Empowering Youth Through Circus Arts
A Creative Collaboration for Confidence and Skill Development
Since late September Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service and Cherry Orchard Youth Arts Programme has been working with the Dublin Circus Project to offer exciting circus skills workshops to the young people in the community. This collaboration more than just learning circus tricks – it’s an opportunity for young people to get creative, build confidence, and express themselves in a fun and supportive environment.
The weekly circus skills workshops have introduced a wide range of activities. Participants have been learning how to juggle, hula hoop, aerial acrobatics with silks and straps, and even try a bit of clowning! These activities are not just fun, but also help develop gross motor skills such as coordination, concentration, and determination. For example, learning to juggle isn’t easy—it takes practice and patience. But it’s a great lesson in how to stay calm and focused, even when things don’t go right at first.
For many of the young people involved, this is their first time trying circus skills. The excitement of learning something new and the joy of achieving even small successes has really boosted their confidence. Whether it’s vertical dancing or trapeze, each new skill learned brings a real sense of accomplishment
Gaining Confidence Through Circus Arts
One of the best things about the circus skills workshops is how it helps young people build confidence. When you try something new and challenging, it can be scary, but it’s also a chance to push yourself and grow. And that’s exactly what the workshops encourage. By mastering a new skill or taking on a challenge, the young participants are learning to believe in themselves.
It’s not just about getting a trick right; it’s about feeling more capable and understanding that with practice, you can overcome challenges. The workshops show them that failure is just part of the learning process and help them develop the resilience to keep going.
Expressing Creativity and Personal Growth
Circus arts are all about creativity. Young people are encouraged to create their own routines, try out new ideas, and express themselves in new ways. This allows them to think outside the box, solve problems, and develop their own unique style.
The workshops have also given them a chance to be themselves and show off their personalities in a creative way. It’s not just about learning a skill—it’s about finding your voice and learning how to express who you are.
Looking to the Future
Arts council funding has been secured into 2025 to continue and grow this vital collaboration between Cherry Orchard Equine Centre and the Dublin Circus Project. It’s clear that the impact will last long after it’s over with youth service staff learning aerial skills in tandem with the young people to ensure they can bring these skills back to their working practice.
The skills learned—confidence, teamwork, creativity, and persistence—are all lessons that will stay with the participants in many areas of their lives.
Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service and Cherry Orchard Youth Arts Programme with the Dublin Circus Project are committed to providing young people with opportunities that help them grow, have fun, and learn new things. This partnership is just the start, and there’s no telling what other exciting opportunities will come next for the young people of Cherry Orchard.
The experience has been something special for everyone involved. The possibilities are endless, and this is just the beginning!
A Dublin Circus Project led youth program funded by creative Ireland in collaboration with ISACS and Cherry Orchard Integrated Youth Service and Cherry Orchard Youth Arts through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and under the shared Island initiative in the Department of the Taoiseach.
