August 09, 2022 / by Heidi Brown / In classes
How circus changed my life
I started at Aerial Edge when I was 10, and it became my one thing that I loved. School was all ‘do this, do it like that’. Circus school allowed me to be who I was. I was free to express myself, and I grew more confident.
Circus was a fun distraction, and something I could look forward to. This was one thing that I knew I was good at, so I became focused and determined to do it well. At first, I didn’t know anyone in Youth Circus and I was quite quiet, then I made friends through training with the other kids.
Youth students had a big creative input to the shows, which were built around what we wanted to do rather than all the ideas coming from the teachers.
We learned how to figure things out together, decide what worked and how to make it better. We were highly motivated because we were given the responsibility if we wanted it. I spent more time at circus school than anywhere else, so it kept me out of mischief! I can’t even envisage how my life would have turned out without it.
Trapeze was my first love and it’s definitely still my favourite. It was the first thing I learned. It’s an accessible start point – it has something to sit on, you don’t have to climb high to do tricks. There are so many different kinds of trapeze too – dance, fly, doubles. You can always surprise yourself how you can transfer moves from hoops and silks to trapeze.
When the school was closed because of covid, I was just about to ask if I could have a job there. It was really hard not being able to come to training. I did have some kit at home, but I wasn’t so motivated to do much with it, it’s not the same without the other people.
As soon as Aerial Edge found the new venue, I sent my CV and was so happy that I got a job. Performance and teaching had been my goals for a long time and working here gives me so many more opportunities.
I missed circus so much during the closure that it’s made me much more appreciative of it now. I’m aware when I move of how good it feels, how lucky I am to have learned so much, and to be able to teach it to others.