Circus Skills Workshop by Circus Arts

Circus Skills Workshop by Circus Arts

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Posted 2014-09-30 by Postcards from Shaynefollow
If you are looking for an activity that is out of the ordinary for your children these school holidays, look no further than Circus Arts at the Sydney Aquatic Centre, Sydney Olympic Park.

We attended the 2 hour Holiday Mega Mix which gives kids a taste of the flying trapeze as well as a range of other circus skills including juggling and plate spinning.

As it was the school holidays the class was fairly full with around 15 children ranging in ages from 5 years to 15 years old.

The class started with some basic stretching and a game before the kids were belted up in preparation for the trapeze. They were then taken over to the practice trapeze bar which is accessible from the ground. With the help of a staff member the kids practiced how to bring their legs over the bar so they were swinging upside down and hanging on with their knees. Then it was straight on to the flying trapeze.



From the ground the trapeze platform looks a long way up, and it is - 10 metres high in fact. The kids must climb a very long ladder then step out on to the trapeze platform. Now would be a good time to assure you that all the necessary safety equipment is used for this activity. Participants are hooked up to safety ropes, staff members are instructing them and there is a big net underneath the trapeze. However it can still be scary for some and it wasn't surprising that a few of the kids in our group either refused to go up at all or got halfway up, started crying, and climbed back down again.



It is entirely optional whether you choose to go on the high trapeze. The staff are encouraging and helpful but the choice is yours. Once at the top and hooked up the kids are given step by step instructions on what to do. They can either just have a swing or they can try to bring their legs over and swing from their knees as they did on the practice bar. Then they are gently lowered down to the net.

For those that did give it a go, most of them chose to go up a second time. My 8 year old daughter (who incidentally has no fear) absolutely loved it and wants to go back again just for the flying trapeze.



After an hour on the trapeze the class moved on to the other circus skills. These included a lesson in hoola hoops, spinning plates, juggling balls, and forming human pyramids which were all fun and informative.



The last activity for our class was the tightwire where the kids were helped along by the staff members and guided through a few moves - walking forwards, backwards, pirouettes and arabesques. Then it was time for a cool down before the class ended.



For $49 per person it is not a cheap class, especially if your child chooses not to participate in the flying trapeze portion which took up the entire first hour of the class time. Unfortunately there was no alternate activity for these kids (due to limited staff numbers) and they just had to sit and wait until the second part of the class. However if your child does participate for the full class it is well worth the money.

As an extra bonus participants in the class get free entry in to the Aquatic Centre and can have a swim after their class.

I would definitely recommend this workshop to adventurous kids who are not scared of heights and who love trying new things. But be warned after a morning at Circus Arts your kids may want to run away and join the circus.

#adventure
#outdoor
#school_holiday_activities
#school_holidays
#sydney_olympic_park
#unusual_things_to_do
%wnsydney
178905 - 2023-06-15 21:18:16

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