Last Friday night, Class 6 students presented Circus Maximus! This was a big night in their final year of Primary school, where many aspects of a year’s work came together for one marvellous show.

Each year, students from Class 6 spend a large part of the year during their Bothmer gymnastics classes learning tumbling, mini-tramp, juggling, and manipulation of objects such as devil sticks, plate spinning, hula hoops, and diabolo. They learn human balancing and act-making, developing strength, balance, and coordination.
Late in Term 3, Class 6 children and their parents come to the woodwork room to make stilts, organised by the Maintenance staff and Barney. From this moment, the Class 6 students become much taller and begin their journey of balancing up high and seeing the school from a different point of view!

During Eurythmy, the teacher Jess choreographs patterns, mostly from the eurythmy work, and students learn a routine on stilts, which they practise until showtime. Ensemble Musique with Fiona and Vincent also work on scores over the year that they envision will accompany the circus show, and this has become a wonderful creative partnership that always comes together beautifully on the night. Enter: Gi-Ant, our very skilled drama teacher, who volunteers his time to MC the circus night, on stilts, often while juggling, joking, or playing the trumpet. The audience brings a great spirit of joy and wonder.

The Class 6 students bring their routines together and are well supported to present the best of their year’s work on the night, and (usually) they are well practised!
Last Friday night, Class 6 were excited to share a beautiful, skilful showcase of acrobatics and comedy (including levitating a strangely familiar audience volunteer!). They truly showed that performing circus work accompanied by high-quality live music is an outstanding achievement and a great feather in their cap!

CONGRATULATIONS to the CLASS 6 CIRCUS MAXIMUS STARS! We are very PROUD OF YOU!

Kate and I would like to thank: Josie, Amy, and Kelsaya for helping to develop the circus skills; our MRSS Maintenance team, Simon, Ned, and Julian, for excellent support; Ant for seamlessly adding to the fun and skill and being part of the super glue of all Circuses past and present; Jess for the Eurythmy choreography; Fiona and Vincent for adapting and creating beautiful music with staff who volunteered, Jorge, Tai, Melcs, Con, and MRSS students; RUCCIS Circus for lending us equipment; and the Class 6 parents for supporting the students, manning the popcorn machines, and so much more. Thank you!

Katherine Ellis, PE, Circus and Bothmer Teacher