Circus Registration

Circus competition categories will be divided into the following disciplines:

Acro

Balancing Acts

Contortion

Cyr Wheel/ German Wheel

Juggling

Open

Duo/Trio/Group

Novice:  One who, on November 1 of the event year, has had circus training in that specific discipline of up to one (1) year of training or 155 hours of training, whichever is longer.

Amateur:  One who has had circus training in that specific discipline between one (1) to three (3) years, or up to 465 hours of training, AND has not received compensation related to any aerial performance or for instructions. 

Elite:  One who has had circus training in that specific discipline over three years, or over 465 hours of training, regardless of whether one received compensation as an aerial performer or instructor.  

Learn more:   What’s the Hype with the “Elite” Class?

Professional: One who, whether intermittently or regularly, receives compensation for circus arts instruction and/or performances in that specific discipline.

UPGRADES: Competitors can upgrade from their original registered categories provided they meet the required skills for the next level. For example: Changing from “Novice” to “Amateur” or from “Amateur” to “Elite.” However, no downgrading of categories is allowed after you submit your registration so please make sure you review the category requirements and select your correct qualifying category when registering. Deadline to Upgrade is October 1.

*NEW* The duration of your act will depend on your routine. There is a minimum and maximum length of time, as follows:

• Individual Routines: 2-3 minutes
• Duo Routines: 4 minutes
• Group Routines: 5 minutes

We shall begin timing your act in any of this circumstances: 
     – the music starts
     – there is any choreography/content before the music starts

If your act falls outside the duration range, there shall be up to 10 points deduction. 

No fire routines allowed at this time.

The execution of your competition routine is assumed to have been mastered upon presentation during the competition.  We highly recommend to choose your skills carefully, and that you are able to perform them well to ensure safety and prevent slips and falls.  Please take notes of the skill guidelines for each level. 

• File format:  MP3.  The file should be downloadable and emailed to us

Under the Subject Line please include the contestant’s full name, apparatus, and music title. Example: “Jane Smith Silks – Song Title”.

• Submission Deadline:  October 15.   
• Music should be clean – free from explicit wordings otherwise this will be flagged and muted. 
• Music submissions will be reviewed by our committee who will contact competitors if their music does not fall within their required time lengths and/or contains inappropriate wording or suggestive themes. 
• Please email your music ASAP to allow time for us to review and notify you of potential editing that may be required.

Note:  Any changes in music after November 1 may have consequences including the inability to use the music of their choice or a late fee charge.  During the registration day, all applicants are required to check their music in our database to ensure the correct submission.

Copyright Music:  We encourage copyright-free music, however any clean music is acceptable.  After the event, we will feature winning pieces on our media channels and will ask you to acquire permission from the artist and/or producer as necessary, otherwise your music may be replaced when featured.

Costume is encouraged, but NO PROPS are allowed.

Your costume would need to be secured.  Any dangling of material (including unsecured skirt) may be subject to infraction in our score of up to ten (10) points.

We suggest unitard-based costumes.  If leotard is worn, please avoid thin flesh tights for the lower garment and instead wear leggings.

Because of our young competitors and audience members, we ask that costumes be family-friendly with appropriate coverage. If you are unsure of whether or not your costume is family-friendly, then email us at aerialartsamerica@gmail.com with a photo of your costume (for skirts – we will require an inverted pose) no later than November 1 to address any costume issues.

Any costume that is not previously approved may be rejected at the competition rounds if the committee deems the costume in violation of our policy and/or potentially poses danger in the execution of your routine.

For any category, there must be at least 80% circus content your act.  Any additional content that does not connect with the circus discipline does not carry weight when scored.  Judges are instructed to score according to skills exhibited with the aerial discipline.