Circus school's 'juggling act' in new base search

A circus school forced to leave its home when the building was sold has said it hopes to secure a new base soon.

Tuyo Circus Arts - which has trained hundreds of children and adults in circus skills over 12 years - was left with days to leave its premises in Sneinton, Nottingham, in March and has had to "desperately" search for a new, suitable space.

The search was made more difficult as the school requires high ceilings and space for specialist equipment but tutor Sara Mckenzie said it was hoping to secure a new home by May.

She said having to hold classes across numerous temporary spaces for the past few weeks had been "a juggling act".

The school teaches about 100 students each week in classes including acrobatics, aerial skills such as trapeze, ropes, hoops and other circus arts.

It left its old premises on 14 March and initially paused classes for a week when the search for a venue began.

For the last month, it has had to operate out of about five different spaces with some classes having to be held in Leicester and Derby.

Ms Mckenzie said a number of local organisations reached out to the school offering spaces but many of those were unsuitable.

"I think the main struggle is kind of not being able to be together.

"They're [the pupils] all very dedicated to what they do and as long as they can train they're happy," she said.

Ms Mckenzie said the school had now found a potential new home in Nottingham.

"We're on a mission to do some fundraising, to get the funds together to be able to put down the deposit and all the additional checks we'll have to pay for like rigging checks.

"We're hoping to be in there by the end of the month, all going well," she said.

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