CIRCUS FAMILY REUNION

Posted on May 29, 2011 by circusharmony
Posted in Circus Flora, St. Louis Arches, Uncategorized, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life | Leave a comment  

The Canadian Results

Posted on April 3, 2011 by circusharmony

As of April 3:

Iking has been accepted to Ecole Nationale du Cirque where he will join former Arches, Renaldo “Jr” Williams and Melvin Diggs. All four of our students were wait-listed for Ecole de Cirque de Quebec. If any of them get in, we will hear by April 22.  It should be noted (as you can see by Warren’s final report below) that this puts our 4 young people in the top 30 of professional circus school applicants this year, which is really remarkable. We are do proud of all of them! Stay tuned for what’s next!

Captain’s Log Supplemental

by Warren Adams Bacon on Friday, April 1, 2011 at

I guess I should title this as some kind of wrap up to all the posts from the amazing trip to Canada with Iking, T-roc, and Anthony along with the time spent with Rakim and Kyle, and meeting the wonderful family from Calgary, Alberta and their daughter Tatiana and following Elliana’s journey as well. It has been an emotional roller coaster of a day for all of us.

Of course, the results today were not exactly what I had hoped but when you put it into a bigger perspective, how blessed I have been to be a part of this incredible and mysterious journey surrounded by these incredible young people and the trip is just beginning.

Let me put the complexities of this process into some kind of reality to explain why I am so proud of all of these young people. Together, Ecole National du Cirque and Ecole de Cirque de Quebec receive several thousand requests for auditions from all around the world. Each school offered about 130 spaces for auditions this year with many going to both auditions so about 200 were actually invited to audition. Already, our students and their friends were among the elite of the youth circus world before they even got there. ENC has two prepratory programs and EQC has a high school program. Both schools accept no more than 25 students each year. (Editor’s note: Quebec only took 15, not sure about Montreal). There are governmental regulations that specify a certain number of spaces for Canadian citizens and a limited number of spaces for foreign students. There is no way anyone outside the school administrations can know what specific skill genera are desired in any year, what the various students will offer, or how to prepare for the auditions other than to go and show them this is me at my best at this point in time. With all that I saw from these youth, I would not have wanted to be on the selection jury at either school and would have been in agony over making a decision.

Now, another issue enters into my thinking in learning that Anthony as been accepted into the music program at the Texas Art Institute. Have you heard him play on that broken and out of tune piano on the 3rd floor of the museum?

So to all these incredible young people, I say thank you for being the best you can be. I’m so proud of you and all you have achieved and all you will achieve. You are blessings given by God into my life and make my life worthwhile. It is now your job to find your own way to pass it on.

For any that doubt the power of youth in our world, you need to leeok at Elliana, Iking, T-Roc, Anthony, Kyle, Rakim, and Tatiana as well as the young ones growing up in the world of Circus Harmony to have faith in the future.  Accomplishing the impossible becomes habit, what is habit is made easy, and what is easy is made beautiful. 

Posted in Circus schools, St. Louis Arches, Uncategorized, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Leave a comment  

Warren’s Reports from Canada

Posted on March 1, 2011 by circusharmony

Captain’s log, supplemental.  

Below are the week’s worth of Montreal reports from Warren as he accompanied Iking, T-Roc and Anthony on their audition adventure. 

Montreal – day 1

Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 9:43pm 

Arrived in Montreal on time and were treated to a scenic tour of the outside of the airport as we taxiedc ompletely around the terminal. We then hiked completely back around the terminal in those glass enclosed “sterile” passages to the INS and Customs facility where the agents were very nice and easy to deal with. I guess the luggage had to make an additional trip somewhere as we had to wait for that. Finally walked out and found Melvin and Renaldo waiting. Took a cab back into town with the six of us. Left the guys to have fun and play and made it to the hotel. Tomorrow a tour of the Cirque du Soleil Headquartes and learning the city.  Melvin and Renaldo giving the directions to the French speaking cab driver was entertaining.  

Thanks to the really nice Continental check in and gate staff in St. Louis who made everything easy, two excellent Continental flight crews (pilots, first officers, and cabin crew) for friendly and on time service, and the very nice Canadian INS agents who greated each of us with a smile, a nice “bon jour”, and a welcome to Canada.  The updated security check in concourse A at St. Louis is really nice, and very efficient.  As the line got a little long, they immediately opened another lane and we were done in just a few minutes.  Thank you to Ms Angie Elkins, Miles and Jonathan and Dr. Rankin for coming out to the airport, along with Jessica and Keaton, for seeing us off.   

I got the guys real New York stye pizza at Newark during our layover.  Even though we ad to change terminals in Newark, Continental provides a shuttle bus so you don’t have to go outside the secure area to use the monorail and clear security again.    

 It is very cold here.  I haven’t been here in years so it will be interesting to see how the city has changed.  

 More tomorrow. 

Montreal – day 2

Monday, February 21, 2011 at 6:52pm 

Montreal, Tuesday. As expected, the guys had a great evening with Melvin and Renaldo last night, meeting other students and making friends already. Today has been a long one for me and I’m tired – the guys are off to Renaldo’s place to play some video games and hopefully get some rest. Tomorrow is a very long, stressful, and difficult day of the Ecole National du Cirque du Montreal four day process. We all met at the school facility and were able to watch some of the students working even though classes are out for audition week. These were second and third year students working on elements of the acts they are creating for future show presentations. Some really amazing and beautiful stuff being developed. 

