Disabled people do not have a very good history with the circus. But as part of the Cultural Olympiad malarkey, this weekend saw me head off, with some reservations, to take part in a work shop with Cirque Nova, a kind of Cirque du Soleil for wheelies.
I have discussed before how I have never really felt part of the disability community, and as such have avoided such activities targeted at us as a demographic. I am put off by activities that promise to teach me “valuable life skills” – I have had some 33 years practice at life without such help, and I seem to be doing ok, thanks. But as the days get shorter and the shadow of seasonal affective disorder begins to loom I have made it a mission to Get Out More and to Try New Things instead of just hibernating until summer is here again. And so Saturday found me hanging upside down from the roof of Circus Space, with a very patient man trying to persuade me to let go of the rope and hang by one foot, whilst attempting an upside down pirouette-type movement with the other foot.
Thanks to the floor to ceiling mirror I can promise you that this looked as undignified as it sounds. I am naturally graceless, disability or no, and I have made a career of using the wheelchair as an excuse to avoid any activities requiring elegance. And yet, it was incredibly good fun. I have always liked heights, and now, it seems, I am also good at being upside down. When your physical control is haywire anyway, being suspended 20 feet up in the air the wrong way up and held in place by fabric and a few bits of metal poses less challenges than it might for someone who can rely on their own body for normal motion.
And so I have been invited to work with Cirque Nova on an ongoing project that will culminate in a show somewhere in London next year. I have a few concerns about this, not least the Freak Show aspect, or the dubious underlying philosophy of trying to “empower” me through the medium of circus art, or the fact that this morning my arm muscles feel like they will never recover. But, dagnamit, it was so much fun, I think I’m going to do it…
And before anyone asks, I am sad to report that there were no girrafes or unicycles in sight.
Oh my god. For me, anyone who can happily hang upside down is definitely a bit freakish! I can take a bit of muscle pain, but vertigo-inducing situations are a complete no-no for me.
If you can, you should.
That’s the strange thing, I know I have no fear of heights, but being upside down seemed oddly natural.
Perhaps I have unleashed a hidden superpower!
@Sara – When your physical control is haywire anyway, being suspended 20 feet up in the air the wrong way up and held in place by fabric and a few bits of metal poses less challenges than it might for someone who can rely on their own body for normal motion.
Surely, reduced control in such a situation would make it even more scary? My hat is off in recognition of your courage! I hate heights and am relieved that my kids are all tall enough now to ride rollercoasters unaccompanied:
That sounds amazing, Sara, and certainly required a lot of courage. I’m not afraid of heights either (in fact I’m rather fascinated with views from mountaintops and cliffs); my problem is the equipment (ropes, pitons, harnesses, etc.). This fear, or lack of trust, has limited my willingness to try more technical climbs. I’m very happy to hike, or do a bit of rock scrambling or glacier traversing, but roped climbs make me nervous.
@ Stephen – Roller coasters are great, unless they run backwards. I especially like the older wooden variety.
@Stephen, I’m used to relying on fabric and metal, which is perhaps why I had less qualms about the whole thing.
In the same vein I guess I am happy with the equipment, I just assume it won’t let me down! I have thought that I might be able to cllimb with ropes, perhaps I’ll give it a go after the circus!
Well good luck with that! Make sure to take some photos!
Check this out – “JETMAN”
Source = National Geographic Channel