Top Circus Experiences In Philadelphia

Perhaps you've dreamed of dazzling audiences with death-defying jumps from a flying trapeze. Maybe you've longed to take center stage as a juggling clown. If the lure of the big top leaves you breathless, then the circus life might be for you. Not only can a circus arts program lead you down an exciting career path, but learning challenging circus skills can help develop physical coordination, balance and strength as well as confidence and mental endurance. Check out these top circus experiences in the Philadelphia area for kids and the young at heart.

Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts
Fly School Circus
313 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
www.pifa.org

If you yearn to be a daring young man, woman or child on the flying trapeze, then attend the annual Philadelphia Festival of the Arts for a class presented by Fly School Circus Arts. The school constructs an outdoor setup 25 feet above the ground where participants are strapped into safety harnesses for the ride of their lives. Lessons are two hours long and are held four times a day for the duration of the festival, which runs until April 27, 2013. First-time students and returning flyers are welcome to sign up.

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
5900 A Greene St.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 849-1991
www.phillycircus.com

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is the area's premier center for contemporary circus arts. The seasoned staff leads classes including trapeze, tight wire, tumbling, juggling, unicycling and physical conditioning. Students of all ages and skill abilities are invited to attend classes, workshops, social events and birthday parties. Adults brand new to the circus scene may sign up for $25 for beginning juggling, tight wire and static trapeze lessons, and a slew of kid programs are available for children ages 18 months to 16.

Circus Summer Camp 2013
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts
5900 A Greene St.
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 849-1991
www.phillycircus.com/summer-camp

For your future little flying Wallenda or budding Bobby May, the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts also offers one- and two-week summer day camps for kids ages five to 16. Youngsters delve into juggling, tumbling, trapeze, tight wire, aerial rope and silks, unicycling, plate spinning and clowning. Dance and performance classes are also on the agenda. As an added bonus for the two-week camp, professional guest artists, including sword swallowers, jugglers and magicians, are invited to strut their stuff. The second week of each youth camp culminates with an awe-inspiring circus show put on by the campers for family, friends and the general public.

Related: Philadelphia School Of Circus Arts Offers Courses For Adults

Philadelphia Jugglers Club
Lloyd Hall Recreation Center
1 Boathouse Row
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 685-3936
www.phillyjugglers.com

Experienced and wannabe jugglers can juggle the night away with the Philadelphia Jugglers Club every Monday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Held in a 5,500-square-foot climate-controlled gymnasium, jugglers of all skill levels practice their craft here. Pick a spot on the gym floor or simply watch the acts to get some pointers. Dancing jugglers, juggling duets, jugglers on unicycles and jugglers who throw balls, batons, hula hoops and even humans steal the show. The club is free and open to the public.

Kurt's Magic World
200 W. Main St.
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 528-9488
www.kurtsmagicworld.com

Kurt's Magic World is the place to go for aspiring Criss Angels and Houdini hopefuls. Kurt Brasch, a professional magician for more than 20 years, teaches a variety of tricks at his full-service magic shop in Lansdale. Sleight of hand, card, coin, stage and parlor magic tricks are all on the roster. Learn how to vanish coins into thin air or levitate a playing card either one-on-one or in small groups with your friends.

Related: Officials Reveal Plans For Philadelphia International Festival Of The Arts

Susan DeFeo has been a professional writer since 1997. She served as a community events columnist for New Jersey's "Cape May County Herald" for more than a decade. A writer for numerous online publications, Susan has covered health, fitness, beauty and travel, all subjects that are near and dear to her as a married mother of seven children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.