Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc. has developed a series of workshops and perfomances for schools and youth organizations. The workshops can be a single workshop, a weekly class, or a more intensive one- or two-week program. These programs are ideal for summer camps, schools, and youth organizations.  

Our performers entertain and educate the audience in the realm of American folk theater: circus, vaudeville, sideshow, and "wild west" shows. Buckaroo Bindlestiff and the Cowboy Keith and Miss Philly shows take the audience on a historical tour of the the cultural melting pot of the American Wild West. The Circus & Sideshow lets the audience experience elements of over one hundred years of American popular entertainment. 

Both performances and workshops are  customized to appeal to the general age of the participants, whether they be elementary schoolers or university undergraduates.

We have created workshops for groups from first grade through college. With over fifteen years of experience, we are able to create programs that will challenge and offer goals that are attainable.
Circus Workshop Goals
1. Build good habits—patience, responsibility, and self-reliance

2. Develop conflict-resolution skills

3. Work as a team—idea sharing and peer mentoring

4. Foster physical fitness—use movement and exercise to handle conflict and stress

5. Nurture creativity—cultivate each individual’s imagination
Circus Skills Workshops
Bindlestiff offers a number of hands-on Circus adventures: a one-day intro to circus skills, a year-long Afterschool Program, a week-long Semester Break and a 2-week Summer Camp Session. Each is sturctured to fulfill specific course objectives.

Students learn basic juggling, an overview of clowning and physical comedy ( i.e. telling stories through movement and gesture), and a relationship to stage props.

The students will become a cohesive group–a troupe of performers–and will learn to support each other as they work towards common goals.

The classes all contain a physical conditioning routine with stretching and toning exercises, theater games, and circus and juggling skill building.

Longer workshops build toward a final public show, open to family, teachers, and other students. We will help the participants prepare skits, acts and group numbers to begin and end the show. Each child will have an active role in the show.

Final presentation is open to parents, family and other students.

Intro to Circus Workshop
A one-day workshop that allows participants to get a taste of a variety of circus and juggling skills. This two to four hour workshop allows participants to try a number of different circus skills. This can be used as a a great tool to promote the more extensive programs.

In-School/After School Circus Skills Program 60- to 90-minute sessions, 1-2 days per week
Each session focuses on specific skills like juggling (scarves and balls) prop manipulation (diabolos, devil sticks) balancing and equilibrism (stilts, object balancing, low balance beam), simple acrobatics (tumbling, simple group pyramids, splits). We also examine clowning and introduce the elements of physical comedy, building character through movement, and learning gags. Over the course of the semester, we will help kids focus on skills they like and guide them in preparing for a public student show as a finale to the program.
Camp Programs
So you want to run away and join the Circus? Join Bindlestiff Family Cirkus members for an exciting interactive camp program. The Circus Camp program can be the central aspect of an entire summer camp or as an exciting addition to any summer camp program. 

Participants will learn basic juggling skills including scarves, balls, rings, clubs, diabolos, devil sticks, and lassos. The participants will learn to balance feathers, brooms, and people.  The program may include basic acrobatics, the art of clowning and physical comedy, i.e. telling stories through movement, gesture, and a relationship to stage props.  The Circus Camp also provides an aerial arts option.
Work Plan
Each session starts with a group warm-up, a physical conditioning routine with stretching and toning excersizes.

Next will be a couple of theater games. In the initial days of classes, the games will focus on team building and getting to know each other. As we progress, the games will begin to focus on building character and improvisation.

When gymnastic mats are available, classes include a tumbling and basic acrobatics aspect. We focus on forward and backward rolls, shoulder rolls, head and hand stands and simple pyramid building.

Skill building comprises a majority of each session; as the program unfolds, students naturally gravitate toward certain props and skills, but should be able to demonstrate familiarity with basic juggling skills: balls and scarves; also basic balancing skills (peacock feathers, brooms, etc.)

The camp sessions are designed to build towards a final public show/ demonstration. Final presentations can be open to parents, family and other students.

The camp works quite well as the central focus of a summer or spring/winter break session.  When the program is the primary focus of the camp, the campers day will include time to write/reflect, lunch, circus videos, and a few discussion sessions.

Circus Staff
Circus Camp Director: For the full-day circus program, an on-site Circus Camp director is required. This person can be either associated with the host or with Bindlestiff.

Circus Instructors: Bindlestiff provides at least three circus professionals to teach the participants the skills.  The trio of instructors can teach a group of up to 30 participants. Larger programs will require an additional instructor of every additional 10 participants.

