Circus Skill Levels-

For use in circus / juggling clubs, projects, clubs, guides, scouts etc. They are aimed at ages 8-13 roughly eystage 2/3 but could be adapted for younger children. This is to save other projects having to write their own levels for badges / certificates. See notes on how to use underneath and disclaimer.

P skills are pre skills, with the main skills being graded at Basic, Intermediate, Advanced. They are listed continuously for copy and pasting below.

Acrobalance
Acrobatics
Ball Juggling (3 balls)
Club Juggling ( 3 clubs)
Devilstick
Diablo
Hula Hoop
Pois
Rolla Bolla
Scarf Juggling
Skipping
Staff
Stiltwalking
Unicycling

- Why not use our circus levels / badges for your children
- Can also be used to help plan sessions
- Meant to be attainable and fun
- Some are slightly easier than others (this really helps when working with special needs)
- Any ideas on making these better, please contact Circus Into Schools.
- These are created as a learning structure for teachers who have basic skills.Acrobalance / Acrobatics should NOT be taught if you are not trained. You should only teach unicycling, strap on stilts and Rolla Bolla if you are experienced at teaching these activities so you understand the hazards.
- These have been put together with additonal help from tutors from Cirque du Ciel.
- Always make sure you have risk assessed the activities you are going to run, considering the needs of the children, number of adults, space available. Children who have special needs or are overweight are slightly more likely to hurt themselves.
- All activities planned by you are at your own risk and Circus Into Schools takes nor esponsibility for use of these skill levels.

Acrobalance

Must be taught by an experienced teacher.
Must always warm up.

P1 Mind and body co-ordinated, standing, extending key.

P2 Balance on one leg for 20 seconds and then the other.

P3 Balance on one leg leaning forward with arms outstaright and back straight.

P4 Demonstrating balancing with someone holding wrists and leaning backwards.

P4 Move from one balance to another without falling over 3 times, either on your own or with a partner.

Basic

Balance on someone’s upper legs holding wrists, Flag, Kneeling pyramid. 3 people star.

Acrobatics

Must be taught by an experienced teacher.
Must always warm up.

P1 Demonstrate a forwards roll. Tuck head in and roll over.

P2 Demonstrate headstand without straightening legs. Put head on floor and slowly lift legs up.

P3 Practise backwards roll.

P4 Practise Cartwheels

Basic

Forward Roll- tuck head in and roll over.
Headstand – make sure hands are separated and gently lift legs up.
Back Roll Over – and lift legs and roll over.

Cartwheels –stand sideways put one hand down then the other and hop.

Intermediate
Back bend – Lay on tummy lift hands to side and touch head.
Diving forward rolls?
Demonstrate a routine of 3 moves linked together.

Advanced
Back bend from top must warm up properly.
Demonstrate a rountine of 5 moAdvanceves to music on own or with another person.

3 Ball Juggling

P one

One ball from hand to hand. With hands at pocket level throwing diagionally to oposite corner of rectangle about same height as top of head.

P two

Throw one ball to another person and back. Throw two balls to another person.

P three

Two balls in one hand. When first is at the top then throw second one up.

P Four

Two balls crossing. It is often good to practise throw, throw, drop, drop first (each diagonally to opposite corner) with second ball being thrown after first reaches the top and underneath first ball like an "x". It is often easier for participants to start with hand that is not dominant. Scarves are also a good way of teaching ifrst steps.

Basic

You can juggle three balls in the kascade pattern for 10 throws.

Intermediate

You can demonstrate juggling balls for 20 throws and three different tricks.

Advanced

You can demonstrate 5 tricks solo. You can do two patterns with two people.

Club Juggling ( 3 Clubs)

P1 Throw and catch 1 club with spin, hold in middle.

P2 Juggle 2 balls and 1 club in 3 ball pattern, club throw needs to be bigger.

P2 Throw 2 clubs in same pattern as would teach 2 balls.

P3 Practice starting with 2 clubs in one hand.

