On Mixing the Ages...

3/14/2025 | Heidi Kirchofer

Category: circus, thrive movement studio, performance, lifestyle, movement, health, fitness, wellness

One of the things I love the most about Latin America is how ages and generations come together. This is where Joel and I met; where we traveled as street performers for years. Celebrations include everyone - Grandma is dancing with the young kids and the emphasis is about everyone together. Throughout our travels, I was witness to a culture where the young and old do not just help each other, but value one another. 

Circus is similar. While training can be an individual activity, we can still practice our own skills in a group space, allowing abilities and ages to come together and share the room. Our summer circus camp ranges from 5 year old newbies to older teens. The little kids are welcomed into this yearly ritual by the older kids with experience, who act as guides through the process. As a collective group, we meld the ideas of all ages, creating circus acts for a quirky and fun show. It is exciting to watch new students learn and find their footing, while observing seasoned veterans take on more challenging roles, as performers on stage and leaders off. Every summer I marvel at how good the kids are to each other and how we don’t see much division based on age or gender. I deeply wish our nation could come together and create as well as I am witnessing these kids do! 

As I approach a milestone birthday, I am reflecting much about age and time and how youth and age have so much to offer one another. Both groups suffer from many assumptions and lack of respect, but as I have witnessed that this does not have to be the way. If we can step into play with open hearts and a smile at any age. Circus certainly has so many lessons to share…

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