2027
Classes
Classes are Thursday - Saturday, 1.5 hours each and run 8:30 - 5:00
Class schedule is at the bottom of the page.
Jeff D’Ambrosio
It’s in the Details
What if the difference between a good design and a memorable one is in the details you almost overlook? In this class, we’ll explore practical techniques for using detail with more purpose and impact. Jeff will share ideas from his own detail-driven work, including ways to use both inflated and uninflated elements in unexpected ways.
You’ll also get a closer look at the artistic mindset behind Jeff’s Top Twister competition work and how that same approach can translate into everyday twisting. The goal is to help you see more possibilities in the balloons you already use and make each added detail count.
Fast n’ Wow
Some designs just hit the sweet spot. They look impressive, build efficiently, and hold up at real-world events. In this class, we’ll dig into a collection of Jeff’s field-tested original designs and the construction choices that make them work so well.
Jeff will also share an updated approach to flat weaving that makes the technique faster and easier to use. Along the way, you may discover a few ideas that change the way you approach building fast, impressive designs of your own.
Marybeth Brazier
Fashion Bag with Plush Keychain
Inspired by on trend handbag accessories. This class will teach participants how to create a fashionable handbag with plush balloon charms. You will learn techniques for both the bag and the charms, creating an on trend design that can be adapted for different themes and sold as a unique gift or accessory.
The initial theme will be inspired by SpongeBob, using fun balloon plush style charms as decorative accessories for the handbag. However, the techniques taught can easily be adapted to suit future trends, allowing participants to recreate the design with whatever plush or character theme is popular at the time. Balloons mostly used 160s and 260s.
Carnival Dress (child size)
The child sized carnival dress I will prepare a mannequin prior to the class for participants , allowing the session to focus on the construction techniques rather than the initial setup. I will explain each stage of the process so participants understand how to recreate the design independently. Inspired by a Funhouse theme, the dress will have a striped bodice using 160 or 260 balloons , paired with a 5” K-Link balloon skirt. For the skirt I will demonstrate how to connect K-Link balloons securely using a 260 balloon wrap this technique can be used in future designs. I will also explain how a child’s mannequin can be made up.
Ting Yu Wong
W-Skill
This is a hands-on class where participants will learn how to use W-skill and distortion techniques to create a balloon airplane costume. The project will be created through teamwork, with participants working together to build the complete piece. The finished design will also include movable and interactive elements, making it not only a visually striking centerpiece but also a fun and engaging experience for the audience. The class will focus on color coordination, structural design and interactive detailing, helping participants develop the balloon artistry and create a complete piece with stronger storytelling, immersive qualities and visual impact. Class Format: Hands-on.
Balloon Character Head
The first 10 minutes of the class will focus on explaining the techniques and sharing examples of my work. After that we will move into the hands-on session. We will create a balloon character head. By adding different hairstyles, the same basic head structure can be transformed into a variety of cute balloon characters. We will also use twisting techniques to create different hairstyles and add personality to each design. Class Format: Lecture + Hands-on.
John Justice
More Bang for your Buck
Go bigger without slowing down the line! Learn how to turn familiar 260 designs into impressive 360 creations by adjusting proportions, twists, and details. We’ll break down balloon costs, perceived value, and the time it takes to make each design, with a goal of increasing your ROI in time and supplies. See how a few smart changes can make a design feel like a major upgrade while still keeping the line moving.
Straws?
Yes, straws—and they do a lot more than hold a balloon in place! Explore how balloon straws can add structure, movement, and surprising mechanics to your designs. We’ll make a few simple designs together, then use pre-made examples to see what else is possible, including how two straws can create a low-friction bearing that lets part of a design spin. Come ready to look at this simple addition to your kit in a whole new way.
Mark Verge
Balloon Circle Show
Any of us can twist balloons for a line. Don’t get left behind doing the same old thing and left dealing with the dreaded end of line dilemma.
Set yourself apart from others, with an interactive, entertaining circle show that delivers an engaging experience for audiences of all ages, ranging from grandkids to grandparents. For more than 25 years, my Circle Show has turned balloon twisting into an interactive performance at sporting events, fairs, festivals, colleges, universities and holiday events.
