I just learned that Mandarin for circus is ma xi – horse drama. I quite like that. That goes back to the horse based shows of the early days of circus. There weren’t any horses at the show we went to see this week in Shanghai, but there were some excellent, very Chinese acts.

One of my favourite moments was when, one by one, FOUR girls appeared hands first out of a ceramic pot (that didn’t look big enough to hold any actual people), then proceeded to walk off stage upside down as it it was the most natural thing in the world. Which I suppose it was for them.

My other favourite act was one that featured motorcycles in a wall of death metal cage. Nothing new there you say- but I don’t mean one motorbike, I mean EIGHT motorbikes in a tiny cage. That registers as Chinese levels of insanity.

I know I haven’t posted in a while  – it’s all been a bit hectic. I did want to share something I got up to about a week ago though – my second go on the flying trapeze. I couldn’t believe it – over the last couple of summers one of the teachers at the circus school I go to has set up an amazing flying rig just north of where I live in beautiful Bucks county PA. You walk into a large field just off the river road and there you see this enormous trapeze rig. I’m pleased I’m not scared of heights because it is a long way up.

Anyway, I’ll cut to the chase – I had an amazing time and a little bit of the teachers’ awesomeness rubbed off – I managed a catch from a new position – splits.

Here you go – enjoy:

In the depths of darkest Vermont is a most excellent Circus school – NECCA. A few of us have been talking about going for some time now so go we did. Lourdes, Brendan and I drove the couple of hundred miles up to Vermont on a Friday night (although it seemed rather further as I was too busy chatting to heed dire warnings about avoiding Manhattan on a Friday night – urgh).Anyway we were able to improve some skills in familiar areas (trapeze and rope) and learn some completely new ones (Flying trapeze for me, Straps for Brendan the crazy fool, and Chinese pole for us both). What a laugh. Here’s the trapeze:

And some Chinese pole. This is crazy – you can actually walk up the pole and do some other things. Actually looking at the photo I don’t even believe I did that ;-).

As for Brendan…he did straps. And did a really good job of it too.

I don’t like performing. But just like the spinach that made me gag when I was little, I know deep down it is good for me. Or at least the effort that goes into the preparation is good for me.

Last month, I performed on the aerial fabric for the first time. That was actually quite a feat as I’d previously climbed up, performed a single trick and then come back down. To stay “up” and do several minutes worth of stuff is frankly exhausting.  So by the time I had to perform I’d already achieved almost what I’d intended, but still needed to go through with it all….if only I’d had a little mrore time to actually practise. Anyway here it is “Jack Rabbit Slim’s Dance Competition – Let’s see what you’ve got.”