All about circus
AERIAL
Silks (also known as aerial fabric or tissu). Silks are 2 pieces of fabric hung by a single point from the ceiling. The fabric can be used to climb, wrap, suspend, drop, swing and spiral your body in and out of movements and positions. The fabric used for silks is very strong and stretchy and is typically a two-way stretch polyester or nylon.
Trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes from the ceiling. it is an aerial apparatus. At School of Larks we teach static trapeze, which differs from spinning, swinging, flying, dance or counterweighted trapeze in that the apparatus stays static. The trapeze can be used to hang, wrap, lean, balance, drop, hook, spiral and turn your body through and around the apparatus in and out of movements and positions.
Rope (also known as corde lisse) is a vertically hanging rope usually made from cotton which is either braided, three-ply knit or covered. It can be used to climb, wrap, suspend, drop, swing and spiral your body in and out of movements and positions.
Hoop (also known as lyra, aerial ring or cerceau) is a circular metal apparatus resembling a hula hoop, hung from a single point from the ceiling. At School of Larks, we teach static hoop, which differs from spinning, swinging, and counter weighted hoop in that the apparatus stays static. The hoop can be used to hang, lean, drop, balance, hook, spiral and turn your body through and around the apparatus in and out of movements and positions.
FLOOR ACROBATICS
Solo floor acrobatics (also known as tumbling) is a non apparatus floor based acrobatic art using body strength and agility to form combinations of twists, flips, turns, rolls and balances both dynamic and static. At School of Larks we teach a combination of traditional circus floor acrobatics and more contemporary dance forms of acrobatics.
Partner and group acrobatics (also known as acrobalance or acrosport) is a non apparatus floor-based acrobatic art that involves balances, lifts and creating shapes performed in pairs or groups. At School of Larks, we teach a combination of traditional circus floor acrobatics and more contemporary dance forms of acrobatics. Partner and group acrobatics require a high degree of care, coordination and proprioceptive awareness.
Juggling
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Juggling: Juggling is the throwing or manipulation of objects, most often using two hands but it is also possible with feet (or antipodism). At School of Larks we focus on juggling scarves, balls, rings and clubs. Juggling is a discipline that can be combined with other circus skills such as balancing and acrobatics.
Scarves: Juggling scarves are square pieces of light chiffon material which float through the air allowing students to really see and understand the mechanisms of juggling.
Balls: Juggling balls (sometimes called ‘Thuds’) are bean bag type balls which are soft and easy to grip in the hand. For basic level juggling you can learn to juggle with 1, 2 or 3 balls. More advanced jugglers can juggle up to 11 balls
Clubs: Juggling clubs are typically 50cm long and have a slim handle end and a wide “body” end, similar to a bowling pin. Clubs can be thrown, spun, balanced and held in and on different parts of the body as part of a juggling routine.
Rings: Juggling rings are dense plastic rings which can vary in size. Much like the other juggling skills you can balance, spin and throw rings as part of a routine.
Object Manipulation
Object Manipulation:
There is a huge range of types of object manipulation. The term Object Manipulation is the physical manipulation of inanimate objects with and around the body. Many sporting and creative activities can be considered object manipulation. Much like juggling, object manipulation is a discipline that can be combined with other circus skills such as balancing and acrobatics. At School of Larks we specialise in the disciplines listed below.
Diabolo: Diabolo is a form of object manipulation involving two sticks connected by a string and a ‘diabolo’ (similar to the shape of an hourglass), you can roll and spin the diabolo along the string. With some comparison’s to Yo Yo’s, Diabolo can be manipulated into various shapes and patterns with the Diabolo itself being flung and caught back onto the string as part of the endless possibility of tricks and variations. For a more challenging task, multiple Diabolos can be used on the string at once.
Flower sticks: Flower sticks (also known as Devil sticks) involve three sticks, one held in each hand whilst the third is manipulated between the two. You can balance it across the two, roll it up and down the sticks, throw and catch it, pass it between the two or spin it around various points along the sticks.
Spinning plates: Spinning plates consist of a plastic plate or a disc shaped object being spun upon a thin stick and balanced, using the gyroscopic effect in a similar fashion to spinning tops in order to keep them from falling from the stick. Once spinning on the stick, they can be passed between sticks or maneuvered around the body.
Cigar boxes: Cigar boxes are rectangular boxes, often made of wood, that are held by the performer to create a line of three or more. The objective is to throw one of the boxes up and catch it back between the other two in your hands, sometimes adding spins and other tricks in between. Cigar boxes can be manipulated just as two or as many as 5.
Contact ball: Contact ball consists of a glass or plastic sphere that you manipulate between your hands or around your body with the objective of moving it in a way that gives off the illusion that the contact ball is staying in place whilst you move around it.
Staff: Staff is a piece of object manipulation equipment where a long rod with slightly weighted ends is rolled, thrown, spun and manipulated around the body in a similar nature to some martial arts practices. Some staffs are made with curved or spiralled ends. You can also use staff as a fire discipline with specialist staffs which you set fire to each end.
Peacock feathers: Peacock feathers are a form of balancing practice where you position a tall feather stood up on either your hand, chin or anywhere on your body with the objective of balancing it there and not letting it fall.
Hula hooping: Hula hooping consists of one or multiple plastic hoops being spun around the hips or other parts of the body and keeping them from falling down. There is a huge range of hula hooping tricks including spinning, lifting, whipping, isolation. Hoops come in various sizes for varying difficulty.
Balancing
Balancing: Balancing disciplines
Balancing disciplines or equilibristics are a form of circus skill where a person balances upon specifically made equipment that challenges people’s equilibrium, using their body to counterbalance themselves as they move on top of said equipment and perform techniques and tricks.
We have found that balancing disciplines are very effective in promoting the development of balance, proprioception, core stability, coordination, agility, body awareness, creativity, gross and fine motor skills, mental and physical wellbeing, focus and in a class context social skills such as cooperation, collaboration, mutual trust, communication, respect and care.
Tightrope walking: The tightrope is made up of a wire tensed between two points at varying heights from the ground. Tightrope walking (also known as funambulism) is the skill of maintaining balance while walking along a tensed wire. Some tools can be used to help balance such as an umbrella, fan or balance pole, or it can be done solely using your body to maintain balance. Typically, tightwire performances either include dance or object manipulation.
Unicycling: Unicycling is an equilibristic discipline involving someone balancing and riding on a single wheeled saddle and pedals or what you could view as the one wheel version of a bike. Unicycles can come in various heights and sizes and can be combined with other disciplines such as juggling or tightwire to create an even more impressive and creative act.
Rolla Bolla: Rolla bolla involves a rectangular platform in the rough size of a skateboard being stood on and balanced upon a small cylinder, rocking side to side in order to keep steady. They can be stacked up on top of eachother for a more difficult and daring performance and can be combined with other juggling and object manipulation disciplines..
Walking globe: Walking globe is a giant solid plastic sphere which you can roll over, balance and walk on top of. These spheres can come in various sizes and are often combined with juggling acts and acrobatics.
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