Happy New Year Cirque Nova!!

With the New Year, news from Cirque Nova! Whilst lack of funding has meant less training recently, things have been going on behind the scenes!

Jo Gosling is a visual artist who is interested in collaborating with a new project, Astral. Ju is an international artist and film-maker who originally trained as a dancer, so she has a good understanding of the aesthetics of bodies in movement. Ju situates her work largely within the theories and traditions of the international Disability Arts movement, so she also has a good understanding of the ethos of Cirque Nova’s work, and the disabled body is a focus for much of her practice. In addition, Ju has a long history of working as an artist adviser and mentor (mainly for Shape) and as acting as a role model for early career disabled artists, so her contact with our performers will benefit them here too!

We are have been busy applying for funding from several sources and also looking at sponsorship. We are also trying to recruit more young disabled people to take part in Astral – do get in touch!

We do hope that we will be able to take the “Stellar” show to a few festivals, and as always we aim for the work to be inclusive but to give most importance to the physical development and well being of those people living with disabilities as the main target group, but as always we will concentrate on the abilities and not on the disabilities.  Our main identity remaining Circus For All.

Thanks for your support in 2009, and look forward to hearing more about us in 2010!

 

“Stellar”

Its only been a couple of weeks ago since our big show, and it just seems like a distant memory of a great few days! For me it was an early start picking up our B-Boy for the rehearsals the day before the show, then off to London in time to see the crane arrive.

The crane… was pretty scary seeing how high it could go, knowing that soon enough me and 3 others will be hanging off our globe at some silly height! The teachers and riggers had a play on it first, to see how the globe behaved up in the air, and then it was our turn!

Tina (our aerial teacher) and Mark (the rigger) were really good with us, we first went through the first routine at the height were used to working at just to get used to it, and make any changes to our lunges (safety ropes/harness). Then it was getting used to the height, so they said just tell us when you want to stop, your in control. Well once we were going up, we all strangely liked it! And we didn’t say stop!!! We had to get the height right so the audience could still see us, but still working at a good height. I think it was around 50ft high. Was very peaceful being up high and great having a good look around the surrounding.

There were quite a few funny moments up in the air, one of them while we were rehearsing, a boy saying “mum look, there is a little person up there”. I just found it amusing for no real reason. Other comedy moments are when we are on the coat hangers, trying not to turn around whilst passing the rings but end up turning, but when we need to turn around we get stuck and cant reach each other.

The show came around quickly the next day after rehearsals. We did a general rehearsal, lunch then time to get into costume and make up. It was a great experience being backstage, waiting to go, but the whole show went really quickly. Being one of the aerialist, I didn’t get to see much of the show on stage with the rest of the group, but I believe it all went alright. We had 3 rigging changes behind the scene, which all went smoothly, and Nic (one of the aerialist) did amazing on his bungee jump to finish the show. He looked fearless doing it, and made quite a few people jealous as they wanted a go!

So now its back to training, building up our strength, stamina and technique to develope the show.

 

Ladies of the Rings

(Sophie Grant) Brown girl in the ring

This week we had a new toy to play with: the ring. Initially it’s an unfriendly looking thing: heavy steel covered in what look like bandages to help with grip.  It’s always interesting to get a new piece of kit and after a bit of practice I found I quite like it. It’s nice and solid, I feel I can trust it, and it’s also flexible: you can do lots of stuff, hang off it, make interesting shapes in it, climb around it.

It is, however, still a heavy steel ring, and I have a set of rather odd bruises on the back of my knees from it, not to mention stiff shoulders, chest, thighs… but it has potential! Am strangely looking forward to having another go!

Penny upside down

 

Cirque Nova, STELLAR – the Show!

Click to download Stellar invitation

Come and see Cirque Nova produce a truly UNIQUE event, showcasing ‘the Globe’ Aerial display, music, acrobatics and dance.

