Circus is great for physical strength, but it can also create mental health benefits.  In this workshop we will explore how to help our students experience their bodies as a safe place, so that a class situation might be a healing experience for people who have experienced trauma or neurodivergence — children or adults. We will explore how trauma affects the nervous system, ways that we as instructors can aid our students in learning about their bodies as they learn tricks, and ways to build a class or series of classes that can help balance the nervous system.

Prerequisites: none

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORs

Lissa McLeod has been teaching and performing circus arts and aerial dance for over ten years throughout the Southeast, nationally and internationally. Lissa toured with the Olive Tree Circus in Palestine and the US in 2008 and founded One World Circus with partner Jake Weinstein in 2010. Lissa has trained at the New England Center for Circus Arts (including a three month artist residency in 2017) and the Circus Arts Institute. Lissa teaches and performs extensively with Dragonfly Aerial and Circus Arts Studio in Knoxville, TN. A survivor and mother to children who are survivors, Lissa has directed the creation and production of “Webs”. 

Jake Weinstein has been teaching and performing circus arts for more than 20 years. Jake is an experienced aerialist, stilt walker, clown, juggler and unicyclist. He has trained with the New England Center for Circus Arts, the Circus Arts Institute, and Celebration Barn/Eccentric Performing, among others. Jake worked as a clown with the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, and has taught circus, street theater and performing arts at public schools from New Haven, CT, to Knoxville, TN, as well as the Children's Circus at Middletown, CT, and countless circus workshops in other venues with children and adults.