Death Defying Circus Training Begins In Coney Island

Coney Island USA Presents: Sideshow School at Sideshows by the Seashore!

Have you ever wanted to run away with the circus...or the sideshow, but lack the necessary skills? Welcome to the only training facility in the world where you can learn to swallow swords, eat and breathe fire, hammer real nails into your face and walk on shards of broken glass!

Founded in 2001, Coney Island USA's Sideshow School began as an effort to preserve and pass on these ancient and well kept secrets in what was becoming a lost artform. Over the past 17 years, these feats have been taught to dozens of eager students from around the world. "We get students from as far away as Australia, all over Europe, South America and Canada", states Adam Rinn, the Dean and Professa of Sideshow School. Rinn, who attended the school as a student back in 2001, has come to organize and teach at the school after successfully performing hundreds of shows all around the country. "I was a student at the second Sideshow School where I learned all of the 'working acts' of the sideshow. About six years later, after watching me perform the skills that I learned, Dick Zigun, Coney Island USA's founder and artistic director asked me if I'd like to teach at the school. It was a great opportunity and I gladly said yes!"

All of these skills are taught in a controlled environment in the safest way possible, at each student's pace. "We don't force anyone to do anything," The Professa declares. "Some of the students are deathly afraid to participate in some of the instruction, but eventually come around and give it a try. All in all, it's about challenging yourself. If you arrive with an open mind and comfortable clothes, who knows what kind of miracles might happen!"

"We've added something new this year," The Professa is happy to say. "Students will have the option to join the cast of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow and present an act as part of the regular show on Thursday, August 23. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to get up and perform on that legendary stage. After all these years, it's still an honor for me to present my acts at Sideshows by the Seashore."

Acts taught:
Fire Eating and Breathing
Sword Swallowing
Human Blockhead (nail in the nose)
Walking on Glass
Laying on a Bed of Nails
Snapping a Mouse Trap on the Tongue
Constructing an Electric Chair
Handling a Live Sake

For additional information please visit: www.coneyisland.com