Creative Learning

Creative Learning , seems to be the best way to label what has been going on over the last year in the Aerial Prep class at the studio.

People from different background and ages have “jumped” into their fears and have been able to have some positive experiences with two of the most fun circus apparatus, fabric and trapeze. Some of the goals that people have share with me include, “fitness” ,“stress reduction”, “fun”, “challenge” and curiosity….at the end of 2 months usually half of the people stays for another session, half move on to try something else- once their fears have been vanished.

Aerials can be intimidating, hanging upside down, trusting your body to hold you 20 feet into the ceiling might seems like –not possible-, but it is. Most people start with some negative self talk “can not do that”- no way… however with time they change the way they talk to themselves. There is no magic here. Trial and error, trial and perseverance, trial and commitment. And every time I find myself at the end of the session with renewed hopes: hopes of change and learning; not just about aerials but about what you can and cant do if you set your body and your mind to do so.

The only constant that I know in life is change- and my practice as an instructor has been no exception. I will be starting one on one sessions and small group work starting in March in Philadelphia and Coopersburg. The goal: change- the tool: aerials.

I wish you flexibility, tolerance and perseverance for this 2011 in body- and mind.

See you at the studio.

Momentary Stop

October November and December, seemed like the blink of an eye.

We had a great workshop in October with Adam Woolley, the Phantastical Phanatical Cabaret in November
and a well deserved upcoming party for friends and staff members around the corner.

This year has been definitely a year of growth, our Director Shana Kennedy moved to Canada to join the Cirque Du Soleil venture TOTEM as a family, a new director Robin Marcotte has taken the lead with positivity and knowledge and as a circus family we continue to expand and face new challenges that we know (or I know) for sure we will be able to adjust too and support.

As I find myself teaching the last session of the season and the year, I can feel the urge to STOP.
STOP for a moment and look inside and out to see what the movement in my life and people's life brought...and I wonder...

What opportunities of growth will this next year bring?

Some growth in the circus language...will mean to learn a new trick,
some growth might mean a new sequence..
out of the ring...the studio or the apparatus.. .

Some growth might mean to learn to listen- not just to the trainer, partner or leader in your life- but listen to yourself.

In the middle of this season and the so common craze of motion -
I feel the need to stop: in the air or in the ground, to be able to look around - inside- and down... and see your entire self.

No tricks , pure you- unapologetic honest and free.

Have a good Holiday.
See you at the studio.

American Youth Circus Organization, two words.

One week after the America youth Circus Organization conference- and we are already getting ready for Florida in August of 2011- that is the definitely the spirit!

AYCO in two words this year at the New England Center for the Circus Arts would have to be the following: inspiring and innovative.

Inspiring because you keep seeing how the power of circus arts brings together people from different backgrounds , religions and places.

Innovative because for the first time an invitation was made to the "academia" to show the nose in the ring and take a look: the results (see detailed information at AYCO web page): participation in a circus arts program increased a sense of physical self -efficacy in Young teens. (Ooh!! and he term now- would be circademia)

As a preliminary study , I am happy to say that it showed us that journey has started, some people might like the idea of -showing with data- that what we do have a positive effect on youth- others might disagree, they want to keep the magic of the ways circus arts work their way into the human mind.

As a psychologist... and aerialist... I have not made my mind yet and I think that in the meantime my job is to spread the word, maybe collect some more data and fire up the debate so that people knows that we have more and more to talk about and play or re/play.

What I know for sure is that- because of who we are as unique individuals and as a whole community-beyond the red nose, the glitter, the juggling and the strong muscles we will find that no matter what the debate brings we will respect each other, value this upcoming "data" about circus and support the expansion of our field.

Today is "circademia" ...tomorrow it might be the hard core- science of- being happy....in other 4 words maybe: being at the circus.

See you in the air.
Enjoy the Fall.

Aerial Dance ...play time!

Dancing is built within us. from the very ancient civilizations to these days, being able to move your body to the beats of musical tones has been found allover the world.

