customized training in circus arts plus artistic development.

    The Circus Lab