(This article was published by Zocalo Magazine summer, 2009.)
The hippest summer camp going this June has got to be the First Annual Circus Camp. Where else in town can a kid learn to stilt walk and spin poi?
The concept has been knocking around for years, with the time realized now in a partnership between Rhythm Industry and Tucson Circus Arts.
In a fortuitous happenstance, perhaps even synchronicity, we stumbled upon Paul Weir, Nadia Hagen and Karen Falkenstrom at Maynard’s in May meeting about this very thing. They told us that two sessions are scheduled during the first two weeks of June – with the morning session reserved for kids aged 7 to 11. The afternoons are for kids 12 and up, which includes adults!
Hagen promises that the kids will be returned exhausted, as the majority of the activities are physical. Kicking off both sessions is an hour of taiko drumming, followed by either stilt walking or aerial silk and then poi spinning. (Yes, they do carry insurance.)
Wrapping up the three and a half hour days is a half hour of journal writing where participants reflect on what they’ve learned along with exercises in costume, story boarding, and make-up design. Beyond the coolness of learning circus arts is the opportunity for the children to be exposed and engaged in a world of creativity and cooperation, and gain a cohesive sense of what makes a circus.
“A lot of kids are drawn to dance and circus. This is where they can find the thing that turns them on – music, physicality or design,” Hagen elucidates.
The intention and motivation of the organizers is not only to teach the munchkins circus skills, but to also focus their minds on cooperation and learning how to move through frustrations that come with navigating new endeavors, “pushing past the resistance in ourselves,” Hagen explains.
It all culminates in an informal revue on Saturday, June 13 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Rhythm Industry, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave.
Slots are filling fast and Weir said half of the available spaces have already been booked, so give ‘em a ring stat at 272-9042 or email info@tucsoncircusarts.com. Each session is $150 with a $25 stilt rental fee and it all takes place in the beautiful open space of the Rhythm Industry, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave.
Find more information online at TucsonCircusArts.com or RhythmIndustry.org.
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