By Jennifer Russo

 If you have ever been to a circus show or any kind of Cirque du Soleil performance, you know what it’s like to sit in your seat, eyes wide, looking up in awe at the gravity-defying acrobats flying around, costumes sparkling under the spotlight as they jump from the trapeze or spin on a metal circle high up in the air. Maybe your jaw dropped when you saw a performer balancing on one arm, using their feet to hold up someone else doing a handstand. You likely marveled at the sheer strength and flexibility of these unique athletes as they literally bent over backward to enthrall their audience, and for certain – you were entertained.

The whole point of the circus can be summed up by saying – What’s interesting? What seems impossible? How do we push the limits of that to make the audience smile?

If you ever dreamed of learning how to accomplish these kinds of daring feats, are an athlete who wants to try a different type of fitness program, are someone who wants to improve their strength and flexibility or just happen to be a circus aficionado who wants to learn how to juggle to entertain their friends, Eastern Acrobatics and Circus (EAC) has a program for you.

Located in South Natick, EAC was founded by Jacob Skeffington, who attended two professional circus schools, the National Circus School in Montreal and the China National Acrobatics Troupe in Beijing. His love for the circus started much earlier though. 

“It was really happenstance. I moved to the U.S. when I was twelve and Hilltop Circus was a program partner for a gym class I was in. I ended up going on a tour with Vermont’s Circus Smirkus, and I was thoroughly hooked at that point. Having a love for music performance prior to this, it was another kind of entertainment that really spoke to me,” says Jacob.

A former Cirque du Soleil performer himself, Jacob wanted to use all of the methods of training he learned throughout his experiences to create a school where he could teach these skills to people of all levels.

“There was really a void of opportunity here in the United States for people who wanted to learn high-level acrobatics and circus disciplines. It’s a lot different than a standard gymnastics school in that it’s less about competition and much more about performance. A lot of people that come here started in dance, gymnastics, or trampoline, but they wanted something that further enabled them to perform artistically in a different way,” Jacob shares.

EAC has two full-time coaches and four part-time coaches, who all specialize in a variety of disciplines, including partner acrobatics, Mongolian contortion, tumbling, aerial rope, aerial straps and fabric, handstands, and more. They all share an enthusiasm for movement and performance that guides their teaching to students of all levels, encouraging them to embrace who they are and what they are capable of. One of the coaches recently had students win at the 47th Monte Carlo Circus Festival, one of the most renowned events in the circus world.

“Many people think that these are skills that other people just have the talent for, but really, almost anyone can learn how to do this. It’s really about how much you practice.

Learning and knowing the techniques, then spending time on them with a good coach makes a dramatic difference,” shares Jacob.

Classes run in 10-week group sessions. Children may begin from age two with Circus Tots classes. At age seven, they can begin Intro to Circus or General Circus classes.

Adults can take classes in any circus discipline including aerials, contortion, handstands, and partner acrobatics. There is also a class for adult stretching, for those who want to focus on becoming more flexible.

There are drop-in classes available for those who just want to try juggling or group acrobatics classes and there are full-time or part-time professional programs for those who are considering taking the skills to another level or aspiring to be professional performers.

They run recreational classes all year round and they are also happy to be offering summer camps the week of July 14-18, which can be registered as full-day ($795) or half-day ($399) sessions. Camps will include warmups, group circus classes, specialty skill rotations, group games, lunch, and snacks.

Are you interested in celebrating movement as both physical exercise and as an art? Do you want to discover what your body can do and build confidence along the way?

Whether you are looking to get your child into a unique activity, want to reignite your own childhood dream of being an acrobat, or just want have fun while you improve your own fitness, EAC invites you to step out of your comfort zone and into a world where you can be the center of your own stage.

EAC is located in the former Sacred Heart church building, at 28 Eliot Street in Natick, MA. To learn more about their class offerings and schedule, coaches, and more, visit their website at www.EasternAcrobatics.com or check out their Instagram @EasternAcrobatics. They can also be reached by email [email protected]

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