Clown College is serious business at DMC

Del Mar College’s Continuing Education Department is calling all clowns.

Beginning Feb. 9 and every Tuesday until March 22, Clown College will be in session from 7pm-9:30pm in CED 141.

Whether you’re a seasoned jokester or an up-and-coming entertainer, Clown College is for you. Students can expect to learn about character development, balloon sculpture and everything in between.

Contributed Photo

Lanky the Clown entertains at a recent performance. Lanky is the instructor at DMC’s Clown College.

Graduates of Clown College can entertain at various events and places from birthday parties to hospitals.

Danny Kollaja, also known as Lanky the Clown and instructor at DMC’s Clown College, has more than 11 years of experience as an instructor at Texas junior colleges. He not only appeared in the movie “Patch Adams,” but he has also served on the board of directors for The Clowns of America International.

Notably, Lanky has served international goodwill clowning tours in Russia, Guatemala and Cambodia. The concept was to take the simple universal language of clowning to the children of that war-torn country. Throughout the many hospitals and orphanages, Lanky and his team visited thousands of children during these goodwill tours.

DMC has conducted 12 clown schools spanning a 15-year period and over 100 people have graduated. Among the graduates have been mayors of their respective cities. In addition, three have held positions on the DMC Board of Regents and their respective cities.

There is a final exam — written and performed — before students receive their Clown School diplomas. The performance exam is open to the public.

For more information, contact ce@delmar.edu or 698-2122.

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