During the morning, I was able to go to the Gare Central and make train reservations for our travel to Quebec City on Sunday for the auditions at the Ecole de Cirque de Quebec on Monday. I also picked up a great deal on a week transit pass allowing me unlimited access to the Metro and bus lines for the entire week. a point to remember if you ever vist this amazing city. The guys got transit passes as well. 

Melvin had an appointment with a physical therapist to look at a sore wrist so we continued to watch the workouts until it was time to cross the street to the huge headquarters of Cirque du Soleil. We were met at reception by staff member Melanie D’ouville, a charming lady who confessed it was her first time leading a tour of the facility in English. She was wonderful and led us into this huge and wonderfuly amazing facility that is not only filled with amazing artizians and craftsmen, but performers, reference libraries, and galeries or sculpture, paintings, and displays of awards. We were shown rehearsal spaces, the shop where they dye and silk screen their own fabrics, make their own shoes, hats, and costumes, and even met one of the make-up designers who showed us how they create and teach the artists to apply their make-up. We were not able to visit the main studio space which mimics one of Cirque’s chapeteaux as they have a new show in development and this area is under verytight security. 

Next up was a half hour visit with Gil Faveau, principal for Cirque’s social youth program, Cirque du Monde. What a pleasure to see him again and enjoy his encouragement to Anthony, T-roc, and Iking.  He specifically asked to be kept informed of the audition process and the outcome.  He was affirmative, encouraging, and reminded the guys that no matter what the outcome, this is a success.  He reminded the guys to be themselves, do their best, and have fun.  He does not know who is on the jury this year but says they are great at seeing potential and this is a quality valued by Cirque.  

Back across the street to ENC to watch Melvin and Renaldo wrap up their workout then bus and train to the huge underground mall under MaGill University for some food at the largest food court I’ve ever seen.  

Tomorrow begins at 7:45 am and continues until the jury announces the first round of cuts – about 9 pm.  They look at strength, flexibility, core skills, attitude, confidence, and personality tomorrow.  The first cut will, unfortunately remove about 50% of the 120 invited out of several thousand requests for consideration.  It is quite an honor to even be invited to attend. 

That’s today’s report.  I got a little better with my remebering French today but wish they would slow down.  I guess my listening is slowing down with the rest of my body.  We had a great day today, filled with fun, learning, and adventure.  thanks to everyone for your support of the amazing flying young men.    

The real Tuesday postTuesday, February 22, 2011 at 1:19pm

Montreal – Tuesday, part 1

I was going to wait until the day was over, around 9pm to post but I saw our amazing team at their lunch break. They were laughing, grinning ear to ear, and obviously having a good time. Apparently their tumbling created strong reactions from the jury in a positive way. I think that the conversation with Gil over at Cirque du Soleil was just the thing to reinforce everything ve had told them about relaxing, having a good time, and staying focused on the task. 

I’m going back to the school to meet them for supper and to wait with them until the results from today are released. I’ll share with them all the good energy so many of you are sending this way. No matter what the outcome, these guys are winners and are representing themselves and Circus Harmony well. 

There is quite an international group of young people auditioning. I heard French, Spannish, German (I think) and English in the din of the cafeteria lunch break. I reall wish you could watch the process as it would be interesting to see what all of these obviously talented youth (or else they wouldn’t be here) do but I understand why they have this policy of parents and or coaches not observing the audition. 

This afternoon is flexibility, some dance, and who knows what else. 

Did I do enough?

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 3:20pm 

Getting ready to head back out to ENC to meet our young men for supper and waiting. All of us feel the energy, support, and prayers coming from our Circus Harmony family in St. Louis as well as our friends on facebook. Let us not forget that our friends Kyle and Rakeem are here as well and need support. This is a tough thing for them and I’m feeling stress as well. Those ugly questions of self doubt are creeping into the back of my mind. Jessica said it was hard and I believe her. 

 

Montreal – Tuesday, part 2

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 10:16pm 

Some interesting facts about the audition process.should give us some understanding of how selective the process is at ENC. Out of thousands of requests for consideration from all over the world – including Australia – 123 students were asked to come to Montreal for this audition. Tonight, there were 61 listed as passing through to the next phase. Of these 61 selected, 19 spots are reserved for students from either the high school program or the mise a neveau program. That leaves 42 spaces for open audition applicants out of the original 123. There is a preference allocated to Canadian and French citizens further reducing the options for other nationalities. Tomorrow, there will additional cuts made. The remaining two days will not result in any further cuts but acceptance noticies may take weeks to be received, or may not be issued at all. 

It is amazing how quickly this group formed bonds of friendship and support. By lunchtime, you would have thought this was a single high school class. Young peopel laughing, describing their experiences of the morning. As they waited tonight, there were lots of laughs over an improv exercise in which they were called to the jury table and given a character and were expected to immediately 

Become that character until told to stop. Anthony was asked to be a surgeon delivering a baby, T-roc an opera singer, Iking a newscaster at disaster, Kyle a sumo wrestler, and Rakeem, an Italian lover. Yet after a day that began at 7:45 this morning and results not known until about 9:45, the group was unified and supportative of each other. 