Saturday September 19th 2009
Pastures Youth Centre
Davis Lane
Leytonstone
Waltham Forest E11 3DR

Rail: Leytonstone High Road Station on overground
Tube: Leytonstone on the Central Line
Limited Parking

Time: 1.30pm (Special Guests for pre show refreshments and video presentation)
Show will start at 3pm and last for 45 minutes

Enquiries/RSVP by September 12th to: cirquenova@googlemail.com
Tel 020 8800 4745 / 07846 764 357

This project is the result of 2 years preparation by the Cirque Nova Ltd. management and 9 months of training by 12 volunteers with disabilities, 3 ex-Centrepoint service users and their teachers working with professional circus artists and dancers.

Cirque Nova Ltd advocates that circus schools can provide quality shows and give people who don’t ‘tick’ the ‘norm’ boxes of employment a chance to view employment opportunities from a different perspective. Through this show we hope to get them into employment and touring as free-lance artists for Cirque Nova Ltd and other festivals and arts events both nation-wide and internationally.

We hope that LOCOG will make use of these young people’s skills in the ceremonies of 2012 games. Cirque Nova Ltd want to secure them the possibility of utilizing their skills in a professional capacity with Cirque Nova Ltd and other organizations for workshop sessions and performances.

Cirque Nova is planning to start its new project “Astral” at the Pastures Youth Centre over 2010 and train a further 10 – 20 disadvantaged & disabled youths, and continue doing so yearly till 2012.

We are still recruiting volunteers.
We hope you can attend and come and meet us all!

 

Back in the saddle, err, harness

It’s been a long time since I have posted, largely down to work deadlines and summer holidays, but last Saturday saw me back at circus school for the first time in literally months. Also it was the first Sunday in months that I work up with aching muscles and harness- shaped bruises in very strange places.  But it was, as always fun.

I find I learn the strangest things at circus school, like I am very good at hanging about upside down, and that whilst I love doing somersaults I feel sick after any more than four, regardless of what I try to do to prevent it. Last week I learnt that despite 10 years of wheelchair use my muscle memory has somehow retained how to do cartwheels. Admittedly my cartwheels are lacking a certain amount of elegance, but I suspect they always did.

This is another great benefit of circus school. My condition (dystonia) is a rare and complex one and I have found from time to time that I discover certain “special powers” – that there are physical things that I can do that I wouldn’t have expected. Because of the nature of circus school, trying new physical things, it happens more here than anywhere else. And this makes me keener to practise and, of course, I end up fitter, stronger and more agile.

So, as I can’t get to circus school this week, I am off to practise my cartwheels…

 

Good to be back

It feels so good to be back training properly learning new skills after my shoulder injury! Learnt a few new tricks on the silks and was finally able to spin on the harness a lot better with the added weight on my ankles! Still need to get working on my abs for getting the harness spins completely right, but good progress.

Good seeing everyone together again and catching up with people. Francisco (teacher) was trying out my wheelchair for hand balancing, was very cool to watch him exploring different possibilities.

I have had a similar reaction to Sara, with people wanting to join! I have managed to get my grandparents juggling (well trying) and my friends all wanting to come. One of my lecturers are uni find it amusing, along with the dismay of my medial professor! Definitely fun! Even when Jean-Marie is stretching me in the warm up, lifting me in all sorts of unimaginable positions but I love it.

 

Are we cool?

This week,  the BBC’s Disability Bitch is seriously considered abandoning her career as a professional Bitch and running off to join the circus. “It’s what all the cool Crips are doing.” So, are you cool?

I’ve found the reaction when I tell people I’ve joined the circus is, well, varied to say the least. My parents, who spent many years rescuing their small daughter from all the high places that she had over-ambitiously climbed, weren’t the least bit surprised. From those who know me less well, the usual response is to think I’m joking. I was glad when Jean-Marie added the photos to Facebook so I had some evidence. There is an element of bewilderment as well, where the unspoken sentiment is, “aren’t you disabled enough already?!”

But there has also been an element of jealousy. From a philosophy professor at Oxford to my four-year-old nephew I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked, can I come?

