Upswing is an Aerial dance company that works with the human body to tell stories of people, their culture and the world we all share using high quality circus blended with theatrical performance. Upswing produces a range of work including outdoor, site-specific and touring shows. The company has created work for, amongst others, the BBC, The Royal Shakespeare Company, London 2012, The National Theatre and The National Theatre of Scotland. Upswing was founded in 2004 by Artistic Director Vicki Amedume, with the aim of creating cross art-form work that employs circus skills as an expressive vehicle. Upswing challenges assumptions of identity, place and our relationships with each other by literally turning the world upside down. 

Workshops and training

Upswing regularly hold workshops with young people, both in educational settings, and out of school hours. The company is highly committed to increasing access for everyone to circus, regardless of age and physical ability and to broadening the vision of how people can engage with the artform. Upswing is unique in providing learners with skills development workshops that compliment academic learning via the exciting and engaging medium of aerial dance and circus. 

In a safe environment your learners will develop confidence, team-working skills, coordination, fitness and imaginative self expression that can add significant value to their personal development and individual learning plans at any time in the academic calendar. With each project we focus on tailoring the activity to the needs of the group to give a high quality, creative engagement with circus.

Furthermore we can offer bespoke workshops through which young people can explore a special topic in the curriculum through aerial work, be it an ICT topic such as the Rainforest, The World Around Us, Space etc or a PSHE / Citizenship topic like Bullying, People Who Help Us, Friendship etc.

In providing a mixture of Sports and Arts, Aerial Circus has multiple access points and as a result provides a unique tool for educators.

Key information

• Key stage 1-4
• Groups of up to 30 participants
• All staff are CRB checked
• Full risk assessment available on request
• Full Public Liability Insurance
• Support Black History Month.

Feedback

"Upswing is a fantastic company to be involved with and their education work is first class. I would definitely recommend the company to other educational stablishments.” Robert Nicholson, Teacher of Dance, New Vic College

“Upswing really brought the group together to work as an ensemble and create something amazing.  The workshop leader brought out the best in them and allowed them to lead the direction of the performance they were making while developing their eye for what works. In the short time we had, Upswing genuinely built on the group’s performance skills and introduced them to new ideas about theatre and circus. We would love to work with Upswing again, as they are exceptional professionals and great teachers”.   Gemma Rowan,  Young People’s Programme Producer – The Albany

Click here for verbal testimony from satisfied former participants.  

“I learnt loads, and I definitely want to come back!” - Maia, aged 9.

“I had the best time of my life!” - Tess, aged 9.

“She really felt she had achieved something at the workshop. She loved every minute of it” - Mary Carson, Mother.

“…You use muscles you never knew you had, but when you heard the dong as you hit the top, you felt like the king of the world” - Jessica Andrade - workshop participant

“WARNING! Do NOT look down! Keep your chest up and feel like an action hero. We were flying and it was AMAZING and to think this was just our introduction. I could have done this all day!” - Sarah Sharman – workshop participant