For the past two weeks, 34 students have been learning how to balance on large rolling globes, walk on wires, ride unicycles and roll around on German wheels. They have also been learning how to juggle, diabolo, hoop, and spin plates. Add in an hour of clowning, strengthening and stretching warm ups and playing games that are designed to build teamwork makes for a very intense experience for youth, ages 8-19.  

My Nose Turns Red (MNTR) has been hosting two German wheel competitors and coaches, Guilia Seifert and Kira Weise for the past three weeks. Giulia and Kira are visiting from Germany and have been sharing their expertise with My Nose Turns Red's circus students. The first week of their visit was spent training our teen coaches and for the past  two weeks they have been teaching our summer circus campers.    

Wheel gymnastics originated in Germany and involves exercises in a large wheel known as the Rhönrad, or German wheel. Invented in 1925 by Otto Feick, the German wheel was inspired by the memory of an event from Feick's childhood when he had tied sticks between two beer barrel bands that his father had made and rolled down a hill. This is MNTR's second year of German wheel training. Steve Roenker completed the Level 1 coach training from Wolfgang Bientzle, an eight-time world wheel champion. Through Wolfgang, MNTR has been able to host wheel coaches Nozomi Yoshida from Japan and Ido Leviatov from Israel. Steve and several youth circus students attended the Chicago Wheel Weekend last fall and look forward to attending again this year.

Jesse AlFord, a youth circus coach, returned this summer to teach unicycling and juggling. We have had the pleasure of using the newly opened Washington Park and have been riding the circle every morning. The students determined that seven laps equals a mile. Advanced students have been clocking in their miles, learning to free mount, idle, hop and ride backwards. Intermediate students are gaining confidence riding in the gym and new students often ask,

"How can people do this?" However, they can see the others ride confidently so they know that it is possible! Look for My Nose Turns Red's newest initiative, the Unicycle Parade, at the City of Carthage National Night Out, on August 7, 2012 and the Community Arts Centers Day, August 11, 2012 at Emanuel Community Center. 

Kira and Giulia have been teaching acrobatics and leading the morning and afternoon stretch. Teamwork is being tested as the entire group is working on presenting a pyramid for the Friday evening show. One mother confided her sons have been astounded that they are very sore and another mother told us her son came home every night tired but happy.    

Friday night's show will also feature jump roping, new and advanced jugglers, circus hoopers and an array of balance skills on the rola bola, rolling globes, and wire, both low and high. Thanks to our funders and donors, MNTR has been able to purchase new circus equipment and bring in exceptional coaches for their youth circus program.  MNTR will be adding static trapeze to their program this fall and you can help raise funds for the equipment and trainers by donating to www.power2give.org,  "Give Youth A Lift", which is an online fundraiser that matches your project dollars.

After Friday's performance, My Nose Turns Red will host three more circus camps for youth and space is still available. Next week's camp will be held at Emanuel Community Center, followed by a camp for 4-7 year olds at Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center in Covington, and in August, a weeklong camp at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park. Visit  My Nose Turns Red for the schedule and download the registration forms. Email My Nose Turns Red or call 859.581.7100.

My Nose Turns Red will begin the 2012-2013 20-Week Advanced Youth Circus Program beginning September 8, 2012 at Emanuel Community Center. The 2013 Youth Circus Extravaganza  is set for April 27 & 28, 2013 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Look for registration and a complete list of all of My Nose Turns Red's fall classes soon, including the Circus Youth in Action program at Holmes Middle School in Covington, Kentucky. My Nose Turns Red is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Kentucky Arts Council, ArtsWave, Cirque du Soleil, and Greater Cincinnati Foundation.  

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