By Diana Mubarakshina | Fundraiser
Upsala-Circus: new play and ideas
In accordance with the method for circus pedagogy that we implement at the Upsala-Circus each course creates an artistic product during the circus year: 1st year –carnival, 2d year - concert program, 3d year – play, 4th year – tour of a play, 5th year -solo performance.
In the process of creating artistic products physical, creative and communication skills are developed. We create conditions for artists to immerse themselves in a wide cultural context. Circus trainers, directors, musicians, and other creative specialists transfer to the artists knowledge about the history and culture of the new circus
What have we created during spring and summer:
The Carnival.The Carnival is the graduation work of the guys who finished their first year at the Upsala-Circus. In 2021 the topic of the Carnival is freedom. The Carnival was demonstated 3 times at one of the most famous public spaces "Sevkabel Port". More then 2000 people have seen the Carnival this year.
Video about the Carnival Freedom you can see here.
Concert programs.
This year children and teenagers of the 2d course and 3d course have created 2 concert programs. These programs they demonstrate at public spaces, social institutions etc. More than 1000 spectators have seen these programs.
Performances are an important part of the Upsala-Circus method. During the performance the artists gain an experience of presenting the result of their work to the viewer and experience of success
The video of the performance of the 1st course.
Here is the video of the show at the Museum of the Street Art.
The play ‘Rondo’
The play “Rondo” was created during the Art Residence in 2020. Last Fall 14 teenagers and 11 adults, including a director, stunt coordinator, choreographer, sound designer and coach, teamed up to find out their own and partner opportunities, to experiment with a non-standard solution for standard things. The result of this experiment is the story about how we interact with the world, with each other, with sounds and objects around us. The premiere of the play “Rondo” took place on May 10, 2021.
From the very beginning of the play production trainers and director Anya Berezina have organized the process in such a way that the play was really created by the children themselves. They fully participated in the creation of complex decorations, technical equipment for the performance. Having transferred a significant part of the responsibility to children, trainers helped them become more independent, learn to make decisions and take responsibility.
“Open Stage”
“Open Stage” – a new practice that was introduced in 2021. On the 5th of June we have organized a holiday for all the children, their families and the circus team.
About 250 people participated in the event. The parents, together with their children and the circus team, took part in the preparations. It was very simple - a cauldron of Uzbek pilaf, a long table in the meadow, children's performances on the stage and master classes. Each course prepared a performance, that demonstrated their progress during the year and teenagers from the 3rd year showed their solo performances. We plan to regularly organize this event as it corresponds with the task to involve parents in the circus processes and corresponds with our values.
We have created a short video about the event.
Production of the new play “Tolerate”
Teenagers from the 3rd course commenced work on a new play "Tolerate". In August, they spent 12 days in a summer camp, where they intensively trained and worked on their circus skills.
The "Tolerate" is an inclusive theatrical and circus performance. The purpose of the play is to explore how the school system affects the inner world of teenagers, their understanding and perception of life. The premier of the new play is scheduled for April 2022.
Quantitative results:
Circus trainings and workouts - 689
Inclusive training sessions - 34
Informal meetings with children - 50
Onlline trainings - 24
Performances - 10
Spectators - >7000
Qualitative results
1) Enhanced creative abilities, obtained skills of achieving and presenting a creative result
75% of children and teenagers have demonstrated mastering of new skills related to circus and creative activities (acrobatics, juggling, acting, choreography, rhythm, jumping rope, other circus disciplines with and without objects) and as well as skills that were obtained with the creation and presentation of the results.
2) Improvement of a personal well-being through the successful creative self-realization, enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem.
During the implementation of the project, changes in personal well-being were noticed with 67 children (89%).
In addition to the development of the physical skills of artists, the method for circus pedagogy also involves work on the development of personal qualities and "skills of a free person". At-risk children and teenagers enhance self-esteem and self-confidence, communication skills, the skill of receiving and giving feedback - something that directly affects personal well-being.
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