The Circus comes to Denver and front rooms near you
In honor of Cirque du Soleil’s Denver presentation of Kooza, I thought a little circus fun, of the Cirque kind, was in order. (Don’t get me started on the other kind of circus — I’m not much of a fan.)
But, I LOVE Cirque – the costumes, the music, the athleticism and the hilarious clowns. I emphasize the word — hilarious because usually I think clowns are terrifying. Cirque’s are not. (I still have tragic childhood memories of my mom performing in her mime troop. Mime horror — might explain a few things?)
Anyway, whether you bring your child or not — and I recommend you do, over age 4 — take the wonder of Cirque home to your own living room.
Juggle
I learned to juggle while working the front desk at a health club in college – squash balls seemed to work best. My Klutz juggling book said to start with one ball and then add on. Throw up. Catch. Throw up. Catch with other hand. Add a ball (or beanbag.) Throw up one, when at the top, throw up the other, and catch the first one. Actually, you better just buy the Klutz book on Juggling.
Contortion
Watch the Kooza contortionists on YouTube. Please don’t forget to warm up (stretch out) with your child before any crazy moves. (Although, if you do any crazy moves, please post pictures!)
Now, try to get your leg over your head. HA. Funny. I bet your kiddo can do it though!
High Wire (or as I like to call it, walking on a jump rope)
Try to walk on the rope without falling off. Add a yard stick for balance and try again. Now, try it on tip-toes. Please let your child have a turn.
Unicycle
Kidding.
Clowns
Face paint + imagination. Need I say more?
Trip over your shoes. Act silly. Blow up a balloon and draw a face on it. Talk to your balloon friend as if it were real. Aren’t you so silly!
eHow has a video series on Learning Clown Tricks. *Note: I do not endorse the sword swallowing, pretend or not.
Find more circus fun at the following links or by going to see Kooza!
You cracked me up about the unicycle.
You’re right about my kids getting their legs over their heads!
There is a family of unicycle riders down the street from my parents’ house in Boulder. You don’t even notice at first that they only have one wheel, because they are so good they just ride down the street like they are on bikes. Very strange, but also, why not?
I’ll have to try some of these tricks with my kiddo when he wakes up form his nap — thanks!
Ha, love these ideas!