Circus Counselors: Counselors and/or counselors in training participate in the daily program, but are available to assist with class management and taking care of any disruptive behavior. The counselors are usually provided by the host.

Specialty Guests: When every day is a Circus and you want something even more spectacular, invite a surprise guest.  These can be performers or specialty instructors who are available for one or two days of the program.

Budget and schedule samples available upon request

Spring or Winter Break Session 4 hours per day, 5 days
In the morning, students focus on a variety of skills like juggling (scarves, rings and balls), prop  manipulation (rope spinning, diabolos, devil sticks) balancing and equilibrism (mini stilts, object balancing, low balance beam), simple acrobatics (tumbling, simple group pyramids, splits)

In the afternoon, we'll examine clowning and introduce the elements of physical comedy, building character through movement, and learning gags. We'll work on ensemble pieces with the intention of using them in a student show at the end of the week.  We'll help students figure out their area of interest and help them create a piece for presentation in student show, to which all parents, family and friends are invited.

SummerCircus Skills Camp  2 weeks, Monday thru Friday
Over the two weeks of the summer camp, days will be divided between skill and character study. In the mornings, students will focus on specific skills like juggling (scarves and balls), prop manipulation ( diabolos, devil sticks) balancing and equilibrism (mini stilts, object balancing, low balance beam), simple acrobatics (tumbling, simple group pyramids, splits)

In the afternoon, we'll examine clowning and introduce the elements of physical comedy, building character through movement, and learning gags. Students will learn to create their own unique clown or character makeup.

We'll spend a portion of each day working on ensemble pieces with the intention of using them in a student show at the end of camp.  By the end of the first week we'll help students figure out their area of interest and help them create a piece for presentation in student show.

Bindlestiff provides all equipment and liability inusrance for programs.
Bindlestiff's Circus Skill Workshops: Sample 10-Session Schedule
Class One
Introduction / Name Game
Demonstration of props
Basic tumbling / acrobatics *
Introduction to ball juggling

Class Two
Game: Scarf tag
Warm up exercises
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Introduction to juggling scarves
Continuation of juggling balls
Introduction to plate spinning
Character walking exercise

Class Three
Warm up exercises
Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Continue with juggling scarves/balls
Introduction to balancing objects

Class Four
Warm up exercises
Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Introduction to diabolo
Juggling Practice

Class Five
Warm up exercises
Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Introduction to devil stick
Continue with diabolos
Juggling Practice

 Class Six
Warm up exercises / Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Introduction to knot throwing
Introduction to juggling rings
Juggling Practice

Class Seven
Warm up exercises / Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Intro to manipulating household objects
Juggling Practice
Skill Show Off

Class Eight
Warm up exercises / Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Introduction to increasing manipulated objects:
4 & 5 balls, two diabolos
Juggling Practice
Skill Show off

Class Nine
Warm up exercises / Quick theater game
Basic tumbling/acrobatics *
Stage entrance and exiting exercises
Juggling Practice
Skill Show off
or Warm up exercises
Rehearsal for final Performance

Class Ten
Warm up exercises / Theater Game
Juggling Practice
Skill Show Off
or Warm up exercises
Final Performance
Cavalcade of Youth
Bindlestiff's Cavalcade of Youth, a program designed to assist youth in the development of performance skills, self confidecnce, and goal setting, features the future face of the variety arts. Directed by Viveca Gardiner, the program continues to develop.

On January 14, 2004, Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, in association with Playful Producitons, produced its first Cavalcade of Youth shows. Since then BFVA has created a more extensive youth program and thus provided a framework for children to create and develop acts. Over the past year we have added workshops and one-on-one opportunities for participating children to develop their material with help from professional artists. In 2006 we expanded the program to a twice-a-year showcase. We intend to develop the program further to include a broader range of workshops and learning opportunities. We also aim to create an all-youth band to provide live music at the performances. 

BFVA provides the children with a hands-on approach to theater and the entertainment industry. Performing on stage is a confidence builder, regardless of a child's future plans. The practice, dedication, and of course enjoyment that are necesssary in the variety arts are all important and positive experiences for youth. The opportunity to work with professional artists allows children to realize that a career in the arts is a viable option.

The program partners with other youth programs to search out participants and to build its audience base. The Cavalcade of Youth has featured performers and technical assistants from the Big Apple Circus's Beyond the Ring program, Circus Smirkus (a Vermont-based youth circus and camp), Acting Creatively (a young actor developlment program), as well as from New York City schools. The Cavalcade of Youth has showcased award-winning young performers from the International Jugglers' Association, the Society of American Magicians, and the Wild West Arts Club. These are the future stars of Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Brothers, and television. Read more about Cavalcade of Youth.