Bindlestiff Kids
BINDLESTIFF’S CIRKUS AFTER SCHOOL
Invites youth and adults of all ages and abilities to explore movement, collaboration, and creativity using the skills of the circus.
Our 2024 – 2025 Cirkus After School program partners include:
Mission
Our Mission is to create original, collaborative circus experiences that nurture transformation in people and communities by centering joy, wonder, healing, beauty, and learning.
We Do This By:
- Presenting high quality world class performances
- Lifting the diverse cultures, experiences, skills, and work of artists and creators.
- Creating relevant, high-quality circus arts education programs for youth and adults of all abilities.
- Serving emerging and established variety artists with funding
opportunities, technical support, access to residencies, and
professional development.
Vision
Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School and related programs are attracting youth and adults, including neurodiverse learners, who have an interest in the intersection of creative arts and physical discipline. The broad skill families of Cirkus speak to varied interests, and each individual finds a way in and place. Cirkus After School provides a path for advancement as older students progress into serving as junior counselors and mentors for younger participants. If interested in administrative skills or production, they become interns with Bindlestiff, learning how an arts business is run, and how events and shows are created. Parents and community members are involved as creative and cultural mentors, volunteers, and co-teachers. College students, former Cirkus After School participants, return on semester breaks to work with Cirkus After School or as BFC interns. Cirkus After School and Coarc Cirkus participants perform in local and regional festivals and shows, volunteer as juggling teachers for other youth programs, and are active in community service. Partnerships and creative collaborations between Cirkus After School and other regional youth circus programs culminate in public skill shares and performances. Cirkus After School participants travel to regional and national youth circus events, and report back via blogs and video news feeds on community social media sites. Cirkus After School shares data and program experience with other local and regional youth development organizations and agencies to enhance impact and reach. Cirkus After School becomes a model for other youth circus programs, introduces individuals to career pathways in circus and variety arts, and generates fulfilling work for youth, teaching artists and community members.
Values
Life-long Learning, Safety, Choice, Trustworthiness, Practice, Collaboration, Empowerment, Compassion, Respect
Cavalcade of Youth
Bindlestiff Cavalcade of Youth is a professional showcase for circus and variety artists under the age of 21, allowing emerging artists to experience all the facets of professional performance. Produced with Playful Productions twice a year since 2004, the Cavalcade of Youth day includes a tech rehearsal, directorial notes, and mentorship for each act, offered by Bindlestiff’s professional circus artists and coaches. Within a few hours, a full-scale, professional show is created and presented to the public on the historic Coney Island USA stage!
The next Bindlestiff Cavalcade of Youth: November 24, 2024 and Spring 2025 (date TBD) … join our mailing list to learn about youth act submissions, submit your act application here, get tickets for the show before they sell out!
Circus Skill Workshops • Youth Programs & Shows
Learn to Juggle • Walk a Wire • Clown Around • Ride a Unicycle • March on Stilts • Build a Human Pyramid
Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts offers a number of hands-on learning programs for all ages and abilities. From after-school programs to summer camp experiences; teen leadership training; in-school shows; and adult learning from corporate retreats to college courses and day programs for neurodiverse community members. Bindlestiff’s staff of professional teaching artists are ready to share the joy of learning with you! To create a custom experience for your school, event, or community center, email stephanie@bindlestiff.org
HUDSON JUGGLING CLUB
FREE! All ages and abilities welcome. Explore juggling, plate spinning, diabolos, flower sticks and more. Youth under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School seeks Circus / Variety Arts teaching specialists
Age requirement: 21+
Starting salary $30.00 / hour Part Time, starting at 2- 4 hours per week
Location: NYC / various
Skills / requirements:
Not all or our host sites are ADA compliant. Applicant must be able to use stairs and lift up to 30 Lbs.
Job requires moving equipment and spotting students for safety
Minimum 3 years professional experience in circus, gymnastics, or dance youth development programming (CIT, counselor, program assistant, provider, etc.)
Interest in expanding professional development in the areas of youth work, work with elders and neurodiverse learners, youth development, and circus techniques
*** Ability to work with youth in School District, Community Center, private, and municipally controlled venues. Background check required.
***Willingness to comply with CDC and NYS DoH current guidelines for COVID-19 community safety
Duties:
Help set up and clear equipment for class
Take leadership in specific skills you have expertise in
Support culture of program in cooperation with Lead Coach / Site Director
Lead activities such as games and warm-ups; support other coaches and junior staff
Coordinate with Site Director and Lead Coaches on how class will run, creatively contribute to lesson plan
Supports youth in self-assessment activities, surveys, etc.
Show proactive thinking and engage with distracted students
Mentor and encourage young learners
Keeps participants engaged in a positive, creative way while embodying Cirkus After School Values.
Shows creativity in creating activities, suggesting games, facilitating group conversations.
Shows strong class management and facilitation skills.
Shows cultural sensitivity and willingness to learn about participants.
Shows positive communication skills with youth and other adults, including host venue staff, families, and community members.
Shows commitment to personal development including circus skills, show production, and community interaction.
Paid Training:
10 hours required (paid) training in CAS culture, policies, and circus skills techniques
Ongoing quarterly staff trainings in youth development and best practices
Bi-weekly all-staff meetings
Advancement:
Salary increase after initial 10-hour training plus 40 hours classroom experience at CAS site plus professional development in TIC, SEL, RJ, PYD and circus skills
To apply:
Email resume to stephanie at bindlestiff.org
Questions? call or text 917-744-6844
ABOUT US
BINDLESTIFF’S CIRKUS AFTER SCHOOL (CAS) and Coarc Cirkus are programs of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus (BFC).
Skills like juggling, stilt walking, tumbling, partner acrobatics, prop manipulation and physical comedy help individuals to become stronger learners, community members, and leaders by encouraging them to express themselves creatively, challenge themselves physically, and work inventively with others. Coarc Cirkus serves adults with neuro-diversity and physical differences. The skill families of circus arts speak to varied interests and encourage physical and emotional well-being. Our methods are rooted in Social Emotional Learning, Trauma-Informed Care, and strengths-based approaches.
As educators, we help folks discover and develop their unique gifts; we look for creative ways to participate in our community life; and we seek healthy collaboration that supports our personal growth.
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has been making, producing, and touring original new circus work since 1995. Based in Unceded Lenapehoking (NYC) and Unceded Muh He Con Nuk Lands (Columbia County) The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Bindlestiff’s Cirkus After School actively cultivates a culture of anti-racism, inclusivity, accessibility, and equity for everyone regardless of age, race, gender expression or identity, life experience, justice-impacted status, immigration status, religion, culture, ability, education level, or preference.
