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Courses and Events

Dr. Emily Scherb educates circus artists in how to correctly train their bodies to be strong and mobile while limiting injury. She teaches practical workshops that are accessible for recreational and performing artists, provides deeper instruction in intensive trainings, and explores the science of circus-specific movement biomechanics with medical and healthcare professionals.

In her trainings, you will learn how the body can accomplish amazing circus skills, what good form looks like, and why using good form is the best way to stay safe and build skills.

Each of these workshops is tailored to her audience and their desired outcome: gaining skills and mobility, understanding and correcting form, identifying movement pattern dysfunctions, or getting injured artists back to training.


Online Circus Medicine Courses

These in-depth online circus medicine courses are the only ones of their kind! Dr. Emily Scherb, PT is a leader in the circus medicine field and provides the only clinical continuing education courses that address the specific needs of circus bodies. There are self-paced asynchronous options of various lengths and live webinar based programs to optimize your learning, improve you ability to break down aerial movements, communicate about circus bodies, and ensure circus artists get the things they need to propel their training to the next level.

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Live Trainings

Artist Workshops

Learn how the body works and improve your exercise and training plans, while preventing injury.

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Intensive Trainings

Learn the “why” behind how you teach. Understand the bio-mechanics and purpose of circus-specific pathways and movements. Explore injury prevention and how to use training plans to help your students succeed.

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Medical & Healthcare Professionals

Learn about this growing patient niche and their specific needs. Speak the language of aerial artists and gain their confidence by understanding common movement faults and treatment cues.

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See Below for a listing of upcoming LIVE events.

Don’t see a date or location that works for you? Contact Emily for details on setting up a course near you.

Upcoming Workshops & Events

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Sep 25, 2023

Circus Fusion Medicine 9.0 starts September 25 2023 (10 wks online)

Applications are open for Circus Fusion 9.0 – starts September 25

Click to apply!

This course is for clinicians (and those about to be) to gain the confidence you need to help circus artists get back to what they love and build a niche practice that makes you excited to go to work.

Approved for 21 hours of CE by most states
(contact me if you have questions about CE requirements for your state or anything!)

Over ten weeks, we will be breaking down what makes circus artists different. We’ll touch on everything from how they approach their training and their body, how (and when) they present with injuries, what the most common injuries are, how to assess their circus skills, and how to get them back to training.

Circus Bodies are Different. Let’s help them train at their best.

Apply NOW to see if you are a good fit for this clinical medicine course.

Oct 14, 2023 | 9:00 AM PST

October Circus Smart Speaker Series – Untangling injury patterns in circus arts: Takeaways from the research

Join circus and dance physical therapist Dr. Stephanie Greenspan for a BONUS edition of the Circus Smart Speaker Series lectures!
OCTOBER 14 9AM PACIFIC
In this talk, she will dive into the research findings from a study she led monitoring circus artists across the United States covering:
  • types of injuries and factors affecting risk
  • how the physical profile of circus humans differs from the general population & other performing artists and athletes based on data from additional studies
 
Plus… **BONUS ROUND TABLE** featuring colleagues Dr. Melanie Stuckey & Emily Scherb DPT “The Circus Doc”!
 
Listen in to learn more about:
  • how research and conducting studies actually works
  • the research writing and publishing process
  • teamwork and cross modality partnerships and the development of Circus Science
  • surprising findings and confirmations in the research
  • how research findings can change clinical practices
  • similarities and difference in this population research vs. research in the student population at ENC
  • hopes for how the work of the SIRC working group can change research and practice in circus arts
  • future research
Can’t make it live? ** RECORDING AVAILABLE ** for one week afterwards
 
 
More about Stephanie:
 
As a physical therapist and circus coach, I was being asked to teach injury prevention workshops, and when I reviewed the research on injuries in circus I found we actually knew very little about what injuries happened in circus and had no research on how to prevent circus injuries. This wouldn’t be acceptable in any other sport or performing art so I made this the focus of my research in my academic role as a physical therapy educator.
 
