Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
Celebrations All Around
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Smirkus Camp Head Coach Doug Stewart Greetings from Smirkus Camp! Today was a day full of celebrations. Not only did we celebrate “Bagpipe Appreciation Day” and “National Stilt Walking Day” but they both happen to fall on the one and only TuTu Tuesday! So it is pretty safe to say we’ve been having a pretty amazing day. In fact, we’ve been having a week full of celebrations! Starting on Sunday, we got to celebrate the good news that all of our Covid tests came back negative. That means as a community, we get to…
From Trouper to Counselor: Lindsey Barrows
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Tour Communications Intern Teagan Allen Lindsey Barrows is one of this year’s fantastic Smirkus Tour counselors. One of the things that makes her a great counselor is that she was a Smirkus Trouper. From the ages of 15 to 18, Lindsey went on tour and experienced Smirkus magic through being a performer and trouper. Now, she is helping create magic for troupers as a counselor. In this conversation with Lindsey, learn about where her experience as both a trouper and counselor intersect. When you were a trouper did you want to be a counselor?…
An Interview from the Juggling Tent
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Communications Intern Spencer Hovel Hey Pher! Hey Ari!… Hey Ferrari! Let’s get to know a bit more from our juggling coaches Pher Gleason and Ari Slavin. Spencer: What is/ isn’t juggling? Pher/Ari: Every time you come in contact with an object you are juggling. So basically everything is juggling. Every time you take a step, you are foot juggling the world. Theoretically if you are floating naked in space you might not be juggling but only if you don’t think of yourself as an object. Spencer: How long have you been juggling? Ari:…
Smirkus Traditions
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Camp Communications Intern Spencer Hovel PLAY BALLLLLL Last night campers and staff headed to the squishy field for a game of Smirkus KickBall. What is Smirkus KickBall? Great question. Smirkus kickball is just like any other game of kickball, except completely different. In most games involving bases, there can only be one person on a base at a time, and players have to run every time the ball is kicked. Well in Smirkus kickball, you only have to run when you want to and there is no limit to how many people can be…
When the Unfamiliar Becomes Everyday Life
Editor’s Note: This post was written by 2nd year trouper Grant Bishop, from Los Angeles, CA In my head, New England and Smirkus are one and the same. My first time stepping onto East Coast soil was my trip to participate in the Circus Smirkus live auditions in 2020, and ever since then New England has been a home for me in many ways. Growing up in Los Angeles, I had little to no knowledge of a Northeastern lifestyle and was pretty content with my day to day surrounded by palm trees, ocean breezes, and the excitement of the city. However,…
It’s All Fun & Games
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Activities Coordinator Mariah Fraker Hello, grownups! I bet you’re wondering what your campers have been up to during this past week with Smirkus. Well, they’ve definitely been doing lots of circus: juggling, acrobatics, aerials, unicycling, clowning, and all sorts of other things! I’m sure they’ve been learning a ton of cool tricks in all of their circus classes, but as the Activities Coordinator, I’m in charge of the games we play here at camp, and so today I’m going to tell you about some of the fun that we’ve been having so far this session. On Tuesday, we…
Every Trouper in Every Act?
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Tour Communications Intern Teagan Allen This past Friday the coaches had a surprise in store for our troupers. When they walked into the tent during the time they would usually warm up for the day, they were handed a note. The note instructed them to create a show for their coaches with no guidance. This was to be done in an hour and a half. If that doesn’t sound difficult enough, they couldn’t use any circus equipment, perform any tricks, and every trouper had to be in every act. The troupers instantly circled…
Big Top Tour Show Prep
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Tour Communications Intern Teagan Allen Piece by piece, the show at the Big Top Tour inTENTsive is coming together! Through the collaborative efforts of the troupers, our artistic director, and the coaches, this Smirk-o-Vision Season Finale will not be something you want to miss. Staying in Vermont this year gives our troupers more time to experiment with many disciplines and find ways to fit these disciplines in the show. For example, a new to Smirkus prop – the meteor – is a form of juggling where you swing and throw the prop in intricate patterns. Troupers…
A Whirlwind of Circus
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Head Coach Doug Stewart Greetings from Greensboro! This week has been a whirlwind of circus, filming, dinner dress-ups, capture the flag and of course, Halloween. The week began with our “No Beach – Beach Day” on Saturday. After sleeping in until 8:30am we started the day by watching cartoons and lounging in our PJs. (Some people stayed in their PJ’s all day!) After a day filled with phone calls home and resting, we gathered in the Big Tops for Movie Night. Not only did we watch the Smirkus Classic, “The Majestic Yak,” but we…
Letter from a Trouper: Alexa Wang
Editor’s Note: This post was written by 5th year trouper Alexa Wang I’ve had to remind myself that this isn’t “my last year with Smirkus”. Of course, it is my last year as a trouper and the last time I step into the ring as a “Smirko”, but one never leaves Smirkus and Smirkus never really leaves you. Every time I look into my future, I envision Smirkus being a part of it— whether it be my commitment to see the Big Top Tour every summer or my dream of one day coming back to be an employee, Smirkus is not…