Nov 30 2009
Another round of Spirit Clowning, another big success!
JN Burnett High School in Richmond is lucky – they are one of the high schools in the Lower Mainland that has an elective Leadership class. They are even luckier to have a thoughtful, motivational teacher, Ms. Leslie Dell, teaching the Leadership course.
Three years ago, a fellow clown-doctor and I approached Ms. Dell in hopes of creating a curriculum for her students, who are generally grade 11 and 12 students. We wanted to share the basics of Red Nose work with non-professionals, and have them experience the connection, self-expression and creations that can be made wearing “the smallest mask in the world”. She welcomed us with open arms and thereupon we created Spirit Clowning.
Now in its third year of success, Spirit Clowning is a branch of Jest for Joy that promotes Educational/Outreach opportunities in Red Nose. Spirit Clowns are non-professional performers who are facilitated by a professional clown-doctor to promote joy and inspiration through Red Nose work. This intensive workshop series culminates in a celebration of life with a selected community group, performed by the Spirit Clowns.
As Spirit Clowns, participants:
- gain a new-found respect for and connection with humanity
- gain self-confidence, body-awareness, and leadership skills
- heighten their sense of creative self-expression
- be challenged to take on the responsibility of creating a connection with strangers
- develop artistic performance skills
This year, I worked with 57 students in two classrooms for an 8 session workshop series to prepare them for their Celebration of Life day. We chose an Inner City Elementary School in East Vancouver to present our event to. This elementary school is in the top 3 schools within the Vancouver system for high needs. We had been there two years before, and the feedback that we continue to receive event to this day about our last visit, encouraged us to approach them again.
The Leadership students were largely responsible for creating the structure of the event – this year they created the theme Rumble in the Jungle and the following stations: story time, face painting, magic, bracelet making, improv games, snack decoration and balloon animals.
We invited approximately 90 children at this elementary school, in kindergarten to grade three, to join us for the fun. We had two hours of play and celebration, and ended with a bang thanks to a very generous donation of pizza and water for all the children from the Boston Pizza Foundation.
By the end of the day, many of the Spirit Clowns were sweaty, exhausted, overwhelmed and delighted by all of the smiling faces they witnessed and hugs they received. They recognized the impact of the gift they had given, and many of them were sharing in anecdotes of the day before they had even changed out of their costumes.
I love this work! Facilitating and participating in this work fills me with joy and inspiration- it does not go unnoticed by me that the key words include in our mission statement and hope to deliver through the work of Jest for Joy are the same experiences I gain from the work and its creation.
I have now worked with Spirit Clowns with the Richmond School Leadership Conferences (RSLC), at an Orphanage in the Dominican Republic, at an Inner City Elementary School and at a Community Centre’s Skate with Santa. The situations and length of time I am working with these students vary, but the results are always similar for me: an intense love for humanity, and a re-instilled sense of how we can all make a positive difference in the lives of others. I am so inspired by these students, many of whom have never taken a drama class before, or for whom English is a second language. The self-imposed barriers that they are faced with are challenged by their desire to have fun and do the work, and the breakthroughs are beautiful.
I have the students write a reflection page after we have performed the Celebration of Life day, and I would like to share a few of the following question and responses from them that warmed my heart. Remind yourself of what high school life was like, and how amazing these comments are, coming from 15-17 year olds:
What 3 words would you use to describe your experience of Spirit Clowning?
- touching, life changing, awesome
- inspirational, self-discovery, freedom
- beneficial, love, courage
What does Red Nose Work mean to you, in your words?
- It means that you just let everyone be who they want to be.
- The passion, in leadership and life.
- The Red Nose work to me means being yourself, totally letting go of whatever is holding you back. Preparing yourself to become a better and stronger person
- To bring joy to the people who need them. To let them know that they are not left out.
- It means creating joy in other people’s lives and inside yourself while also getting to know yourself better.
- To free ourselves.
- For me, the Red Nose is a tool to help me get out of my comfort zone and be in the actual world where everyone is different.
These comments from the students let me know that they understand the connection between Spirit Clowning, and their Leadership class. But most of all, they allow me to see the love that we all have and want to share with others.
With a smile,
Allyson
