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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 Center for Circus Arts 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

LET’S CONNECT!

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM

🎪Do you know a child bursting with energy who w 🎪Do you know a child bursting with energy who wants to perform and gain useful life skills? NECCA’s Youth Performance Troupes nurture the budding athlete, artist, and person. The program is designed to get them experience on the stage and also to give them tools for long-term growth in both their circus life and their everyday life.

🤸‍♂️Our troupers have gone on to tour with Circus Smirkus, joined professional circus training programs, and become some of the strongest, most well-rounded adults you’ll meet.  Intermediate & Advanced Youth Troupes are designed for 7-18 year olds. 

➡️Find out more at our bio link under YOUTH TROUPES

Video of Intermediate & Advanced Youth Troupes

[Description: children and teens training circus skills at NECCA including tumbling, trampoline, tight wire, aerial silks and rope, trapeze, and Chinese pole.]
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#Necca #NeccaCircus #YouthCircus #CircusKids #AerialSilks #SouthernVermont #ILoveBrattleboro #LoveBrattleboroVt #VermontKids
🍂Fall Session 1 registration is OPEN! Session 🍂Fall Session 1 registration is OPEN!  Session 1 runs from Sept. 6 - Oct. 16

➡️We've got classes at all levels, here are just a few we are excited to offer!
Intro Level: Circus Fitness | Thursdays @ 7:30pm
101: Mixed Aerial 101 | Thursdays @ 6:00pm 
201: Trampoline & Tramp Wall 201 | Wednesdays @ 7:30pm
301: Lyra 301 | Thursdays @ 7:30pm
Advanced: Fabric 315 | Wednesdays @ 7:30pm

✅Head to our bio link and WEEKLY CLASSES to learn more and sign up!

📽️Video of NECCA coach and alum @eliza.blaise

[Description: Spinning, Eliza climbs and twists around the lyra, threading their body through in different creative ways.]
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#Necca #NeccaCircus #Lyra #LyraLove #SouthernVermont #ILoveBrattleboro #LoveBrattleboroVt #WesternMa #KeeneNh #CircusLife
🎭Beta Night, "Truth or Dare" is 1 week away! W 🎭Beta Night, "Truth or Dare" is 1 week away!  We dare you to show us what you've got like @esther.ropes who performed in last month's "Space" themed night!

There is still time to sign up to perform or volunteer - send us a message if you're interested!

[Description: Esther twirls a trick rope around, jumping in and out of the loop, spinning it in the air and across the space.]
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.
.
#Necca #NeccaCircus #CircusSchool #Performers #TrickRope #SouthernVermont #CircusLife #PerformingArts
📆Save the date! On Saturday Sept. 3 from 11:00 📆Save the date!  On Saturday Sept. 3 from 11:00am – 1:00pm, we are celebrating 15 years of circus in Brattleboro with an Open House & Registration Fair! 

🧡Everyone is welcome to visit NECCA’s custom built Trapezium and join in the fun – try out a low trapeze or aerial silks, learn to juggle, balance on a wire, and meet our expert instructors. Watch student demos, ask our staff questions, and sign up for classes – register for a fall class during our Open House and get a $10 discount!

This event is for everyone ages 5 and up!

📸Photo by Elsie Smith during a pre-pandemic Rope Meeting USA!

[Description: A person is upside down on an aerial rope with their legs in a straddle over the blue and green foam pit.  Lots of other folks are standing around the trapezium or in the air on aerial ropes chatting and training.]
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.
.
#Necca #NeccaCircus #SouthernVermont #ILoveBrattleboro #KeeneNh #WesternMa #PioneerValley #CircusLife #CircusInspiration #AerialRope
📣Are you a NECCA alum or know one who would lik 📣Are you a NECCA alum or know one who would like to submit an act to be featured in our Virtual Alumni Showcase on Nov 12th at 7 pm EST? This Showcase is an annual fundraising event for NECCA programming that uplifts our alumni through promotional support and producer/agent invitational access. Ticket info coming soon!

We are looking for 6 - 8 acts with high quality videos that we’ll download and put together into a show product. The videos can be documentation of acts performed on stage, a creative style film, indoors or outdoors, within another show, or just your act. Acts could have been filmed at any time in your career timeline and though we’ll help promote you if you are an active performer seeking work, it’s fine if you aren’t. 

