@The Arts Unit Creative Classes
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Learn about different circus skills and create a short performance
Learn about different circus skills and create a short performance
Student dance, drama and PDHPE resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 3 to 6 dance, drama and PDHPE
What will I learn?
What will I learn?
You will:
explore the art of circus
identify circus skills
analyse how skills are learnt
learn and perform a short circus routine.
Welcome to the class
Duration: 00:26Before you begin
Before you begin
For the lesson, you’ll need:
a device to watch the videos
a pencil and paper to record your answers to the questions.
For the circus skills, you’ll need some of the following:
lots of space to move around safely
3 scarves (you can also use tissues)
2 tennis balls
1 hula hoop
1 spinning staff (or an object that is similar, for example, a broom handle).
Safety tips for online movement classes if you wish to participate
Safety tips for online movement classes if you wish to participate
When you decide to take part in these activities you agree to the following:
You have been given approval from your parent/caregiver prior
You will clear a spot big enough to give you space to move around. Be sure there are no coffee tables, plants or chairs in the way.
Be aware of any pets or small humans that may sneak into your dance space.
Check the height of ceiling fans and light fittings so the area is clear as you reach above your head.
You will wear comfortable clothing that allows a full range of movement.
This will include appropriate footwear:
Sneakers, socks, ballet slippers, jazz shoes or bare feet.
You may have to adjust based on the flooring you are dancing on.
Bare feet may be better than ballet slippers on a slippery floor. Socks may be better on carpet.
Be careful if you are on a rug on a slippery floor.
If you have an injury or a medical condition please follow the advice of your health professional. It is suggested you view the exercises beforehand and adjust according to your limitations. Ask your parent/caregiver if you are unsure.
Please stay safe, listen carefully to all the instructions.
If you study dance please think about your knowledge of safe dance practice as you execute the instructions.
- Explore
Explore the art of circus!
Watch this video to see different circus skills being practised and performed.
There are many different circus skills. Some you may be familiar with, some you may not have seen before!
Inside the National Centre for Circus Arts
Duration: 01:32Scroll through the photo galleries of students from NSW public schools performing at Schools Spectacular to learn the names of some popular circus skills.
General circus skills
Aerial circus skills
2. Identify
2. Identify
Watch the circus performances from the 2018 and 2019 Schools Spectacular.
Schools Spectacular 2018 – Circus performance
Duration: 03:50Schools Spectacular 2019 – Aerial performance
Duration: 02:50Identify and write down the different circus skills you can see being performed the following 2 images.
Image 1
Image 2
3. Analyse
3. Analyse
Meet the circus performers from Schools Spectacular 2018.
Select the videos to see how the students learnt each skill:
Circus skills – stilts
Duration: 02:36Circus skills – juggling
Duration: 02:36Circus skills – hand balance
Duration: 02:57Circus skills – unicycle
Duration: 02:20Circus skills – hoops
Duration: 02:53Circus skills – silks
Duration: 02:36Think about what you would need to practise in order to become better at different circus skills.
List which circus skills would be improved if you practised the following:
flexibility
balance
hand-eye coordination
upper body strength (arms, shoulders and back)
core strength (stomach and back)
teamwork.
Think about and write down your answers to the following questions:
How did the students learn new circus skills?
How did they continue to get better so they could perform difficult skills?
4. Learn and perform
4. Learn and perform
Watch the videos and try to learn some or all of these circus skills!
Don’t forget, you can pause and replay the videos as many times as you need to.
Before you begin, make sure you have a safe space to practise. You don’t want to trip or knock into anything! You will also need to make sure you are wearing clothes and shoes that you can move safely in.
Juggling
Duration: 03:47Materials:
3 scarves (or you can use tissues)
2 tennis balls (or soft, small balls).
Balance and stretch
Duration: 13:08Materials:
space on the floor.
Hoop
Duration: 04:43Materials:
1 hula hoop
lots of space.
Spinning staff
Duration: 02:49Materials:
1 staff (or a similar object, such as a broom handle)
lots of space.
Once you’ve practised, see if you can perform a few circus skills together in a short routine. Your routine should be about 1 minute long.
You might like to perform your routine to music. Your teacher will let you know where and when you could perform!
Time to join the circus!
Congratulations!
You have completed this @The Arts Unit Creative Class.
Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Schools Spectacular images, photographer: Anna Warr.
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