My Little Circus Performer

Aidan did a GREAT job at his very first set of performances at Circus Juventas, debuting as a little sailor in the Toddler program. Though he's been doing this for over 2 years, this was his first show. He totally hammed it up for the audience, and definitely had a blast. He's excited to move onto the Kinder program this summer. Below, here is a video from his very first performance. Please excuse my terrible video skills - I clearly need to improve. 

And his final performance, lovingly filmed by Uncle Booke while I ran the spotlights. 

While Aidan performed in the Purple Show, I ran spots for the Yellow Show and rigged the Blue Show, so I didn't really have the opportunity to take much video of the other acts, let alone watch the show. I did have tickets for the last Purple performance today, but since they needed another person on spots (and I do so love torturing kids with the over-sized flashlights), I agreed. I did manage to get a couple of videos when I wasn't spotting, moving around mats, or running the spot lights. Enjoy!

Bungee Trapeze

Cloud Swing, Mexican Cloud Swing, and Swinging Trapeze

Great job to all the performers and volunteers for the May Shows - see you this summer for Oz!

Circus at Home, and Circus Abroad for a Good Cause

As I've mentioned, my son attends a circus class for kids ages 3-4 in St. Paul, MN. Circus Juventas has been wonderful to us, and Aidan always has a great time in class. I wanted to share two recent videos.

The first (pardon the orientation) is Aidan's first attempt at the Spanish Web.

(Note: Anyone know an easy way to flip this video?)

Spanish Web was, coincidentally, my main act when I did circus at French Woods Festival. Here's a photo my dad took of me c1998. The white on some of my fingertips are bandages from some of the nastiest rope burn you've ever seen.

Anyway, the second video is Aidan's first go at Low Casting - a low to the ground, half flying trapeze aparatus if you will. For not even being 3 yet, I think he did a great job giving it a go - what a brave boy!

Like what you see? Find out more:
Circus Juventas, St. Paul, MN: http://www.circusjuventas.org/
French Woods Festival, Hancock, NY: http://www.frenchwoods.com/


I also wanted to briefly mention a benefit one of Aidan's coaches, Chimgee, is having for her Mission Manduhai: she's working to raise money to help stop domestic abuse in her home country of Mongolia.

Sunday, June 26th

4 p.m. Tickets $20 each

at The Celtic Junction

836 Prior Ave, St. Paul, MN-55104

More about Circus Manduhai: http://www.circusmanduhai.com/www.circusmanduhai.com/Welcome.html
More about Mission Manduhai: http://www.circusmanduhai.com/www.circusmanduhai.com/Fundraiser.html

You can also make a tax-deductible donation: checks can be written to: “Heritage and Traditions” with “Mission Manduhai” in the memo line. Mail to 5509 28th Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55417

Aidan loves his circus class!

For those of you who don't know, St. Paul, MN has a youth circus, holding classes for ages 2-22ish. Their facility is top notch, the coaches are great, but the best part is they have a toddler program. This winter, thanks to Grandpa Tom, Aidan gets to be a part of it.

I really didn't know what to expect. Actually, I assumed they'd mostly be doing tumbling. I was SO wrong. They do everything! Aidan is half way through the program, and he has already experienced: lyras (aka hoops), silks, swinging trapeze, German Wheel (Aidan's special favorite), balance beam, tumbling, juggling, tumble track, and trampoline. Being that it's a toddler class, I pretty much stay with Aidan the whole time. Not all of the parents do, but Aidan wants me there, so I oblige. Bless him, he always wants me to take a turn, and he has no idea how much I really want to! I miss circus even more than I miss dancing and horseback riding. Fortunately, they have a class or two for adults...which I might just have to enroll in next time we have some extra cash.

So, wondering whether Aidan enjoys himself? Take a look, and decide for yourself:

Aidan on the tumble track 1/7/2011



Aidan on the trampoline 1/14/2011


Anyways, I really need to borrow Kathy's video camera to get some better clips, but in the meantime, enjoy these two, taken by my phone. It's just too much fun not to share. Thank you Circus Juventas for making our winter so much fun!

Want to learn more? Visit the Circus Juventas website: http://www.circusjuventas.org/