From which I have to conclude, we are cool, or at least Cirque Nova is cool, because other people want to be like us, hanging upside down on the end of a pair of bungee ropes in a Woolwich warehouse…

 

A new home for circus school

This week was a bit more challenging than previous, and not just because of the few glasses of wine that I’d had the night before (note to self: alcohol and aerial acrobatics are not a good combination!). This week we had a different venue – the Hangar Arts Trust in Woowich. For me at least it was harder to get to, but worth it, it’s an amazing venue!

First impressions were both exciting and terrifying! The ceiling is much higher than circus space, and had loads of different interesting ropes hanging from the ceiling! In the second room (which Jean-Marie promised we might have a go on when we all get a bit more skilled!) was a static trapeze with a big safety net that I suspect would get more use than the actual trapeze if I went anywhere near it

But the highlight for me was doing the aerial work. The main difference seemed to be a different harness than previous weeks, but also instead of ropes either side there was a bungee cord. This meant not only was it more fun bouncing about but also a lot more comfortable. For me it was literally a newfound freedom  – I could bounce happily about without worrying about the painful harness digging in or having to use my arms to take the weight off. This was how I always imagined aerial work to be, flying about as if there was no gravity, with a freedom I no longer have on the ground.

You can see me doing somersaults here (may need to be a Facebook member), or Nic, making it look a lot easier!

Sad to say I missed Penny at this one, hope you are back practising soon!

 

No Circus school this week :(

There is no circus practice this week, as someone else has dibs on the space. It was nice to have the weekend to myself – I spent the day looking at steam trains with my nephew and at the pet shop getting a new baby guinea pig. But at the same time I really miss it. In the short time since I’ve been working with Cirque Nova it’s become an important part of my life.

As a wheelchair user it’s hard to keep fit. Gyms are not really designed for me, and even when I can use the equipment I often feel the centre of attention as I wobble about surrounded by gym bunnies. Cirque Nova not only gives me an opportunity to get exercise without being self-conscious, I enjoy it so much it gives me the motivation to brave the stares at the gym, and to do my daily physio exercises with renewed dedication. Each time I feel too tired I just have to remember that the more exercise I do, the more tricks I’ll be able to do at circus school.

And I can feel the results – my balance has improved and I’m finding walking a bit easier. And I often find myself practising moves (lift left leg, lean forward into Stag!) when I have a spare minute at work or while making a cup of tea!

So there was a bit of a panic this week for me to read this week that there are funding problems. I think that what Cirque Nova are doing is really valuable for myself and the other participants, and I’ve been looking forward to what else I’ll be able to achieve. So the thought of losing practice time is really depressing.

By the way, thanks to Jean-Marie for adding the photos to Facebook – I particularly liked this one as it looks like I am balancing on Russell’s foot

 

So the adventure begins…

I have started the group training in January and I love learning all the different skills, although already I have my preferences! I do like juggling and poi but I might prefer the aerial work.

My all time favourite is the silks but that’s probably because I am being bias as I already have had four extra days of one to one tuition with Jean-Marie. This was in August 2008 where we managed to put together a small act, for me to perform at the Liberty Festival in Trafalgar Square.

Now working with the silks teacher Russell, we have improved my solo dramatically but the hardest thing I’m finding with circus skills is the art form! (Basically the arty farty fancy stuff). It’s hard coming from a sporting background where you are taught a technique, so you get to the end point at the most efficient and productive way possible. No time for what you look like! Oh no, not in the circus! So that has taking me awhile to build up the confidence not to feel too self conscious about all the wafting and fancy part of the skills! I still got a bit of a way to go before I perfect that.

At the last training session, I was all geared up to work hard to learn some new skills. The training sessions before was used to perfect my routine which I performed at the Nordic Circusfestival in Oslo. I was climbing up the silks which went really well, but coming down I pulled my shoulder which meant I had to stop training and now out of action for 2 to 6 weeks. Really gutted but hopefully with good physio I will be back on track soon enough.

Penny