About 200 River Valley School students participated in a circus performance on Friday, following a five-day visit from Sylvan Lake acrobat Bob Palmer.
Palmer, otherwise known as Flyin' Bob, performed a circus residency at the school from Monday to Friday of last week, along with Mike Batty from Vancouver and Robin Chestnut from Winnipeg.
They taught grade 5, 6 and 7 students several circus acts, and on Friday the students were put to the test.
ìWe taught them a whole variety of circus skills,î said Palmer.
ìJuggling, balancing, rola bola, tightwire walking, unicycling, scarf juggling, ball juggling, club juggling, and lots more.î
He said the circus acts teach students physical skills and help them gain confidence.
ìI do circus residencies in schools. It teaches kids physical skills, it teaches them how to use their whole body, and by accomplishing very, very unusual skills,î he said.
ìIt's really, really good for self-esteem building, confidence, learning how to perform in public and learning how to do really, really strong physical activities without a competitive aspect like a lot of school sports are.î
He has been teaching and performing worldwide for 30 years.
ìI get to play with juggling balls and juggling clubs and ride a unicycle and balance on things. I'm basically an adult who has never grown up and I've turned the things I love to do into a living,î he said.
ìYou don't just have to be normal. Being unusual or doing unusual things can be very rewarding too.î
