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A multi-award winning performer and instructor, Shannan Calcutt is one of the world’s leading educators in Clown and Play. She is a regular instructor at Cirque du Soleil, Celebration Barn Theater and Vegas Theatre Hub. Calcutt’s superpower is creating safe playgrounds where participants can play big, risk gloriously and fail better. Her workshops begin with Shannan’s Oath, 3 simple vows that inspire community, connection and confidence. ​

“Shannan’s class is a joy bomb! She masterfully supports and provokes artists to go further, faster and we laughed as hard as we played!” 

- Amanda Huotari, Actor, Clown, Executive Artistic Director Celebration Barn Theater

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​“Shannan Calcutt's joy for teaching is contagious. Creating becomes effortless, in a fun and safe environment.” 

-Marylene Hickok Cameron, Artist and Acrobat at Cirque Du Soleil, Supermom and Clown at heart

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Her ability to create a safe space where risk taking and failure are embraced and celebrated is refreshing. I left each class feeling inspired, energized and ready to create something new."

- Michelle Matlock, Performing Artists, Clown, Teacher, Producer, Curator and Massive Exaggerator

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"Shannan made everyone feel as though they could do anything they wanted and always come out ahead by creating an amazingly supportive attitude where we all had each other’s back and the egos were in check. Failure became success, we laughed a lot, and everyone was able to bring their best work to class."

- Hilary Chaplain, Performer, Teacher

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"I don’t think that I have ever been pushed with such careful force into the roaring fire, only to discover that we have been given a protective barrier to the pain - Shannan is the push, the fire and the protection all at once and we become the immediate ensemble as a result, able to go where we could never go on our own."

-Peter Balkwill
Artistic Director, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop

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"Shannan is an amazing teacher who really drives her students. With sharp wit and whip in hand, Shannan cuts to the chase, empowering her pupils to discover honest performances and opportunities to respond to their audiences."

-Edward Westerhuis
Filmmaker | Animator | Media Artist

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Shannan carefully pulled me out of my comfort zone. I was able to not only embrace my fragilities, but push past my fears and mental blocks and release them! This workshop was liberating, fun and felt like the equivalent of $10,000.00 worth of therapy sessions! There's something for EVERYONE in this class!"

- Melle Vasquez Singer-songwriter, Musician for Cirque du Soleil, Cyndi Lauper, Pink (Tina Turner, Cher and Lenny Kravitz tours)

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Past Workshops

USA
Cirque du Soleil | NECCA (New England Center for Circus Arts) | Nomadic School of Wonder | US Figure Skating | Celebration Barn Theatre | The Clown School | Clown Gym | Crazy Horse Paris | MGM | Vegas Theatre Hub | Vegas International Variety Act Festival (Viva Fest) | Red Bulls High Dive Team | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | University of California, Irvine | United World College of the American West, New Mexico

CANADA
The Banff Center | The National Arts Center | Play The Fool Festival | Science World | International Coaching Federation (ICF) | Drama Works, Theatre Alberta, Citadel Theatre | Ottawa Fringe Festival | The Globe Theatre | 25th Street Theatre | Nakai Theatre | University of Victoria | University of Regina | Lester B Pearson College of the Pacific | St. Michaels University School | Winnipeg Circus and Magic Partnership Program

AUSTRALIA
The Weimar Room | Circus Monoxide | Circus Wow | Legs on the Wall

Germany
Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin

United Kingdom
LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) | NCCA (National Center for Circus Arts, London)