 And now, the envelope please. Of the three Circus Harmony full time students and members of the St. Louis Arches, T-roc and Iking were passed onto the next round. Anthony was not. Anthony’s reaction – “I’m happy I came here, I made new friends, I know what I need to do for next year, and I had a hella good time and will continue to enjoy this trip.” Iking was glowing with joy and T-roc had that quiet little grin that lets us know when he is doing good. We should also congratulate Kyle and Rakeem for also being selected to continue. 

 I’m very happy and very proud of these guys. They thank all of you for your support.  

 Some personal thoughts about this evening 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 11:42pm 

What a glorious evening. Anthony’s courage, self respect, and determination grew in ways we cannot measure reinforcing my belief and faith in him. Iking and T-roc are so humble in their success – offering support to the 62 who did not make the cuts and so gracefully accepting the praise of all of the audition participants. Kyle and Rakiem took their “loss” last year and turned it into success this year. I don’t know how many times i heard discussions among various students about not understanding why someone did not make it and they did. The amazing bonds of trust and friendship that were formed among strangers in just a few hours is remarkable. What an awesome experience to be in the ENC cafeteria tonight surrounded by 123 young men and women of such greatness and power. The future belongs to the youth and through the circus, they will change the world gor the better. There were no loosers in today’s audition process at ENC – only 123 icons of brilliance, potential, and courage. Congratulations to you all! 

Montreal – Wednesday, audition day 2

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 8:40pm 

I had a great day which included a visit and more than hour long conversation with Patrice Aubertin, head of the ENC professional teacher training program. This man is challenging, thoughtful, perceptive, and I would have liked to spend days with him. Unfortunately, the program requires a year of intense study offered only in Montreal and is conducted only in French. I did gain a lot of insight into the educational philosophy of training the trainers. Time well spent. Also, thanks to Patrice I have unlimited access to the ENC library of books, manuscripts, videos, journals, and other reference materials for the remainder of our stay here. Guess where I’ll be tomorrow. 

 Melvin also showed me the video of this December presentation from his class to the student body. With only 4 months of work, the skills were well done and impressive. This is not a show but simpley ademonstration of work in progress that occurs on a regular basis. Very interesting and some unusual things that showed real promise. 

Now, for the news everyone wants, Iking and T-roc from the Arches were passed on to the remainder of the process. There are no further cuts until the next phase of the process – ENC extending offers -which may take many weeks. Tomorrow they all present their audition pieces, complete some additional physical conditioning evaluations, and any additional exercises requested by the jury. On Friday they will work with individual teachers in skill specific areas at the request of the coaches. Rakeim was also not cut but our friend Kyle was. Anthony and Kyle are excited about auditioning in quebec City on Monday. 

Again, the young men and me as well express our thanks for all the support from all of you back home.   

Montreal – audition day 3

Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 10:10pm 

I think the point of today’s evaluations at ENC was to determine the patience of the aspiring students hidden behind some detailed physiological tests and the presentations. Last evening, they posted an order list for the presentations without any time line as to when you might be asked to perform. They did indicate that the lunch break was fixed at 12:30 due to the cafeteria hours. The only other clue they gave was that they would begin at 8:30 with number one and that they try to get about 16 done in 3 hours. Not a lot to go on and T-roc and Iking were at position #47 – the last to perform. 

I arrived at ENC about 1:30 to visit the library and was able to look out into the 4th flor studio space set up for warm up and part of the physical examinations. People stretched, tumbled, waited, stretched, waited, waited, and then practiced the art of waiting. Occasionally, one of the physical therapists would round up someone and take them off to one side and measure various body parameters, look for symetrical development, and examine range of motion in specific joints. One performer would exit the performance space and wait until a group of seven or so would form and then that group would be taken to perform the shuttle run cardio pulmonary endurance test. This went on until almost 7:00 pm when the last group began the shuttle run. 

T-roc and Iking feel they did well in their interviews and performance.  I was proud that they were the only ones to present their piece in wardrobe, not practice clothes.  They reported good comments from the physiological tests.  

I was fortunate in that I had the library almost to myself. I was able to enjoy a multitude of European circus and acrobatic magazines, examine and read books on circus history that I knew existed but are rare or impossible to obtain, look at the pictures of circus books written in Chineese, Russian, and a multitude of other languages. I found amazing texts on sports medicine, a detailed study of the Science of Flexibility, and more videos than I could have watched in a year. There are detailed histories of legendary circus families from around the world, back issues of almost every circus periodical in the world, and more information than I could begin to digest in more than five hours. How frustrating to know that I barely scratched the surface. Who knows what treasures lay hidden there. 

The weather is saying snow tonight so the guys were going to Melvin’s place and get what they need for tomorrow and stay at Renaldo’s place – much closer to the school tonight. Tomorrow the instructors will work with the students in a more class like situation and at the instructor’s decision.   In the evening, the upper classmen host a big party for all of the auditioning young people.  It doesn matter if you got cut on day one or made the entire process – you are invited. I thing it is a great gesture and reflects what I have observed about the culture of cohesiveness and support throughout the program.  It will be Saturday before I see the guys again so I’ll report on my activites tomorrow night if anyone might find a museum visit interesting. 

