Once more into the breech dear friends, once more, this time in Red Deer teaching a three-day circus-skills camp for 9-12 year olds. Just got back last night. Instructors - the usual brilliant suspects, a bunch of multi-talented professionals who take over a corner of the gym each and for the most part try to keep the weans upright: Flyin' Bob was doing tightwire and rola bola, Sand was on unicycles, Randall as usual teaching stilt-walking, Annie on aerials (hoop and silks; no flying trapeze this year) and yours truly taking care of the juggling skills. (Short camp this time, so no room for teaching magic on the schedule.)
As always, the camp leads the kids through all the skills in preparation for a one-hour choreographed performance on the final day in front of family and friends. The kids learn not only the physical skills for the show but also presentation - entrances, exits, how to bow, some clowning, musical cues etc.
That's Flyin' Bob lying under the tightwire. We don't make the kids do that. Often.
With perhaps the small exception of an incident involving a public payphone and the numbers 9,1 and 1, the kids were well-behaved and enthusiastic.
And now it's time to unpack.
Posts
I suppose children are flexible and perhaps fearless, or at least less fearful than those of us who worry about breaking our brittle old bones. But what's a rola bola?
ReplyDeleteActually, you ought to do the circus school for corporate events. So much better than golf outings.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot of fun was had by all!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was good...but tiring. Normally a camp is 5 days; this time it was 3, and a couple of those were 11 hours or so for the instructors.
ReplyDeleteA rola bola is a wooden board (approx 12"x32") balanced on top of a free-rolling 12"-long x 6" diameter piece of PVC pipe lying on its side. It's a type of balance board. If you type it into google it'll show you some photos!
Hey Mr. M! When you say 'juggling,' I assume you mean 'chain saws,' and 'machetes.' I've seen your act, and I don't believe you'd pass up the opportunity to maim one or two wee bairns.
ReplyDeleteYup. I've been pushing for a special 'sideshow geek' element; blockhead, sword swallowing, the whole bit. I don't know why the organisers have been so slow to take me up on the offer.
ReplyDeleteAhh yes...kids are always up for anything. I agree with Glenna that you should do corporate circus school as most of the executives are a bunch of clowns anyway. hee,hee,hee.
ReplyDeleteyfs