So now that the holidays are in full swing, we might as well start thinking about what amazing things we might be able to offer our young people when they return to school in September (not wanting to put a downer on things!!) In light of all the talk lately of the dangers of school media and how easy it is to hijack young peoples' dopamine circuits and you may even be seeing it at home today!! it seems more important than ever that we offer them an alternative to their screens and the solitude of their rooms. More Circus Skills People!! The Studies are out there to be seen that the change in young people if they are able to engage in Circus Skills with a degree of regularity, is palpable and it can help re-wire their brains so that they can function better on pretty much all levels.

So if there are any teachers out there looking to re-invigorate their engagement programme at the school, or you know of any teachers looking to do this,  drop me a line in the 'get in touch ' section and we can make it happen.

STUDIES
 https://researchportal.northumbria.ac.uk/ws/files/21461299/Neave_etal_Circus_Skills_Theatre_Dance_Performance_Training.pdf

So now that COVID seems to have turned into something a little less scary.. For the time being, I can't wait to get back into schools and start sharing what I love again with the young people of good ole blighty. Having heard recently how hard it's been for kids and some of the detrimental affects COVID has had on young people's mental health; it seems more important than ever that they can engage in something that is fun, collaborative and not got anything to do with a screen. I know, having two teenagers of my own, how hard it's been to unhook them from their screens and devices after about a year and a half of them getting sucked in there. Circus does all of this and more, so lets get them playing again and having fun and doing something that can allow them to be kids again. 

So this is a bit of a nightmare!!...Business it has to be said for someone that works in schools and with large crowds of people has been challenged.. But hey that's not gonna get a boy down. I've been practicing like a crazy boy in the lovely weather, keeping up the skills and getting ready for when the lockdown lifts. Been enjoying the extra time with my gorgeous family although teaching one's own children as opposed to others is somewhat trick some. So also it's been about making sure that when the lockdown is eventually lifted and I can start work again , I've got all my eggs in a row in terms of making sure that the COVID elements are as safe and secure as possible. That means taking as many precautions as is possible whilst still keeping the fun elements.  So as and when I do my first workshops i'll be implementing the following precautions to make sure that we are as safe as possible.

• Equipment disinfected daily
• Groups of no more than 3
• Use separate activity stations to keep groups apart
• New Latex Gloves for each child
• Compulsory hand washing prior to each session

Hope to see you all soon. Really hoping it'll be back to something we recognise in the autumn or.... fingers crossed maybe even in the summer.
 

Working in a Pupil Referral Unit

Having secured a recent contract with Derby City's Pupil referral unit, I started a couple of weeks ago and it's really paying dividends. I'm working with a small group of young people that have been excluded from mainstream school and are struggling to be motivated and enthused. So Circus skills have been looked at as a way of getting them into a place where they feel they can succeed... and Wow what a great thing it's working out to be. They are all coming out of their shells slowly but surely and doing things they never though capable. Really satisfying work and really making a difference to how these kids interface with the world. Gradually breaking down the cage of "I cant do that!!!"... to " hey look... I can do it!!"

So despite the great british elements doing all the could to throw off the show; the weather abatted for a few hours and myself and the other performers were able to get in a couple of shows for the lovely folk of Birmingham. This fellow below came up and had some lovely words about the show i"d just done so I asked him if he'd mind saying it for the camera and he kindly obliged. What a lovely gent!! 

As you may have noticed, blogging isn't my strong point and I kind of do it when I remember... too busy working...of course...but how does life go so fast?? Seems only yesterday that I was blogging about last year's bonfire night. But hey .. here we are again and another season of long nights is here and the time to hunker down for the winter is rapidly arriving.

Incidentally Derby's unique street theatre festival, Feste, was a triumph this year with great crowds and lovely weather. So as we careen at high speed politically to something new and different, Juan Carlos feels the need for rituals of union and bonding is ever more important so make sure you book him now to unite your friends and family in a new an unique way.. we need to come together people.. So drop me a line and feel the love of your fellow humans as never before..;-) Book now before it's too late!!... life is a blink of an eye..

So its taken me a while to get here but I've made it ... Ole!! Festivals have been the order of the summer. I've been working for an events company and have been all over the country performing to the Cider and Sausage community. What a lot of fun that's been. Autumn is busy as always as we head to Bonfire night and xmas. 

Most exciting, I think is the street festival, Feste, in Derby on the 28th where I'm performing and compering and closely on it's heels, 120 years of Circus at the Birmingham hippodrome. Fiery Fun!! Happy Autumn y'all!!

'Just love this time as time of year as the mists roll iin and the fires start to get lit.. well who'd have thought it.. my fire starts to get lit and its bonfire night that gets the ball rolling. Two great shows coming up in Matlock and Etwall. Going to be great big show with huge numbers which always makes for a good time. 

All sits really well after a great autumn with Feste, Derbys world renowned street festival, at the end of September going down a treat and the Edinburgh festival at the end of Aug. So basically I'm all warmed up and raring to go. Ole!!!

So now that were fully in to summer, things are rocking along with the shows. Been hosting Cathedral Quarter circus Saturday this year and we've had some great crowds. Ive taken the show on a different tack this year as Im performing at the Edinburgh festival in a couple of months and need to have a slightly longer show. Workshops have also been crazy this year with lots of bookings coming in. So all in all exciting for everyone involved.