Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
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 Head Coach Doug Stewart 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 on…
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…
2021 inTENTsive Trouper Arrival
Editor’s Note: This post was written by summer Tour Communications Intern Teagan Allen The staff and coaches had been working hard for this day. The tents were up, cabins cleaned, equipment prepped, pie cart stocked, all that was left was the arrival of the troupers. While we had planned arrivals in 15-minute increments, the first group of troupers arrived in a big line, holding hands, waltzing, and skipping up the long dirt driveway. This sight instantly brought a smile to the staff and coaches’ faces due to the contagious smirko energy. As more troupers arrived, more happy screams were coming from…
Kyran Walton
Kyran Walton Coach Intermediate & Advanced Camp Kyran was raised in St. Louis, Missouri and has been a very energetic child since he could walk. He played a few sports before the age 8 but none of them were engaging enough for him. Circus Harmony performed at his school around the time that he was 8 and he immediately begged his mom to sign him up for classes. Since then Kyran has been in the circus for 12 years now along with dancing for 6 of those years. Around age 11, Kyran was made a member of the circus Harmony’s…