Saturday night we are going to Tohu – a theater built specifically for circus related performances – to see a show of the top acts from the Festival Mondail du Cirque de Demmaine – the circus of tomorrow – kind of like the Monte Carlo Festival but for young and new acts from around the world. 

Sunday we travel by train to Quebec City – about 3 hours away – for Monday auditions there. 

Montreal – audition day 4

Friday, February 25, 2011 at 9:44pm 

Well, the guys just left my hotel room on their way to the audition party. They came over for a soak in the jacuzzi and a shower before heading out for the party. They report a great day and lots of positive feedback from the various coaches today. We are going to Tohu tomorrow and then having breakfast here on Sunday before taking the train to Quebec City. Aerial Emery has generously offered sleeping space for the two nights there. Then we head home. The guys have said they will be at circus school on Wednesday to share their experiences with everyone. They have plenty to share with everyone. 

Their energy and positive attitude makes it impossible to get them to tell me everything. Please join them on wednesday to share in their experiences. They have had a great time, made a ot of new friends, and have definately provided me with an experience to treasure. 

Now, we wait for the offers or rejections, look forward to Quebec and the experiences there, and bringing home all that we have learned.  Again, our thanks for your support.    

Saturday morning in Montreal  

Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 9:14am

Bon jour au Montreal! No snow this morning and I’m looking forward to seeing the festival show our at Tohu this evening. I hope the guys had a great time at the audition party last night. They were really excited when the left my hotel last night. 

This has been an incredible experience for them. The respect they have earned here reflects on the validity and truth of the mission of Circus Harmony. Thank you Jessica for bringing Circus Harmony to reality so that young people like these can go into the world, hopefully in peace, knowing how to be kind and affectionate to all, and bringing joy, magic, and wonder into our troubled world. 

I don’t know if I’ll have much to say later today but may write about the show. I’ll let you know about our trip up to Quebec City tomorrow evening. We are looking forward to seeing Aerial and the audition process on Monday.  Thank you to all who have joined us on this adventure.  Remember to come to the City Museum on Wednesday to welcome our flying young men home. 

Montreal – Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain  

Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 9:00pm 

  The title roughly translates as the world festival of the circus of tomorrow. Tonight Anthony, T-roc, Iking, and I attended what was perhaps one of the most unique performances of circus one could imagine. Presented in the one of a kind Tohu theater – the only purpose built facility for circus art performance of any kind not just a single show – in North America, we were treated to a two hour show that literaly left all of us suffering from sensory overload. As much a traditionalist aas i am, this show in this amazing space was everything I could have wanted to see and more. Just entering the space – obviously based upon the classic permanent circuses of Europe – felt special. The elevated stage sans ring curb and backed by an elaborate elevated bandstand with performer’s entrance underneath provided a hint as to what we were to see. Our seats were only a few rows from the stage and slightly off center but there are no bad seats in this space. There were eight eyes the size of dinner plates justing entering this marvelous space.The role of Monsieur Loyal – the ringmaster or Maitre de Ceremonie – was presented by Calixte de Nigremont, a well known comedian and singer in the French world. He opens the show with a monologue in rapid fire French that was impossible for me to understand as he was speaking faster than I can think. I did get his introduction to the overture by the band. The French speakers in the audience apparently enjoyed him, I found him annoying Some of you will get this but he reminded me of a French version of Senior Rai but annoying rather than flamboyant.The opening charavari was performed by members of the second year class of ENC and that alone was filled with incredible skills including a duo trapeze, corde lisse, an unusual veariation on Chinese poles, and acrobatics – a proper charavari in the most classical form. Other members of the second year class served as ring crew in a highly technical, yet flawless, show.We were then treated to nine unique and mind opening acts. I will not attempt to describe all of them but will be bringing a copy of the program to school on Wednesday. Included in the program were a pair of French diaboloists, a South African contortionist, a trio from Tunesia working on a single Chinese pole, a Russian juggler (flashed 9 balls), a strap act from Kazakhstan, a male/female hand balancing duo from the Ukraine with the lady being the base or porter, a Norwegian Slack wire performer, a Chinese handbalancing act tht really cannot be described, and a comic performer that is described as a human beatbox avec jonglage and that is a good a description as any of what this young man did.  This one you would have to see to believe The three guys were grinning from ear to ear throughout the show and jumped to their feet at the finale, leading the well deserved standing ovation the cast, crew and orchestra deserved.  And they now know that one day they may be on that stage accepting the recognition tonight’s performers earned.  They all said “now I know how hard i have to work” but the believe they can get there – and they can. What an honor and privlege it is to be able to show them a part of the world of the circus, to see them not intimidated by high skills but motivated by them.  They made new friends from around the world, were greeted in the lobby of the theater by performers from the show.  We have eaten lots of hamburgers and pomme frites, had impromptu French lessons, laughed a lot, practiced very hard at the art of waiting.  Anthony was translating the program to me on the Metro on the way back tonight and he doesn’t speak French but he says he has to learn.  Iking says “I can figure out those diabolo tricks”.  I’m glad because I sure can’t.  T-roc just smilled and nodded his head – I think he needs time to process all he saw and learned in his methodical way.  I can’t wait until he writes something about this week. I’m treating the guys along with Melvin and Renaldo if they show up to the elaborate breakfast buffet at my hotel in the morning before we take the train to Quebec City.  We are taking Aerial Emery, our friend and hostess in Quebec to dinner tomorrow night and then going to the auditions on Monday morning.  We fly back to St. Louis on Tuesday and are scheduled to arrive at 19h10 – oops 7:10 pm – on Continental.  Please come welcome our stars de demain home. 

