NeuroCircus Workshops
*This work is currently in development
WHAT do you want to talk about?
Bringing circus arts to communities with a focus on connection and mental well-being (in the form of workshops and potential performances)
WHY do you want to talk about it?
We would love to gain a better understanding as to what workshop formats would work well in different communities, what fields of mental well-being are most important for us to focus on, and which target groups would benefit most from what we are offering.
What is your driving force in creating this work?
According to recent literature, engagement in the arts has clear benefits for mental well-being. Circus has the added advantage of encompassing such a broad range of skills that it is accessible by everyone.
We, as NeuroCircus, take a particularly strong focus on empowering individuals and celebrating differences.
Sarah and Ronan both have backgrounds in mental health and circus and have firsthand experience of the beautiful mash-up potential that they can have. Please see background and experience section for a better understanding.
Are you looking to engage in particular regional areas?
We would love to focus on a multi-generational, or top down approach, whereby older generations from parents to grandparents are the target. Often difficulties in childhood and youth stem from parents or guardians and we believe that by looking at the source has a greater, longer-lasting benefit to all. This approach, while less direct, targets issues at the source rather than utilising a bandage approach.
Bringing adults together with children and youth through multigenerational workshops, allows them to reconnect, strengthen relationships and establish a toolkit for moving forwards.
We also run programs in-schools with a performance opportunity at the end.
Is what you want to discuss time-sensitive, or does it have a date for commencement or completion?
We do not have a set timeframe. NeuroCircus is launching into the public eye on the 11th of October 2020, however is already running multigenerational and school workshops, as well as a pre-professional performance development class. Our longer term vision is to create therapeutic circus programs for mental health. Working alongside neuroscientists, we hope to examine exactly what is taking place in the brain when an individual engages in circus arts.
What do you see as the next steps?
Gaining a better understand about the need in regional communities so we can generate appropriate programs and packages to meet each unique environment. We are working alongside COMHAT in Boyup Brook to bring a workshop into the schools and community during Mental Health Week this coming October. From this we will review the processes and practices and make adjustments based on community responses. Addressing what worked and what didn’t and revising programs in preparation for going forwards into other communities.
What do you hope this project will achieve, and how will you know if it has been a success?
Bringing together individuals from all walks of life and helping family units to reconnect or strengthen relationships with a lasting impact. We operate under a philosophy whereby “if it impacts just one life, then it is worth doing”. If we can change the pathway or improve the life of just one person, then we consider the program a success. Measuring success is not always easy in preventative health services however we hope to one day have clear data on paper that demonstrates it’s success. In the meantime, witnessing connections and happiness in the moment and watching individuals take that away with them will be the clearest immediate impact. As a more tangible measure we will look at whether circus is pursued outside of the workshops.
Tell us about any supporting materials that will help illustrate the work.
Imagery and testimonials from local workshops to demonstrate personal experiences and the witnessed enjoyment brought to participants.
Please find attached a brief write-up of just some of the benefits of circus. This is based on scientific literature.
We would like to share styles of workshops that we have run and gain a better understanding about which best suit individual communities. We will ask about
Tell us about the skills and experience of the people involved
Sarah Green is a psychological scientist who branched into public health before merging this with circus arts through the founding of Kaleido Company in 2016. Since then, she has produced, directed and performed with Kaleido both locally, regionally and internationally. 2020 sees Kaleido divide into a corporate and community branch, the latter of which is a NFP, NeuroCircus. NeuroCircus is essentially “circus for the brain”. The driving force behind this is the clear benefits that Sarah has witnessed both through scientific research and teaching at 3 of the circus school around Perth for 7 years.
Ronan Eaton spent his childhood into adolescence, training, teaching and performing with CirKidz in Adelaide, before pursuing his passion for mental health in 2003. He then went on to work as a mental health nurse for 15 years, specialising in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. During this time he fell in love with Acro Yoga and spent six months touring the world pursuing this passion and delving into it’s potential to beautifully mix mindfulness, well-being and acrobatic movement. His professional experience is expansive and includes that such as:
– Child and Adolescent Mental Health – Group program with adolescents who have disengaged from school – Therapist in Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – Inc: Youth justice, Senior Clinician for Central West Queensland (400,000 sqkm region). – Resilience trainer SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute) – Perinatal Mental Health, inpatient nurse and community therapist.
Ronan and Sarah first met in early 2020 when their shared passion for circus and mental health saw an increase in drive to generate NeuroCircus. Their longer term goals include collaborating with neuroscientists to create therapeutic programs circus programs for mental health as well as studying the benefits at a neurological level.
Company Contacts
Sarah Green0490 770 244
info@neurocircus.com