the country's first full-time intensive partner acrobatic training for intermediate and advanced acrobats
New! Hand to Hand Intensive! 5 days, June 2018
New! Hand to Hand Intensive! 5 days, June 2018
Pitch Catch FALL
November 4 -22, 2024
Where: Osega Dream Academy, Asheville, NC
Level: Intermediate, Advanced, Advanced +
Cost: Sliding scale, BIPOC & trans fellowships, & work trade opportunities
Coaches: Cassie Drew, Niko Douwes, Christine Moonbeam, Blox, Ryan Hamity, Jeremy Martin, Micah Ellinger, Z Farrell, Ilana Blankman
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Our annual fall program focuses on standing acrobatics including hand to hand, group acro and optional Icarian modules. Partner acrobatics training is rounded out by instruction in tumbling, handstands, flexibility, pre-hab/conditioning. Students also receive a minimum of 30 minutes per week in private instruction. Classes will run from 8:15am - 4pm, Monday - Friday. Open gym will occur on Saturday evenings 4:30 - 8:30pm. Click here to see a sample weekly schedule.
We’ll be offering concurrent tracks for intermediate, advanced, and advanced plus students. We will also offer an independent training option for pro-level acrobats. Students are encouraged to attend the full 5 weeks, but may attend as little as 2 weeks. Intermediate students must attend the first 2 weeks to continue on the program. One week minimum for returning students. Arrangements can be made for half days or partial weeks to accommodate locals or remote work schedules.
Please note, because social justice is an essential value of Pitch Catch, we do require all students who benefit from white privilege to attend a training on power dynamics, and we also offer additional trainings conversations throughout the program.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
This spring's program is for acrobats working towards standing hand to hand all the
way to those working on taking dynamic skills such as cascades/corbettes out of lines.
The ideal Pitch Catch student is someone who:
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Shows proven dedication and discipline to training.
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Is looking to improve their professional skill set and/or committed to raising their personal practice to the next level
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Hopes to gain a greater level of technical understanding
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Has experience with standing acrobatics and a sufficient level of general physical fitness to train intensively.
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Is excited about building and strengthening their acro community in an inclusive way
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Interested in working with others collaboratively rather than competitively
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Interested in delving deeper into foundations and technique of having a healthy acro practice
LEVELS
This year's program will take a different approach to our level designation. Rather than applying to a specific track, we'll be accepting acrobats from all the different experience/skill levels and then we'll be designating tracks according to the student body. General track designation is as follows:
Intermediate: this track is suited for students who are comfortable in two high, hi bird, and have some experience with hand to hand. These students can expect to make progress toward standing hand to hand, learn new entries/exits in foot to hand, and build new skills in dance lifts, shoulder stands, group acro and optional Icarian modules. Please note that intermediate students must attend the first two weeks of the program to continue to subsequent weeks.
Advanced: Our Advanced track program is designed for students experienced with standing hand to hand. We will focus on dynamic hand to hand entrances (ie: inlocates, relocates and more), toe pitching, swinging, banquine, extended h2h/f2h, knots, mono skills and more.
Advanced Plus: Our Advanced Plus is for students working on dynamic skills (i.e. cascades, corbettes, etc) and/or high level skills (one arms, extended entrances/exits to h2h, etc), who are experienced acrobats. It is most suitable for folks that have already taken 5 weeks of the advanced track, but others working at a similar level are welcome to join. This program will include both structured classes and autonomous training time.
SLIDING SCALE
SLIDING SCALE
At Pitch Catch we strive to make circus accessible to all types of people with skill and heart regardless of their economic background. We ask that you accurately access your income-making POTENTIAL (i.e. not just your monthly earnings, but assets, education, etc.) when paying for this program. If you are able to pay more for the program, your contribution supports our BIPOC scholarships and helps grant access to others who may not otherwise be able to enjoy the benefits of circus. It also helps ensure we are able to continue offering this program in years to come. We strive not to turn folks away for lack of funds, so if the cost of the program is a major obstacle, be in touch with us.
To the right is a rough guideline, recognizing that it may vary quite a bit based on how many people you support with your income and/or what assets/debt you have.
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BIPOC FELLOWSHIP & HARDSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
We recognize that the very quality of our programs depends on the diversity of our students, and in order to provide recompense for that value, we are offering the following fellowships and scholarships:
BIPOC ACROBATS
We recognize that the very quality of our programs depends on the diversity of our students, and in order to provide recompense for that value, we are offering up to 12 fellowships to the program for students who identify as black, Native American (Indian), First Nations, Latinx, Asian, and/or mixed race. This fellowship provides full access to the program at reduced or zero cost. Please note -- we we are a proud partner of BACCES and offer scholarships through their program, but we also offer additional fellowships directly through Pitch Catch for folks that weren't recipients of the BACCES awards.
Additionally, we will be offering up to 3 scholarships that include a housing/travel stipend for BIPOC students that have financial need. For more information and to apply, click here to fill out a brief application. Please note you will also need to fill out our full application form.
QUEER/TRANS/GENDER NON-CONFORMING/NON-BINARY ACROBATS
We offer a sliding scale reduction in price, and in cases of significant financial need, zero cost for students that fit outside the heteronormative, gender normative spectrum. Funding is limited for these fellowships, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone we can. To apply, click here to fill out a brief application. Please note you will also need to fill out our full application form.
HARDSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
We will also be offering 1 "hardship" scholarship to someone who may not fit into the categories above but has experienced significant hardship in their life -- this may be someone who has served jail time, recovered from addiction, lives with a disability, or is making it work as a single parent. This scholarship will cover full tuition. Please note, this scholarship is for first time Pitch Catch attendees only. Click here to fill out a brief application. You may be asked to submit financial documentation.
WORK TRADE
Helping Acrobats
In order to best support our less experienced students, and to provide a way to make the program more economical for some students, we are accepting applications for up to 8 helping acrobats. Helping acrobats must have a high level of proficiency in spotting and performing advanced standing skills (i.e. you must easily meet the requirements for the advanced track). It is most ideal if helping acrobats have taken Pitch Catch courses previously, but a sufficient knowledge of standing skills can substitute. Helping acrobats offer their support in up to 5 lower level classes per week in exchange for a significant discount. Click here to fill out the helping acrobat application. You will also need to fill out our full application form
Work Trade
We offer a limited amount of work trade opportunities for students that are unable to afford the bottom of the sliding scale and do not fit into any of the above categories. Work trade tasks may include cleaning, child care, social media and hosting open training sessions. If you would like to apply for work trade, please email info@pitchcatchcircus.com.
Photo credit: Alex Giordano