Circus School Opening Second Location In Gowanus

GOWANUS, NY — A Brooklyn circus school plans to bring their trapeze, giant wheel and silk acrobatic lessons to a new location in Gowanus next month, owners said.

The Muse, which has been in Bushwick for several years, will open a second location at 303 Third Ave. with an aim to bring their array of circus classes to more children in the neighborhood.

"We want this for children and we want this for our neighborhood," said Zoi Moulinos, an acrobat and one of the co-owners of the space.

Muse's Gowanus spot will be smaller than their Bushwick space but still offer much of the same lessons including trapeze, Lyra, German wheel, juggling and more.

The new space will have classes for children as young as 5-years-old along with open play sessions for families with toddlers to get their youngsters started with circus training, which owners said helps with balance and coordination.

"There's so many benefits to circus," said Angela Buccinni, who first started the Muse in Williamsburg. "Kids really need this type of building."

Their new space will open on June 10 with a grand opening party featuring sampler classes and performances by ABCirque then start a full schedule of daily classes on June 11, owners said.

The new smaller space — which could have two classes going at a time — makes it more ideal for children or people just starting circus compared to their Bushwick spot where more professionals train.

"It's really a perfect spot to get a really solid foundation," said Buccinni. "It's a great starting school."

Buccinni first opened the Muse seven years ago in Williamsburg as a way to foster a community of circus artists in the borough but was eventually pushed out of the space along with Death By Audio when Vice expanded their office.

She eventually relocated to 350 Moffat St. in Bushwick in 2014, but it was too far for some of her old clients like Moulinos and Rebecca Stronger who both live in Gowanus.

However, the pair recently noticed that the Third Avenue building, which used to be occupied by the Brooklyn Robot Foundry, was empty and reached out to Buccinni for a new location.

"We both really wanted to have a circus space nearby," said Stronger.

The owners said it was important that the lessons be available to anybody who wants to and aimed to keep prices low for the community. Some will also have sliding scale donations and they'll let people sponsor other families to take classes.

"Circus should be available to everyone," said Stronger.

"It shouldn't only be available to people who have the spare money. We want to make it available to whoever we can."

Image: Rebecca Stronger at the new Gowanus space. Courtesy of The Muse.