David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President , Education

This tour of CIRCA is madepossible by a grant fromMid Atlantic Arts Foundationwith support from the NationalEndowment for the Arts.

Additional support for Performances forYoung Audiences is provided by The U.S.Department of Education, The President’sAdvisory Committee on the Arts, andThe Clark Charitable Foundation.

Cuesheets are made possible by the U.S.Department of Education, AT&T, the Carterand Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust, James V.Kimsey, The Morris and Gwendolyn CafritzFoundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, andDr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. Stolwijk,and the Verizon Foundation.

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, aprogram of the Kennedy Center EducationDepartment. ARTSEDGE is a part of VerizonThinkfinity, a consortium of free educationalWeb sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

For more about the performing arts andarts education, visit the Kennedy Center’sEducation Department online atwww.kennedy-center.org/education.

The U.S. Department of Education supports approximatelyone-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center EducationDepartment. The contents of this Cuesheet do not representthe policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and youshould not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2011 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org

5 6

Dear Grownups:The information on this page is designed to help you furtherthe adventure of Circa with children.

Coming Full CircaWhile some of Circa’s tricks may be too dangerous forchildren, others will provides hours of at-home fun forchildren. As your own budding circus stars try these tricksdescribed below, be sure they have plenty of space, softsurroundings (if juggling with breakables or if tumbling),and adult supervision:

Juggle with beanbags or soft balls. Start with just two and try to arc themgently from hand to hand. Then try to add a third ball. Or have someonestand nearby and serve as a second juggler. See how long the two ofyou can keep several items in the air if you’re throwing them backand forth.

Balance on one leg. Are you better on the right or left leg?Can you keep the other leg raised in the air while you balance?Then place an object on your hand or head and see how longyou can keep it there. Try using rulers or old toothbrushes onyour palm and plastic cups, tennis balls, or pillows on yourhead. What happens when you move faster?

Create your own circus show. Acts can include hula hooping,jumping rope, clowning, and magic tricks. Come up withnick names for each of the performers. How many acts can you

perform in ten minutes? How will your audience members knowwhen one act ends and another begins?

A Good Aud i e n c e

At the , you are the .

This is different from ing or

a . You are in the same roomwith

the . They do best when you

and carefully. like it when

the reacts to parts of the story

that are , , or . If you like

the , show it by at the end.

TV funny clapping performance happy

audience watch movie performers sad listen

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

for teachers and parents:

Running Away to Join the CircusFor those kids whose aptitude and interest go beyond at-home tricks,there are other options:

◗ Because both floor and aerial tricks are best done with supervision,gymnastics classes offer a safe and fun way to learn acrobatic skills.

◗ If you find the right school—or even the right summer camp—it’salso possible for your child to join trapeze classes or specializedcircus training.

Ladies and gentlemen…Boys and girls…Coming to you all the way from the far-away continent ofAustralia, it’s the talented cast of Circa—ready to perform46 acts of tumbling, juggling, bending, balancing, spinning,grinning, and flipping in just 45 minutes. Can they do it?Only time will tell!

Hello teachers and parents!Please see page 5 for information and activities.

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Performed byFeaturing Darcy Grant, Scott Grove,James Kingsford-Smith, and Jess Love

Circa’s Circus TricksWhat do you think of when you hear the word“circus”? Trained elephants and tigers? A tinycar full of clowns wearing big, red noses?Flowers that squirt water?

That’s one kind of circus. The show you’reabout to see is another kind. It doesn’t useanimals, or cars, or shoot people out of cannons.Instead, it takes the acrobats from the circus,adds in some silly humor, and combines theminto an action-packed show.

You’ll see 46 acts in 45 minutes. An act is asingle trick or a short collection of relatedmovements, sometimes using an object. Circa’sacts focus on hula hoops, jump ropes, juggling,tumbling, clowning, bending bodies, magic, andeven costumes, jokes, and all-around silliness!

Want to talk “circus”?Here are some wordsyou should know:

AcrobatAn athlete with strong gymnasticskills, such as flipping and tumbling.

BaseThe performer on the bottom of amulti-person trick; he or she lifts,catches, and assists the flyer.

CirclesAnother way to describe hula hoops.

ClownA performer who dresses upand makes jokes to entertain

the audience.

ContortionIn acrobatics, twisting or squeezingthe body into unusual positions(for example, into a barrel).

FlyerSomeone who performs in theair while being supported,

suspended, thrown, or caughtby another flyer or a base.

JugglingKeeping several objects in motionby tossing and catching them.

SkippingAnother term for jumping rope.

