Clown School

Do you occasionally feel like your life is one big circus? Well here's your chance to be a clown—a real clown. For the right dating couple, this could be a neat experience to share.

Clown classes are offered at community colleges, clown schools and even at theater arts schools.

The classes tend to be expensive and usually run several days. Hopefully, they will teach you how to build a clown character, balloon sculpting, funny magic tricks, circus gags, costuming and makeup.

COST

Clown school can be very expensive—from $100 to $1000 for each course, although you might find a local clown who will give you a lesson or two for much less.

WHERE TO FIND A CLOWN SCHOOL

Here are a few places that offer classes:

Moosecamp Clown School
Maple Lake, Minnesota
www.mooseburger.com/moosecamp.htm
Three-day clown school; prices range from $425 to $589.


San Francisco School of Circus Arts
San Francisco, California
www.circuscenter.org/index2.html
Workshops are $200 for a two-day session.


Houston Clown School
(281)495-7523
Houston, Texas
http://houstonclownschool.myweb.net/
Six classes are $600.

Frosty Little
222 East 8th Street
Burley, Idaho
(208)678-0005
Three-day clown school and Friday night and
Saturday seminars starting at $400.


Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, North Carolina
(919)662-3252
Wake offers a full range of clown classes.
Tuition starts at $77 plus $25 for the textbook.
Classes taught by Professor Klown.

NY Goofs Clown School
New York City
(212)591-0028

Clown Camp
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin
(608)785-6506
Prices range from $525 for the five-day program to $999 for
the two-week program. Prices include accommodations.

Canadian Clown Camp
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada


Many states have clown associations. They can give you a list of clown schools and clown classes in your area. You might also check the Yellow Pages under "schools," "clown schools," or "circus arts." And finally, if you see a clown wandering around your neighborhood, ask where he or she went to school.

For a website that's packed full of clown resources and clown links, try www.clarksonstudio.com/clinks.htm.