
Based in a Victorian power station adjacent to Hoxton Square, the National Centre for Circus Arts is a registered charity which gains its annual income from grants and donations.
The organisation offers a BA Honours degree in Circus Arts, a training programme for those under the age of 18, and is able to ensure aspiring and established performers get development opportunities. But we?re far from being Cirque du Soleil stars ? at least we were? The Real Business editorial team was asked to take part in a team building experience that the Centre offers the business community ? and had the chance to see the venue itself up close and personal. While on a tour of the building, it was explained that the Centre had retained the features of an industrial space ? it was an electricity generating station in 1896. That doesn?t mean that it hasn?t seen its fair share of reconstruction. The building was saved from dereliction in 1994 and only became a facility for circus arts after going through an extensive restoration process. Of course, we got to see a few performers in action ? the facility is mostly used for rehearsal purposes ? which made it even clearer that we would soon be leaving our comfort zone.Five alternative corporate away days to shake things up
Experiencing a team away day with a difference
In the same way that the trapeze is first on the agenda, it makes perfect sense to place the acrobatics last. With balancing acts that require standing on each other to create majestic body-built architecture like a human pyramid, there?s a real sense of accomplishment and also bonding that comes with it.? In essence, you need to build trust and support to lift each other up, the same approach?you would use for a creating a solid team in the workplace. ?People have an experience here that they just can’t get anywhere else and achieve things that they didn’t think they could do. We often get comments from participants saying they really want to do it again. The most satisfying response is when somebody decides that they want to join one of our longer courses,? Nichols added. He?s right ? it really is a unique experience, one that should be considered as a means of bringing your team together as an alternative to heading to the local boozer. After all,?employees want to be treated like consumers???what better way to encourage that than by running away to the circus? By Zen Terrelonge By Shan? SchutteShare this story