SpotterA person whose job it is to protectthe performer in case he or she falls.

Tightrope WalkingThe act of walking along a wire orrope (“tightrope”) high in the air.

TrapezeA horizontal bar that hangs in theair and can be used by acrobats.

TumblingDoing gymnastics, such as

somersaults, with just one’s ownbody (no outside equipment).

UnicycleA bicycle with only one wheel.

The Life of CircaTo be a strong team, Circa’s performers need to commu -nicate like one. Whether they’re catching juggling pins,balancing upside down on another performer’s back, orwatching for a cue (a sign to enter an act), each personmust be very familiar with the other performers’movements. This requires concen tration, hardwork, and a whole lot of practice. During theperformance, watch the performers give eachother signals. See how they know when tocatch a juggling pin or to start jumping rope.

In a way, each acrobat also has a “team”effort going on inside. The body, the mind,and the voice all need to work together. Watchhow much control Circa’s performers have overtheir movements and facial expressions—evenwhen they’re performing difficult and dangerous tricks.

2 4

Visitors from “Down Under”Circa has toured 18 countries on 5 continents. Theirhome base and training center are in Brisbane, Australia.Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, it’ssummer there now (in February). Sometimes people inthe Northern Hemisphere (like us) say Australians are“down under”—meaning they’re “under” the equatorwhen compared with the United States.

It takes teamwork

Tick Tock Goes the ClockHere are three ways Circa keeps youreyes glued to the stage:

1. TIME Circa gives itself less than one minute to completeeach act. The big clock on the stage helps add tothe excitement.

2. ACTIONSWatch the performers’ faces when they do difficulttricks. Sometimes, they try to look scared or act asif they’re not ready yet.

3. MUSICHigh-energy music adds to the show’s excitement.Listen for familiar themes from classic movies,popular songs, and the Olympics. Which pieces ofmusic do the best job of making your heart race?

To make sure you knowwhen acts start and end,the performers will nameand number them as theyperform. They may alsogive you a physicalsignal—do they wink? Smile? Bow?Say “Ta-da!”?

Darcy Grant is an acrobat, tumbler, unicyclerider, hand balancer, and circus trainer. He’salso a skilled juggler who can move a spoolusing two sticks connected by a string.

Scott Grove does knockaboutacrobatics, tumbling, pitching,handstands, flying trapeze, andRussian swing (a swinging metalplatform from which performerscan jump).

James Kingsford-Smith has performed asan actor, stuntman, high diver, acrobat, andaerialist. He started his gymnastics trainingat age five.

Jess Love specializesin hula hoops, tumbling,acrobatics, skipping,double trapeze, and hoopdiving. In 2009, Jess brokethe world record for themost number of hulahoops spun at one time:115 in total!

Meet the Stars of the ShowAttention everyone!

Meet the performers in your show.

3

Circa’s performershave an averageof 12 years oftraining. That’sjust as muchpractice—or even more—than many otherprofessionalsports require.

Bigtoptalk

Circa’s Circus TricksWhat do you think of when you hear the word“circus”? Trained elephants and tigers? A tinycar full of clowns wearing big, red noses?Flowers that squirt water?

That’s one kind of circus. The show you’reabout to see is another kind. It doesn’t useanimals, or cars, or shoot people out of cannons.Instead, it takes the acrobats from the circus,adds in some silly humor, and combines theminto an action-packed show.

You’ll see 46 acts in 45 minutes. An act is asingle trick or a short collection of relatedmovements, sometimes using an object. Circa’sacts focus on hula hoops, jump ropes, juggling,tumbling, clowning, bending bodies, magic, andeven costumes, jokes, and all-around silliness!

Want to talk “circus”?Here are some wordsyou should know:

AcrobatAn athlete with strong gymnasticskills, such as flipping and tumbling.

BaseThe performer on the bottom of amulti-person trick; he or she lifts,catches, and assists the flyer.

CirclesAnother way to describe hula hoops.

ClownA performer who dresses upand makes jokes to entertain

the audience.

ContortionIn acrobatics, twisting or squeezingthe body into unusual positions(for example, into a barrel).

FlyerSomeone who performs in theair while being supported,

suspended, thrown, or caughtby another flyer or a base.

JugglingKeeping several objects in motionby tossing and catching them.

SkippingAnother term for jumping rope.

SpotterA person whose job it is to protectthe performer in case he or she falls.

Tightrope WalkingThe act of walking along a wire orrope (“tightrope”) high in the air.

TrapezeA horizontal bar that hangs in theair and can be used by acrobats.

