Silks unfurl from the ceiling of a remodeled newspaper warehouse, carrying the newest generation of clowns and contortionists at Circus Culture. The organization — self-labeled “Ithaca’s very own circus school” — is nestled in Downtown Ithaca’s Press Bay Alley.
Since its opening in July 2015 — funded by donations and a crowdfunding campaign that raised $25,000 — Circus Culture has opened its doors to curious locals and international artists alike, bringing in groups such as Swedish juggling trio Water on Mars.
Classes at Circus Culture involve children and adults from all spheres of life, from professional actors to many first-time performers.
“Circus is multicultural, a real example of unity in diversity. It is often nonverbal, and speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds as a result,” founder Amy Cohen described when asked about the core purpose of circus. “This makes it a uniquely accessible art form to witness.”
The school is devoted to “dedicated play, creative physicality and inclusive community,” according to Studio Manager Claire Dehm.
Dehm described circus as “a bit undefined, compared to a lot of other arts organizations, … because it’s kind of dance, it’s kind of acrobatics, it’s kind of theater, but it’s really its own thing.”
Ten-year-old Theory has been a part of Circus Culture since she quit ballet, finding it too rigid of a sport for her active, bubbly personality.
The students are very involved in choosing activities in class and recently voted on the theme of their upcoming performance. “It’s kind of like you make the show,” Theory explained, describing her troupe’s decision to perform The Very Hungry Caterpillar for their show in May 2025.
The Sun sat in on a circus class on Oct. 30. After warming up on aerial silks, the children gathered in the practice room to confront the first challenge — how to turn a parachute into wings to represent The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s iconic transformation scene. After a few rounds of trial and error, the students settled on a solution, twisting the parachute down the center to symbolize wings.
Through its range of offerings, Circus Culture aims to build on the legacy of the circus as a place for those who feel they do not belong — an art form not only rooted in but also dependent on diversity.
“We just believe that there is a place for everyone,” Dehm said when asked about the school’s mission.
Circus Culture aims to be inclusive of various body types, backgrounds and ages. The school is dedicated to offering a community to people of all skill levels and experiences, such as adults who enjoyed gymnastics as children but do not have a similar outlet as adults, Dehm explained.
Dehm began clowning classes at eight years old, dedicating weeks of her summer each year to the unique art form. When asked what drew her to circus arts, Dehm said that she “just loved being a clown, going to see the circus and the magic of everything.”
Dehm continued to pursue circus during her college career in the Ithaca College Circus Club, or ICircus. She now manages the operational end of the company and works as a circus educator, teaching classes for both kids and adults.
Circus Culture’s emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility has opened the door to new forms of fine arts for Ithacans to explore. Thirteen-year-old Scarlett described the role of Circus Culture in her transition to DeWitt Middle School after changing schools.
“It’s like a reset button for me,” Scarlett said. “I can come here and just be what I want to be, and then I can go back to school, and everything’s just a little better and brighter.”
Emma Cohen ’28 is a Sun contributor and can be reached at [email protected].