Thank you to all of you who support Circus Harmony and the remarkable flying young people.  I’m finally beginning to pay the debt I owe to my teachers and Mentors – Faye Alexander and Gene Mendez who asked nothing more than I “pass it on”. 

Montreal and Beyond— On to Quebec City

Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 9:42pm 

Melvin came to my hotel in Montreal this morning with Anthony, T-roc, and Iking and joined us for breakfast at the elaborate buffet. I thought they would enjoy a big spread like this and they certainly earned a splurge meal. I have to say they got full value. The quantity of eggs, bacon, potatoes, pancakes, waffels, fruit, juice, and assorted breads they consumed was amazing. 

 After a final visit with Melvin, it was off to Gare Central and our three hour train trip up to the historic town of Quebec City. The clean, comfortable train gave us a chance to see the rural landscape of snow covered Canada and some small villages and towns along the way. There were numerous views of the frozen over St. Lawrence river, open plains and the occasional forest. 

 A quick taxi ride took us to Aerial Emery’s appartment which is just a short three blocks from the Ecole du Cirque de Quebec, where the boys will audition tomorrow. Aerial is the daughter of our friend Meg who teaches aerial work in Minnesota and is in her second year of training at this school. After a visit, I left for my hotel and got settled in in a nice room with a beautiful view over the old city and out to the river. This is a beautiful small city. 

 Aerial and the guys showed up later and we walked down to the old city to find dinner. We randomly picked – actually it was the first place that we saw tht had food the boys recognized so in we went – escaping a really cold wind. You definately know you have moved further north. Pizzas, lasagna, spaghetti, and calzones devoured (really good by the way), Aerial gave us a primer on what to expect tomorrow, explained how much she loves the school, what her classes are like, and how much she enjoys living here. We came out to a snow shower and, fortuntely, no wind. 

The registration begins at 8:30 tomorrow and the actual process begins at 9 am.  Here, I get to watch the auditions so I want be able to see the city.  we are supposed to be done by 18h00 so I guess I’ll let the guys decide what they want to do in the evening.  We will have to take a cab out to the airport Tuesday as the bus line does not go there.  If all goes well, we get to St. Louis at 7:10 pm on Tuesday.  The guys will be at circus school Wednesday to report on their adventures and I’ll have the program from the Festival Mondail Show as well.  Anthony has kept that program in his hands continuously and is still bubbling about how much he liked it.  

Again our thanks to everyone who has supported Circus Harmony allowing us to produce students that are being asked to audition for these prestigeous schools. Continue reading →

Posted in Circus schools, St. Louis Arches, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Leave a comment  

We ARE Family

Posted on February 21, 2011 by circusharmony

We ARE Family

There’s something so exciting about going to the airport. Whether meeting people or seeing someone off, there is an adventure involved. Today, three of our flying children (or should I say three of our flying young men) were heading to Canada!

Iking Bateman, T-Roc Robinson and Anthony Stiles are headed to Montreal where they will be auditioning for the Ecole National de Cirque — the National Circus School of Montreal— where we already have two former students studying. Last year, I went to the audition. This year, the applicants are accompanied by Warren Bacon. Warren was actually my first circus teacher, thirty-six (!?!) years ago. After I came back from my first youth circus tour, I told Warren I had found what I wanted to do with my life and asked how I could repay him. Warren said “I am going to tell you what my teacher told me: ‘Pass it on.’”

As Warren passed it on to me, I have passed it on to Iking, T-Roc and Anthony. They have also been teaching at Circus Harmony and have started the next generation of passing it on. The circus is, after all, about family. We have been passing it down like any good circus family.

And it is family that shows up at the airport. Circus Mom extraordinaire, Miss Angie, with her circus sons, Miles and Jonathan, Iking’s marvelous mentor, Diane, who came with us to Israel on our first trip in 2007, and my son, the Courageous Keaton who has burned a memory stick of music for former student Melvin who got into the school last year and who is, in his words, waiting for his ‘home boys’ to get to Canada. Keaton’s real sacrifice however is lending his i-pod and headphones to Anthony for the 9 day trip!

These three boys are the ones going to Montreal but they have so many of their circus friends, fans and family behind rooting for them. They are among the best loved students at the school. To quote from an article by student Cecilia Boyers that will be posted on www.circus4youth.org this week: “I find it extraordinary that a place exists where a congregation of people can respect each other’s skills and aspirations like Circus Harmony… The circus is nothing short of a family and there is no better feeling than to be a part of something so fantastic and inspiring.”

I feel fantastic and inspired as these three young men embark on their journey along with the man who started me on this path. Like family, all our moments together are not so wonderful. We have all of us slipped or disappointed each other at some points. But this is why we are together and this is what we can accomplish together: that three young men who grew up tumbling on the streets of north St. Louis are now heading to audition for the one of the best circus schools in the world. And they have a very good chance of getting in, too.