P4 Try throwing all 3.

Basic

10 throws under control not forward.

Intermediate

20 throws, demonstrate a double spin.

Advanced

3 Tricks and a short routine.

Devilstick

P1 throw and catch.

P2 Throw and catch with rotation.

P4 Tic tac x2 on floor.

P5 Tic tac 3 passes in air.

Basic

Tic tac 10 passes and 3 tricks.

Intermediate

Tic Tac / show 2 more difficult tricks from advanced list.

Advanced

Work out a rountine linking 5 different moves together to music.

Examples; Demonstrate chopper (hit in middle up and goes around in a circle)

Vertical balance, helicopter, the wheel, (towards chest) propeller (circle with one stick)

Diabolo

P1 - Right handed, you roll the diablo along the floor from your right and get it going with the right hand. Left handed, you roll the diablo along the floor from your left and get it going with your left hand.

P2 -You can stand facing the hole in the end the diablo.

P3 -You can keep your sticks in line.

P4 - You can correct it when it tips.

Basic

You can spin the diabolo and correct it if it starts tipping.

You can throw it in the air and catch it three times.

Intermediate

You can whip and do 5 tricks.

Advanced

You can do 10 tricks and throw in two ways with some one else.

You can drive with both hands.

Hula Hoop

Basic

Keep hula hoop up for 6 turns.

Intermediate

Hula hoop around arm, round neck, walk whilst hula hoping, use more than one hoop.

Advanced

Hula hoop on stilts or pedalgoer. Hula hoop arm through HH, bring up over head and back to waist. Demonstrate a rountine linking 5 moves together on your own or with someone else.

Pois

P1 – forward parallel circles

P2 – backwards parallel circles

P3 – one hand of two handed crossover, with both hands on own.

P4- 2 forward parallel circles and one cross over.

P5 -front circles across front of body.

Basic

Parallel circles, forwards and backwards, two handed cross over.

Intermediate

Butterfly, staggered weave, plus two extra tricks.

Advanced

One trick from Butterfly, three point weave, a rountine linking up at least 5 tricks. A sychronised routine with someone else.

Rolla Bolla

Basic

You move backwards and forwards keeping your body upright 4 times not holding on to the wall.       

Intermediate

You can jump on and balance (support around waist when practising this), roll backwards and forwards 10 times. You can sing and do the actions to “I'm a little teapot” whilst Rolla Bolling.

Advanced

You can rolla bolla on a cylinder with a larger dimension, you can jump and land, you can demonstrate another skill as well as rolla bolling. You can demonstrate a short routine using the rolla bolla.

Scarf Juggling

P One

One scarf from hand to hand. With hands at pocket level take scarf and drop iy diagionally to the opposite corner of rectangle about same height as top of head.

P Two

Two scaves in one hand. When first is at the top then throw second one up.

P Three

Two scraves crossing. It is often good to practise throw, throw, drop, drop first (each diagonally to opposite corner) with second ball being thrown after first reaches the top and underneath first scrave like an "x". It is often easier for participants to start with hand that is not dominant.

Basic

You can juggle three scarves in the kascade pattern for 10 throws.

Intermediate

You can demonstrate throwing scarves for 15 throws and three different tricks.

Advanced

You can demonstrate 4 tricks solo and two with another person.

Skipping

P1 skip on own with own rope, forwards.

P2 skip on own with own rope backwards.

P3 start skipping from stationary.

P4 with 2 people truning run through under rope.

Basic

Run in and do 10 jumps.

Intermediate

run in and do 10 jumps, demonstarte 5 tricks

Advanced

Show exciting routine using 2 of following; double dutch, skipping with own rope inside a turned rope, skipping in middle with 4 turners and 2 ropes crossing over at 90 degrees,
cartwheeling, bunny hoping on a Unicycle or breakdancing in pattern.

Spinning Plate

P one

Spin the plate by any method.

P two

balance on finger.

