WANT TO JOIN THE CIRCUS Hints and warnings Boxes with a lightbulb give handy hints for improving skills If you’ve ever been to see a circus you know how much fun it can be amazing acrobatics unbelievable balancing acts and death-defying stunts There are many circus skills you can learn yourself This book gives you the facts tips and tricks you need to start your circus career or just impress your friends There’s an exclamation mark next to safety warnings and advice Performers wave to the huge crowd at the Old Moscow Circus in Russia 4
Why Circus Skills Circus skills are great exercise They improve balance flexibility and coordination They train your brain too You really need to concentrate when you’re juggling balls or spinning plates Some skills are better practiced alone with no distractions but others are fun to learn in a group especially when you need a friend to hold on to Many acrobatic skills involve balancing moving or unstable objects such as this rolling cylinder Tough Stuff If you want to swing from a trapeze or teeter at the top of a human pyramid then be patient These skills take years of professional training The first step is to learn basic balancing and tumbling skills Pick skills you enjoy then practice them a lot Remember NEVER attempt anything dangerous Mid-air moves like this take years of practice SUPER FACTS The first modern circus began in 1768 Philip Astley showed acrobatic horseback riding tricks in a circular space He later added clowns jugglers tightrope walkers and performing animals Child performers from an old circus One of the most famous circuses ever was the Barnum and Bailey Circus or The Greatest Show on Earth It had a huge elephant named Jumbo and many odd sideshow acts Many circuses today don’t use animals Acrobats perform with dramatic stage sets A Canadian company Cirque du Soleil once performed an underwater show in an enormous tank 5
Starting to juggle Juggling uses throwing and catching skills that have been part of circuses for hundreds of years If you want to create your own circus act juggling is the perfect place to start It’s tricky to learn so you’ll need lots of time and patience and something to juggle of course Balls and Bean Bags Circus performers juggle with scarves rings clubs and even knives or flaming torches As a beginner all you need are three balls or bean bags Here’s an easy way to make your own juggling balls They’re just as good as bought equipment and a lot cheaper 1 Cut the neck off a balloon 3 To seal the ball cut the neck off another balloon and stretch it over the first covering the open end 4 Make two more balls and you’re ready to juggle 6 2 Fill it with rice until the ball fits snugly into your hand Remember you’ll need to hold two balls in one hand when juggling
One Ball Juggling First learn to juggle with just one ball to get the throw right 1 2 1 Stand with the ball in your weaker hand the hand you don’t write with The other hand is your stronger hand Hold the ball at waist height close to your body Toss it in an arc to your stronger hand Try to make the top of the arc level with your eyes 2 Throw the ball in the same way from your stronger hand to your weaker hand Practice until every throw is the same height Keep them gentle and controlled Time for Two Next take a ball in each hand 1 Throw the ball from your weaker hand first As the ball reaches the top of its arc throw the second ball Don’t worry about catching either ball just concentrate on timing the throws After a while try catching the balls 2 Next try throwing with your stronger hand first 1 2 stronger hand weaker hand Practice juggling next to your bed Dropped balls will fall on the bed rather than the floor so you’ll waste less time bending down to pick them up When you can throw and catch two balls confidently turn the page and try juggling with three balls 7