TumblingDoing gymnastics, such as

somersaults, with just one’s ownbody (no outside equipment).

UnicycleA bicycle with only one wheel.

The Life of CircaTo be a strong team, Circa’s performers need to commu -nicate like one. Whether they’re catching juggling pins,balancing upside down on another performer’s back, orwatching for a cue (a sign to enter an act), each personmust be very familiar with the other performers’movements. This requires concen tration, hardwork, and a whole lot of practice. During theperformance, watch the performers give eachother signals. See how they know when tocatch a juggling pin or to start jumping rope.

In a way, each acrobat also has a “team”effort going on inside. The body, the mind,and the voice all need to work together. Watchhow much control Circa’s performers have overtheir movements and facial expressions—evenwhen they’re performing difficult and dangerous tricks.

2 4

Visitors from “Down Under”Circa has toured 18 countries on 5 continents. Theirhome base and training center are in Brisbane, Australia.Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, it’ssummer there now (in February). Sometimes people inthe Northern Hemisphere (like us) say Australians are“down under”—meaning they’re “under” the equatorwhen compared with the United States.

It takes teamwork

Tick Tock Goes the ClockHere are three ways Circa keeps youreyes glued to the stage:

1. TIME Circa gives itself less than one minute to completeeach act. The big clock on the stage helps add tothe excitement.

2. ACTIONSWatch the performers’ faces when they do difficulttricks. Sometimes, they try to look scared or act asif they’re not ready yet.

3. MUSICHigh-energy music adds to the show’s excitement.Listen for familiar themes from classic movies,popular songs, and the Olympics. Which pieces ofmusic do the best job of making your heart race?

To make sure you knowwhen acts start and end,the performers will nameand number them as theyperform. They may alsogive you a physicalsignal—do they wink? Smile? Bow?Say “Ta-da!”?

Darcy Grant is an acrobat, tumbler, unicyclerider, hand balancer, and circus trainer. He’salso a skilled juggler who can move a spoolusing two sticks connected by a string.

Scott Grove does knockaboutacrobatics, tumbling, pitching,handstands, flying trapeze, andRussian swing (a swinging metalplatform from which performerscan jump).

James Kingsford-Smith has performed asan actor, stuntman, high diver, acrobat, andaerialist. He started his gymnastics trainingat age five.

Jess Love specializesin hula hoops, tumbling,acrobatics, skipping,double trapeze, and hoopdiving. In 2009, Jess brokethe world record for themost number of hulahoops spun at one time:115 in total!

Meet the Stars of the ShowAttention everyone!

Meet the performers in your show.

3

Circa’s performershave an averageof 12 years oftraining. That’sjust as muchpractice—or even more—than many otherprofessionalsports require.

Bigtoptalk

Circa’s Circus TricksWhat do you think of when you hear the word“circus”? Trained elephants and tigers? A tinycar full of clowns wearing big, red noses?Flowers that squirt water?

That’s one kind of circus. The show you’reabout to see is another kind. It doesn’t useanimals, or cars, or shoot people out of cannons.Instead, it takes the acrobats from the circus,adds in some silly humor, and combines theminto an action-packed show.

You’ll see 46 acts in 45 minutes. An act is asingle trick or a short collection of relatedmovements, sometimes using an object. Circa’sacts focus on hula hoops, jump ropes, juggling,tumbling, clowning, bending bodies, magic, andeven costumes, jokes, and all-around silliness!

Want to talk “circus”?Here are some wordsyou should know:

AcrobatAn athlete with strong gymnasticskills, such as flipping and tumbling.

BaseThe performer on the bottom of amulti-person trick; he or she lifts,catches, and assists the flyer.

CirclesAnother way to describe hula hoops.

ClownA performer who dresses upand makes jokes to entertain

the audience.

ContortionIn acrobatics, twisting or squeezingthe body into unusual positions(for example, into a barrel).

FlyerSomeone who performs in theair while being supported,

suspended, thrown, or caughtby another flyer or a base.

JugglingKeeping several objects in motionby tossing and catching them.

SkippingAnother term for jumping rope.

SpotterA person whose job it is to protectthe performer in case he or she falls.

Tightrope WalkingThe act of walking along a wire orrope (“tightrope”) high in the air.

TrapezeA horizontal bar that hangs in theair and can be used by acrobats.

TumblingDoing gymnastics, such as

somersaults, with just one’s ownbody (no outside equipment).

UnicycleA bicycle with only one wheel.

