These last two weeks we started the 3rd Immersion through Culture (ITC) session for this year. These sessions were devoted to the Arts of the Circus/Les Arts du Cirque. The children participated in a range of cultural activities around this theme. Together with special guests, they explored music, art, and imagination.
The children learned about the history of the circus and how it relates to French and francophone culture. They explored the art of French posters and made some of their own creations. They learned about the importance of self-exploration: Do the kids feel like they are a clown, a juggler, an acrobat, or something else? They were also exposed to aesthetics.
Week 1: Circus Arts and Clowning
The Artist in Residence was Henrik Bothe. Henrik was doing circus arts and clowning (juggling, balancing, and unicycling). The children explored circus costumes, crafts, puppets, and enjoyed stories and role playing games.
Week 2: Acrobatics
The Artists in Residence was acrobat teacher Keph Sherin and Scott Maxwell, an extremely talented acrobat and partner acrobat teacher.The class offered detailed training in acrobatic disciplines such as the handstand and hand-to-hand and acrobatic contortion. The children also explored videos including Charlie Chaplin’s ”Le cirque”.
This post is also available in: French