Circus Scorpius will be holding auditions August 16-25th, 2024 alongside Circ.S auditions. Interested parties must register on this form and prepare a 3-5 minute piece to present to the Senior Company members. MAKE SURE YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE REGISTERING. Please email the director if you have any questions.

Join our team of weirdos

Circus Scorpius is a small, close knit company of circus performers based (mostly) in the Kansas City area. Members are united in the common goals of exemplifying professionalism, prioritizing story while maintaining excellent technique, pushing limits, creating meaningful art, engaging audience members, and having fun along the way. If you are a high-level performer with similar goals, you might just be a fit for Circus Scorpius!

Email the director to set up an audition.

Considerations & Expectations

All members of Circus Scorpius are held to high standards. To even be considered for the company, artists have to meet several requirements. Senior Company members must demonstrate at least two of the following, whereas Junior Company members must meet at least one:

1. You are at the top of the region in at least one discipline.

Whether it is as a juggler or a static trapeze artist, you are considered top-of-the-line in the Kansas City region. Perhaps you are literally the best aerial silks performer in the area, or maybe you are a member of the Kansas City Ballet. No matter your discipline, you are the definition of elite.

2. You perform a skill unique to this company and/or region and/or in higher demand than supply.

Maybe your discipline is uncommon to KC (Cyr wheel) or in high demand (stilt walking) AND you demonstrate a high level of skill. The vast majority of company members are aerialists, so aerialists do not fit this category at this time.

3. You are well-rounded in many disciplines and can be thrown into any group piece without issue.

You do not necessarily have one skill/discipline that you are an expert with, but you are a jack-of-all-trades with an incredible attitude. You can be in any group number with a Senior Company member and not stand out in a negative way.

Additionally, you demonstrate generally good fitness and basic ground performance skills. Circus Scorpius shows generally involve physcial theater scenes with all or most cast members and can incorporate a wide variety of skills. A rudimentary grasp on all skills are required by our members. Senior Company members should have all or almost all of the following skills with good form, while Junior Company members should have most while working towards all:

Strength

  • 20 plank extensions (10 each side)

  • 20 V sit-ups (straight legs)

  • 15 tricep push-ups (chest to floor)

  • 10 tricep pull-ups

  • 5 straight-arm straddle inversions

  • 5 leg lifts into skin-the-cats

  • 12 hand-over-hand grabs on rope climb (without using legs)

  • 1-minute deadhang

Flexibility

  • Flat forward splits (right and left sides)

  • Middle split

  • Chest to floor in straddle stretch (“pancake”)

  • Hands flat on floor in forward fold (pike stretch)

  • Tall bridge and upper back bridges that are distinguishable from each other

Other Skills

  • Cartwheel on both sides

  • Kick up to a handstand

  • Dive roll

  • Front and/or back walkover

  • Full piroutte in both directions (any)

  • 10-second balance in fifth position in relevé (both sides)

  • 10 catches while juggling three balls (any pattern)

There are few mandatory rehearsals or performances for Circus Scorpius members, as the expectation is that performers want to participate and grow. At professional and semi-professional levels, it is understood that performers can guide themselves in their training. That said, we have rehearsals and other resources available to all members of which to take advantage. You get what you put in.

Rehearsals & Training

We hold a full-company rehearsal every Sunday afternoon and another as-many-as-can-make-it rehearsal every Friday afternoon. These rehearsals are used for skill building and group numbers for shows/gigs. Additional rehearsal times are available during the weekdays for independent training times. Company members are expected to train on their own time as well in order to improve their abilities.

Performances

At least one narrative stage show is produced each year. All Senior Company members are guaranteed a role in the show. Junior Company members are invited to audition and given higher priority than non-members in casting.

Casting for gigs are based on skills requested and availability. Priority is given to Senior members.

Attitude & Ambition

We are a close community of performers, some of whom have been performing together for over seven years. Having a positive attitude and being accepting of others is a MUST. Similarly, we are a group of artists that do not wish to settle for “good enough” in our art. A constant craving to improve and create meaningful performances is necessary. None of us perform for the sake of performing.