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> About Us > History
History
In 2003, identical twins Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion, world renowned circus performers and teachers, settled in Brattleboro, VT. They started their own circus school and performing troupe, Nimble Arts, LLC, offering lessons in aerial and acrobatic arts as well as choreographing for top circuses, schools and dance companies and performing with their troupe around the United States and as top aerial acts around the world. The company also manufactured and sold custom circus equipment trapezes and aerial fabrics, 'by aerialists, for aerialists'.
In 2006, the school had grown to include hundreds of local students and hundreds more from around the world who were coming to Brattleboro for private lessons, workshops and professional level training. Elsie & Serenity, also busy with their successful performing troupe, concluded that the school would be better able to serve its students as a not for profit company in order to expand course offerings to under served populations, to build a custom circus building in Brattleboro, VT and to promote the perpetuity of the school for the public beyond its dependence on its founders.
The incorporation of NECCA and the filing of not for profit papers has been the culmination of much work from a supportive community, school members and a full Board of Directors who believe that it is an important next step in the building of an internationally recognized yet locally vital circus center. NECCA received its 501(c)(3) not for profit status in December 2007 and can now accept tax deductible donations.
As part of its plans to build a custom 'trapezium', NECCA will build adjacent to the New England Youth Theater in downtown Brattleboro. NECCA will be one of the main participants in a growing arts campus that will include other arts organizations creating a nexus for interactive creativity in rural Vermont.
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"I love the fact that the point is to get better than yourself - not to be better than other students, or to get some kind of meaningless score."
Janet, reflecting on her daughters' experiences at the circus school
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