Series & Workshops

for students aged 16 and older

Alona Zhuravel

Handstand Workshops

June 21 - 22

I started training handstands when I was only 6 years old, so this is something that feels natural to me. My performance career started in 2001 and since then I have been touring with different shows like "Varekai" and "Joya" by Cirque du Soleil, all over the world. During the past 5 years I've had years of discovering different teaching methods and realized that we, the humans, make the handstand much more difficult than it actually is. So now my purpose has become to make the upside down world as comfortable and light as it possibly can be.

@a.zhuravel_on_hands

Beginner
Handstand Workshop

A journey into building a friendship with the upside down world.

The beginners class will revolve around getting the perfect alignment and make you feel comfortable using the wall, detaching yourself slowly from the wall, becoming familiar with different shapes like the tuck, straddle and full handstand. We will work individually and occasionally with a partner.

Workshop Details

  • Sunday, June 22nd
    3:40 - 6:10 pm

  • Early Bird Price: $150 + gst, ends May 20th
    Full Price: $200 + gst (15% off for members)

  • Everyone is welcome who wants to learn a handstand but is either scared or stuck in their journey.

Advanced
Handstand Workshop

Intermediate / Advanced

This workshop will revolve around strengthening your focus in the freestanding handstand, perfecting your alignment, working and creating new and different shapes and working towards and with the one arm handstand. We will get more familiar with tucks, straddles, full handstands and even flags. This course will guide through every step in order to get to the next level.

Workshop Details

  • Saturday, June 21

    4:00 - 7:00 pm

  • Early Bird Price: $175 + gst, ends May 20th

    Full Price: $225 + gst (15% off for members)

  • A solid two arm handstand is a requirement.

Mikael Kristiansen

Workshop Weekend

July 19 - 20th

Mikael Kristiansen is a contemporary circus artist specializing in handbalancing. He has a background as a bboy and has a Bachelor in Circus Arts from DOCH, Stockholm. Mikael specialised in the discipline of handbalancing at the age of 23 after being a breakdancer for several years. Since completing his education at DOCH, he has toured around the world performing, as well as teaching workshops targeted towards a range of skill levels, from absolute beginners to those trying to learn the most advanced handbalancing skills.

read more: https://handstandfactory.com/about/

photos by: Einar Kling-Odencrants

Handstands: Level 1

Compartmentalize different handstand techniques

The beginner workshop is focused on the building blocks for controlling a two arm handstand and understanding the components of technique, strength and flexibility required. Detailed work on entries, balance, alignment and falling drills will be in focus. Rather than functioning only as a “workout” this workshop is designed to deepen your understanding for how to actually train handbalancing over time. Building an efficient handstand is done over months and as such, giving you the tools required to ensure consistent progress is what matters the most.

Workshop Details

  • Saturday, July 19

    2:30 - 5:00 pm

  • Early Bird Price:
    $125 + gst, ends June 10th


    Full Price:
    $150 + gst (15% off for members)

    Special Offers (by request only):

    2 Pack: $325 + gst
    One handstand workshop, and the act creation intensive.

    3 Pack: $400 + gst
    One handstand workshop, the act creation intensive and the intermediate straps class.

  • 30 second handstand against the wall

Handstands: Level 2

Developing 1-arm handstands and beyond.

The advanced group is for those who have some degree of control and experience in a handstand. Refining alignment, working with various leg positions and the effortless changing between shapes, practice towards press to handstand and the road towards one arm handstands will be covered.

As handbalancing is a long term practice, the goal of this workshop is to provide a more in depth understanding of “how to train” on the intermediate to advanced level. There will also be enough room for individual attention to work on your specific needs and goals as well as inspiration to try new things others might be working on.

Workshop Details

  • Sunday, July 20th

    4:00 - 6:30 pm

  • Early Bird Price:
    $125 + gst, ends June 3rd

    Full Price:
    $150 + gst (15% off for members)


    Special Offers (by request only):

    2 Pack: $325 + gst
    One handstand workshop, and the act creation intensive.

    3 Pack: $400 + gst
    One handstand workshop, the act creation intensive and the intermediate straps class.

  • 30 second freestanding handstand.

Intermediate
Straps Workshop

Development of Shoulder Strength & Positioning for 1-arm straps work

Effective training tools to develop towards big straps skills, building up to the big skills safer with progressions. Build up of different strength exercises.

 This workshop is specifically geared towards safe training for 1 arm straps work with the main focus on strength and safe pathways for the learning of the meathook work. In particular, we will look at how to build shoulder stability and control “around” the finished positions(meathook/reverse meathook) for safety of practice.

