Circadium was founded in 2013 by Shana Kennedy, who had previously been a circus artist and educator for nearly 20 years. Here is our story…
1996 — Shana (then Miller) Kennedy graduated from Circomedia, Academy of Circus Arts and Physical Theatre, in England. Her eyes were newly-opened to the possibilities of circus as a modern art form, and she returned to the U.S. to begin performing and teaching with her soon-to-become-husband, Greg Kennedy. 2000 — After a few more years of academia, traveling, and freelance performing, Greg and Shana bought a house in Philadelphia, knocked out some floors and walls to make training space, and Shana began teaching static aerials classes in the backyard. AirPlay LLC was formed, and the recreational aerial classes steadily grew. 2008 — AirPlay had outgrown the house, outgrown two smaller studio spaces, and it was time for a home of its own. Shana opened the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts in a warehouse in Germantown, and AirPlay became the name of their in-house performance agency. 2008-2013 — In 5 years, PSCA grew to host 400 students every week in 80 classes, along with summer camps, performances, master classes, rehearsal space, parties, and residencies. A meeting was held in Philadelphia in August 2013 to brainstorm – what did the burgeoning circus community need next? The clear answer – a true school of higher education. 2014 — Circadium was incorporated, the Board of Directors was formed, and the Strategic Plan put into place. With the input of some of the most innovative artists and coaches working today, the school was set on track to become a center of circus cultivation. 2015 — Circadium gets a brand, a website, a language and most importantly…a future vision. 2017 — In May 2017, after a two-year application process, Circadium was granted a License from the Pennsylvania Board of Education to offer a Diploma of Circus Arts. We are the first government-recognized higher education program for circus in the United States. 2017 — First Day of Classes: Sept. 5, 2017
Our Humble Beginnings.
AirPlay Gets Its Start.
Continued Growth.
Learning to Learn.
Circadium is Born.
Circadium gets a brand.
Higher Ed – Circus Arts.
Taking the Next Steps.
Be a Part of Our History!