FEATURE
study of CIMT within a circus-themed
day camp, researchers note, “while
modified CIMT places demands
on a child’s psychological needs for
autonomy, competency and sense
of relatedness, the circus-themed day
camp environment provided a novel
experience and a means of mod-
erating these potential challenges”
(Gilmore et al. 6).
In the circus world, we talk a lot about
inclusivity, about circus as a practice
with a place for everyone. In some
sense, this is true. We, the people who
make up circus arts in America, are
a rich, diverse group. Yet circus itself
remains relatively small and niche.
“Developmental circus” can help change
this. By adapting circus activities to
new populations, and by using circus
to help new populations adapt to
their own lives, we can make sure that
everyone feels truly welcome in
our tent.
Innovative problem solving—so
necessary in situations of restriction
or when confronting limiting factors—
is inherent to circus practice.
When a catcher catches a flyer by
the feet, for instance, the flyer
has been restricted from using her
hands, not to mention her vision.
In circus creation, too, we sometimes
put intentional limits on ourselves to
generate new material. While creating
new acts, I would sometimes
eliminate one normal variable as a
means to discover new skills,
transitions, and ideas. For example,
I once did a study for a trapeze
routine in which I wasn’t allowed to
hang by both knees at the same time.
Occupational therapy requires exactly
this same kind of innovative thinking.
For example, a child with cerebral
palsy might report with limited use
of a limb. To push those limits, a
therapist might use a technique called
“Constraint-induced Movement
Therapy,” in which the unaffected
limb is deliberately restrained
to work the affected limb.
What’s more, by framing CIMT within
a circus context, the therapist can
help a child focus less on the difficult
task of therapy and more on the
enjoyment of a particular task. In a
Top
Kevin O’Keefe, founder of AYCO.
Photo: Circus for Survivors/NECCA
Bottom
Adult survivors of cancer gain
resilience and discover aerial arts.
Photo: Circus for Survivors/NECCA
For the communities, the benefits of
coming to circus could be huge.
Jennifer Spiegel has written about
this in studies of social circus in
marginalized communities in Ecuador:
“For many individuals, social circus
offered a way of (re)integrating into
society in a way that suited their
skills and aptitudes, such as the case
of a deaf participant who was
unable to read or write, had been
begging on the streets until the social
circus program allowed him to excel
in his physical skills as a circus
performer, building his confidence
to the point that he was given a
contract to serve as an instructor
himself” (Spiegel et al. 9).
Personally, I have felt the power of it
in my own work. I realized that
Nellie, a 50-years young post-knee
surgery patient, was able to bend
her knee more without gravity. Chris,
a non-verbal 18 year old, was able to
communicate more than just trampoline
skills. By giving him a space to express
himself on the trampoline, he
demonstrated he could complete
complicated sequences in a
way he was unable to do verbally.
“Developmental circus” is also good
for the community itself. By engaging
new populations, it expands awareness
of the art among the wider public.
Collaboration leads to partnerships
and greater networks, which can lead
to more awareness and even funding.
I hope that as circus evolves, adapts
and becomes more integrated
within our culture, it does more than
simply offer people a momentary
escape; I hope for it to change the
lives of many.
Works Cited
Gilmore, Rose, Jenny Ziviani, Leanne Sakezewski, Nora Shields,
and Roslyn Boyd. “A Balancing Act: Children’s Experience of
Modified Constraint-induced Movement Therapy.” Developmental
Neurorehabilitation 13.2 (2010): 88-94. 5 Oct 2009. Print.
Magilo, Jill, and Carol McKinstry. “Occupational Therapy and
Circus: Potential Partners in Enhancing the Health and
Well-being of Today’s Youth.” Australian Occupational Therapy
Journal 55 (2007): 287-90. Print.
Rappaport, Susan. Personal Statement (2014).
Spiegel, Jennifer Beth, Maria-Christina Breilh, Arturo Campana,
Judith Marcuse, and Annalee Yassi. “Social Circus and Health
Equity: Exploring the National Social Circus Program in Ecuador.”
Arts & Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy
and Practice 6 (2014): 1-10. Web.
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