A circus arts school recently formed in Biddeford will bring classes to the coast this summer.
The Sellam Circus School, founded by Sellam El Ouahabi and Amity Stoddard, will offer its first-ever summer circus arts day camp on Vinalhaven Island in July, part of its Maine Coast Summer Circus Arts program.
The circus school, which plans to offer both recreational, after-school classes in circus arts, as well as a semester-based, competitive-entry professional circus arts training program, is founded on the belief that “circus belongs to everyone,” organizers say.
Founders El Ouahabi and Stoddard hope to open the doors to the school’s permanent location in Biddeford in September. As a lead-in, the school will offer day camp programs, starting with a 2-week circus arts day camp hosted by the Vinalhaven School with several more locations in the works.
The Vinalhaven camp, which is open to students from ages 8 to 18, will commence July 17 and continue through July 28. Structured as a day camp, each week session will run Monday through Friday; camp days will begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:30 pm (with start and end times that are designed to accommodate travel to and from the ferry terminal.)
Students in the day camps will have the chance to learn juggling, partner acrobatics, trapeze, aerial silks and much more.
For those who don’t live on the island, the Sellam Circus School will chaperone students to and from the ferry terminal as part of its commitment to ensuring that every child has a chance to experience the circus. The school is also offering an instant discount to island residents—including Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Islesboro—who would like to attend the camp.
To learn more about The Sellam Circus School’s summer circus arts day camp at the Vinalhaven School, visit www.thesellamcircus.com. Early registration has already begun, and sessions are expected to fill up quickly. Register for classes at: https://app3.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=529890
Sign up before April 1 to receive a $50 discount off the 2-week session.
For more information: info@thesellamcircus.com