NEW TRAINING PROGRAM
The free Circus Arts Technical Improvement Training is a program offered by En Piste in partnership with Collège Lionel-Groulx, Cirque Éloize, The 7 Fingers and TOHU, with the support of the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The training is designed for stage technicians, lighting technicians, stage managers and technical directors who have not worked extensively in the circus arts or who wish to perfect their skills.
It is also aimed at circus artists with relevant experience in stage technique, who wish to become more familiar with the particularities of the discipline.
TRAINING GOALS
1. Facilitate access to a training program for a wider diversity of technicians (including technical directors) and artists, by offering equitable learning opportunities.
2. Develop and consolidate their knowledge of the circus arts to ensure best practices in the field.
3. Strengthen their skills to encourage job retention.
4. Facing the challenges of labor scarcity.
5. Meet an imperative demand for qualified technicians and directors within circus companies.
PREREQUISITES
Adequate professional experience in the chosen discipline(s) is essential. However, stage technicians are not required to have circus arts expertise.
APPLICATION FORM
To submit your application, please complete the registration form, select the desired training modules (see below) and send us your curriculum vitae and a letter of motivation. Selected candidates may be invited to a telephone interview. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
A letter of acceptance or refusal will be sent to each candidate by e-mail.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Friday, November 24, 2023
PROGRAM
The Circus Arts Technical Improvement Training Program comprises four (4) modules. It is structured around a virtual classroom (module 1 - obligatory) and three face-to-face modules, where technicians can meet, exchange ideas and benefit from the expertise of several professionals to enrich and strengthen their skills.
MODULES
1. Introduction to the circus world (7 hours - obligatory module)
Online / Thursday, January 11 and Friday, January 12, 2024 / 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2. Circus lighting (21 hours over 3 days)
In-class / Monday January 22, Tuesday January 23 and Wednesday January 24, 2024 / 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: The 7 Fingers (2111 bld Saint-Laurent, Montreal)
3. Circus technical direction (21 hours in 3 days)
In-class / Monday January 29, Tuesday January 30 and Wednesday January 31, 2024 / 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: La Tohu (2345 Jarry East, Montreal)
4. Circus stage management (14 hours in 2 days)
In-class / Monday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 7, 2024 / 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Cirque Éloize (417 Berri Street, Montreal)
MODULE DESCRIPTION
(You can pick your choice of modules (2, 3 and/or 4) directly on the registration form. Module 1 is obligatory.)
1. Introduction to the circus world
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History of circus
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Acrobatic disciplines and their particularities
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Safety issues related to each discipline
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The human body
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Different types of production
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The main positions and their functions
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Creation and touring
2. Circus lighting
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The circus lighting designer in creation
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The lighting design process
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Lighting in relation to different disciplines
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The lighting plan
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Adaptation from venue to venue on tour
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The circus lighting designer on tour
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Communication
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The human body and show management
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- Safety procedures
3. Circus technical director
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The technical director of circus creation
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Organizational chart and production schedule
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Preliminary documentation
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Supplier management
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Safety aspects
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Technological developments
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The creative process
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The particularities of scenography
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Technical specifications and plans
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Acrobatic rigging
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Engineering principles and load calculations
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Touring technical director
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Tour organization chart, including the presenter
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Touring from A to Z (planning, logistics, crew, schedule, safety aspects)
4. Circus stage management
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The circus stage manager and assistant
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The different disciplines and their particularities
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The creative process
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Rehearsal schedule
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The creative stage manager's notebook
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The tour manager
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The human body and its rhythm
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Touring schedule
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Characteristics of an outdoor show
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Safety procedures
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Emergency management
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Human relations
TRAINING METHOD
Lectures with practical workshops.
TRAINING COORDINATORS
Louise Riel, Pedagogical Advisor, Continuing Education, Collège Lionel-Groulx
André Simard, Coordinator, Continuing Education, Collège Lionel-Groulx
More information:
Continuing Education & Development
[email protected] / 514 529-1183, poste 2
TRAINERS
MAXIME CLERMONT-MICHAUD
Maxime Clermont-Michaud began his career as a technical director, lighting engineer and stage manager. He has made invaluable contributions to numerous projects in music, circus and theater. His technical and management expertise later led him to the position of technical coordinator at La Ronde amusement park. In 2018, he joined the Cirque Éloize family, moving from technical and logistics coordinator to director of operations for the international touring shows department, and then to assistant director of human resources. Today, he shares his knowledge as a teacher of the production management course at Collège Lionel-Groulx, where he also coordinates the stage production program. His passion for the world of show business, his varied professional experience and his commitment to training future talent make him a key figure in Quebec's performing arts and entertainment industry.
GUILLAUME LABELLE
A 2007 graduate of Collège Lionel-Groulx in stage management and techniques, Guillaume Labelle has become a rigorous, committed and caring manager. He began his career as a technician for various theatrical productions, before crossing paths with the circus world in 2009. It was instantaneous love at first sight. Starting out as head stagehand for Cirque Éloize's Nebbia, then head lighting technician for the same company's Rain, comme une pluie dans tes yeux, he discovered international touring and worked in a number of different fields, making him a versatile candidate with extensive knowledge of the field. He then became technical director of Compagnia Finzia Pasca's Donka. Back in Montreal, he participated in the major productions Luzia by Cirque du Soleil and Montreal AVUDO by Compagnia Finzi Pasca for the 375th anniversary of Montreal. Since 2016, he has collaborated on the Montreal Complètement Cirque festival. His expertise and desire to surpass himself enabled him to climb the ranks and be promoted to producer of the event and assistant producer of la TOHU.
TANYA PETTIGREW
Tanya Pettigrew has been working in the world of show business and circus since graduating from Collège Lionel-Groulx's École de théâtre professionnel in 2009. She has held a number of management, technical and artistic positions, and has taken part in numerous circus creations and tours in Quebec and abroad. She started out as a touring lighting technician before becoming a stage manager, a position she still holds today. Among the companies she has worked with are The 7 Fingers, Cirque Éloize, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Cirque du Soleil, Opéra de Montréal, National Circus School, Montréal Complètement Cirque and many others. Since fall 2021, Tanya has been teaching the assistant director and stage manager positions at Collège Lionel-Groulx's École de théâtre professionnel, where she passes on her passion for the craft to new generations.
OLIVIER ROSA
Olivier Rosa has been working in the entertainment industry since 1995. His main area of expertise is lighting, and he has been working as a technical director for over 15 years. After working as a lighting technician in a theater, he began touring in 2001, first in Quebec, then internationally in 2005. He has created lighting for a variety of music artists, such as Chloé Ste-Marie, Florence K, Alain Morisod & Sweet People, as well as for various circus shows by The 7 Fingers and independent circus artists such as Krin Haglund and Jamie Adkins. Since 2002, he has regularly combined the roles of technical director and lighting designer. In this capacity, he worked for several tours, including Annie Brocoli, Michel Marc Bouchard's Le peintre des madones (Espace GO), The 7 Fingers, Krin Haglund and Jamie Adkins. He was also technical director of the famous festival L’International de montgolfières of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu for four years. Since 2016, after 16 years of touring, 11 of them internationally, he has been technical director of the 7 Fingers and head of their studios in downtown Montreal since 2018.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank the National Circus School for generously sharing its documentation on the world of the circus with us. We also thank the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail for their support.