Page 22 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019
P. 22

BY  STEVE GIFFITHS

          A 250-year-old art form is being practiced in        they never thought they could. They get so
          Rochdale and not many people know about it.          much confidence from the circus skills they
          Apart from the former Beatle, John Lennon,           can learn.”
          who wrote a song called ’For the benefit
          of Mr Kite‘.                                         Children in Need, Short Breaks, Henry Smith
                                                               and the Postcode Lottery fund projects with
          Lennon saw a poster from 1843 in a second-           special schools and for young people with a
          hand shop advertising Mr Kite’s performance in       variety of special needs and disabilities
          the show of the great Pablo Fanque at
          Rochdale’s Town Meadows and now Skylight             Besides the performances they put on in
          Circus Arts keeps up the tradition from their        Rochdale they have worked with international
          well-equipped circus school and studio theatre       circus organisations and in other Greater
          in St Chad’s Fold, with training in circus skills    Manchester venues such as the Lowry.
          and performances of the art of circus.
                                                               As Martine says, they have a long tradition                                                                PHOTOS: GILES BENNETT
          Founded almost 30 years ago, Skylight                of showing that circus is a genuine art as well
          preserves the traditions and skills which circus     as great exercise.  Generations, a moving and
          promotes and combines them with other                highly-skilled collaboration between Skylight’s
          art forms such as dance and drama, to create         older Youth Circus and the Silver Circus (over
          new circus theatre. From walking on high wires,      55s) was awarded ‘Cultural Event of the Year’
          to performing on the trapeze, silks or cocoons       2018 at the Culture and Sports Award
          and all skills in between, Skylight will develop     Ceremony in Middleton Arena.
          people who want to run away to the circus, or
          just enjoy testing themselves and                    The youth or adult aerial classes helps people
          developing their confidence.                         to learn and develop skills on all forms of rope,
                                                               silks and trapeze.
          Their team of experienced trainer/performers
          can offer young people, disabled people and          You can start as a complete beginner and in a
          the silver haired the opportunity to grow and        very short time you are dangling up there
          perform in a safe environment.                       striking a pose. And all in a safe, supportive
                                                               environment.
          This is ‘social circus’ where the benefits to
          health and well-being are as important as            So, if you want to get your child ready for a
          the creativity.                                      circus career, develop your own ability to walk
                                                               over people’s heads on a high wire or simply
          The Creative Director, Martine Bradford, says        want to be more flexible then Skylight
          they work with a wide range of people                Circus Arts is the place for you - and it is based
          because many want to develop their abilities.        in Rochdale


          Martine said: “It is amazing how people                        www.skylightcircusarts.com
          respond to the chance to do something that

          REAL ROCHDALE - Summer 2019                       22                                                                                                                    23                    REAL ROCHDALE - Summmer 2019
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