Under the Big Top with the Circus School
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Zach, Kailey and Seoras are smiling broadly as they describe what it felt like to develop, choreograph and perform their own circus show at a premiere location in Halifax. Seoras nods as Zach says, “The show was 100% our show, we controlled every aspect of it”. Kailey adds that the public response was huge, in fact the performance sold out, “This show was about us, our own community, we built it, we shaped it, it grew organically out of what we normally do”.
These three youth are part of Circus School, a youth-adult partnership that developed out of a passion for the philosophy and practice of the circus arts. Circus School began as a regular gathering of young people who lived on the street, and adults who practiced circus arts. The group recently performed their own show to a full house three nights running, and have plans to visit other circus schools in Montreal. |
In circus circles, everyone is a learner – no matter your age, background, experience, gender or race. The Circus School offers a place for young people to build and share skills, and be recognized for their hard work, creativity and perseverance. This story describes some of the “key ingredients” to their success.
Creating a Relaxed Environment
The Circus School space is in a church hall located right downtown. On practice nights, this space is transformed into a carnival-like atmosphere. When you walk in, people smile and someone comes over to introduce themselves and find out what you’d like to do. Circus equipment like tiny unicycles, juggling balls, firesticks and stilts are scattered about. People are working on their practice solo, or in small groups. There’s music playing and a great, energetic vibe to the room. You see the cyclist crash to the floor during a stunt, she gets up smiling and a couple of people offer encouragement and advice.
It’s a space that many youth find encourages them to try new things. Kailey explained that at first she wasn’t planning to be in the performance, “At first I thought I was just buying a ticket, I didn’t really have any skills but then I kept coming and practicing, and soon I was able to come in to do little bits in the show. It was really cool”. |
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Inter-Generational Learning
The group intentionally worked to include people at all skill levels. Seoras, 16 says, “There was this adult circus guy, Ian who did the rolling globe in the performance. He was the first one to master it, but after a while me and a ten-year old named Eli learned how to do it. Even though Ian could do it a little bit better, Eli had a part doing it in the show and he was the youngest performer”. Mike continues, “Whenever somebody’s skill level got to the point where even if the adults could do it a little or a lot better, the youth chose youth to participate in the show. It added so much to the performance. He rolled to the edge of the stage, then looked back and winked at the audience as if to say ‘this is so easy!’ ” Seoras adds, “we were all co-learners, it was great”.
Zach says he learned this type of mutual support was part of circus culture, “I’m 21, kind of a youth and kind of an adult. The support network between the adults involved, and the young people involved was incredible. There was always someone there to help you learn at your pace. Eli and I would never have met and I taught him stuff to do and he taught me some things that I could do on my stilts. We both benefited and the whole group benefited. Age is irrelevant in circus training”
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Adult Support Lends Credibilility
Some of the youth in Circus Circle had performed before, in school functions or on the street. Others were totally new to performance. What they had in common, was the huge boost in credibility and authority as creative performers they got through Circus Circle. Zach explains, “Unlike everything I’ve ever done before, this was my first staged performance in a real theatre. It was an incredible ego boost. Probably the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life. For example, even though I’ve been performing for 4 years, this is the first time (my parents) ever saw me do anything. This was a big enough, valid enough show that they showed up, and they enjoyed it”. Other performers relate similar experiences about parents, and others travelling long distances to see them perform at the Theatre.
Mike explains that Circus Circle leveraged the adult support people’s connections and professional credibility. “We wanted to put on a well constructed show in a venue that’s recognized. There was never any doubt in mind that this group was going to give credit to the venue.” Nellie, another adult support adds, “we rocked their socks.” |
The group also worked with other young adults to “connect the dots” of their skills and passions. Nellie says, “We brought in other groups who would really add something to the show, or for whom the show would really benefit them. For example students from the community college filmed the whole show. They came in to see rehearsals, and we have developed an informal, special relationship with them”. The video helped the film students get practical experience for their career development, and gave the circus circle performers a professional, polished example of their work to share with others.
The performance also offered members of the broader community an opportunity to appreciate the diverse talents of this group of performers. Kailey recalls that, “The whole time the audience was into it, they laughed at the right times, clapped at the right times, we got a standing ovation too.” Zach adds that, “feeling the connection to your community felt amazing during the performance. I’ve never done a performance like that feeling how much they enjoyed our work.”
As the group heads off to Montreal for the next stage of their YouthScape grant, they say that this work has helped them develop new skills, envision new futures for themselves, and connect to a world of adults who truly believe in the power of young people to shape their community.
Seoras sums it up by saying, “We had total ownership. We worked together and did this. It’s amazing because I am planning now to apply to circus school in Montreal and I never would have considered this before.”
By Camille Dumond |
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