The ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts (ZICA) is dedicated to the preservation, development and enhancement of ancient and contemporary circus arts, including Juggling, Clowning, Magic and Acrobatics with an emphasis on all aspects of performance and production. Programs range from master classes taught by resident performers to technical or artistic apprenticeships and summer camps. Funding for the ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts is provided by individual contributions and grants, including a four-year Wallace Excellence Award.
“The world we create each night at Teatro ZinZanni is deeply rooted in centuries of circus, theatre and music tradition. Most of our artists started their training as very young children and many of them are third or fourth generation artists” said Norm Langill, Artistic Director of Teatro ZinZanni. “Bringing along the next generation is the natural, expected thing. As we approach our tenth anniversary, we recognize the need to not only preserve these increasingly rare art forms, but to provide much-needed professional training opportunities for both artists and artisans to continue refining, defining and improving their craft.”
“The long range vision for ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts is to create learning opportunities for dedicated students of all ages in Seattle and San Francisco and any other communities we may expand to,” said Markus Kunz, Managing Director of Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle. “We began with the Juggling Camp in Seattle in 2008 for 35 students ages 11 to 15, and ten of those students received fully funded scholarship.”
This summer we are expanding the summer camps to run for ten weeks featuring Juggling, AcroBalance, Clowning, Magic and Slapstick Comedy. We offer camps for kids ages 4 to 17. Partnerships include Pacific Science Center, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle Children’s Theatre and Seattle Public Theatre.
“It’s one thing to teach a kid to juggle but it’s a deeper, richer experience to teach a child how to create and perform in character,” stated Langill. “Under the tutelage of our artists, ZinZanni campers will learn skills that will instill them with confidence throughout their lives.”
~Norm Langill, President & Artistic Director
Sponsors
Funding for the ZinZanni Institute for Circus Arts is provided by individual contributions and grants, including a four-year Wallace Excellence Award from The Wallace Foundation.