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EN ROUTE AFTERBEFORE BEYOND

INSIDE provides teachers and students a behind-the-curtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. Utilize this resource to learn more about the artists on the New Victory stage, how far they’ve traveled and their inspiration for creating this show. In addition to information that will enrich your students’ experience at the theater, you will find a Creativity Page as a handout to build student anticipation around their trip to The New Victory.

MAKING CONNECTIONS TO LEARNING STANDARDS New Victory School tool Resource Guides align with the Common Core State Standards, New York State Learning Standards and New York City Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. We believe that these standards support both the high quality instruction and deep engagement that The New Victory Theater strives to achieve in its arts education practice.

WHAT IS “INSIDE” CIRCUS OZ?

INSIDE

inside | CIRCUS OZ

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COMMON CORE

Speaking and Listening: Standard 1

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS

The Arts: Standard 4English Language Arts: Standard 1; Standard 4

This section is part of a full New Victory® School toolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education

Department check out: NEWvICTORySCHOOLTOOLS.ORG

Photos: Prudence Upton

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIvITy PAGE: DON’T TRy THIS AT HOME!

BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS

Theater: Developing Literacy; Making Connections

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INSIDEBEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

CLOSER LOOK AT CIRCUS OZ

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CIRCUS OZ FROM?

Here are a few facts about CIRCUS OZ to familiarize you with the show and build excitement around your upcoming visit:

• In 1978, Soapbox Circus and the New Ensemble Circus merged to create Melbourne, Australia’s CIRCUS OZ. Renowned for their collective mayhem, their unique brand of circus features a raucous rock ’n’ roll soundtrack, a mischievous sense of humor, and a celebration of a whole group of performers (which they call the “Mob”) rather than any one individual star.

• The company came up with the idea of a construction-themed circus as they were building their new home base; it was from the beams and scaffolding that they drew inspiration!

• CIRCUS OZ holds workshops with businesses across Australia to encourage and teach team building, trust, support, mutual goal-setting, collaboration, self-awareness, fun, innovation, and achievement.

CIRCUS OZ is a bold and brassy circus from “down under” that features a gang of brilliant jugglers, acrobats, trapeze artists and comedians. Returning to The New Victory for the fifth time, CIRCUS OZ brings an original show for this holiday season that draws inspiration from the classic photograph of construction workers on a skyscraper, “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.” The performers use gears, tools and construction materials to create this outrageous and energetic explosion of fun. Propelled by a live rock band, this all new show will dumbfound and delight your students.

‘The show has a wholeness that balances the beautiful with the chaotic, the skill with the politics and brings art, fun, inclusion and message into every moment.’ –Anne-Marie Peard (Aussietheatre.com)

• Australia is the world’s largest island, but smallest continent. It’s also the only continent governed as a single country.

• Melbourne is sometimes referred to as the cultural capital of Australia because it’s the birthplace of most popular Australian film, television, art, dance and music.

• There are an estimated 40 million kangaroos in Australia.

Melbourne, Australia

BEYOND

[ ]CIRCUS OZ: From the Ground Up = acrobatics + circus arts +

comedy + live music

inside | CIRCUS OZ

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIvITy PAGE: DON’T TRy THIS AT HOME!

AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE

NORTHAMERICA

ATLANTICOCEAN

PACIFICOCEAN

INDIANOCEAN

ASIAEUROPE

AFRICA

AUSTRALIA

X

X

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INSIDEBEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

CIRCUS OZ: From the Ground Up pulls from a variety of traditional circus arts to create their unique productions. Here are some acts you might see during the show!

1. STRAPS: An ancient Chinese specialty requiring tremendous upper-body strength. CIRCUS OZ brings their own style to this act by rigging it with a live human counterweight!

2. JUGGLING: A skill that features objects thrown into the air and kept in flight as the performer catches and throws them in sequence. CIRCUS OZ juggler, Hazel, uses her feet instead of her hands to juggle!

3. TRAPEZE: Flying acrobats swing from a bar high up in the air - some CIRCUS OZ cast members even hang from only their toes!

4. ROLA BOLA: A performer balances on a plank that rocks back and forth like a seesaw as it lies on top of at least one cylinder. CIRCUS OZ increases the challenge by stacking multiple cylinders in different directions!

5. TEETERBOARD: A giant seesaw propels acrobats high in the air with stupendous force!

6. SWAy POLE: An 8-meter tall metal pole that sways as performers slide, climb up and down, and even perform handstands on it!

7. MAGIC: In From the Ground Up, tricks of illusion and sleight of hand are performed with a twist of “lunacy.”

8. I N-LINE SKATING: The version of skating seen in the show comes from the streets of Australia to the New Victory stage.

Prior to exploring CIRCUS OZ with your students, find out how much they already know about the circus and the “Land Down Under” where the company is based. In addition, allow them to explore the concept of drawing inspiration from the ordinary to create something extraordinary.

Use the Prior Knowledge questions below, and the Creativity Page handout (next page) to get a sense of your students’ understanding of the art forms and themes in the show. You may be surprised by how much they know already, and in the process of exploring these areas, you’ll spark their curiosity to see the show and enhance their anticipation for the trip.

• What is a circus? Have you ever been to one? What do you remember?

• Have you ever been in a gymnastics class? What is an acrobat? Where have you seen one before?

• Do you know how to juggle?

• Do you think you have any skills fit for the circus? What skills do you think the performers need to possess to be part of the circus?

• Have you ever been to Australia before? What do you know about Australia? What do you think it is like to travel halfway around the world to perform?

BEYOND

INSIDE THE ART FORM WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

inside | CIRCUS OZ

INSIDE THE SHOW/COMPANy • CLOSER LOOK • WHERE IN THE WORLD

INSIDE THE ART FORM • WHAT DO yOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW?

CREATIvITy PAGE: DON’T TRy THIS AT HOME!

STRAPS

JUGGLING

TRAPEZE ROLA BOLA

SWAy POLE

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DON’T TRy THIS AT HOME

© The New 42Nd STreeT, INc.

CirCus Oz creates the acts in their show, From the Ground Up, by transforming the daily routine of a construction worker into a circus! Add suspense to your everyday life and build your own circus act based on your daily routine. Make the ordinary extraordinary!

What would you call this circus? What do you think the most exciting act would be?

What are 3 things you always do in the morning before you go to school? [write and draw these activities in the dotted boxes]

Now think of how you could transform your daily routine into a circus! How can you re-imagine these chores as suspenseful circus acts? For example: you could transform brushing your teeth by juggling flaming fire toothbrushes! Or you could transform your morning walk to school by walking the entire way on a tightrope! Write and draw your 3 acts in the space provided.