Posted in St. Louis Arches, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Leave a comment  

Searching for Self-Discipline

Posted on February 13, 2011 by circusharmony

Searching for Self-Discipline

At Circus Harmony, we say: “Circus teaches the art of life. While our students learn to flip, fly and juggle, they also learn important life skills like focus, persistence and teamwork.”  One of the most important life skills we hope our students learn is self-discipline. It is one thing to practice when someone is standing there telling you what to do. It is another to do it on your own. Being able to control what you do is a great life skill that will serve you well in all your endeavors.

At Circus Harmony, we work primarily with children. If they can develop this important ability when they are young, it can serve them their whole life long. Where does self discipline come from? First there is the thought of what you want to accomplish. Then, there are all the other thoughts that try to distract you from your goal. What do you need to do, internally, to keep yourself focused on your goal and to be able to defer or deflect the other thoughts?

I remember when I started training for my first aerial act. We would work at night, in the circus tent, after the show. I would climb the ladder and I would be saying to myself “you could have been a teacher, you could have been a lawyer, you could have been a writer” or some other option with each rung. But I kept climbing and I kept practicing and I learned my first aerial act— Aerial Perch with Warren Bacon— and we performed it that very first year of Big Apple Circus. It does help to have a partner to keep you focused on your goals. Still, you need to learn how to discipline yourself.

Options. Every moment of your life is an option. You have a choice. Sit on the couch and watch TV or get up and go to the gym. Eat the cake or eat the carrot. Do your school work or watch a video. There is a quote that says “when I’m in my head, I’m behind enemy lines.” Why do we try to sabotage ourselves? We WANT to reach the goals we set but we talk ourselves out of taking the steps we know will lead us to that goal. Why?!

How do we stay on the right path? Make the right choices? Do the right thing? And achieve our goals? How do we— as teachers— help children develop their self-discipline muscle, the internal strength they need to choose what they need to do over what they may want to do in the moment?  First, they need to want the end result more than what is trying to distract them. It helps a great deal if they see results— these need to be often at first then can be farther apart as their self-discipline muscle improves. They need to get to the point where they feel better about doing the right thing over the fleeting pleasure that doing the wrong thing will bring. We need to train their inner voice. Or which inner voice they listen to— picture the old angel and devil on your shoulder!  This can be harder than it sounds.

Like all the teaching at Circus Harmony, it seems to be co-incidental. Our students learn self-discipline as a natural by-product of their circus work. We break all our learning down into steps and progressions. So, at first, the rewards of success come close together. The other advantage we have is that all around them, they see the end results of practicing self-discipline in other students. On a typical Saturday, we actually have introductory students working in our space at the same time as our advanced, beginner and intermediate students. It is also helpful when they cheer on and encourage each other. Many of us need to learn how to do that more for ourselves. (This goes back to last week’s post on criticism).

Success feeds on itself. Our students learn rather quickly what accomplishments a little self discipline can win them. The repetition of this cycle of work and reward is what helps them develop the self-discipline muscle. Awareness, practice, experience. Plus, there is nothing quite like having 200 people applaud what you are able to do thanks to your self discipline!

Posted in Circus Classes, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Leave a comment  

The Place for Criticism

Posted on February 3, 2011 by circusharmony

 
 

The last two weekends, Circus Harmony presented our latest annual, full length show, Grazioso.  The show was a success. The audience loved it.  Everyone said it was our best ever. But I can see all the flaws and the places that could have been different or should have been better. Criticism is important. Accurate self-assessment is invaluable. Yet, like so many aspects of life, the trick is in finding the balance.

I, personally, have a tendency to give more weight to the negative than the positive. It is not that I don’t see or appreciate the positive, it is just the negative seems to stand out to me in sharper focus. This is true for my own work and for that of my students.

Partly, it is because my expectation is that work should be good. I expect people to do the right thing. Why should I praise you for doing what you should be doing?  I expect tricks to be done correctly. If something is not correct, we tell students what they need to do to fix it.  It is not always possible for them to control what they are doing enough to correct mistakes immediately or permanently. It is our job to keep reminding them until they can.

While it is what they are expected to do, they do also appreciate and benefit from the positive reinforcement that praise provides.  These days, it seems praise is often given too freely and without basis. That can be as much of a problem as being too critical. On the other hand, I think most young people know when praise is deserved and when it is empty or not earned. 

How do you know when it is enough and when it is too much?  How DO you find the balance? Add to that the fact that each child is different. Some give up under the slightest criticism or need a lot of encouragement to even attempt certain skills. There are children who are harsher with themselves internally then we are.

The job of the coach is to give constructive criticism that can help the young performer. More than that, our job is to help the student figure out how to asses themselves accurately. Too many students think they are better or worse than they actually are. Our job is to help them be honest with themselves.

Honesty is not always easy but it is the place we have to get to in order to go to the next step. I can tell you that we, as an organization, have accomplished a great deal. We have just produced a really creative, well-done show featuring twenty-seven, talented, young people who were accompanied by seven marvelous musicians. I hope you got to see it.

Now, we go back to training, practicing and creating.  Criticizing and praising.  Succeeding and failing. Teaching and learning. We do look at the shoulda, woulda, couldas. We acknowledge what we didn’t do and appreciate what we did.  We recognize that we get another chance to do even better. We find the balance as we move onwards and upwards. Honestly.

 photos from Grazioso

Posted in Circus Classes, St. Louis Arches, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Leave a comment  

Synchronicity

Posted on January 17, 2011 by circusharmony

Synchronicity. Godincidences. What makes connections happen?

