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New England Center for Circus Arts
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ABOUT NECCA

NECCA is people. Our founders, coaches, board, staff, students and community all shape NECCA in as many different ways as there are talented individuals who walk through these doors. NECCA is also an internationally recognized circus school known for outstanding creative and physical programming. Here, we are committed to providing access to circus arts instruction to anyone who is interested in what circus has to offer them—from the absolute beginner to the industry professional. We pride ourselves in providing this instruction in a welcoming and non-competitive atmosphere with a staff of coaches who make this art form as approachable as it is entertaining. Simply said, we love what we do and we welcome you to find out what NECCA can offer you!

We’d like to take a moment to share our gratitude both to the generous supporters who made this possible and to the Abenaki Tribe, whose traditional land we stand on and who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

Many Thanks To

The New England Foundation for the Arts

NECCA is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act from the National Endowment for the Arts.

About NEFA Support NECCA

OUR HISTORY

  • 2007

    Founding of NECCA

    NECCA is founded by Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion and receives its 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit circus arts education facility. For several years previous to this, circus arts instruction was provided under the name of Nimble Arts. Elsie and Serenity felt it was vital for the students and the community for NECCA to take this next step and grow into a nonprofit. Classes were taught with a staff of approximately 10 coaches at the Cotton Mill and the New England Youth Theater in Brattleboro, VT. The original Professional Track or “ProTrack” program began in 2007 as well, beginning NECCA’s reputation of successfully preparing professional circus artists for careers in circus.

  • 2010

    NECCA Expands

    NECCA expands into 3 studios at the Cotton Mill and establishes an additional professional program, the Intensive Program, designed to meet the growing needs of the industry. This year also brought the first annual Flying Nut holiday show as well as the Circus In The Neighborhood outreach program established to bring circus to those who otherwise wouldn’t have access to NECCA programming. This was also the first year of the Circus Spectacular: an annual fundraising event at the Latchis Theater aimed at raising funds specifically for outreach and scholarships.

    2010

  • 2013

    Building Committee Established

    NECCA received its 501(c)(3) not for profit status in December 2007 and can accept tax deductible donations. The incorporation of NECCA and the filing of not for profit papers was the culmination of much work from a supportive community, school members and a Board of Directors who believed that it was an important next step in the building of an internationally recognized yet locally vital circus center.

  • 2014

    NECCA Expands Again

    NECCA grows into 4 studios at the Cotton Mill as well as the Winston-Prouty gymnasium and has a staff of around 35. Land was purchased at Town Crier Dr, which would be the future home of NECCA’s custom trapezium. The outdoor Flying Trapeze rig moved to this site to take advantage of the amazing space and location.

    2014

  • 2016

    Ground Breaking at Town Crier Drive

    NECCA officially breaks ground for construction at the 10 Town Crier Drive location.

  • 2017

    NECCA Moves to Town Crier Drive

    In June, NECCA officially moved to its new and permanent home in a custom built Trapezium. This moved allowed NECCA to expand its ProTrack program to a full-time 3-year professional training program to better prepare students for the careers ahead. By this time, NECCA’s staff grew to 50 employees.

    2017

  • 2018

    FlyTeam Is Created

    FlyTeam, professional Flying Trapeze program begins.

  • 2019

    Three Years of ProTrack

    First graduates and tour of the 3-year ProTrack program.

    2019

NECCA ONLINE!