The Life of CircaTo be a strong team, Circa’s performers need to commu -nicate like one. Whether they’re catching juggling pins,balancing upside down on another performer’s back, orwatching for a cue (a sign to enter an act), each personmust be very familiar with the other performers’movements. This requires concen tration, hardwork, and a whole lot of practice. During theperformance, watch the performers give eachother signals. See how they know when tocatch a juggling pin or to start jumping rope.

In a way, each acrobat also has a “team”effort going on inside. The body, the mind,and the voice all need to work together. Watchhow much control Circa’s performers have overtheir movements and facial expressions—evenwhen they’re performing difficult and dangerous tricks.

2 4

Visitors from “Down Under”Circa has toured 18 countries on 5 continents. Theirhome base and training center are in Brisbane, Australia.Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, it’ssummer there now (in February). Sometimes people inthe Northern Hemisphere (like us) say Australians are“down under”—meaning they’re “under” the equatorwhen compared with the United States.

It takes teamwork

Tick Tock Goes the ClockHere are three ways Circa keeps youreyes glued to the stage:

1. TIME Circa gives itself less than one minute to completeeach act. The big clock on the stage helps add tothe excitement.

2. ACTIONSWatch the performers’ faces when they do difficulttricks. Sometimes, they try to look scared or act asif they’re not ready yet.

3. MUSICHigh-energy music adds to the show’s excitement.Listen for familiar themes from classic movies,popular songs, and the Olympics. Which pieces ofmusic do the best job of making your heart race?

To make sure you knowwhen acts start and end,the performers will nameand number them as theyperform. They may alsogive you a physicalsignal—do they wink? Smile? Bow?Say “Ta-da!”?

Darcy Grant is an acrobat, tumbler, unicyclerider, hand balancer, and circus trainer. He’salso a skilled juggler who can move a spoolusing two sticks connected by a string.

Scott Grove does knockaboutacrobatics, tumbling, pitching,handstands, flying trapeze, andRussian swing (a swinging metalplatform from which performerscan jump).

James Kingsford-Smith has performed asan actor, stuntman, high diver, acrobat, andaerialist. He started his gymnastics trainingat age five.

Jess Love specializesin hula hoops, tumbling,acrobatics, skipping,double trapeze, and hoopdiving. In 2009, Jess brokethe world record for themost number of hulahoops spun at one time:115 in total!

Meet the Stars of the ShowAttention everyone!

Meet the performers in your show.

3

Circa’s performershave an averageof 12 years oftraining. That’sjust as muchpractice—or even more—than many otherprofessionalsports require.

Bigtoptalk

David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President , Education

This tour of CIRCA is madepossible by a grant fromMid Atlantic Arts Foundationwith support from the NationalEndowment for the Arts.

Additional support for Performances forYoung Audiences is provided by The U.S.Department of Education, The President’sAdvisory Committee on the Arts, andThe Clark Charitable Foundation.

Cuesheets are made possible by the U.S.Department of Education, AT&T, the Carterand Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust, James V.Kimsey, The Morris and Gwendolyn CafritzFoundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, andDr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. Stolwijk,and the Verizon Foundation.

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, aprogram of the Kennedy Center EducationDepartment. ARTSEDGE is a part of VerizonThinkfinity, a consortium of free educationalWeb sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

For more about the performing arts andarts education, visit the Kennedy Center’sEducation Department online atwww.kennedy-center.org/education.

The U.S. Department of Education supports approximatelyone-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center EducationDepartment. The contents of this Cuesheet do not representthe policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and youshould not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2011 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org

5 6

Dear Grownups:The information on this page is designed to help you furtherthe adventure of Circa with children.

Coming Full CircaWhile some of Circa’s tricks may be too dangerous forchildren, others will provides hours of at-home fun forchildren. As your own budding circus stars try these tricksdescribed below, be sure they have plenty of space, softsurroundings (if juggling with breakables or if tumbling),and adult supervision:

Juggle with beanbags or soft balls. Start with just two and try to arc themgently from hand to hand. Then try to add a third ball. Or have someonestand nearby and serve as a second juggler. See how long the two ofyou can keep several items in the air if you’re throwing them backand forth.

Balance on one leg. Are you better on the right or left leg?Can you keep the other leg raised in the air while you balance?Then place an object on your hand or head and see how longyou can keep it there. Try using rulers or old toothbrushes onyour palm and plastic cups, tennis balls, or pillows on yourhead. What happens when you move faster?

Create your own circus show. Acts can include hula hooping,jumping rope, clowning, and magic tricks. Come up withnick names for each of the performers. How many acts can you

perform in ten minutes? How will your audience members knowwhen one act ends and another begins?

