Saturday Circus
What is the Saturday Circus?
A weekly practice and play session for skill toy artists and enthusiasts! Started through a conversation in the Vancouver Hoopers tribe between Christa (Xta) and Dave back in late September 2006, the Circus has grown from a hooping playdate to include poi spinners (including David, poi-teacher extraordinaire), the VanJug collection of local and visiting jugglers, and stilters, unicyclists and more! Our resident photographer, Mark Klotz, is often around with HIS skill toy (aka camera), making us look good! Other photographers also find all of the energetic and colourful play to be a powerful draw, so the Circus is a great place to get over your shyness with cameras!
Who can come to the Saturday Circus?
Anyone! Adults, children, pets (leashes keep them safe)… all are welcome! We have gear to share (the Purple Bag O’ Phun gets hauled out with a giant stereo, juggling balls, clubs and rings, multiple sets of poi, along with an armful of hoops), and will happily help anyone get started with the basics of hooping, juggling or poi. These aren’t formal lessons, though, so you will be getting general tips rather than the full-on teaching experience that comes in a class or workshop - we’ll be right beside you, practicing and pushing our own boundaries!
Where does it take place?
Our traditional playground is the sidewalk between the steps leading down to the rink at Robson Square and the steps leading up to the Gallery Cafe at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Along with allowing us to plug in our stereo to an outlet on the Cafe’s patio, the VAG has generously allowed us to take over the space leading to their front doors while pre-Olympic construction happens at Robson Square. We do keep an eye out for folks walking by, both to keep them safe AND to find people willing to stop and play!
A few summer weekends see many of us gather elsewhere: the Vancouver International Jazz Festival has an awesome weekend of free jazz at David Lam Park (just beside the Roundhouse, at the corner of Pacific and Drake) in early July, and mid-July has the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, drawing many of us to the music in Jericho Beach on the west side of Vancouver.
When does it happen?
Most Saturday afternoons from 2:00-4:00pmish. Some days, we’ll be having so much fun that we’re still there five hours later! Clear skies definitely help the turnout - until Robson Square reopens, there isn’t much shelter for hooping on rainy days.
How can I find out if other hoopers are going?
Check the blog here, or notes in the Vancouver Hoopers tribe or the Saturday Circus group on Facebook.