To find out more and submit your act video, DM us for the form link!

📸Photo by Jeff Lewis of NECCA alum, @locksonwire who graduated from ProTrack in 2021! 

[Description: A woman wearing a red and sparkly leotard with black shorts and ballet shoes lies in a back balance on a tight wire, arms extended overhead.]
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#Necca #NeccaCircus #CircusSchool #OnStage #VirtualShow #TightWire #WireWalker #CircusAroundTheWorld

🎪Do you know a child bursting with energy who w 🎪Do you know a child bursting with energy who wants to perform and gain useful life skills? NECCA’s Youth Performance Troupes nurture the budding athlete, artist, and person. The program is designed to get them experience on the stage and also to give them tools for long-term growth in both their circus life and their everyday life.

🤸‍♂️Our troupers have gone on to tour with Circus Smirkus, joined professional circus training programs, and become some of the strongest, most well-rounded adults you’ll meet.  Intermediate & Advanced Youth Troupes are designed for 7-18 year olds. 

➡️Find out more at our bio link under YOUTH TROUPES

Video of Intermediate & Advanced Youth Troupes

[Description: children and teens training circus skills at NECCA including tumbling, trampoline, tight wire, aerial silks and rope, trapeze, and Chinese pole.]
.
.
.
#Necca #NeccaCircus #YouthCircus #CircusKids #AerialSilks #SouthernVermont #ILoveBrattleboro #LoveBrattleboroVt #VermontKids
🍂Fall Session 1 registration is OPEN! Session 🍂Fall Session 1 registration is OPEN!  Session 1 runs from Sept. 6 - Oct. 16

➡️We've got classes at all levels, here are just a few we are excited to offer!
Intro Level: Circus Fitness | Thursdays @ 7:30pm
101: Mixed Aerial 101 | Thursdays @ 6:00pm 
201: Trampoline & Tramp Wall 201 | Wednesdays @ 7:30pm
301: Lyra 301 | Thursdays @ 7:30pm
Advanced: Fabric 315 | Wednesdays @ 7:30pm

✅Head to our bio link and WEEKLY CLASSES to learn more and sign up!

📽️Video of NECCA coach and alum @eliza.blaise

[Description: Spinning, Eliza climbs and twists around the lyra, threading their body through in different creative ways.]
.
.
.
#Necca #NeccaCircus #Lyra #LyraLove #SouthernVermont #ILoveBrattleboro #LoveBrattleboroVt #WesternMa #KeeneNh #CircusLife
🎭Beta Night, "Truth or Dare" is 1 week away! W 🎭Beta Night, "Truth or Dare" is 1 week away!  We dare you to show us what you've got like @esther.ropes who performed in last month's "Space" themed night!

There is still time to sign up to perform or volunteer - send us a message if you're interested!

[Description: Esther twirls a trick rope around, jumping in and out of the loop, spinning it in the air and across the space.]
.
.
.
#Necca #NeccaCircus #CircusSchool #Performers #TrickRope #SouthernVermont #CircusLife #PerformingArts
📆Save the date! On Saturday Sept. 3 from 11:00 📆Save the date!  On Saturday Sept. 3 from 11:00am – 1:00pm, we are celebrating 15 years of circus in Brattleboro with an Open House & Registration Fair! 

🧡Everyone is welcome to visit NECCA’s custom built Trapezium and join in the fun – try out a low trapeze or aerial silks, learn to juggle, balance on a wire, and meet our expert instructors. Watch student demos, ask our staff questions, and sign up for classes – register for a fall class during our Open House and get a $10 discount!

This event is for everyone ages 5 and up!

📸Photo by Elsie Smith during a pre-pandemic Rope Meeting USA!

[Description: A person is upside down on an aerial rope with their legs in a straddle over the blue and green foam pit.  Lots of other folks are standing around the trapezium or in the air on aerial ropes chatting and training.]
.
.
.
#Necca #NeccaCircus #SouthernVermont #ILoveBrattleboro #KeeneNh #WesternMa #PioneerValley #CircusLife #CircusInspiration #AerialRope

@NECCACIRCUS

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. Thank you!

DONATE HERE MORE INFO

MANY THANKS TO

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BSL logo
berkley veller logo
oak meadow logo
trust company of vermont logo
back roads granola logo
the works logo
holiday inn express logo
weei logo
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CONTACT

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

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