Roll up roll up! Circus school seeks Lewisham or Bromley home to bring 'magic' to area

Trapeze, silks, hoops, and tumbling are some of the skills taught at Beckenham-based My Aerial Home circus school which is searching for a new site to expand into.

Proprietor Amanda Miles says she is looking to create an "artists’ hub" where sights such as people walking on their hands or on stilts are commonplace.

Ms Miles, who lives off Ravensbourne Road, Bromley, said: "When circus schools are in town, it gets more exciting, more vibrant, you have got amazing people walking around on stilts, on their hands, or tumbling down the road.

"But anybody can learn to do it. You realise you are in a different place, a magical place. It isn’t elitist."

The school launched in 2009 and currently has evening and weekend classes based in Harris Academy Sports Centre but is now looking to expand and offer daytime classes.

A planning application to turn a unit at Bellingham Trading Estate into the training school was rejected by Lewisham Council as it was deemed to not fit the commercial needs.

Speaking of the benefits of circus skills, Ms Miles said: "Anybody can come and do it. Perhaps if you decide the gym is a bit boring.

"It is just for fitness and fun, with no audition.

"People love it."

Ms Miles, who was originally a dancer, set up the business during the economic downturn after her work in TV production began to dry up.

She said: "I had to start a business in the downturn, because I had no choice. It’s been just hilarious, just so much fun..

"It just kind of took off.

"And now we want to create an artists’ hub."

To find out more about My Aerial Home, which runs classes for men and women aged 16 plus, visit myaerialhome.co.uk 

Do you know of a large, airy space suitable for a trapeze school? Contact Ms Miles at aerialhome@live.co.uk