Simon Narborough

Photographer

Circus Magic

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Location: Hudson Valley,NY

Nationality: American/British (Dual)

Biography: I am a photographer, born in London, England but now working in (and out of) the lower Hudson Valley, New York which is 90 minutes north of Manhatten. I am insatiably curious â€” about our world, how it works (or... MORE

Ritz Theatre in Newburgh, an i...USA's home for two weeks.

Ritz Theatre in Newburgh, an impoverished city in New York State, just Â 65 miles north of Manhatten.Â ZipZap USA's home for two weeks.

Coaches meet together for the ...ills from trapeze to juggling.

Coaches meet together for the first time in the Ritz lobby. They come from Los Angeles, Austin Tx, Wisconsin, and New York, and each bring their own skills from trapeze to juggling.

Every morning the coaches meet...from some special mentoring. Â

Every morning the coaches meet to go through the day's activities and discuss issues or difficulties. More than one student benefits from some special mentoring. Â

No Big Top, but an improvised ...e last day of circus school. Â

No Big Top, but an improvised cirusc ring is set up as a practice area and for the show the children are expected to perform on the last day of circus school. Â

Tashi, a trapeze artist or fly...ig and the equipment together.

Tashi, a trapeze artist or flyer as they are called, Â fixes a cover over the ring.
The flyers put the rig and the equipment together.

On their first morning, the ch...tely set tasks and challenges.

On their first morning, the children gather. Ages range from 9 to 14 years old. Some are nervous, not sure what to expect. A few warm-ups and and introductions, they are immediately set tasks and challenges.

Bright green t-shirts are dist...fternoon. Now they are a team.

Bright green t-shirts are distributed to the kids on the first afternoon. Now they are a team.

Karen, a long time circus perf...k a tightrope with confidence.

Karen, a long time circus performer, coach and gifted artist teaches Pedro how to walk a tightrope with confidence.

Tumbling techniques taought un...t high and low trapeze tricks.

Tumbling techniques taought under the watchful eyes of Sarah (L) and Tolley (R).These floor exercises become gradually more complex and prepare the children for some of the more difficult high and low trapeze tricks.

Improvising a comedy duo routi...sion and inventiveness counts!

Improvising a comedy duo routine where each performer is only allowed to use only one word. One picks 'Yes', the other picks 'No'. Â Expression and inventiveness counts!

Erik works on the low trapeze.... quite right on the first try.

Erik works on the low trapeze. Sometimes things dont go quite right on the first try.

Oh Yeh?Â A skipping team is in...es and show what they can do.Â

Oh Yeh?Â A skipping team is invited to demonstrate their rope skills one day. Needless to say, the ZipZap Â kids immediately pick up their ropes and show what they can do.Â

Exercises continue daily to bu...gth and flexibility they need.

Exercises continue daily to buildÂ the strength and flexibility they need.

I Fall, You Fall. Â Learning t...earning to trust their partner

I Fall, You Fall. Â Learning to balance and learning to trust their partner

Building a human wall - each p...on the other to do their part.

Building a human wall - each person relies on the other to do their part.

Getting ready to fly the trapeze and not slip off the bar.

Juggling silks Â The precursor...the day of the show approaches

Juggling silks Â The precursor to juggling anything else, as it teaches the necessary timing and rhythm. Showmanship is encouraged as the day of the show approaches

The equipment is checked regul... flyers to prevent accidents.Â

The equipment is checked regularlyÂ by the flyers to prevent accidents.Â

Student forms a Birds Nest on ... confidence and muscle memory.

Student forms a Birds Nest on the trapeze. This is an important form that has to be mastered prior to going on to launching for a catch.Â
Ground work and low trapeze practice makes the ariel moves easier by building strength, confidence and muscle memory.

An imperfect launch which the ...nd perhaps a change of shorts.

An imperfect launch which the catcher cannot make. The safety lines and catch net allow the student to get back up and try again with the only damage being a dented ego and perhaps a change of shorts.

Showtime The entire company sh...s and family on the last day.Â

Showtime The entire company show off their newly learned skills to friends and family on the last day.Â

During the show, passers-by st...f the Â newly acquired skills.

During the show, passers-by stop and look on in awe of the Â newly acquired skills.

The highlight of the show is t...tudent has a part in the show.

The highlight of the show is the trapeze act and competition is fierce to get in on it. Â Every student has a part in the show.

The end of the show, and to th...Quite a few tears are evident.

The end of the show, and to the sound of applause and cheers from the crowd, the students start saying their goodbyes to the coaches and their team mates. Quite a few tears are evident.

"See you down the road&qu...t week is going to be so dull!

"See you down the road"Â The traditional circus performer farewell. Some students were not able to show off their trapeze skills during the show. So, the coaches keep the trapeze going after the show so the kids could show off a little more. Next week is going to be so dull!

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Thumbnail of Ritz Theatre in Newburgh, an im_ USA's home for two weeks.

Thumbnail of Coaches meet together for the f_kills from trapeze to juggling.

Thumbnail of Every morning the coaches meet _ from some special mentoring. Â

Thumbnail of No Big Top, but an improvised c_he last day of circus school. Â

Thumbnail of Tashi, a trapeze artist or flye_rig and the equipment together.

Thumbnail of On their first morning, the chi_ately set tasks and challenges.

Thumbnail of Bright green t-shirts are distr_afternoon. Now they are a team.

Thumbnail of Karen, a long time circus perfo_lk a tightrope with confidence.

Thumbnail of Tumbling techniques taought und_lt high and low trapeze tricks.

Thumbnail of Improvising a comedy duo routin_ssion and inventiveness counts!

Thumbnail of Erik works on the low trapeze. _o quite right on the first try.

Thumbnail of Oh Yeh?Â A skipping team is inv_pes and show what they can do.Â

Thumbnail of Exercises continue daily to bui_ngth and flexibility they need.

Thumbnail of I Fall, You Fall. Â Learning to_learning to trust their partner

Thumbnail of Building a human wall - each pe_ on the other to do their part.

Thumbnail of Getting ready to fly the trapeze and not slip off the bar.

Thumbnail of Juggling silks Â The precursor _ the day of the show approaches

Thumbnail of The equipment is checked regula_e flyers to prevent accidents.Â

Thumbnail of Student forms a Birds Nest on t_, confidence and muscle memory.

Thumbnail of An imperfect launch which the c_and perhaps a change of shorts.

Thumbnail of Showtime The entire company sho_ds and family on the last day.Â

Thumbnail of During the show, passers-by sto_of the Â newly acquired skills.

Thumbnail of The highlight of the show is th_student has a part in the show.

Thumbnail of The end of the show, and to the_ Quite a few tears are evident.

Thumbnail of "See you down the road&quo_xt week is going to be so dull!

Private Story

Circus Magic

Copyright Simon Narborough 2024

Date of Work Jul 2017 - Jul 2017

Updated Aug 2017

Topics Adolescence, Children, Community, Documentary, Editorial, Education, Emotion, Family, Happiness, Health/Healing, Hope, Joy, Leadership, Photography, Photojournalism, Poverty, Teens, Theater, Youth

Newburgh, New York. July 2017 - When you first arrive in Newburgh, you look for the road out. The crime rate is one of the highest in the country, and 34% of the population live below the poverty level. Instead of passing through, one organization, ZipZapCircus USA decided to bring the circus to town.

ZipZapCircus, an organization with its roots in South Africa, brought together for two weeks circus and performance artists from across the US to teach 26 Newburgh-city kids the values of perseverance, teamwork and self-confidence .

This story is the story of those two weeks.