November 6, 2026

Intro to Russian Bar

With Jon Roitman

Launching and flying are some of the most spectacular pairings in circus physicality, resulting in beautiful collaborations in flight and landing. We will go over basic principles of Russian Bar for both flying and basic positions.

Flyers will work on skills such as standing on the bar, jumping, and—based on participants experience—learning to flip. Bases will learn the art of partner support and lanching. If you are interested, you can learn both positions! We’ll have safety lines and lots of mats plus expert instruction. Just bring your willingness to try!

Bases and flyers are welcome—after you register you will receive a form to indicate which position(s) you are interested in learning, based on experience and body type.

PS: Want discounts on multiple workshops (plus some other cool things)?! Get a Vermont Circus Festival Pass for 10% off all workshops!

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More Details

When:
Friday | 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Where:
The Trapezium
10 Town Crier Dr.
Brattleboro, Vermont

Cost:
$75

Prerequisites:
Bases and flyers are welcome. Bases should be able to hold a 30-second hollow body position lying on your back with your feet and shoulders off the ground and base a two high with someone close to your own size. Flyers should be able to do a clean back tuck on trampoline and comfortably fly a two high with the base walking forwards and backwards.

Ages:
12 & up or by permission of instructor

About the Coach

Jon Roitman has a background as an international circus performer and coach, specializing in club passing, banquine and Russian bar. He is a graduate of the Montreal National Circus School, and has performed in seventeen countries across six continents including with Cirque Eloize, Vague de Cirque, and the GOP Cabaret.

As a coach, Jon has been a coach-on-tour for Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour and is currently the artistic director and head coach of the Flying Gravity Circus in Wilton, NH. He is also the Circus Studies program coordinator at High Mowing high school, pioneering a new pre-professional high school track for students interested in pursuing professional circus careers. www.circusstudies.org.

When he is not coaching, performing, traveling, or taking fun circus photos in random places, you are likely to find Jon reading a science fiction or fantasy book, learning or teaching various foreign languages, practicing the accordion and guitar, or playing a round of Settlers of Catan.

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