P three

pass to another stick

p four throw and catch

Basic

Spin using wrist or fingers, demonstrate how to get plate spinning any way. Throw and catch balance on finger. Throw from finger to stick. Demonstrate under leg and balancing the plate walking around in a circle.

Intermediate

Start by cool or circus way. Demonstrate turning stick over,

under arm, under leg, behind back and a trick with another person.

Advanced

Get spinning plate going by cool and circus way. Demonstrate a roll whilst holding one or 2 spinning plates. Invent your own trick, do a rountine on your own or with another person using 5 tricks.

Staff

P1 Figure of 8 dominant hand..

P2 Figure of 8 weak hand.

P4 Roll across back of hand.

P4Balance on hand or chin..

Basic

Figure of 8 with both hands swopping, roll over hand using both to accelerate.

Intermediate

Demonstrate a contact move, a turning move, throw and catch, link 3 moves together.

Advanced

Work out a rountine linking 5 different moves together to music.

Stilt Walking

P1 walk on stilts supported with both hands in front.

P2 Walk with perosn supporting alongside with 1 hand.

P3 Practise falling, bend knees and fall onto matt as if kneeling down with first impact on knees and not wrists. Fall should be under control. Explain (but don't practise) if fall siedways or backwards should try and right ones self and if can't turn round to land on hands/ arms rather than back/head.

Basic

walk on stilts, head shoulders knees and toes, demonstrate how to fall.      

Intermediate

Running, hoping, skipping, dancing, swivel, clap and stamp, do another skill while doing stilts i.e. hula hoop, diabolo, flower stick etc. Putting on stilts and kneepads.

Advanced

Demonstrate higher stilts, how to help someone walk on stilts. Playing team games ie football or basket ball.

Long distance walking (with an adult) in a parade or charity walk.

Unicycling- Circus Into Schools are specialised at teaching uniycling which is a difficult skill so levels are more complicated.

P1 Get on unicycle correctly

P2 Unicycle length of hall holding on to 2 people's hands on either side.

P3 Unicycle length of hall holding on to 1 person's hands on side.

P4 Unicycle the length of the hall holding on with 1 hand.

P5 Push of wall.

P6 Unicycle 2 metres

P7 Unicycle 5 metres

P8 Unicylce width of hall

P9 Demonstrate how to dismount from front of unicycle under control.

P10 Unicycle length of hall.

Basic

B1 Dribble a ball on unicycle to the end of the hall and back.

B2 Unicycle in a figure of 8.

B3 Unicycle holding on to another childs hand. Demonstrate

The star.

B4 Unicycle length of hall with hand on head.

B5 Dribble ball with unihoc stick length of hall and Dribble ball with unihoc stick around 3 objects and back.(not on unicycle)

B6 Unicycle with hockey stick. Need to always hold end with one hand ask Ali how to do correctly.

B7 Catch a ball 5 times whist unicycling.(not all at same time)

B8 Free mount.

B9 Bunny hop twice without falling of.

B10 Catch a ball that someone throws to you whilst unicycling.

Intermediate

I1 Dribble a ball the length of the hall under control.

I2 Demonstrating unicycling backwards with someone holding one hand for length of hall.

I3 Do a 90 degree turn to the left and the right.

I4 Cycle of a drop similar to that of the pavement.

I5 Unicycle figure of 8 with each circle within 3 metres

I6 Bunny hop twice in the middle of the hall and ride off.

I7 Dribble a ball with a hockey stick around an obstacle and back to a point.

I8 Ride 4 metres backwards

I9 Pass a health a safety test.

I0 Help a beginner for at least 10ms.

Advanced

A1 Free mount with both feet.

A2 Demonstrate 3 types of mount

A3 Come to stop pedal half a revolution forward backwards and continue forwards.

A4 Ride with stomach on seat for 10m

A5 Turn sharp 180 degrees left and right.

A6 Unicycle 5 metres

A7 Hop 5 times

A8 Ride over a 10 x 10 obstacle

A9 Ride a figure of 8 with circle diameters smaller than 1.5 metres

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