Unlike other youth activities, Circus is noncompetitive and focuses on individual and group skills presented in an entertaining and

artistic theatrical performance, with choreography, lighting, costumes, and music. The Circus program emphasizes teamwork, dedication, trust, family skill, showmanship, excitement, and fun for both the participant and the observer. Circus teaches young people important values, such as responsibility, commitment, self-confidence, and self-discipline, along with specialized skills.

FUN & FRIENDSHIPS

Circus exemplifies all that is good for kids... friendships, sharing, caring, trusting, cooperation. Working together toward a common goal, kids and adults who collaborate to produce Circus share a sense of personal mission and unity. Circus becomes a second family.

DEDICATION

Training, training, training. It takes dedication and selfdiscipline for the young circus performers to continue with training throughout the year. Training in many circus classes requires a large time commitment. Intense concentration is also needed to execute precision drills and stunts. All performers begin as novices and are trained by experienced circus trainers.

CIRCUS

IS

HARD

WORK

Young bodies are pushed to their maximum as they master new physical movements that often rival feats performed by professional circus performers. Students work hard in their circus classes at the YMCA throughout the year and follow in the YMCA philosophy of building a strong body, mind, and spirit. Overcoming fear builds self-confidence and selfesteem in beginning and seasoned performers alike.

SHOWMANSHIP

They joy of performing meets with the enthusiasm of the spectators as the show begins with its colorful costumes and exhilarating music. The adrenaline begins to flow backstage as the moment to display new-found skills finally arrives. Showmanship is a type of performing art all of its own. This artistic form requires poise and smooth graceful moves combined with physical strength. The audience experiences the beauty of Circus through the eyes and hearts of the performers.

Alegra (Cirque du Soleil)

Alegra is a Cirque du Soleil touring production, created in 1994 by director Franco Dragone. Alegra is a mood, a state of mind. The themes of the show are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth - it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegra play out their lives. Kings' fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it.

Characters : The Black Singer is the White Singers alter ego. While she too expresses in song the atmosphere of Alegra, there is wickedness about her. In her elegant black dress, which mirrors that of the White Singer, she hides many secrets in her dark heart.

The nostalgic Old Birds observe the goings on as though they were still young and beautiful and the future was still theirs. They admire their reflections in mirror-less frames but are only empty shells, shadows of their former selves. They are the old aristocracy, still convinced of their power and beauty. But they are twisted, deformed and ugly.

Always available and ever helpful, Tamir is like a magical fairy who appears when he is needed, only to suddenly disappear when he has fulfilled his mission. Dressed in a distinctive gold coat, quilted white trousers and a bowler hat, his wide grin and sparkling eyes are windows into his generous souls.

The White Singer is the storyteller who echoes in song everything she sees around her. She sings of melancholy and despair, of joy and happiness. Her luminous white gown is exquisite underneath a bodice and skirt-frame adorned with jewels and pearls, is miles of flowing crinoline. In her dress and long white gloves, she moves like a delicate porcelain doll in a jewelry box.

Acts
Aerial High Bar: Three high bars set more than 40 feet above the stage form the aerial playground for daring acrobats to fly to and from the arms of mighty catchers, suspended by their knees on a cradle swing. Contortion: Those young but veteran performers bring the refined Mongolian art of contortion to life. While perched on a rotating table, they execute both impressive and imaginative feats of flexibility and balance. The fluid movements are masterful, as they manipulates into extraordinary sculpted forms.

Fire-Knife Dance: Tribal and magical - this authentic ritual dance is performed with the pulsing rhythm of congo drums by artists weaving their baton-like fire knives around their entire body, from the feet to the palms to the mouth, in a seductively dangerous dance.

Hand Balancing: Romantic and elegant, this act requires great strength and flexibility. Displaying impressive control, the artist balances on canes of various heights, slowly executing a series of astounding figures. The tallest cane is 1.9 metres high.

Synchronized Trapeze: Youthful and free, the acrobatic duo performs spins and breathtaking manoeuvres in perfect sync. On the trapeze, these two artists become one; together they defy gravity and create a remarkable harmony.