What It's like to Volunteer for a Non-Profit Circus Organization

Imagine, you are watching a circus show full of acrobats, jugglers, stilt walkers, and a variety of talents. You see a tight rope walker ride a unicycle with ease, or an aerialist 20 feet in the air doing tricks on chiffon. As you are watching this circus you are amazed to see how easily everything seems to flow together. Have you ever wondered how and where the circus performers you have seen learn to do their talents? I have been given the privilege to find out and learn how someone becomes a circus performer.

I am currently a volunteer and board member for a local non-profit Circus Arts Organization in my home town. For privacy reasons I won't disclose the name of the non-profit, but I will tell you what it is like to be part of a real life Circus organization.

The circus organization that I am part of is not a traveling circus like Circus Vargas, or Cirque Du Soleil. Instead it starts at the root of circus talents and offers a free after school program that teaches children and youth how to perform circus skills. The circus after school program currently takes place at a local recreation center twice a week. The circus school offers instructional skills for children 9 years and higher. Circus skills that are taught include: juggling, acrobatics, aerial skills, unicycle, contortion, trampoline, and other specialized skills. The great thing is this circus school teaches all levels and different ages including some adults. After volunteering for a few years, I have actually learned how to juggle.

The circus organization I am part of offers a variety of opportunities for children, youth as well as adults. Along side the after school program, this circus organization holds an annual circus show every year in May. Like any other circus, there is a circus tent that is put up, and the children in the after school program get to become real life circus performers, and also give back to a non-profit and the community. As a Volunteer I work in the circus office maintaining files and organizing paper work, but my favorite part is helping out during the annual Circus Show. During the actual circus show, I partake in helping set up the circus tent, taking tickets, and selling cotton candy. It is very interesting to see what happens behind the scenes of a circus. Every performer works very hard and practices for hours to make sure their act is perfect. During practice you can see how difficult tricks actually are. I have seen many young performers fall or not complete there tricks and they just get up and try it again, so that when they are in front of a crowd there tricks are perfect and look easy.

The reason that I love to volunteer for this circus organization is because it offers a healthy and positive program for children and youth that caters to performing arts. The kids and youth involved in this program learn these talents and some end up becoming professional Circus performers when they grow up. Some of the youth involved in this program have continued to perform in Las Vegas Shows, Cirque Du Soleil, and other professional careers. If you ever wanted to join a circus, you don't have to run away to do so. There are many circus schools and program out there like the one I described that offers many opportunities for children, youth, and adults. If you want to really be in the circus it is possible, you just have to find the right program and put in a lot of hard work and dedication to do so. There are many states that offer circus school or after school programs, and there is also an American Youth Circus Organization that promotes youth to get involved with circus arts.

If you would like to get involved with a circus school or organization you can use an internet search engine to find programs near your area. You can also go to the American Youth Circus Organization website to get more information on what programs are available. Being involved in a circus organization is a great way to give back to your community and also learn unique skills.