The Creative Intensive is an annual three week training on aerial technique and creativity. This training program for professionals was designed for aerialists who want to work on improving their technique and produce aerial acts, and also for dancers who want to get more aerial training and create an aerial dance solo. The course is hosted by tutors Chantal McCormick from Fidget Feet Aerial Dance, with Lindsey Butcher from Gravity & Levity, and Carolina Cabañas from Costa Rica.

November 17th to December 6th 2025.
There are strictly 16 places total.
Deadline 14st September.

There will be a public showing in the IACC of the work created, on the last day of the intensive. Please note the last day is a Saturday, and it is expected you will attend.

The course is designed for intermediate through to professional level students. We offer contemporary dance classes, stretching, strengthening and conditioning, aerial technique classes in rope, fabric, hoop, trapeze, spiral, and vertical dance. We also offer creative labs, and one to one mentoring from the 4 tutors.

The work will be geared towards the creation of a piece to performed at the show (this will dictate the format of the piece). There is a creative lab or session every day, on a variety of subjects.

The course ends with a public performance of the acts in the IACC on the last day. Each performance is filmed with a professional set-up of three cameras and audio. You’ll receive the footage after the intensive, so that you can use it for show reels etc. All are welcome to book for the show, so invite family and friends. The IACC will invite funders and partners.

Costs

This course is funded by the Arts Council to support higher-level training in Ireland.

TO CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF IACC IN 2025: 
We are offering 5 full bursaries (€ 0 fee) and 5 half-bursaries (€600 fee). There are still 6 international places (€1200).

There are half fee bursaries (€600) for Irish born or Irish based aerial circus performers and full price spaces @ €1200 each. There’s a total of 16 places. If you receive direct funding from the Arts Council for this programme, you cannot receive a bursary as it would be double funded. If you apply for indirect funding, e.g. travel and accommodation, then you may still receive a bursary.

Duos or groups are generally charged as two people, as they need double the mentoring time. It’s possible to negotiate this.

Accommodation: We have pre-booked houses in Killaloe. There are 9 rooms available, 3 of those rooms are twin rooms which can be shared.  Each room is €560 total (€186 per week). Electricity is billed separately on a meter in the house. These will be on a first-come first-served basis.

Once you are offered a place, you must pay a deposit of 50%. If you cancel within one month of the start date, you must pay the full fee regardless. This is due to multiple late cancellations in the past. The panel will make the decisions, and all applicants will be notified whether they were successful.

To Apply

For the program aerialists need to bring their own apparatus and a proposed act; which can be at any development stage. We can cater for solo, duets and group pieces.
 To apply you will need :

  • Your general information
  • Performance videos
  • A C.V. and a reference
  • Your medical information
  • Parental/guardian consent if you are 16-18yrs.

To apply for the bursary you will need to provide

  • A paragraph explaining your suitability for the bursary
  •  Proof of Irish residency or nationality (only if requested)

You may apply for the course by recording a video of yourself talking about it and answering the questions.  If you need any further assistance in applying or have access needs, please contact us and we will support you to apply.

Once you have read all the information below, you can apply for the Creative Intensive here.

To read all the information HERE: 

For any questions you may have on this application, please get in touch at: info@irishaerialcreationcentre.com.