Meet Adam: A Life in Circus, and a New Chapter in Galway
From Philadelphia to Galway, Adam has spent 25 years exploring the many possibilities of circus; as a performer, coach and advocate. Now, as Galway Community Circus’s new Programmes Director, he’s bringing that experience to our community.
For Adam, circus arts have been much more than a career. It has been a way of life.
“I’ve been in circus arts my entire adult life,” he says. “First as a performer, then as a coach, and now as an administrator.”
Changing the way society sees circus arts
Originally North Carolina, Adam has spent 25 years working in circus arts all over the United States, teaching and sharing his knowledge across a wide range of disciplines. He joined Galway Community Circus in August 2026 as our new Programmes Director, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a real enthusiasm for what circus makes possible for people of all ages.
Alongside his work as a performer and coach, Adam has been involved in circus arts advocacy in the United States, helping people understand what circus arts mean today.
He knows that some people still picture elephants, clown noses and traditional circus stereotypes when they hear the word. Today, circus has means all that and so much more.
"Today in circus schools, you’re coming in and doing acrobatics, learning juggling, or developing balance skills,” he explains. “It’s a great place to learn how to use your body in exciting and creative ways.”
That sense of possibility is what has kept Adam passionate about circus throughout his career. For him, circus schools are a space for movement, creativity, challenge, discovery and there are many different ways to be part of circus.
What advice would Adam give to a young person thinking about a future in circus?
His first point is that a career in circus doesn't have to mean becoming a performer or hanging 60 feet in the air.
There are opportunities to work as a coach, administrator, stage manager, costume designer, street performer, as well as ways to bring circus skills into other areas, including occupational therapy and working with children with additional needs.“Circus skills can help anyone, in any career, in any shape of their life,” he says.
And one of the most valuable things circus teaches, in Adam’s view, is the importance of persistence, practice, and courage.
It’s an idea that connects closely with GCC’s Sparks and Pathways programmes, which support young people and adults who want to take part in multiple classes each week. By making additional classes more affordable, these programmes encourage members to train more often, develop their skills and explore where circus might take them.
As Adam puts it, one class a week is often just the beginning. The more time you can spend learning and practising, the more you can discover.
Bringing new skills and new opportunities to GCC
Adam’s own teaching covers a broad range of circus disciplines. At GCC, he is teaching the Performance Troupe, adult classes, handstands, aerial arts and balance apparatuses.
He describes his specialities as “pretty much everything in circus” and that breadth of experience is a valuable addition to our programmes.
He is also excited about the opportunities that come from connecting with artists and circus communities beyond Galway.GCC regularly welcomes guest artists from Ireland, Europe and further afield to share the specialist skills they have developed. These workshops give participants the chance to learn from experienced artists, try something new and explore disciplines they may not encounter in their regular classes.
Recent examples include funambulism (walking on a tightwire) and trapeze workshops with artists from NoFit State Circus, creators of Carnation, the circus show that featured in the Galway Art’s Festival in July 2026.
For Adam, these experiences are an important part of what makes circus education so exciting: there is always something new to learn, and always another perspective to discover.
The world beyond the studio
One of the things Adam is particularly enthusiastic about is GCC’s youth exchange programmes.
These exchanges give young people the opportunity to travel, meet other young circus artists and share their experiences with people from different places, cultures and backgrounds.
“You get to know your peers, people of the same age, with the same interests, but who come from different places and sometimes speak different languages,” he says.
The experience can be transformative. Young people get to see how others live, learn and practise circus, while building connections that reach beyond their own community.
For Adam, the value of these exchanges is enormous. They are a chance to experience the world through circus and to discover just how much people can have in common.
A new chapter in Galway
Adam has been in Galway since August and is already getting to know the city and its people.
He is looking forward to bringing his experience to GCC, working alongside the team and supporting the development of our programmes, from regular classes to performance opportunities, visiting artists and international exchanges.
And what does he think of his new home so far?
He’s enjoying getting to know Galway, its people and, with a smile, its “wonderful weather”.
We’re delighted to welcome Adam to Galway Community Circus and look forward to seeing where this next chapter takes us.
Welcome to GCC, Adam!