Arts & Entertainment
Come Join the Circus Saturday Night
27 students are ready to dazzle and mystify at the Om-FLY Summer Circus Program's performance.
Want to see a circus that promises an act with a chicken whisperer, trapeze art, hooping tricks, devil sticks, diabolo (Chinese yo-yo), juggling and singing, all set to the music of a live band? That’s what will be going on Saturday night at the Sanctuary, at 59 Bogel Road, in East Haddam. Everyone is invited to take a seat and enjoy the show, which is being put on by the 27 students of the Om-FLY Summer Circus program, run by ringleader Jen Taylor.
This is the fifth year that Taylor has offered this unique, summer experience to students ages 7 through 17. Set against the beautiful, natural back drop of the 40 acre land preserve that is the Sanctuary, students learn innovative environmental education as well as the fused arts of yoga and circus art.
"These disciplines are over 5000 year-old practices," explains Taylor who is an astute yoga instructor, philosopher, musician and certified flying and circus yoga instructor as well as trapeze instructor. She has extensive experience working with and teaching children of all ages. She loves to work with kids “…because they are in the present,” she says.
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This year marks a few new changes to the usual Om-FLY summer program. Instead of operating as a one women show, Taylor has enlisted the aid of five other teachers. In addition, this is the first year the final production will be a musical circus.
“I am so lucky to have such a fantastic teaching staff to support me, it has made a tremendous difference in what we are able to do,” explains Taylor.
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She adds, “under the guise of fun, play and circus art I try to sneak something good in there for the kids, like muscle control, building core strength, staying in the moment and discipline.”
Taylor believes that, “…play is the backdoor to discipline. It just happens naturally if you let it.”
Her mantra for this program is, “the more we concentrate, the more fun we have.” She also strives to help kids and adults integrate exercise and play into their daily lives so maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t a chore, instead it is a natural habit.
“I spent a lot of time in my 20’s as a community activist, in my 30’s I decided that instead of spending all this time being angry I will be part of the change I want to create in the world and teaching yoga and doing this summer program and others for kids is the way I can do that,” Taylor explains.
“Circus art is an important skill for kids to learn because it engages the right and left brain connectivity, which actually makes you more intelligent. It is something that the more you use the better it will work.”
Last summer, Taylor’s students put on a Cirque de Spheres. This year, it is a Cirque de Space, set to music.
“We kind of operate under the idea that there is room for everyone under the big top,” says Taylor who tries to concentrate on and enhance each individual child’s strengths so they feel confident and secure in their performances.
“The kids really create the circus and decide what and how they want to do,” explains Taylor, whose catch phrase for the program is, “Run away with the circus and be home in time for dinner.”
The culmination of this two week long learning extravaganza will be a very special show held tonight. A potluck dinner for the community will be held prior to the show from 7 to 8 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. a donation of $10 is requested.