Educational Programs

Hawaii's Volcano Circus

Educating Children & Adults Through the Performance Arts

HVC Educational Programs

Hiccup Children’s Circus

Our flagship program -- with the focus on children from rural Puna and Hilo, the ‘Hiccups’ have been a regular feature at most Big Island Festivals and Parades for years. We perform for community events and benefits extending across the Hawaiian Islands to the mainland United States.

Hiccup Circus members have received trophy after trophy in local talent shows including:

	1995 and 1996 Junior Division winners
	1997 Senior Division winners of the Exchange Club Statewide Talent Show
	First place in the prestigious Aloha Parade in Waimea
	First place in the Pahoa Winter parade
	First place in the American Cancer Society's Moonlight Madness parade

The universal appeal of the Hiccup Circus serves a full cross section of the demographic, ethnic, economic and social groups of the state.

Program focus is on children residing in subdivisions that are the most impoverished in the County of Hawaii, perhaps in the whole State.

In 1994 & 1995 we organized Community Arts festivals in the rural communities of Pahoa and Na'alehu.

The ‘Hiccups’ also presented " Na Kamalei O' Kana " a circus arts program for Hawaiian children in Keaukaha, Hawaiian Homelands, Hilo in 1996 through 1998.

Summer Activities for Children

	Day Camps -- four weeks within local community associations
	Week-long Residential Camps – two separate camp events
	Special Performances -- at County Parks and Recreation Summer Fun locations

Weekly Circus Arts Classes

Weekly after-school programs have been held in five community association locations using nearby community/ school gymnasiums and other available facilities.

Instruction features a variety of physical theater arts skills including:

	juggling
	stiltwalking
	unicycling
	acrobatics
	music

Our objective is to effectively train students to perform in shows and parades. Over 150 students are expected to participate in weekly after-school classes at any given time.

Juggling for Success Initiative

Juggling For Success is an innovative self-esteem program that has existed for over 20 years in 12 states on the mainland. HVC has served over 8,400 in the last ten years in 7 Big Island and Kauai Schools.

Features of the Juggling For Success Initiative are:

	performance arts instruction of 4^th- 6^th grade students to juggle scarves and balls
	the video-assisted, in-class fitness curriculum
	classroom teacher instruction with a certified juggling instructor
	student benefits including improvements in self-esteem, coordination, cooperation, concentration and self-motivation

Many teachers are able to seamlessly incorporate the program activities into their lesson plans. It is an important supplement to school’s Culture and Arts program, as well as physical education classes.

Juggling For Success Students learn that by using a step-by-step process, success can be achieved through hard work and persistence. Teachers are able to use juggling as a metaphor and model for other lessons.

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