Online Teaching Projects
Circus In Place (Video Chat)
Our clowns work hard to keep their bodies healthy and ready to play.
When we’re stuck at home, it means we happily train our circus skills in our living room. Since this sort of play is so much more fun with company, we’ve decided to invite people to (virtually) join us while we practice!
Since we started offering people a peek into our backstage lives, we’ve met interesting folks from all over the world. They’ve joined us for conversation and company through many hours.
We’re incredibly lucky to have made so many friends simply by being a part of a shared imaginary space.
Rules
Every party needs a host to facilitate the chaos. We’ve stepped up to fill that role by providing a few simple guidelines to help keep the imaginary space running smoothly:
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The world is, without question, a challenging place. Help us create a space to take a break from that emotional drain by leaving distressing news or other grim discussions for another chat room.
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Relatedly, everyone has different topics which they have trouble handling. Respect anyone’s request to change the subject of conversation, and do so without question.
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While we are in the video chat training our physical skills, it is not a requirement of attendance. Do your thing! We have people join us to practice skills, work on craft projects, or simply have us around for company.
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Don’t be afraid to add your wisdom, advice, or terrible puns to the conversation. That said, there’s also no requirement that you turn on a microphone or camera. Join us at your comfort level.
Join the Video Chat
Currently our video chatroom is “open” on an impromptu basis once a week, typically on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday evening.
To get an invitation, please contact us and we’ll send you a link.
Video Workshops
The Joy Of Failure
The Survival Skills Of The European Clown
This abridged online version of Russ Sharek’s introductory workshop was created especially for the 2020 International Thespian Festival. The video has subsequently been released under a Creative Commons license.
A subtitle file is available here.
The secret of the clown’s work is that their job is rarely about being funny.
Their real challenge is to dispel anxiety and fear, insidious emotions which block people from their natural ability to experience beauty and humor.
The tools of the clown encourage us to lean into discomfort, celebrate mistakes, and open ourselves up to making an empathetic connection with an audience.
This unique approach to performance allows us to embrace the unexpected, think in a crisis situation, and remain absolutely present at all times when on stage.