On a day when I’m not supposed to be at the Museum doing shows with flying children…something happens and I am there. There’s a photographer at the show who catches some shots and sends them to me on Facebook (how many take pictures and do not send them to the subjects?). It is actually not easy to catch the flying children on film. They’re quick. And she caught them— the tricks and their personalities. Her name is Cathy Hartman and that is how our relationship started.

We were starting to develop the ideas and inspirations around our upcoming show, Grazioso. Cathy came to do the photo shoot for the promo pictures. Artistic collaboration is an interesting phenomenon. Everyone has their own view and vision. To find someone who understands yours is wonderful, when it happens. To find someone who can take it even further and better than what you had been thinking is a true treasure. 

You are looking for something on the internet and stumble upon something that gives you what you need but you didn’t even know you were looking for. I was online looking for the Escher ‘ribbon head’, I came across instructions on how to make them out of a photo. I showed it to Cathy. She took all our photos and inspirations and married them into final products, including the gallery shot that is the poster for Grazioso. Her final version is richer than my imagined one.

I come out of a building at the same time as a young man who is loading frames into a car. He calls out to me. With his formerly long hair now shorn short, I don’t recognize Heath Aldrich. He is a former circus ring crew worker who now owns a frame shop. A frame shop?! I tell him about Grazioso. He offers his frames and his services.

My obsession is circus. Cathy loves photography. Heath has embraced faming. There is something inspiring about working with and being around people how are passionate about what they are doing— whether it is for plumbing or painting —passion is a powerful force.   

In addition to Cathy and Heath, local dancewear company, Weissman’s Designs for Dance, donates costumes to us. So many people are contributing to our upcoming show. I am so grateful for the 27 flying children, 7 band members (including our marvelous music director), precious parents, caring coaches, incredible intern, awesome office manager, super social worker, sweet seamstresses, delightful donors and fantastic photographers, who are co-creating Grazioso.

Posted in Circus Classes, City Museum, St. Louis Arches, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life | Leave a comment  

It’s All About the Process

Posted on January 10, 2011 by circusharmony

Everything starts with a thought. That’s the seed. Then, somehow it germinates into an idea that puts out roots and starts to grow towards the light. It is your interactions with people, places and things that waters and feeds this idea until it breaks ground and is born. A song. A circus trick. A story. A painting. A full show. There is a process to its creation and birth. (Often, there is even a post partum depression in the creator after the birth/realization of the idea.)

Part of what we teach at Circus Harmony is process. How do you go from an idea to actualization in a trick, an act or even a whole show? The best and maybe only way to really teach this is by having our students experience it, which they do at Circus Harmony, on a very regular and constant basis. 

I have seen people teach two basic ways to learn something. One is through progressions and the other is to learn the final product. For example: in music, progression teaching would be learning notes, than scales and then a simple piece of music followed by more complex pieces.  The other way is to just teach the finished piece.

I believe it is important to learn the notes and scales so that, later, the student can compose their own ‘music’. So, that is how we teach at Circus Harmony.  This also allows all the steps to be learned correctly so you have good technique to create your pieces from.

Our beginners learn all the separate positions and movements that make up one trick. They also work on improving their strength, flexibility, body and spatial awareness so they can control their body in all positions and any location.  The tricks are then taught in different sequences. Sequences are put together to form acts. Acts are put together to from shows. Sounds so simple but the process is so complex. We do this in every class as we teach skills. We repeat this process when we construct acts for individual students out of the tricks they have learned. Then we create a show.  We do shows at the end of every fifteen week class session during the school year. In our summer camps, shows are created at the end of an intensive week. Our advanced students create shows every Saturday and Sunday during the school year and Monday through Friday over the summer. Because the students are continually part of this process, they learn how to create their own tricks, acts and shows.

An 8 year old who was one of our advanced students, created a balancing act with another boy that had a clear beginning middle and end. He knew the technique to present the skills. He knew good act structure. He looked at his and his partners strengths and created an act. He even chose the music.

A 12 year old student produced en entire show himself. He put a sign up sheet on the wall announcing his intention to create a show.  Students of all ages signed up. This 12 year old produced a forty five minute show with a story line.   

Our advanced students, the St. Louis Arches and our premiere aerialists, the Elliaire Duet, have just finished being part of an amazing collaboration between Circus Flora and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. They are also nearing the end of our work on this year’s annual full length show, Grazioso.   Our students have been a major part of the process of creation for both these interesting and exciting shows. 

I hope you saw the Circus Flora St. Louis Symphony show,  The Floating Palace.  It was truly stunning. Like all the circus acts, we were assigned pieces of music to choreograph our acts to.  The Elliaire Duet performed to Copland’s Corral Nocturne.  The Arches were given Sibelius’ Intermezzo and Alla Marcia from Karelia Suite, op 11. The resulting pieces, in fact, the whole show that was presented at Powell Symphony Hall was magical and majestic!

