Have you ever watched a performance and wondered what it might be like to fly through the air on a trapeze or walk on a tightwire?
Circus isn’t limited to the center ring. These days, circus is more accessible than ever. While in the past, most people did not have an opportunity to try circus skills unless they were born into a circus family, today there are professional circus artists teaching classes and private lessons in nearly all major cities and some smaller areas as well. Aerial fitness is more popular than ever, and there is a growing community of people training skills such as handstands and juggling just for fun and personal accomplishment. So why is circus becoming so popular?
Circus is an exploration of what humans are capable of. In an age where everyone is attached to their smartphones and most spend their leisure time on the couch, circus is a call to move our bodies and see what is possible. Spectators at circus shows watch from their seats and wonder if they might be capable of some of the feats happening on the stage if they really tried. I think everyone likes to daydream every once in a while about what they might be able to do if they really put their mind – and their body – to it. And for some, it becomes more than just a daydream.
For a growing number of people, circus is a fun and different way to stay in shape. For example, I never enjoyed going to the gym until I discovered circus. For me, working on a handstand or an aerial pose was way more fun than running on a treadmill or lifting weights. Don’t get me wrong, cardio and strength training are super important to a well-rounded circus fitness routine. However, I used to go to the gym and do the exercises because I knew I should, or so I could maintain a healthy weight. It was boring and not motivating. Now, I go to the gym and do conditioning because I want to be able to do a really cool new skill.
Circus takes all ages. My husband and I are both professional circus artists. However, neither of us discovered the circus world until our early twenties. Whereas disciplines like dance and gymnastics only offer a chance at a high-level career if you start as a young child, circus offers more opportunities for a greater age range. While starting young certainly gives an advantage, I know circus artist performing into their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and later, depending on their specialty. Circus artists with a physically demanding specialty like tumbling or aerial arts may have an earlier retiring age, while others such as clowns and jugglers may continue later in life.
Recreationally, circus is open to all ages. Right here in Las Vegas, there is a plethora of classes for tots to adults, and the range of levels makes it accessible to almost anyone. Want to try an aerial class but can’t do a pull up? That’s fine. Aerial instructors are trained specifically to break skills down into easier variations to gradually build strength and skill. Most people leave their first circus class having accomplished more than they thought they could!
Circus takes all kinds. When everyone is doing something weird, weird becomes the new normal. The differences in our bodies and movement styles make circus skills look more interesting, fresh, and exciting. One of my favorite things about circus is the freedom of self expression it brings out in us. In a world where differences are celebrated, we are free to try anything we want, and that is a beautiful thing.
Above: Lyndsi tries a new pose in her fifth lyra class.
