About the Course
In the beginning, there was uncertainty. What does one do with that uncertainty? Well, you can go to the priest or you can go to the clown. The clown is so much more than a caricature with a painted face. It’s a somatic storyteller, a trickster weaving satire and surprise, a poetic voice for the absurd, and a spark of childlike wonder. Clowns are journalists of the soul, reflecting the quirks, flaws, and hilarity of the human condition back to us. Through clowning, we can embrace a deeper affection for humanity, laugh at life’s ridiculousness, and open ourselves to a more way of seeing the world. Whether you're curious, creative, or a secret clown waiting for your moment, Fool School welcomes you!
Single-Session Workshop:
Intro to Clowning
Want a taste of the world of clowning? This lively 2-3 hour workshop offers an engaging introduction to the Nouveau Clowning method, blending interactive exercises with captivating storytelling and history. You'll learn the basics of physical comedy, clown theory, and discover what makes clowns so timeless and impactful, all in a supportive, fun-filled environment. Perfect for team-building adventures, creative icebreakers, or anyone wanting a lighthearted foray into this unique art form. Open to all ages, because everyone deserves a little more joy in their life!
Multi-Session Course:
Find Your Inner Clown
For those craving a more immersive experience, this 4-6 session course is a deeper dive into humongous world of clowning. You’ll explore clown history and theory in depth while uncovering your own unique clown persona through exercises designed to bring your inner clown to life. Build confidence, tap into your creativity, and craft performances that are as hilarious as they are heartfelt.
The course culminates in a cabaret-style performance where you'll showcase your newfound clowning brilliance with original skits devised during the course. Whether you're a seasoned performer or someone who’s always wanted to let loose but never dared, this course is your chance to shine.
Let’s laugh, fail, laugh at failure, play, and connect. Discover the transformative joy of clowning and see the world through a red-nosed lens. Are you ready to join the circus of humanity? 🤡
Rose
Carver
About the Instructor
Rose Carver is an enthusiastic clown teacher and performer trying to do right by an old friend and continue the legacy of the anarchistic and boundary-breaking style of "Nouveau Clown," a movement founded by her mentor, the legendary Jango Edwards. As a musician, independent filmmaker, performance artist, and founder of a Detroit-based clown punk theater collective, BURN m*R*L*GO, her work is an fusion of clowning, immersive musical theater, and political satire.
Rose’s clowning journey began in 2017, at the famous Moulin Jaune in France. Since then, she has performed for small to moderately sized audiences across theaters in Spain, France, New York City, and mostly in Detroit. She has honed her craft through training at renowned institutions such as the Dell'Arte School for Physical Theater, Clown Gym, and the Brooklyn Comedy Collective, learning from iconic figures like Slava Polunin, David Shiner, Alex Tatarsky, Michelle Matlock, Claudia Cantone, Jon Davison, and, of course, Jango Edwards himself.
In 2022, Rose founded Fool School, Detroit's premier clown school and the first American chapter of Barcelona’s iconic Nouveau Clown Institute. Fool School has become a vibrant hub for clowning enthusiasts, with multi-session workshops and unforgettable clown cabarets at venues like the Dreamland Theater in Ypsilanti and the Planet Ant Theater in Hamtramck. Rose has also taken her expertise to the digital stage, teaching online clowning courses with Atlas Obscura and UMS.
TESTIMONIALS
“What really resonated with me was how there wasn’t a lot of hard “pressure” to do stuff. Rose made a very safe space for people to organically feel natural to participate with the topics, improv and clown games”
- Workshop Participant, 2023
"Life is often such a challenge. Day-to-day everything is tough! So, getting to be a part of a class that focused on finding ways to bring more joy into the world, to answering that “prayer” if you will… it felt *right.* Like, this is exactly what I should be doing with my time… and for that, again, I am so very grateful.”
- Multi-Session Participant, 2022
“Honestly this class has changed the way I interact with people. I’m sillier and more carefree in my daily life and it pointed out places where my anxiety gets in the way of interacting with others… I think working on this will make me a better clown and person!”
- Multi-Session Participant, 2023
Life altering. I now have a lens through which to look that keeps me grounded and in the moment and silly and fun and happy. Its trickled into all aspects of life. So grateful. So elated., 20
- Multi-Session Participant, 202422
This course really helped me with my social anxiety! I have been wanting to get involved with other local creatives, but I was too nervous to jump in. Now I have so many creative friends in town who I feel comfortable exploring fun ideas with. Overall, it's really helped me build my confidence as a creative.
- Multi-Session Participant, 202422