Circus Jim workshops are structured so that everyone
leaves with a sense of achievement. The basics of some skills are easy
to master (balancing a feather), others take a lot of practice
(unicycle). Once the basics are mastered there are hours of fun to be
had learning tricks, extending your skills.......
?I?ll
never do that!?
- is a frequently heard phrase. Often
people have tried briefly and failed or are scared - this leads to
tension in mind and body. I teach in small steps, each achievable, and
work with posture and breathing to relieve the tension with skills such
as stiltwalking. Safety equipment - kneepads, mats - is provided.
Participants are also encouraged to work in pairs, for safety and
mutual support, where needed. Each group is different and our tutors
are very skilled at picking up what suits a particular group and
pitching the activities so that everybody has a great time.
Another
frequently heard phrase is.... ?I did it!? Accessible
participation
- is encouraged, everyone can join in at a level
where they feel comfortable while being encouraged to push their own
boundaries. Mastering 3 ball juggling may be a goal for some, while for
others e.g. with a severe difficulty, lifting, dropping and catching a
juggling scarf may be an achievement. Anyone who can point a finger can
have a spinning plate balanced on it. People with profound and multiple
learning difficulties can experience the colour and tactile nature of
some of the equipment; soft and hard, heavy and light juggling balls,
fluffy bright juggling scarves, a twinkling spinning plate or two.
Performance skills
So you?ve
learned to juggle.... After a full day I can lead the group in a
presentation or demonstration of skills achieved. It needs a minimum of
2 days to include performance games and excercises to lead to a full
show by the group. Sections of the Circus Jim show
are included when appropriate. Juggling
Scarves, Balls, Rings, Clubs
Juggling with 3 scarves takes about 20/30mins to
master, 3 balls an average of an hour. I can also teach ?passing? to
those who can already juggle.
Balancing Objects Peacock
feather, Spinning plate.
 Balancing
objects on your hand is easy to learn in a few minutes.
Balancing a Peacock
feather is simple!
Diabolo 
Basic control of Diabolo can be learned in about 10
minutes, tricks such as the double cats cradle take longer.
Stiltwalking There is a wide range of
stilts, bucket stilts, hand-held pole stilts, footed/learner stilts,
chinese/pole stilts and power stilts. I insist that kneepads are worn
with all the strap on stilts.The tallest stilts I have are 1m to the
foot platform, high enough to be a challenge for anyone.
Learner/footed
stilts take about 5 minutes to master - if you can walk you can walk on
stilts!   
 Devilstick
 This can
take a little while to master, so I use a series of fun excercises to
teach control of the devilstick. I also use slow moving ?flowersticks?
(pictured) to make learning easier.
Unicycle The hardest skill to learn,
though participants enjoy having a go. I have seen it learned in 10
minutes by an absolute beginner who had no fear ( or sense!) - normal
mortals take a couple of hours at least. 
It is useful to have some support e.g a wall or rail, when
learning to ride a unicycle. Human
Pyramids A fun challenge for everyone, I start with games and
excercises to warm people up physically and mentally. The first
pyramids are very low and safe, kneeling on mats, progressing to
a pyramid 2 people high at the apex. Spotters/catchers are used for
safety with high pyramids.   For the more
adventurous......... 
Tightrope
walking 
Circus Jim uses a
tightrope that is only .5m high and a maximum of 2.5m long. For
beginners the length is set to 1m, for the more experienced the rig can
be extended and raised e.g. on tables/stage blocks.
Flag and staff manipulation,
clubswinging/poi Flags are a very visual prop to use in
parades and at outdoor events
 
 Fire club swinging and
Glowing Poi in action 
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