Circus Art / CLOWN BA
Clowns in the circus
Clowns are the representatives of humour and cheerfulness. In their performance they show how we humans stumble and fall in the world. In this way, they provide a contrast to other circus acts, in which acrobats put the spotlight on the astonishing human performance and human greatness.
Clowns take a special place in circus art and have an important dramaturgical function in circus shows.
Clowns in the circus art course
A clown can mean the clown character who appears on stage, but it can also mean the technique that the performer uses in his act.
- In the case of the clown as a character, the basic pillar of the course is acting, including character and scene building, speech technique and stage movement.
- The technique of clowning is based on the clown’s particular way of thinking, a certain logic, which aims to create the mood for humour. This technique as a skill is also an important building block for all performers. It is called “comic” when the performer uses the clown’s toolkit.
Admission
In addition to the school’s basic requirements, applicants to the three-year clown training programme are assessed on whether they have the basic skills and mental maturity to practise clowning at the time of entry. The admission requirements for this course are the same as those for acting. Admission is by group workshop.
Blended Teaching Group
For those students of the Budapest Circus Arts and Contemporary Dance College who participate in full-time education and who during their study period, as can be verified by contract, carry out artistic work or training activities in internationally recognized professional performing arts venues recognized by the College, with the rector’s permission, they have the option of an individual study schedule to continue in the form of “BLENDED TRAINING”.
Tuition fee / Scholarship
Tuition fee
Currenlty you can only apply for fee-based courses at a price of 900.000.- HUF / semester.
The advisory office of the Budapest Circus Arts and Contemporary Dance College can help you explore the possibilities of getting part or full funding for tuition fees and living expenses during your studies.
Curriculum
Subjects
During the course there is only one element that everyone is equally obliged to learn: the art of clowning.
Although, in principle, a clown does not necesarily have to play music, dance, mime, do acrobatics or juggle, it is part of the tradition of this profession that a clown incorporates other art disciplines into his act.
Our college offers a unique opportunity to develop individual skills within the institution. This provides interdisclipinary study opportunities for all our clown, circus arts and dance students wishing to develop skills related to other disciplines. These are available through compulsory and optional classes.
With the help of the clowning teacher you will learn how to adapt your newly acquired toolkit into clowning scenes.
We pay particular attention to music, elements of physical comedy and object manipulation. We strive to give clowning students the space for individual practice and creative work as well. Students show the result of their work at the end of each period at our in-house shows.
Sample timetable
| MONDAY | |
| individual warm-up | |
| skills developement /slapstick/ | |
| individual work /practice/ | |
| creative work /rehearsal/ | |
| skills developement /acrobatics/ | |
| TUESDAY | |
| guided warm-up | |
| skills developement /juggling/ | |
| individual work /practice/ | |
| skills developement /object manipulation/ | |
| skills developement /yoga/ | |
| WEDNESDAY | |
| forum | |
| circus studies module /safety management/ | |
| art module /fine arts/ | |
| clowning | |
| THURSDAY | |
| individual warm-up | |
| clowning | |
| skills developement /improv/ | |
| FRIDAY | |
| guided warm-up | |
| skills developement /stage movement/ | |
| individual work /practice/ | |
| creative work /rehearsal/ | |
| skills developement /acrobatics/ |
Training Areas of the Course
Guided and individual warm-ups are an essential part of performing art work. It is for preparing the body, the mind and the spirit for creation.
Skill development areas provide the basics in clowning techique and establish the excellence of a clown character in a specific genre or interdisclipinary art.
Training modules target areas that are essential to the circus artist’s work.
The teaching-learning process is realized by a constant dialogue. Regular forums and mentoring ensure a lively relationship between school and student.
Independent work is both about processing and practising the study material and about giving room for students’ own initiatives. The academic year consists of five study periods. At the end of each period, students have the opportunity to share their work with their peers and teachers.
Periods:
| 1st PERIOD | 2023.09.18. | 2023.10.27. |
| Autumn break | 2023.10.30. | 2023.11.03. |
| 2nd PERIOD | 2023.11.06. | 2023.12.20. |
| Winter Holiday | 2023.12.22. | 2024.01.12. |
| 3rd PERIOD | 2024.01.15. | 2024.02.16. |
| Ski break | 2024.02.19. | 2024.02.23. |
| 4th PERIOD | 2024.02.26. | 2024.03.28. |
| Easter Holiday | 2024.03.29. | 2024.04.05. |
| 5th PERIOD | 2024.04.08. | 2024.06.14. |
News / scholarship opportunities
Tuition Scholarships
Our college offers students with active student status the opportunity to receive a scholarship specifically aimed at paying tuition fees.
