The National Circus Project

The Circus Comes to Sea Cliff School

The National Circus Project came to Sea Cliff Elementary School for a week-long event that combined physical fitness with circus fun and proficiency. K-5 students had workshops led by the professionals throughout the last week in October.
On November 1st, the circus festivities culminated with an in-school “student” circus performance featuring Sea Cliff fifth graders who tumbled, tossed diablos, performed on the roll-a-bolla, balanced on stilts, laughed with the clowns, and juggled into the hearts of all those in attendance!

The National Circus Project (NCP) is an innovative cultural arts organization, which promotes student participation in school arts and physical education activities, using “circus” as its theme. The National Circus Project sends teams of internationally acclaimed circus performer/instructors to schools throughout the U.S.A., where they present exciting circus assembly performances, teach circus skills to students as part of their physical education program – including juggling, balancing, plate-spinning, clowning around, flower stick manipulation, diablo, and a new one called Poi +Frame. These activities promote hand-eye coordination, concentration, the benefits of discipline and practice, and group skills. Many thanks to the Sea Cliff PCA and all of the physical education teachers and staff for putting on such an entertaining performance!  

Article and photos by Shelly Newman with assistance from Ms. McCormack