Why Do We Foster Creative Work?

8/25/2024 |

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Whew! It’s been a summer full of performance; both my own personal performances, but also as a creative coach to budding performers. This summer, Thrive presented the creative work of 38 kids and adults, which included reflective solo aerial pieces, theatrical circus comedies and zany ensemble work.

At Thrive, our unique style of gentle guidance, from the back seat, puts trust in the artist to lead and find their way. As I reflect on this approach, I find that Thrive's core guideline in fostering creativity is our believe in YOU and all humanity. When it comes to art, we believe that everyone has something to offer, everyone has something to say and that our potential is limitless. While our skill-based learning may lean on progressions and curriculum, when it comes to choreography and art, we are student-led. Students, even beginners, even young ones, learn to create their own sequences. I may make suggestions or give challenges to expand their toolkit, asking, “can you do that with only 1 grip change?” or “find 3 places to connect with the audience."

This summer, the results of student-driven creation were a reminder of the importance of finding our voices and nurturing our inner artist. Our July camp created a show centered on a presidential debate, skipping over foreign policy and jumping right to the hot button issue of which is better? Pancakes or waffles? The students made performance crews called syrup squads, a circus family designed and built a prop applause-o-meter and the show featured numerous cutlery stilt walkers. The collaborative creative spirit reigned supreme as they navigated several great ideas for an ending to the performance. (Spoiler alert: “They are both the same!" Same batter that is.) With just the space to create and gentle nudge, these kids created a show that featured social commentary, originality and awesomeness.

It was a joy to watch our Adult Choreography Intensive and Youth Aerial Intensive students develop and perform beautiful work. Using the pathways and movements on an aerial apparatus to showcase not just feats of strength and flexibility, but reflections of the self, truth and choreographic exploration. They took to the stage in front of an audience of friends, loved ones and strangers. Performing can be an act of both creativity and courage.

So what is art and why foster it? Art is something that transcends the everyday, by intentionally looking within to share an idea, spark or imagination. In circus, our art is the union of the physical, intellectual and creative sparks. Acts may have different percentages of these elements- some heavy on the story, others heavy on the physical. Maybe an act is very quirky, there is a lot of room for a variety of style. But at the heart of it all, art is an expression of oneself, of one's experience. Art is a connector, art is healing.

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