There is no difference when you include an aerial apparatus in the equation of body and music.This past Monday a group of enthusiastic and graceful young women joined the aerial improv workshop. The aerial warm up (literally- we use the trapeze to warm up too :), allowed us to get to know each other a little and infused us with some needed energy that we were going to use for the rest 90 minutes.
"Driving" the apparatus, difference between tempos and exploration of the body in the single point trapeze described different moments of fun swinging, turning and ..yea hp getting dizzy too!!
However, all new things sometimes gives us that belly/head sensation... the deal with aerials is that in spite of that- you allow yourself to stop for a moment - and then continue -to try whatever "new trick or movement" that was making you dizzy, antsy or scared.

As we moved into learning some new vocabulary and rest our hands from all the gripping, I realized that all of this Jung women had something in common, they were just curious about the aerial dance-idea.
I hope they had a chance to try something new...or get a taste to pursue further curiosity, or maybe- at the same time -I hope that they just reconnected with something that they already knew they could do: just breath and move to the beat of their hearts, just now also -
in the air.

see you at the studio, it was a great day.

Moving and improvising....aerials

As the summer slowly gives away to shorter days the movement on the everyday tasks keeps pulsing. The fact that days will be shorter and nights longer , send us some signs for a different type of movement in terms of our circadian rhythms and the way our mind and body work at unison.

Classes at the studio will have a small pause during this transition to Fall of 2010.

As we pause, there is an opportunity to try new things.
I am very happy to say that aerial dance improv will be one of those moments of exploration.

Steaming from my previous love of aerial dance and the most recent influence of Carrie Heller's therapeutic approach to aerials and circus arts, I invite you to come and let yourself -play. No experience necessary.

To the sounf of music , the idea is to try a new dimension of your ongoing passion for aerials or, if you are new to this venue -be taken away by something new like swinging low, integrating the space under the trapeze and hopefully noticing that "tricks" might not be the only approach to circus arts- but a sense of artistic expression from the most valuable source of improvisation- you.

Therapeutic Fun...

Circus arts therapy , PSCA next place to play!!
As the hot summer days start to warm our bodies, our mind can get a little cloudy, maybe not just because of the heat, but halfway through the year we might start to feel the consequence of a full schedule, lack of sleep and all the daily responsabilities that might leave very little for simple things that are as important as our daily food..... have some rest and some fun....even if we are in the "adult" bracket...

Carrie Heller's therapeutic circus arts has become over the last couple of years my inspiration when it comes to creativity, knowledge and self -care.
Circus Arts therapy is this beautiful hybrid between the body and mind connection, between a therapeutic opportunity and the world of circus arts. Through some talking, bouncing and swinging, every person is encouraged to find balance in their lives, emphasizing self-care, nutrition and body awareness.
Being part of the first generation team trained in Circus Arts therapy has been a tremendous experience, Brande, Marisa and Marci, plus all the staff members at the Circus Arts Institute in Atlanta, made this stay something therapeutic in itself.

I just extend the invitation to everybody , children and adults, to find some space in their lives and allow themselves to be playful ...for some that might be some time with their nephews, children or neighbors, for others it might be just to go for a walk in the park- for us- and I guess I will speak for myself and a few that I know- it is being around the Circus School....... to play , to learn, or perform, and from now on, why not - to find our own therapeutic time - which is nothing else than playful self-care.

Reset

As the time keeps moving along and the blossoms turned into flowers, continuing the aerial practice through the summer -after a gorgeous set of performances during the student showcase in May keeps me engaged and inspired in the power of movement. Take a look and get inspired with some shoots taken by Jill's friend.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58143&id=1536694238&l=a284b9e113

Summer heat and showers can take us through a myriad of situations, feeling hot, exhausted happy and maybe tired or frustrated at moments...the challenge though -is to keep yourself flowing...with the season...not against it.

Even knowing that whatever change is coming might make you sweat and surrender, the calmness within can keep you a float or...swinging in the air,....
with our director moving to Canada literally, following the circus... (Gregg, her husband is part of TOTEM the latest Cirque Du'Soleil production) and making a pause in her physical presence at the studio, we have to think that her movement will still
be present.

The words of encouragement for each of us as teachers, students or colleagues, the open arms to crazy ideas and the loving passion that she shares about the circus arts are staying with us as a source of energy, that will be recharged and hopefully renewed, by the time she comes back.

In the meantime, we will keep moving, up and sideways, down and around , and we will embrace her idea of the studio continuing to be a joy full free and safe place for practicing what you love the most.... circus, aerials or just the silence and calmness of the place, her place the PSCA.

See you at the studio.