Dr. Stephanie Greenspan earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. Her post-graduate training included residencies in orthopedic and neurologic physical therapy, and a fellowship in orthopedic manual therapy. She is a board certified specialist in both orthopedic and neurologic physical therapy, and an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Samuel Merritt University.
As a clinician she works with recreational to professional dancers and circus artists with a focus on decreasing injury risk and optimizing performance. This includes working as the physio for the resident 7 Fingers show “Dear San Francisco” at Club Fugazi since it’s installation in 2021. Stephanie brings her background as a dancer, aerialist, aerial coach, and researcher into her clinical practice.
 
She also offers workshops and wellness screenings for pre-professional and professional training programs including Spire pre-professional program at Kinetic Arts Center in Oakland, FlyCo at AWOL Dance Collective and the Elements Training Company at the Circus Project, both in Portland, Oregon. Her research focuses on the study of injuries and movement in the circus arts.
 
 
*Access Stephanie, Melanie & Emily online!*
 
IG: @artleticscience @melirene13 @thecircusdoc
FB: Artletic Science, The Circus Doc
WEB: Artleticscience.com (links to the publications are here under research tab)

Oct 29, 2023 | 10:00am PST

October Circus Smart Speaker Series – Circus Costuming

Info coming soon!

OCTOBER 29 10AM PACIFIC

Nov 12, 2023 | 1:00pm PST

November Circus Smart Speaker Series – What I Have Learned About the Magic of Circus

Join Dr. Dean Kriellaars for a celebration of circus!
We are so lucky to have this opportunity to hear from Dr. Kriellaars, expert in Physical Literacy, Durability, and Circus Physiology in the November Circus Smart Speaker Series lecture.
 
NOVEMBER 12 1PM PACIFIC
In this talk he will cover the following topics:
  • physical literacy and its relationship to circus
  • the unique demands of circus relative to sport from a social, creative, and risk perspective
  • the successful implementation of circus arts in public schools
  • Known psychological factors and physical characteristics of student artists
  • Sleep! high performance training and its impacts
  • research results on the benefits of lifelong circus participation & circus as a model of “active for life”
 
Dr. Dean Kriellaars is a neuroscientist and one of the founding fathers and world renowned experts in physical literacy, committed to the development and application of research into motor skill development, gender bias, risky play and resilience.
 
A prolific researcher:
  • His Human Performance Laboratory supports numerous students and staff in undertaking research on physical literacy.
  • He also undertakes research in performance enhancement and injury prevention in the high performance circus setting at the National Circus School and Cirque du Soleil.
  • He is the designer of the PLAY tools for physical literacy assessment, and
  • He is an original contributor to the Passport for Life tool for PHE Canada.
An award winning thought leader:
  • 2013 – Builder Award, Manitoba Physical Education Teachers Association, for promotion of child health in the province of Manitoba
  • 2012 – Commissioner’s certificate of appreciation, drug awareness contributions, Canadian champions video, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • 2012 – Champion, Canadian Sport for Life
  • 2007 – Healthy Living Award for Province of Manitoba, Reh-Fit Centre Foundation, for outstanding contribution to building community wellness
  • 2007 – Recognition of community relevant research, office of the vice president, University of Manitoba, healthy lifestyle – “I didn’t know I didn’t have one”
  • 2007 – Co-chair, Premier’s committee on healthy living, Premier of Manitoba, Province of Manitoba, For outstanding leadership in healthy living research and education
The Circus Smart Speaker Series takes place online! Can’t make it live?
** RECORDING AVAILABLE ** for one week afterwards
 
More about Dr. Dean Kriellaars:
Dr. Kriellaars is the Scientific Director at the National Circus School, an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba and the Durability by Design Co-Lead at Cirque du Soleil.
 
Education includes:
  • BPE, Physical Education, University of Manitoba
  • MSc, Kinesiology, Dalhousie University
  • PhD, Physiology, University of Manitoba
  • Certified Exercise Physiologist, Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology

Dec 10, 2023 | 2:00pm PST

December Circus Smart Speaker Series – Making Sense of Human Performance Technology: A framework-based approach for athletes and practitioners for effectively leveraging technology to improve outcomes

Join wearables expert Dr. Zendler for the December Circus Smart Speaker Series lecture!
 
The talk will address current issues and misconceptions about human performance technology used in sport. It will present the Quality Assessment Framework for Sports Technology and explain how athletes, practitioners, and other users in circus medicine and other fields can use the framework to make more effective decisions about integrating technology into their training/clinical practice.
 
