We went to the Big Apple Circus, yesterday, My Kid, the Husband and I. It is our holiday tradition. Although on the way to the circus tent I pointed out to my long-limbed daughter the well dressed crowds coming out of The Nutcracker matinee and the posters advertising the upcoming production of Coppelia. My Kid rolled her eyes and grunted in disgust. Damn! She looks so much like a ballet dancer too. Oh well she is on the robotics team at school and this week plans to be a computer engineer like her father, I’d better not guide her towards a career that one of my friends calls a long and painful road towards a job as a fitness instructor. * (see note)
Anyway. The Big Apple Circus this year, “Play On” was a tight show, thanks to the direction of Steve Smith. He was the director of Clown College the year that I went, and his two page description of the rehearsal process in the program sent me into a reverie of all that was good and pure and Steve Smith-y about Clown College when I was there. For the circus program he wrote a description of the rehearsal process; “Knowing the first day of rehearsal sets the tone for all the days to follow, we filled the practice ring full of enormous helium balloons, musical notes, flowers, ribbons, hopes, dreams, uplifting music, and artists from all over the globe.”
He did that for the first day of Clown College too. The acceptance letter came filled with confetti. I remember a huge balloon rainbow over the ring on the first day of clown college. There were quotes posted everywhere around the arena, things like “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.”—Goethe. That makes me think of Clown College so much and the (…at this point I was interrupted by my offspring and I no longer remember the thread of the post I had intended to craft into a lengthy homage to Steve Smith’s fiercely and intentionally crafted positive energy… and I was going to mention my friend Mark Gindick who was in the show…)
I will have to write about how wonderful Clown College was another time.
I did get my application in on time for the 5e Festival Internacional de Pallases d’Andorra 2009. Who knows if they will choose our show or even if Lorraine and I can afford the time or money to go to Spain.
Tonight I will attend a Modern Clown workshop with British clown, Chris Lynam.
Little by little…hope…ambition…luck and fierce, intentional positive energy!
* (note:) Steve Smith also told us “Cynicism is an easy choice. Don’t make it!”