Follow Us on Instagram

@NECCACircus
⭐FABRIC MEETING⭐ is a creative space for aeria ⭐FABRIC MEETING⭐ is a creative space for aerialists from all over the world to meet, share, connect, learn and reflect! 🤩We’ll hang fabrics, slings, and hammocks so you can train all the fabric apparatuses you want! ➡️Sign up to get 5-6 hours of open practice each day, a Works in Progress showing, and time to connect with and meet with other aerialists. Inspired by the ever popular Rope Meetings, Fabric Meeting is a place for advanced and pro level circus artists with a regular vertical aerial practice to train and skill share together, network, and have fun! 📆Join us July 21st - 23rd by heading to our bio link and WORKSHOPS! 📽️Video of @cirquededaisy on #AerialSilks [Description: Daisy is wrapped in a cream colored aerial fabric. She pops out of the wrap, twisting down to land with the fabric under her knees. As she rolls, the tails of the fabric twist beautifully.] . . . #CircusAroundTheWorld #CircusInspiration #CircusInternational #AerialFabric #AerialTissue #Silks #Aerialists #AerialistsOfInsta #AerialBeauty #AerialTraining #Necca #NeccaCircus #CreateVt
NECCA students are winners at @‌thevivafest ! 🎉 Congratulations to everyone who performed in the Emerging Artist category! This year, NECCA sponsored competitor @‌ellylouisecraig placed 2nd in Cyr Wheel! Here’s a clip from their high energy number. About their experience Elly reflects, “VivaFest was incredible. Getting to perform alongside some of the best artists in the nation was remarkable. I am excited to continue entertaining and showing my work. I am truly proud to have been able to represent NECCA at this festival!“ 👏And a big shoutout to these other NECCA students and grads: @kalista.g.r ProTrack grad 1st Aerial Hoop, Circus Talk Award @eliza.blaise ProTrack alum 2nd Aerial Hoop @julianacrobat ProTrack grad 1st Aerial Straps, 1st Overall / Judges Choice Award @caitlinannwallace ProTrack alum 3rd Dance Trapeze @bailey.scherer.circus ProTrack grad 5th Dance Trapeze @megan_gimnig ProTrack Year 3 7th Dance Trapeze @fearlessflyer.joelle ProTrack Year 3 4th Invented Apparatus @doug_stewartt Intensive grad 2nd Aerial Rope @better.in.the.air Boot Camp alum 1st Aerial Silks, 3rd Aerial Straps 🎪Can’t wait for next year’s festival! 📽️Video of Elly on #Cyr at The Viva Fest [Description: Elly does a flip on the Cyr wheel, before spinning it and jumping inside, spinning around gracefully and energetically to high energy rock music.] . . . #CyrWheel #RoueCyr #Acrobat #Acrobatics #Flip #Cirque #CircusArtistCirque #CircusAroundTheWorld #CircusInspiration #CircusLife #LasVegasCircus #CircusArtist #Necca #NeccaCircus #VermontCreativeNetwork
📆THREE WEEKS AWAY - April Circus Camp is for ki 📆THREE WEEKS AWAY - April Circus Camp is for kids of all ages! We have half and full day camps available for kids ages 3 - 17! In our camps, your child will receive top-notch instruction in a noncompetitive environment. They will have the chance to try a broad range of circus skills including juggling, aerials, acrobatics and more. They’ll get a sense of pride and increased confidence as they learn communication skills, perseverance, and self-determination. ✔️Sign up for one, two, or more days! To register for camps April 17 – 21, 2023, head to our bio link and YOUTH CAMPS! 📸Cover photo by @‌kellythefletcher second and third photos by Elsie Smith [Description: Katie holds a child as they sit on a trapeze. A teen juggles three orange balls. A kid with long red hair poses on aerial silks.] . . . #YouthCircus #CircusKids #VermontLife #NewEngland #Juggling #Aerial #Acrobatics #VermontKids #CircusLife #ILoveBrattleboro #LoveBrattleboroVt #BrattleboroDance
💥Play over the foam pit at BAR APPARATUS MEETIN 💥Play over the foam pit at BAR APPARATUS MEETING ! Bar Meeting is a creative space for advanced + pro level aerialists with a bar based practice from all over the world to meet, share, connect, learn and reflect. We’ll hang lyra, dance trapeze, static trapeze, and duo trapeze so you can train all the bar apparatus you want! Inspired by the ever popular Rope Meetings, Bar Meeting is a space to train, skill share, network, and play with fellow artists! Registration cost includes five to six hours of open practice each day, a Works in Progress showing, and time to connect with and meet with other aerialists. 📆Join us from April 20-23! Register at our bio link and WORKSHOPS 📽️Throwback to 2019 ProTrack grad, @julia.makes.art_ with a dynamic sequence over the foam pit! [Description: Julia swings under a trapeze bar, swinging their legs overhead into a pike position before popping and twisting out to catch the bar and continue swinging.] . . . #Trapeze #DanceTrapeze #AerialTricks #AerialTraining #StaticTrapeze #Lyra #AerialHoop #Cerceau #Hoop #Aerialists #Necca #NeccaCircus #CircusInternational #CircusInspiration #ILoveBrattleboro #VermontCreativeNetwork