DECEMBER 10 2PM PACIFIC
Can’t make it live? ** RECORDING AVAILABLE ** for one week afterwards
 
 
During the talk Dr. Zendler will answer questions including:
  • Biggest mistakes athletes and practitioners make when purchasing sport technology
  • Major misconceptions about the validity and safety of a sport technology
  • Introduce the Quality Assessment Framework and explain how to use it in your own practice
 
And of course anything else you would like to ask her!!
(can’t make it and have a burning question you can even add it in advance and have it answered live!)
 
 
More About Dr. Zendler:
Jessica Zendler, PhD leads the Sports Science consulting practice at Rimkus, an international forensic and technical consulting firm. In this role, she advises sports medicine practitioners, athlete associations, and sports governing bodies on sport technology, human performance, and biomechanical questions. She assists sport and human performance product manufacturers in enhancing their products through scientific research and validation. Additionally, she is the Program Manager for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and NBA Players Association Wearables Validation Program, co-chair of the Sports Tech Research Network’s Quality Assessment of Sports Technologies Group, a member and conference abstract reviewer for the American Society of Biomechanics, and a member of the NBA Sport Science Committee, International Society of Biomechanics Footwear Technical Group, the ASTM International Committee F13 on Pedestrian/Walkway Safety, the Scientific Advisory Board of Xenith, and the Scientific Advisory Board of Know Labs.
 
Dr. Jessica Zendler holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, where she also played varsity soccer for four years. She holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, M.S. in Kinesiology, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Kinesiology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Zendler spent several years researching sports and injury biomechanics at the University of Michigan, where she directed the Michigan Performance Research Laboratory and continues to maintain an adjunct research faculty position.
 
Dr. Zendler recently co-authored an international consensus framework on Quality Assessment of Sport Technologies.

Past Workshops

Sep 24, 2023 — September Circus Smart Speaker Series – Performance Nutrition for Circus Artists: Highlights & Common Pitfalls — Join nutrition science expert Dr. Alexia de Macar in the September Circus Smart Speaker Series lecture! Nutrition is a constantly evolving science.

Nov 1, 2022 — Circus Shoulders: Keeping them strong for hanging, handstands, and beyond – Bristol – Unit 15 — Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints for all circus artists. From minor niggles to major injuries, we will discuss the main reasons they happen. We’ll start by discussing the basics of how shoulders work to provide us with maximum mobility while still protecting the joint.

Oct 31, 2022 — Circus Training to Meet your Goals – Bristol – Circo Media — Harness the power of the most up to date sports science to understand how to focus and structure your training to improve your performance and prevent injuries. We will answer common questions including (but definitely not limited to!); What is the best way to warm up and why is it important?

Jul 15, 2022 — Work With Your Body: Practical Anatomy for Aerial Artists – Minneapolis MN – Stomping Grounds — How do I get more flexible? How do I achieve that next level of skill? How do I build the strength to do that cool trick?

Apr 24, 2020 — Work With Your Body: Practical Anatomy for Aerial Artists at NECCA – Brattleboro VT — We use our full bodies in our aerial and acrobatics lives and the more we know about how they work the better we can be.  Learn how to work with your body rather than against it with physical therapist, aerialist and author Dr. Emily Scherb.

Apr 3, 2020 — Movement Analysis and Treatment of Aerial Artists – The Muse, New York NY – CANCELED due to Covid19 — Unfortunately this course has been canceled due to the outbreak and spread of the novel corona virus, Covid-19. This course is for all healthcare professionals who would like to know more about working with aerial artists. Physical Therapy CE Credit Available (other continuing education credit may be available.

Mar 30, 2020 — Aerial Anatomy Workshops – Empyrean Arts, Asheville NC — Aerial Anatomy Series The Hips Don’t Lie: Controlling the Core in Aerial Arts 4:00-6:00pm in studio 107U. Hanging Tough: Shoulder Health for the Aerial Artist 6:30-8:30pm in studio 108. Sign up for one or join me for Both!