Built on a simple concept of turning a circle of spectators, into an interactive audience and your balloon sculpture into a prize, creating a memorable experience. This format lets you showcases you’re twisting skills, and make audience interaction part of the entertainment. The real skill is knowing how to read the crowd, choose the right design, keeping things moving, interesting and engaging.
The fun starts when you know how to make the audience wonder what you're going to create next, so they can take home a prize!
Open yourself up to a new modern way to entertain, and leave with a whole new way to perform.
The Wheel of Balloons Game Show
Everyone loves games shows, but rarely have the opportunity to engage in one. The Wheel of Balloons is not just a prop, it is a powerful tool that transforms a standard balloon show into a captivating, interactive visual show of movement and sound.
This premium, interactive production centers around two custom, large spinning wheels that drive the pace and engagement of the event. The primary wheel selects the next challenge or identifies a member of the audience to take center stage. The participant then spins the secondary wheel to determine their prize, a custom, on-the-spot creation ranging from wearable balloon art and intricate bracelets to elaborate four-foot sculptures.
Designed specifically for larger high-traffic venues such as shopping malls, trade shows, fairs, and festivals, this style of show, delivers maximum visual impact and audience participation. Because it transforms standard entertainment into an immersive, spectator-driven experience, this premium offering commands higher booking fees and delivers exceptional value for large-scale events.
Rob Driscoll
The Art of Painting in Balloons
Discover how Rob creates the large balloon artworks he has become known for in recent years. This is a technique he has been developing and refining for over 10 years. Learn how he creates the balloon background, then builds up the artwork to create a complete scene or image. This is a chance to explore a very different approach to balloon art, and let your creative juices flow. For the first time ever, Rob will reveal how he creates these unique pieces.
Endangered & Extraordinary
Today’s children seem to know an incredible amount about the natural world, so let’s see how many of these unusual creatures they recognize! Explore some of the lesser-known and more extraordinary animals, alongside a few familiar favorites, and discover how to capture the features that make each one recognizable.
Holly George
One Design. One week of Content
Get More Mileage From Every Balloon You Make You already did the hard part—you made something awesome. Now make it work harder for you! In this class, I'll show you how to turn a single balloon design into a week's worth of engaging content without spending your week glued to social media. We'll look at practical ways to capture photos, short-form video, behind-the-scenes content, promotional graphics, and more while you're already creating, plus how I use AI and other tools to speed up the process while keeping my artwork and voice at the center. You'll leave with a repeatable content workflow you can use with the very next balloon you make.
Say More With Less
Big Impact With Fewer Balloons More balloons don't automatically make a better design. In this class, we'll explore the art of simplification—identifying the features that do the most visual work and eliminating the ones that don't. Through a collection of deceptively simple designs, you'll learn how smart proportions, strong silhouettes, strategic details, and creative balloon choices can create maximum personality and impact without maximum balloon count. The goal isn't simply to twist faster—it's to become a more intentional designer.
Sam Cremeens
Wristlet Critters!
Wristlet Critters is a playful, hands‑on balloon twisting class where students learn to create adorable mini animals designed to be worn right on the wrist. The session focuses on building sturdy wearable bases, shaping expressive creature features, and adding personality through color, proportion, and simple embellishments. By the end, participants walk away with a collection of charming balloon companions—and the skills to invent endless new critters for parties, events, or everyday fun!
A Few Of My Favorite Things
A Few of My Favorite Things is a design‑driven balloon twisting class showcasing the eclectic creations I've refined over 23 years of working with real audiences. Instead of teaching a single style, this session highlights a curated mix of your most reliable, most delightful, and most unexpectedly effective designs—those pieces that consistently spark reactions, solve problems, or elevate a moment. Attendees will learn fast‑draw crowd pleasers, clever structural tricks, expressive character details, and a handful of “secret weapons” that only come from decades of experimentation. They leave with a versatile collection of proven designs they can use anywhere, plus the insight to adapt them into their own favorites!