Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
Star Drops in the Tents
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Communications Intern Magdalene McCaffrey Under the blue and white stripes of Mamma Mia’s copula, the red, green, and pink silks are attached to the rigging hooks. In billowing lines, they’re pulled and secured as campers file into the tent. The campers take off their shoes and step onto the trocellen mat to sit on the ring curb. Coaches lead the kids in stretches as the rigging is finished, then they step into the center of the ring and pull themselves onto the silk. “We’ll be working on our star drops today! So let’s go over how to set…
Aaron’s Farewell Tour
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Anne-Marie Wood and Eric Schondorf, parents of 5th year trouper Aaron Schondorf Watch this video looking back on Aaron’s years with Circus Smirkus, created by Andy Bell. As we look forward to Aaron’s fifth and final season with The Big Top Tour, we can’t help recall driving up I-91 to Lyndon, Vermont in 2010 to take Aaron and his brother, Ethan, to the one-week summer Smirkus Camp session. Even though it was Aaron’s first time away from home, from the minute we walked onto campus, the Smirkus counselors and staff could not have been more welcoming…
Having a Ball at Camp
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Communications Intern Magdalene McCaffrey “All right! Everybody grab a second ball and we can work on the next combination,” the class rushes to the front of the tent to the waiting carton of various juggling balls. A warm wind blows under the lifted walls of Lottie as the campers reassemble on the mats in varied lines. Grinning some begin to toss their balls, feeling the weight before coach Book Kennison has a chance to example the new combination. Some fall to the mat with light slaps and giggles fill the tent. “Okay,…
Local Talent Coming Back To Waltham
Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Waltham Patch in Waltham, MA on July 23, 2019 and was written by Scott Souza WALTHAM, MA — Arlington High School rising sophomore Glenn Doyle has been told there could be quite a crowd of familiar faces from the Spy Ponder wrestling team for his homecoming this weekend. Only the 15-year-old won’t be showing off his skills on the mat — where he placed third at 106 pounds in Division 2 Metro States as a freshman this past winter — he will be showing off his skills as a clown and acrobat for Circus Smirkus…
Charles Keidel
Charles Keidel, Lead Balance Coach Sessions: Intermediate Camp, Advanced Camp Charles Keidel is a multi-talented circus artist who’s dedication to developing expressive character bodies has pushed his technical movement past the traditional boundaries of tightwire into a distant realm of magic and disbelief. Growing up in a community centered around and steeped deeply in circus, his internal desire to create and develop circus became almost insatiable. Charles attended the Aloft Circus Arts Two-Year Full Time Training Program class of 2018 in Chicago, Illinois specializing in tightwire, but never abandoning his polymath tendencies. Even while fully immersed in 40 hours of circus training a week, he still found opportunities…
Georgie Johnson
Georgie Johnson, Aerials Tent Lead Sessions: Advanced Camp Circus Smirkus was the first place Georgie dipped her toes into the wonderful world of circus and she is delighted to be coming back for her second year of coaching young and talented artists. Growing up, Georgie taught and performed in Amazing Grace Circus youth troupe based in Nyack, NY. She graduated from the New England Center for Circus Arts professional program in 2016 and is currently studying dance at Oberlin College with a concentration in creation and performance; there she continues to interweave circus and aerial work into her creative process….
Smirkus Features Local Rising Star
Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Caledonian Record in St. Johnsbury, VT on June 30, 2019 and was written by Staff Writer Amy Ash Nixon ST. JOHNSBURY — The circus is coming to town! Circus Smirkus is making a two-day stop in St. Johnsbury, presented by Catamount Arts – July 2 and 3. Two shows are planned each day, at 1 and 6 p.m., and the stage is the grounds of the Green Mountain Mall, on Route 5. One of the troupe members is local student Asom Hayman-Jones, 17, of Glover, who is a rising senior at St. Johnsbury Academy. This is…
VIDEO: Trouper Close Up Ariana Wunderle
Watch this 2019 Circus Smirkus Trouper Close Up: Ariana Wunderle Get your tickets for the 2019 Big Top Tour: Carnival. The show opens June 29 in Greensboro, VT.
We Are Off to a Wonderful Start
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Summer Camp Director William Forchion Summer 2019 has begun. We have welcomed one session of adult campers and two mini sessions of Smirklings. Most recently we welcomed our beginning circus campers. It is an honor to step into the role of Camp Director and Chief Miracle Conjurer. Arriving in early June, it was a pleasure to see the tent crew do their magic setting up the tents. First Mama Mia went up followed quickly by the raising of Natalie then Ruby and Flo. And just like that Greensboro, VT once again becomes a circus oasis. Seeing…
Coach’s Corner: Jessica Jay
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Tour Communications & PR Intern Emma Burke In addition to myself and a handful of first-year troupers, the 2019 Circus Smirkus Tour welcomed a number of new staff members as well. One of this summer’s most welcomed additions is Jessica Jay, one of our aerial coaches whose warm smile and positive attitude I look forward to greeting every day. Jessica is the owner of the aerial training facility, Sora Aerial Arts, and artistic director of the professional entertainment & aerial theatre company Sora Contemporary Circus located in Lexington, KY. Jessica works as an aerial teacher trainer with the…