Nat Whittingham is an Acrobat, Mover and teacher. And now, one your circus arts course coaches. Working across circus, dance and physical theatre productions. Formed in competitive Trampolining, before later studying Teeterboard and Acrobatics at ESAC in Brussels, his career started with an apprenticeship from Nofit State Circus at the age of 18, where he toured internationally with their shows Bianco, Open House, and Block. Nat teaches workshops internationally, under the name Moving Through Acrobatics, as well as being a guest teacher for Circomedia, 2faced dance, Fourth Monkey Theatre School, and Northern School of Contemporary Dance.
Hey Nat! Can you tell us about yourself?
Hey! I’m a Circus and Dance Artist from the east of England (East Anglia!),a keen cyclist, music fan and language enthusiast. A former competitive trampolinist, I grew up in a creative family, and was exposed to all kind of music, sport, theatre and dance, before finding my home in the circus arts.
Can you tell us about your journey into Circus?
I fell into circus at the tender age of 17, when I applied successfully for an apprenticeship with Nofit State Circus, a large contemporary-circus company from Wales. At the time I was finishing my A-levels and was feeling uninspired and unsure of university choices – but also competing at a high level in Trampolining, really enjoying the physical aspect of training.
This set me on a path where I ended up creating and touring internationally with the company in the same year I’d applied – and kickstarted my career as an acrobat and teacher, which has led me to perform, teach and work all over the world.
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What can students expect from you as their coach?
Students can expect eclectic, playful acrobatic vocabulary, as well as training and conditioning towards bigger tricks and handstands. Most of all, students can expect a kind and rounded approach to their training; that recognises and respects the individual’s body, and motivations for training! Acrobatics is physically intense, and is often taught in quite a daunting and demanding way. I want to make acrobatics more accessible, and to share a little bit of the love that I have for playful movement and acrobatics into each student. Oh and there will always be great music.“I want to make acrobatics more accessible, and to share a little bit of the love that I have for playful movement and acrobatics into each student.”
Nat Whittingham
What’s your favourite memory of performing with Circus?
Some of my favourite circus performances were:
- Opening Nofit State Circus’s Bianco at the Roundhouse in London, at 18 years old
- Performing at At Tension Festival in Germany with Cie Bivouac – A show where I performed outdoors on a trampoline 7 metres up in the air
- Opening my own company, Sneaky&Raptor ‘s Show, A Different Beast, At Glastonbury Music festival, and again at Circomedia in 2019
What are you most excited about with the 3 Month Introduction Course in Contemporary Circus Arts?
I’m excited to meet and train with many new and motivated Circus enthusiasts and newbies! Also excited to get to know Cork, and this part of Ireland a bit better.
If you were a Super Hero, what would your superpower be?
To Stop time – I’m a big procrastinator, and this superpower would allow me to fit all my hobbies, work, everything else that I want to do in the Time I have!
As Nat said acrobatics can sometimes be a bit daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a fun an interesting way to move your body. With a fun coach like Nat who has a wealth of experience teaching acrobatics and performing, you’re in great hands! You might even find your new favourite artist through his training playlist!
For more information about this course, join the free Zoom information session on August 2nd and download Circus Course brochure!
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