I tend to be on and off with my juggling skills. Some times I can put my juggling balls down, and other times I forget I even have them. However, I recently have been working on some new tricks.
I learned “Mill’s Mess” last summer from a friend of mine, but was never able to master it. It’s a more complicated juggling technique (at least for me), but it looks quite impressive when done right. After the summer was over, I went through a long span of time without working on any juggling; however, I decided that I wanted to master the technique. Read More…
I am now enrolled in a teacher training course over at Simply Circus and my first class was today. (Hmm… is it still a class if you’re learning to teach?) In any case, I had a great time. I remember just how much fun and also how much work it can be to teach 7 to 10 year-olds.
What makes things even more exciting is that at the end of class there is time for us (the teachers) to train ourselves. Nothing makes me more happy than to have an entire gym open for me to try whatever I want. Heck, it’s one of the reasons I wanted to become a circus instructor in the first place! Read More…
One of my ultimate goals in life is to fly. And I don’t mean in an airplane either. I mean real, unadulterated flight. The kind that superheros do (my other goal is to be a superhero, but I won’t get into that now).
In any case, it’s something I continue to work on. Scientists tell me is a physical impossibility, but scientists also said the Earth was flat and look where that landed them.
Since I can’t fly for real just yet, I’ve decided to try everything and anything that is in any way similar. For example, I go snowboarding, I love roller-coasters, I roll down hills, swing on the flying trapeze… anything that gets the wind going through my hair (or lack thereof).
One of the activities I take part in is Quidditch. You may be thinking, “Quidditch? Like from Harry Potter?” Yes. Quidditch like from Harry Potter. I do it. I love it. Read More…
Now that you know more about the different types of circuses there are, it’s time to learn about just what a circus artist does. As I mentioned in Circus Arts 101, there is currently very little documentation about the circus and its disciplines. However, I will let you know what is generally agreed upon.
In the professional circus arts, there are five main disciplines: Acrobatics, Aerial, Clowning, Balance, and Manipulation. Each of these disciplines is itself a type of umbrella for a number of other skills. Read More…
I am happy to say that I have just flown back to Boston from not-so-sunny Orlando, Florida. I say “not-so-sunny” because the past few weeks I’ve been down there, the temperature was in the 30 and 40s. Of course, thinking the weather would be relatively warm, it being Florida after all, I only brought a few warm clothes. Needless to say, they were the only clothes I ended up wearing (I had to do a LOT of laundry).
In any case, I’m happy to be back to a place where it is supposed to be cold and therefore I can anticipate it. And, of course, my first day back could not be complete without a trip to Simply Circus. Read More…
I say it all the time to people I meet: “Of course you can do it!”
Part of what makes the circus such a marvelous and extraordinary place is because the audience believes these performers are breaking the bounds of human capability, flexibility, and strength. Many circus performers would have you believe that it is indeed true, especially when they make their acts look so easy and yet, the regular person trying to recreate the same feat at home (though you should NEVER try this at home! 
) fails miserably. Most people think that circus performers must work at their skill since birth or childhood. Read More…
You are probably more familiar with the traditional circus arts. This consists of a large circus tent, one to three rings, a ringmaster, acrobats, clowns, animals, etc. The reason this is called “traditional” is because, frankly, the old days of circus are reaching an end.
Don’t worry! I don’t mean “end” as in you’ll never see these staples ever again (plenty of traditional circuses are still running strong and will continue to do so). However, very few people are starting these types of circuses nowadays. You still have your Ringling Bros., your Big Apple Circus, your UniverSoul Circus, but these are big, well known companies. And even their practices are becoming more “contemporary.” Read More…
I just posted some pictures of me at the Gumbo Yaya Showcase. Overall, the event was a success, so I am glad the pictures came out well.
I ended up doing some juggling (3 ball, staff, and contact), hand-balancing, and some partner acrobatics. I had a great time (as evidenced by the huge smile on my face in every picture), and everyone learned something about circus arts.
Head to the Media Page to see the pictures.