✨Trapeze Workshop: SEQUENCING ON DANCE TRAPEZE w ✨Trapeze Workshop: SEQUENCING ON DANCE TRAPEZE w/ Naomi Ullian - happening during Bar Meeting! Join us for an afternoon of innovative sequencing on low-flying dance trapeze. We will work below and on the bar and in the ropes, examining artful transitions and shapes that benefit from spin and motion. Get $10 off the cost of registration if you are also participating in Bar Meeting! 📆Happening on April 20, 3:00 – 4:30 pm - Register at our bio link and WORKSHOPS! 📸Photos by Elsie Smith of @‌smalldangersdance [Description: Naomi is wrapped in the ropes of a single point trapeze. In one photo she reaches her legs into a split and arches back, her back to the camera. In the other photo, she leans back, one leg wrapped in the rope and the other with toes pointing towards the rope.] . . . #Trapeze #DanceTrapeze #AerialTrapeze #AerialBeauty #AerialTraining #CircusLife #DancersOfInstagram #AerialistsOfInstagram #Cerceau #Necca #NeccaCircus #CreateVt
⭐Lyra Workshop Alert! LIONS AND ELBOWS AND BEATS ⭐Lyra Workshop Alert! LIONS AND ELBOWS AND BEATS, OH MY! w/ Rebecca Starr - happening during Bar Apparatus Meeting! Join us in this aerial hoop workshop to break down technique, drills, and variations for lion rolls, elbow rolls, and beats! We will start with the basics – progressions and drills to build technique, muscular pathways, and stamina – then move into the full skills and hopefully variations on the theme! Reverse elbow circles, beats with directional changes, and snakey style roll-ups could all be on the table! ✅$10 off your registration cost if you’re also participating in Bar Meeting! 📆Join us on April 21st from 3:00 – 4:30 pm for this fun and dynamic workshop! Register at our bio link and WORKSHOPS 📽️Video of Rebecca Starr @starrstyles with a sequence on #AerialHoop [Description: Rebecca spins with one knee hooked on the hoop and hands on the top bar. She slowly brings her feet into the hoop, climbing, until she hooks a knee on the rope above, arching back. She inverts in the rope, then slowly slides back down to the bottom bar, spinning in and out of shapes.] . . . #Lyra #LyraLove #Cerceau #Aerial #Aerialists #AerialTrapeze #AerialTraining #AerialBeauty #Cirque #Hoop #Necca #NeccaCircus

SUPPORTING OUR MISSION

DONATE TO NECCA

NECCA is a nonprofit that’s committed to the people it serves and the community within which it thrives. We rely on our many generous donors to continue to be a place that’s accessible to everyone, where creativity and artistry soar, and where the seemingly impossible becomes possible—every single day. Please consider joining others in supporting our work.

Donate Today

SUPPORTING OUR MISSION

DONATE TO NECCA

NECCA is a nonprofit that’s committed to the people it serves and the community within which it thrives. We rely on our many generous donors to continue to be a place that’s accessible to everyone, where creativity and artistry soar, and where the seemingly impossible becomes possible—every single day. Please consider joining others in supporting our work.

Donate Today

Many Thanks To

Our Sponsors

Please join us in thanking these companies for their support of NECCA.

Grant Sponsors
Education Partner
Year Round Sponsors

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Our Mission

To empower a community of artists, students, and staff to strengthen their skills and achieve their goals through the joyful and transformative power of circus arts.

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About NECCA

Mission, Values, Vision
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Contact NECCA

10 Town Crier Dr
Brattleboro VT 05301
802-254-9780
info@necenterforcircusarts.org

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