5 Fabulous Reasons Why Everyone Must Engage In Circus Arts

Afghan children celebrate the 2nd World Circus Day on 16 April 2011.

Circus activities are widely popular worldwide but remain relatively unrecognised in Singapore. According to the American Youth Circus Organisation in  2008, tens of thousands of youths are estimated to be participating in youth circus programmes to some degree, be it in summer camps, community based organisations, physical education classes or pre-professional companies.

What circus activities are we talking about, you may ask. To summarise, circus skills consist of various performance skills divided into four distinct areas:

• Acrobatics - e.g. tumbling, balance and contortion;
• Aerobatics - e.g. flying/static trapeze, ropes, silks, webs;
• Manipulation - e.g. juggling, diabolo, stilts, rola-bola, unicycle, poi;
• Clowning - e.g. drama, comedy and mime. (Carr, 2007)

What draws children, youths and even adults to circus activities? The reasons are plenty. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider picking up a skill and promoting circus art to your school, company or at home.

1. Circus activities are non-competitive and non-threatening. Instead, circus promotes cooperative learning. It is not about “us versus them”. It is “all for one and one for all”!

2. Circus is inclusive. Reluctant exercisers and children with special needs who are unmotivated or unable to participate in competitive team sports and conventional physical education programmes can participate in circus. There is a role for everybody in the circus, be it juggling, plate spinning or rola-bola. This is a great morale and self-esteem booster!

3. Circus allows children to learn at their own pace in their preferred skill area. There is no limit to what they can achieve as ability levels are incremental, allowing for continuous progress. This is a great morale and self-esteem booster! (Oh, have we mentioned it already!?)

4. Circus programmes in schools have seen academic benefits in their students. Circus learning teaches young people discipline, focus, effort, perseverance and the ability to move beyond failure. These programmes are also very popular with traditional “under-achievers” or “at-risk” youths.

5. Circus activities have been shown to improve balance, coordination, stamina, flexibility, strength, timing, reflex ability and weight distribution. Juggling for instance, has been found to increase brain power! Now, isn’t this a ‘shove’ factor for you to start picking up a circus skill today??

Of course, do not just take our words for it. Check out what the experts have to say!

·         Benefits of Circus in Education

·        Teachers Link Academic Benefits to Juggling

·        Juggling Increases Brain Power