Week 11: Looking Back & Looking Forward

11 weeks at Circomedia have come to an end. I can't believe just how fast it went. I can't believe I won't be going in on Monday 6^th January, and catching up with everyone before cracking on with another term's hard work. Turns out three months just wasn't enough to achieve everything I wanted to achieve. I certainly do feel stronger and fitter, and my trapeze technique has definitely improved, but I don't have a portfolio of perfectly polished acts across the disciplines that I thought I would come out with! But I'm not complaining because these three months have given me more than I ever conceived of. I didn't really know what to expect from circus school - and every minute of it has been a joy. Every day provided new surprises and moments I'll never forget, and I've absorbed and gained so much else aside from pure technique and strength training – in movement, theatre, performance, creativity and friendships that will last a lifetime. Which is the Circomedia experience, its forte. A BIG thank you to all of you, my teachers and friends who made it so special.

I do also wonder to what extent the part of me that wants to stay at school simply wants to continue deferring the real decisions: the hard work and potential disappointments involved in trying to find work in the circus world; of potentially compromising my ideals in the need to earn money. But at the same time I am excited to be moving on. I certainly couldn't at this stage go back to my 'old' life, where I fear my new experiences and plans could be drowned by all the hustle and bustle and pressures of London living. Yet whilst it seems so natural to me now, that of course I want to stay in the circus world, when I think back to my trepidation and doubts before coming to Circomedia, I realise just how much I have achieved. And I feel proud of myself. I have not simply 'survived' physically (which was a worry!) - I have flourished and want more.

So...next stop Australia - in under two weeks! My ticket is one way (it made economical sense, but felt quite different pyschologically to buying a return!) and takes me to Sydney. I've sent a few probing messages and emails to friends of friends out there working in circus, but I think it will be a lot easier to network and get to know the scene once I've arrived. I'd love to find work performing, but if I can't do that, or if it's only sporadic (at festivals, parties etc.), then I'd at least like to keep up my training - ideally by taking on some teaching work, which would give me access to a training space. But if it takes me some time to find my feet, who cares? Because it's hot and sunny :) and there's a whole country out there to explore, with many great experiences along the way!

Static Trapeze Performance at Picton Street Xmas Fayre

Trendy Picton Street in Bristol hosts a Christmas Fayre each year with craft stalls, food, drink and performances from musicians, dancers and circus artists. A couple of us from Circomedia decided to sign up for the experience, and despite only having a couple of days following our own Christmas show last week to come up with material, everyone created some beautiful pieces: Holly and Micci with fire, Rach on aerial hoop and fire-hoop, Sudhira on rope and myself on trapeze. The crowds were great and the weather held out until two minutes after we finished!

Doubles Trapeze Act for Circomedia 1st yr Christmas Show

This is a video of my Doubles Trapeze Act with Milena - filmed in the Kingswood South Wing studio

Week 10: The Christmas Show

Last night was the Christmas Show and I am SO happy to have been a part of it, alongside all my lovely, beautiful and talented new Circomedia friends :)

It was so much fun and so great to have the chance to show off all our hard work to friends and family. In the show were pieces that have been devised over the past few weeks: aerial, physical theatre, E&M, acro and movement.

The aerial pieces were devised using The Elements as a theme. About two weeks ago Milena and I discovered how much fun doubles trapeze is so we decided to create something together. Our element was air, and we tried to capture this in our movement and transitions as well as tricks. The Circomedia Church was a perfect venue to perform our dreamlike sequence.

I was also in a group piece for E&M....there were a couple of drops but we like to think we styled them out!

It's impossible to describe in words just how fabulous the show was, how proud I am of everyone - and of myself :) Thank you so much to friends and family who were able to come and support. It was so great to know you were there in the audience - and to finally have the opportunity to show you why on earth I 'gave it all up' and moved to Bristol! I hope the passion and joy I have for circus came through in my performance, and you could see how alive I felt, how much I love it, and how happy it makes me to do it.

Here are a few more pics to give you a taster of the rest of the show...