As these positions require a substantial amount of shoulder stability and strength, we will approach through working with several “support systems” so that you can learn to practice this on your own without always having the need for a spotter. General outlines of progressions between various levels of the skills will also be provided.

Workshop Details

  • Saturday, July 19th

    5:30 - 7:30 pm

  • Early Bird Price:
    $100+ gst, ends June 3rd

    Full Price:
    $125 + gst (15% off for members)


    Special Offers (by request only):

    2 Pack: $325 + gst
    One straps workshop, and the act creation intensive.

    3 Pack: $400 + gst
    One handstand workshop, the act creation intensive and the intermediate straps workshop.

  • You do not need a lot of experience with aerials to participate, but you do need decent awareness upside down while hanging as well as control in “skin the cat”.

2 - Day
Act Creation Intensive

The goal of the workshop is to contribute with creative and technical tools for movement sequencing and act creation. We will be working with different ways of generating material and ideas to get closer to personal movement languages. The creative work will center itself around tasks and principles for composing sequences and ways to merge skills and concepts.

It will start out with rather simple movement sequences that we will remix and change through different tasks and ideas. We will then add “layers” to our sequences, changing them as we go along. The further into the work we go, the more detail and concept we will be able to go. The goal is not to have anything “finished” by the end, but to provide the outline for a useful process that can be applied in many contexts.

Day 1:
Intro, sharing of sequences and moves, guided tasks to develop the movements.

Day 2:
Further shaping our sequences, giving more space for individual expressions and ideas

Workshop Details

  • Day 1:
    Saturday, July 19 - 11:00 am - 1:30 pm

    Day 2:
    Sunday, July 20 - 1:00 - 3:30 pm

  • Early Bird Price:
    $250 + gst, ends June 3rd

    Full Price:
    $300 + gst (15% off for members)


    Special Offers (by request only):

    2 Pack: $325 + gst
    One handstand workshop, and the act creation intensive.

    3 Pack: $400 + gst
    One handstand workshop, the act creation intensive and the intermediate straps class.

  • Having an interest in developing floor movement. The movement and soft acro work will have adjustable levels so no high level acrobatic competence is required.

Intensive Series

Summer Performance Series

6 week class series with Sean

This 6-week performance-focused series is designed to support adult circus artists in developing original acts, culminating in a community performance at the end of summer.


What's included:

  • 6 act development classes

  • 8 hours of dedicated open training time

  • 1 private lesson with your instructor of choice

  • The opportunity to perform in the Summer's End Cabaret - Sept 5 and 6th

When approaching building an act there are many paths to take, but too often we just stand at the crossroads and panic. This progressive series is designed to help equip you with a toolkit as you approach creating something - whether it’s your first piece or your 94th. I won’t be creating choreography for you, but expect to walk away with a roadmap to help you navigate creation, the start of an act (or the whole thing!) and a checklist of things to not forget about as you continue creating.

Each week we'll unpack concepts like exploring tempo, connection, ways to translate intention to expression, and how to find your own variations and creations inside the repertoire you already know! 

  • Class Schedule:

    • Jul 7 - Aug 18 (no class on Aug 4)

    • 7:20 - 8:20 pm

    Dedicated Open Training Schedule:

    • Jul 7 - Aug 25 (no training on Aug 4)

    • 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Aug 25, start time is 7:30 pm)

    Private Lesson:

    One 1 hour private lesson is included in this package with a circus coach of your choice! Once you're registered for the series, we'll be in touch to schedule the private lesson.

  • Cost: $300 + gst

    15% off for members

  • Have a small sequence assembled (not committed to) that connects movements you know already, that can take up about 1 minute. You won't be fixed to it, and we'll evolve more on it. For Aerial students that might be as little as one climb, one flow pathway, one pose and one drop. Aerialists should be comfortable and safe spending 1 minute in the air at least 5 times within an hour. Ground artists should be able to also flow through a few skills consistently. Partner acts are also welcome!

Intro Series

Aerial Intro Series

Curious about Aerial Circus, but not sure where to start? Try this intro series, and dip your toes into the aerial arts!

This 4-week Aerial Intro Series will introduce you to the basics of Aerial Silks, Hammock, Trapeze, and Hoop.

Tuesday • July 8th - 29th • 7:10pm - 8:10pm

Tuesday • August 5th - 26th • 7:10pm - 8:10pm

Cost: $85 + gst

Acro Intro Series

Start your Acro Yoga journey off right with our 4-week Acro Foundations Series.

Students will be working in groups of 3 or more. No partner or experience required.

Fridays • June 13 - July 4 • 7:20 - 8:20 pm

Cost: $85 + gst