Circus Circle
Circus Circle is a social circus program that teaches youth, and youth in difficulty, life skills through circus arts.
Through circus skills such as juggling, tightrope walking, and unicycling, youth learn about trust, discipline, focus, cooperation, and creativity. They develop a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, and the knowledge that with hard work, they can achieve their goals. Most of all, it’s fun, challenging, and cooperative. Did we mention fun?
Circus Circle currently operates weekly programs in 3 locations in Nova Scotia.
How Does Circus Circle Work?
The program is based on five key concepts: safety, reliability and consistency, skill development, mentoring, and community building.
Safety: Physical and emotional safety in the workspace are the most important elements. The circus space becomes a refuge, a place to work, play, and explore new skills and social directions.
Reliability and Consistency: The schedule and location of the program are consistent, and the teachers are professional and highly experienced in working with youth.
Skill Development: As the youth see their skills improve (and the recognition that brings), their confidence in their physical and social abilities increases.
Mentoring: Participants often help teach new students, and the youth are recognized as valued mentors and peer teachers.
Community Building: Over time, the youth can begin to work on a performance, with all the responsibilities and discipline that entails. This helps change their perception of themselves, and enables the community to see them as contributors.
Why Does a Social Program Work?
Youth respond to circus work. It appeals to them, challenges them, and fosters effective change.
They develop autonomy, solidarity, self-esteem, communication, expression, adaptability to change, and physical fitness. A social circus program can help serve as a springboard for reintegration into family, school and community.
Circus is an art form and way of training that bridges cultures, renews the sense of wonder, strengthens communities and encourages youth to explore and surpass their limits. It is a powerful tool for social and personal change. It is fun combined with hard work, and it is calculated risk and trust developed through shared experience
Circus work is visually exciting and physically demanding. There’s a real sense of progress as youth master circus skills requiring discipline and cooperation. It creates a sense of responsibility, belonging and a feeling of pride in accomplishment
Circus encourages participants to discover their passion. Those who don’t have a feel for acrobatics may find that juggling or the tightrope is a good fit. Theatre may be the entrance for another, while yet another might find that a technical aspect (lighting, costume, stage management) brings out an unsuspected excellence.
A social circus program is effective and helps change lives for the better. It has a strong combination of artistic, educational, social, recreational, physical well-being and community elements. It can help youth from even the most difficult backgrounds change from hopelessness, to a renewed sense of self and participation with others.
Circus work is fun, and youth take great pleasure in their ability to surprise and astonish people with their new skills. It isn’t just the most adept, or athletic, or gifted who learn and benefit from circus work. It’s often the seemingly uncoordinated one who is suddenly juggling four objects, the awkward one who discovers grace on the tightrope, or the shy one who blooms on stage.