(
Before the invention of the television allowed us to witness amazing acts, death-defying stunts, and hilarious bloopers through a screen, people would travel far and wide to witness these things--at the circus! The circus scene captivates the senses; the sights, smells, and sounds leave audiences in awe. On the flip side of the audience is the performers who make it all happen, and you can become one of them. In this blog series, we cover the three rings that comprise The Children’s Museum’s newest exhibit Circus—Starring YOU!
After reading this blog, be sure to learn about Ring One and Ring Three.
Practice makes perfect! To create moments of awe and wonder, circus performers dedicate their lives to polishing their acts. There are many layers to a flawless act, but before performers incorporate costumes, makeup, and music to their performance, they condition their bodies to become used to the physical standards an act requires.
In Circus—Starring YOU! we give guests the opportunity to practice what it takes to become a circus performer. Here are a few of the acts you can try:
- Walk a tightrope - Real tightrope walkers balance on steel wires REALLY high above the ground, but our tightrope is for beginners at floor-level. If you want to take on the height challenge, you can level-up to our extraordinary virtual reality tightrope experience!
- Balance on a rolla bolla - The rolla bolla is a classic balancing act. You practice by shifting your weight back and forth. Our rolla bolla was made with safety in mind, so anyone can practice!
- Show your strength on a lyra ring - The lyra ring is a type of aerial act. Acrobats who are strong and flexible swing and maneuver among a steel hoop. It takes a lot of strength, skill, and focus to be a graceful aerialist.
- Test your teamwork on the Roman ladders - Step outside ring two to climb the Roman ladders. The Roman ladders are another balancing act, like the rolla bolla, but a lot of performances involve more than one person! See how you can fit family and balance on the ladders, then strike a pose!
It never hurts to try, so try every circus act we have to see which one you’re best at! Then, show off your best circus performances by sharing photos using #atTCM for a chance to be featured on our website or social media. Circus—Starring YOU! is open Feb. 18 through Nov. 26, 2017.
