Acro-Balance
In the acro-balance class we will partner up and learn how to balance on each other in fun, impressive ways. This will cultivate
trust, connection, and playfulness with your partner. We will teach how to base and fly depending on what each student feels most comfortable with. We
will also experiment with a few group balance patterns. Open to children 8+.
Clowning
In this class, we create short sketch comedy to entertain the crowd. Open to children 8+.
Commedia Dell'Arte
Commedia Dell'Arte is a form of improvised masked slapstick clowning that originated in Italy during the renaissance. This class is for students with theatre experience who want to combine acting with circus skills. We will meet such characters as the foolish Harlequin, the greedy Pantalone, the blustering Captain, the crafty Franceschina, and the absent minded Doctor while learning improvisation and collaboration. Open to children 9+.
Devil Sticks
An exploration of techniques related to flower sticks, a prop whereby a
baton (with tassles) is manipulated using two hand sticks and/or the
body. The classes focus will depend upon understanding of the students.
The students will become proficient in basic idle and tik tok patterns but
it is possible to develop into full contact body and all around the body
motions. Open to ages 7+, see schedule for specific age ranges per class period.
Diabolo (beginner and intermediate)
The Diabolo is a prop that originated in China and was first
called the Chinese Yo-Yo. It consists of two sticks with a string tying
them together and a gyroscopic top looking thingy,( That is a technical
term). We will teach students basic control, tosses, wraps and such. Those
who have an aptitude will be able to learn knots, whips, climbs, and
possibly even how to play with two simultaneously on the same string. Open to children 6+ for beginner and 7+ for intermediate.
Hat Manipulation
This class features learning how to manipulate and dance with bowler hats, (although many tricks are directly applicable to Top hats as well). We will learn flips, rolls, tosses, flourishes, comic gestures/stunts and more. We will explore beginning multi-hat juggling, patterns and poses as well. For the enthusiasts we will also give tips on which hats to buy to fit you and which hats we find to be the best. Open to children 8+.
Hip Hop Dance
Introduces students to the art of Hip Hop dancing. Open to children 7+, see schedule for specific age ranges per class period.
Hula Hoops
Hooping is taking an old classic hula-hoop and making it bigger
and heavier then the small hula-hoops you can get at a toy store. The size
and weight make hooping on your legs, arms, neck, and other body parts much
easier. In a hoop class you'll learn how to hoop on different body parts,
and veriest movements with the hoop on each part. Off body hooping, and
double hooping. Open to children 6+, see schedule for specific age ranges per class period
Juggling, Beginner
Students will learn the basics of 3-ball juggling. Open to children 8+.
Juggling, Intermediate
We will be exploring partner and some slightly more complex patterns. Boxes, 4 balls, 5 balls for the prepared student, mills mess, behind the back catches and others that students are ready for. Open to children 8+
Miming
Mime is the art of telling stories with the body. We will learn isolations, silly walks, and basic illusions like "the wall" and "the rope" and how to create a mime skit. Open to children 7+.
Poi
Modern poi is rooted with the traditional poi dance of the Maori people of
New Zealand. It has drawn additional inspiration from club swinging, glow
stringing, fire performance, geometry, martial arts and dance, and in its
current form more closely resembles a beautiful combination of these
elements than the Maori tradition. Modern poi is the exploration of how
ones body relates with 2 spinning weighted tethers, one spun in each hand.
This is often done with glow lights or fire wicks at the end of the
tethers. Even without glow or fire, the poi artist's dance involves a
myriad of spinning patterns that both look and feel wonderful.
In this playshop we will learn the different directions of spin, different
spin timings, different ways to orient your spinning, and present the visual
appeal of your patterns to an audience. All of this will be explored using
a model for body movement that turns your patterns into an entire form that
opens up freedom of movement and expression, instead of just learning
separate tricks. We will also explore a repetiore of tricks and patterns
that can flow together seamlessly using our poi movement form. Open to ages 6+, see schedule for specific age ranges per class period
Sphere Play
Sphereplay is an art form where one rolls
a spherical object all over their body from head to even the toes at later
stages. Students will learn how to give spheres just enough energy so that
it rolls fluidly over their hands and arms with finesse. There is also a
technique that looks almost magical called an isolation where students will
learn to move their body around the sphere while it floats in the same
space. We may also explore the art of the multi-sphere, where we will
explore rolling multiple spheres in our hands to create different
aesthetically pleasing patterns. Open to children 6+, see schedule for specific age ranges per class period
Staff
In this class, the students will learn how to twirl, spin,
transfer, and toss a staff. We will teach anti-spin techniques, isolations,
and contact staff methods of rolling and rotating a staff on your body. We
also have a multi-staff play-shop where students will learn a myriad of
various beautiful patterns two staffs can make together. Open to children 10+.
Stage Combat, Beginner
This is the subsection of acting which deals with the
illusion of combat. Stage Combat, Beginner teaches safety, the fundamentals
of stage combat illusion, and several moves and stances. Open to children
10+.
Stage Combat, Intermediate
Stage Combat, Intermediate focuses on improving
the illusion created. Open to children 11+ with experience with Stage Combat.
Stilting, Beginner
Stilting, Beginning introduces students to
stilt walking. Open to children 6+, adult presence requested.
Stilting, Intermediate
Students will develop more advanced stilt walking
skills. Open to children 7+, children must be able to walk confidently and unaided
for at least 5 minutes on a variety of surfaces - see instructor for
permission.
Stilting, Advanced
Advanced stilters will develop more advanced stilt walking
skills. Open to children 8+, Children must be able to perform tricks while on stilts such as kicks, skipping, and hopping - see instructor for
permission.
Stilting, Adult, Beginner
Introduces older teenagers and Adults to stilt walking.
Stilting, Adult, Intermediate
For adults who already know how to stilt walk, we're combining this class with the advanced childrens class.
Tiny Tots
In this class, our youngest members are introduced to Balance Beam, Tumbling and the managed chaos that is the OPENAIR Circus.
These classic classes have been merged to give kids the optimal experience.
Open to chidlren 3-6.
Tumbling for Two
In this class, our youngest members team up with adult counterparts to perform acrobatic feats. Open to children 3-7.
Unicycling
This class is based on the unicycle, very similar to a bicycle, but the unicycle only has one wheel so there is a two dimensional plane of movement to compensate for. The basics of unicycling will be covered and for prepared students, we will work on idles, hops, backward and other various riding techniques. Open to children 7+ who know how to ride a bicycle.
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