Mar 22, 2020 — Love Your Circus Shoulders – St. Louis – St. Louis Aerial Collective – Canceled due to Covid19 — Unfortunately travel changes and cancellations due to COVID-19 have meant that this workshop must be canceled. I will have a rescheduled date sometime within the next year. Aerial artists spend a lot of time with our arms over our heads, which can lead to pain and injury.

Mar 1, 2020 — Love Your Circus Shoulders – Levity Circus Collective, Ashland OR — Aerial artists spend a lot of time with our arms over our heads, which can lead to pain and injury. Our shoulders are the most mobile joint in our bodies and our greatest aerial tools, but also the part of the body that is most at risk among aerialists. Learn exercises and techniques to increase […]

Jan 10, 2020 — Shoulder and Hip Aerial Anatomy in Portland – The Circus Project — Hanging Tough and The Hips Don’t Lie at The Circus Project Sign up for one or get a discount when you sign up for both (Chose the option for Aerial Anatomy Series) Early bird pricing until 12/15! Your body is your instrument and your partner in movement. Knowing how your body moves, works, and changes […]

Nov 16, 2019 — Movement Analysis and Treatment for Aerial Artists: The Hanging Athlete in LA – California State University Long Beach — This course is for all healthcare professionals who would like to know more about working with aerial artists. Physical Therapy CEU Credit Available (other continuing education credit may be available. Please enquire) PT, OT, MD, DO, NP, ND, DC, ATC are all welcome In this continuing education course for healthcare professionals, we will look at the […]

Oct 27, 2019 — Aerial Anatomy in CHICAGO – Aloft Circus Arts — Aerial Anatomy Series! Hips and Core Shoulders Inversions Sign up for one or join me for all three! Your body is your instrument and your partner in movement.

Oct 6, 2019 — Aerial Anatomy Foundations in Vancouver – West Coast Flying Trapeze — Your body is your instrument and your partner in movement. Knowing how your body moves, works, and changes can help you make huge gains in your skills and prevent injury. This foundation course is your gateway to learning about how your body works from the inside out.

Sep 7, 2019 — Movement Analysis and Treatment for Aerial Artists: The Hanging Athlete – LONDON, England – National Centre for Circus Arts — Want to be the person in your community that circus artists look to for their health and body care? Understanding the ins and outs of working with these unique athletes will help you become a valuable resource and training partner. Learn to assess the stresses and challenges aerialists face and recognize the common movement patterns that place […]

Sep 2, 2019 — Work with your body: Practical Anatomy for the Performing Artist in Glasgow – Glasgow Theatre and Arts Collective — How do I get more flexible? How do I achieve that next level of skill? How do I build the strength to do that cool trick?

Sep 1, 2019 — Work with your body: Practical Anatomy for the Aerial Artist – LONDON – National Centre for Circus Arts — How do I get more flexible? How do I achieve that next level of skill? How do I build the strength to do that cool trick?

Jun 30, 2019 — Movement Analysis and Treatment for Aerial Artists: The Hanging Athlete – Portland OR – Circus Project — This course is for all healthcare professionals who would like to know more about working with aerial artists. Physical Therapy CEU Credit Available (other continuing education credit may be available. Please enquire) PT, OT, MD, DO, NP, ND, DC, ATC are all welcome In this continuing education course for healthcare professionals, we will look at the […]

May 18, 2019 — Anatomy for the Aerial Artist in Phoenix – Elevated Aerials — The Hips Don’t Lie: Controlling the Core in Aerial Arts 10:00 am – 1:00 pm When you’re suspended in the air, the only thing you can count on is your core. This class explores the point where all of our aerial movement begins, and helps you understand the biomechanics and sequence of your trunk muscles […]

Apr 20, 2019 — Aerial Inversions and Anatomy of the Hips and Core in Boston – Commonwealth Circus Arts — The Hips Don’t Lie: Controlling the Core in Aerial Arts When you’re suspended in the air, the only thing you can count on is your core. This class explores the point where all of our aerial movement begins, and helps you understand the biomechanics and sequence of your trunk muscles and hip joints. This class […]

Apr 19, 2019 — Aerial Body Basics and Shoulder Anatomy in Boston — Body Background Why does your elbow move differently than your wrist? How do muscles work? What the heck are those fancy anatomy word?