Beginning in sixth grade, all City of Lakes Waldorf School students regularly practice three-ball juggling in Circus Arts class. Our former movement and games teacher—and ongoing circus director—Jason Burnstein continues to guide this work, returning to CLWS each year during circus season. He holds a long-term vision that every student who graduates from City of Lakes Waldorf School will be able to juggle three balls.
Today, Jason leads his own circus arts organization, Hup (clap) HEY!, which is dedicated to inspiring youth to reach for their highest potential, fostering community, and nurturing well-being through a unique blend of music and circus arts education and performance.
At CLWS, that spirit continues to live on in our Circus Arts program. Juggling will come easily to a few, can be attained with hard work by most, and will be challenging for some. The hardest part is persevering and not getting discouraged when it takes time.
When learning to juggle, the first thing each student needs is a set of juggling balls to practice with at home. If you don’t have juggling balls readily available, don’t fret – you can make your own! Click here to watch Mr. Burnstein’s short video tutorial.
Juggling Benefits for Students
Learning to juggle has many great benefits. Juggling leads to improved hand-eye coordination, bi-manual dexterity, focused concentration, goal-setting skills, problem solving skills, and delayed gratification. Teachers have linked juggling to improved academic skills, and research has shown that there is a direct relationship between the hand-eye coordination learned through juggling and the ability to read, write and reason. Much research has also been published on the positive benefits that juggling has on the development of the brain.
Students that learn how to juggle also find other skills easier to acquire. This is partially because of improved reflexes and coordination, and partially because they have learned how to learn. The process of learning how to juggle will carry over to many different skills in life. It can also lead to self-confidence and a heightened sense of one’s personal potential.
Please help to remind your child(ren) to practice and cheer them on. Ask them daily if they can learn to juggle…and make sure the answer is ALWAYS: “YES, I CAN! (even if it takes me a while).” And while you’re at it, why not teach yourself to juggle, as well!
Questions about our circus arts program? Please contact Jason Burnstein at hup.clap.hey.circus@gmail.com