As a teacher and director, it was very fulfilling to me to see the final performance and how well Arches and the Elliare Duet did plus how greatly their work was appreciated. The Arches’ piece was a complex collaboration of the work of Tom Dougherty, Ryan Rose, Sariya Saabye, myself and all the Arches involved. Sequences from other pieces, new sequences, an array of tricks, and a myriad of skills were interwoven and put to the varying tempos of the Sibelius music. Even more wonderful to me was watching my students as they got to the point where they were really working the moves to the music. The Elliaire Duet was challenged with changing the length of their act to fit the shorter piece of music they were given and (thanks to the generosity of the Flying Wallendas) to work the act on a winch that would raise and lower them during the presentation.  I cannot tell you how wonderfully well both acts did. If you were not there, you missed a rare treat seeing them on stage and in the air at this beautiful symphony hall with a full orchestra behind them. Breath-taking. Literally. In the words of one of the Arches, “It was the most amazing experience of my life.” 

Next, for our multitalented, flying children is Grazioso: this year’s annual, ticketed, full length show with a live band. It will be different having just seven pieces behind us instead of seventy but a truly compelling show nonetheless.  Thirty children, sixteen new acts. A level of creativity and technique that may well astound you. The theme of the show is that it is set in an art gallery. The acts are inspired by well known works of art. If you haven’t yet, do get your tickets to this extraordinary, upcoming show. Tell your friends. Bring your family. Tickets are available at www.circusharmony.org. The show takes place the last two weekends in January.  

I’m sorry that you will not witness the process these young people go through to get to the end show. That is something only Circus Harmony’s teachers get to witness. Trust me that it is the true reward of the work we do. Trust me also that you will appreciate what is born from this process. See you at Grazioso!

Posted in Circus Flora, St. Louis Arches, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life | Leave a comment  

It Really IS a Circus Here!

Posted on January 6, 2011 by circusharmony

“It’s a circus here” is a pejorative label put on places that are crazy and/or really busy.  Well, I can tell you, it REALLY is the case here at Circus Harmony. Take the next few months for example:

  • We just preformed at First Night River bend with Circus Flora.
  • Now, we go into a week of solid rehearsals for the Circus Flora Symphony show, The Floating Palace, that will take place in Powell Symphony Hall on January 8 and 9.
  • Then we have to finish choreographing our own big show, Grazioso, in time for dress rehearsal with our band on January16!
  • Our Grazioso show takes place at City Museum, January 22, 23, 29 and 30!
  • Three major grant applications are also due by January 31st.
  • Our Spring classes at City Museum start January 31st with classes in clowning, juggling, magic, aerial and basic circus arts for ages 5 – adult. (Register now at www.circusharmony.org) 
  • Regular weekend youth circus shows at City Museum resume February 5th with shows every Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3.
  • February 3, Rabbi Marc Rosenstein, from the Galilee Circus in Israel, comes to St. Louis on a speaking engagement and you will have two opprotunites that day to see our film, CIRCUS KIDS and to hear Marc speak!
  • February 22- 28, are the auditions at the Ecole National De Cirque in Montreal and Ecole Nationale De Cirque of Quebec. Four of our students are planning to audition.
  • March 8 and 9, some of us will be at the Charlotte, North Carolina Jewish Film Festival with CIRCUS KIDS, the documentary about our first journey to Israel.
  • March 23, we are planning to have a guest lecture on “Circle of Sawdust: A Picturesque History of Circus in Film” by Circus Smirkus’ Rob Mermin.

 We are SO excited about all these wonderful opportunities.  We even enjoy the process that leads up to all these. But it can be a bit overwhelming. So, we need to apply what we use in teaching circus skills:

  1. reasonable goal setting
  2. right progressions
  3. correct technique
  4. good equipment
  5. planned use of time
  6. proper guidance for each skill
  7. spotters to catch you if you fall
  8. attention to details
  9. clear communication
  10. big “Ta Dah” when you finish!

To join us or learn more about how we can make YOUR day a CIRCUS DAY, visit www.circusharmony.org or attend any of the above events!

Posted in Circus Classes, Circus Flora, City Museum, Galilee Arches, Israel, St. Louis Arches, Uncategorized, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Comments Off  

Circus in the New Year!

Posted on January 2, 2011 by circusharmony

Everything I need for life, I find at the circus.   All my resolutions can be met through circus. It’s all here. 

For the New Year, I resolve to:

  • Laugh More — clowning is one of the pegs the circus hangs on but there is a lot to laugh at and smile about
  • Stay/get in shape — circus students of all ages are amazingly fit
  • Be in awe of what you see — watching people defy gravity and doing it yourself is awe-inspiring
  • Appreciate the process — watching kids grow from students to performers and acts grow from tricks to a full act is interesting ad inspiring
  • Get rid of clutter — in circus acts, in a room, in writing, in everything: you do NOT need it all and what is left is better and stronger
  • Be conscious — to accomplish the above to the deepest level you have to be aware of yourself and your choices
  • Take responsibility — of your choices, your words, your actions and your time and that is the best and only way to help others take responsibility of theirs. Or, in the words of a Russian circus coach of mine: “Do your do.”
  • Be grateful — for everything and everyone that make up your life experience and are part of all your life lessons, opportunities and accomplishments listed above.

 I will also keep up better with this blog. Although it is sometimes challenging to live life AND blog about it, I can and will. So, please visit “Watch Out for Flying Children” often for words of wit, wisdom and St. Louis circus news.

Posted in Circus Classes, circus shows, circus teaching the art of life, social circus | Comments Off