A Good Aud i e n c e

At the , you are the .

This is different from ing or

a . You are in the same roomwith

the . They do best when you

and carefully. like it when

the reacts to parts of the story

that are , , or . If you like

the , show it by at the end.

TV funny clapping performance happy

audience watch movie performers sad listen

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

for teachers and parents:

Running Away to Join the CircusFor those kids whose aptitude and interest go beyond at-home tricks,there are other options:

◗ Because both floor and aerial tricks are best done with supervision,gymnastics classes offer a safe and fun way to learn acrobatic skills.

◗ If you find the right school—or even the right summer camp—it’salso possible for your child to join trapeze classes or specializedcircus training.

Ladies and gentlemen…Boys and girls…Coming to you all the way from the far-away continent ofAustralia, it’s the talented cast of Circa—ready to perform46 acts of tumbling, juggling, bending, balancing, spinning,grinning, and flipping in just 45 minutes. Can they do it?Only time will tell!

Hello teachers and parents!Please see page 5 for information and activities.

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Performed byFeaturing Darcy Grant, Scott Grove,James Kingsford-Smith, and Jess Love

David M. RubensteinChairman

Michael M. KaiserPresident

Darrell M. AyersVice President , Education

This tour of CIRCA is madepossible by a grant fromMid Atlantic Arts Foundationwith support from the NationalEndowment for the Arts.

Additional support for Performances forYoung Audiences is provided by The U.S.Department of Education, The President’sAdvisory Committee on the Arts, andThe Clark Charitable Foundation.

Cuesheets are made possible by the U.S.Department of Education, AT&T, the Carterand Melissa Cafritz Charitable Trust, James V.Kimsey, The Morris and Gwendolyn CafritzFoundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, andDr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. Stolwijk,and the Verizon Foundation.

Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, aprogram of the Kennedy Center EducationDepartment. ARTSEDGE is a part of VerizonThinkfinity, a consortium of free educationalWeb sites for K-12 teaching and learning.

For more about the performing arts andarts education, visit the Kennedy Center’sEducation Department online atwww.kennedy-center.org/education.

The U.S. Department of Education supports approximatelyone-third of the budget for the Kennedy Center EducationDepartment. The contents of this Cuesheet do not representthe policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and youshould not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

© 2011 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org

5 6

Dear Grownups:The information on this page is designed to help you furtherthe adventure of Circa with children.

Coming Full CircaWhile some of Circa’s tricks may be too dangerous forchildren, others will provides hours of at-home fun forchildren. As your own budding circus stars try these tricksdescribed below, be sure they have plenty of space, softsurroundings (if juggling with breakables or if tumbling),and adult supervision:

Juggle with beanbags or soft balls. Start with just two and try to arc themgently from hand to hand. Then try to add a third ball. Or have someonestand nearby and serve as a second juggler. See how long the two ofyou can keep several items in the air if you’re throwing them backand forth.

Balance on one leg. Are you better on the right or left leg?Can you keep the other leg raised in the air while you balance?Then place an object on your hand or head and see how longyou can keep it there. Try using rulers or old toothbrushes onyour palm and plastic cups, tennis balls, or pillows on yourhead. What happens when you move faster?

Create your own circus show. Acts can include hula hooping,jumping rope, clowning, and magic tricks. Come up withnick names for each of the performers. How many acts can you

perform in ten minutes? How will your audience members knowwhen one act ends and another begins?

A Good Aud i e n c e

At the , you are the .

This is different from ing or

a . You are in the same roomwith

the . They do best when you

and carefully. like it when

the reacts to parts of the story

that are , , or . If you like

the , show it by at the end.

TV funny clapping performance happy

audience watch movie performers sad listen

Please recycle this Cuesheet by sharing it with friends!

for teachers and parents:

Running Away to Join the CircusFor those kids whose aptitude and interest go beyond at-home tricks,there are other options:

◗ Because both floor and aerial tricks are best done with supervision,gymnastics classes offer a safe and fun way to learn acrobatic skills.

◗ If you find the right school—or even the right summer camp—it’salso possible for your child to join trapeze classes or specializedcircus training.

Ladies and gentlemen…Boys and girls…Coming to you all the way from the far-away continent ofAustralia, it’s the talented cast of Circa—ready to perform46 acts of tumbling, juggling, bending, balancing, spinning,grinning, and flipping in just 45 minutes. Can they do it?Only time will tell!

Hello teachers and parents!Please see page 5 for information and activities.

Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Performed byFeaturing Darcy Grant, Scott Grove,James Kingsford-Smith, and Jess Love