The Importance Of NoFit State Youth Circus
"I guess circus really does change people for the better." - How NoFit State Youth Circus has helped improve the lives of many youngsters in Cardiff
NoFit State Youth Circus performed at the opening of this year's Cardiff Winter Wonderland. I was originally just going to review the show but after speaking to some of my friends who are members of the youth circus, it appeared that they did more than just teach kids how to juggle and dangle upside down on a thin piece of silk.
Catrin's Story
I have been in Catrin's form at school for five years now and if I had to give my honest description of her, it'd be that she was; shy, unconfident and very insecure. This is also how she describes herself.
However, as soon as she steps into NoFit State Youth Circus group she changes completely.
The person I saw performing on the silks at Cardiff Winter Wonderland was not the person I knew from school; she was confident, comfortable in herself and her abilities and just incredible.
She says that NoFit State is where she feels she belongs and where she feels at home and if they can transform a person that much, what they do and for the kids that go there is no less than extraordinary.
She opened up to me during our interview after her performance and confessed that, "When I started circus I was still the very shy and unconfident person that I had been at school and everywhere else, but after a while I realised that this was the one place I was at home and I could just be myself."
Kieran's Story
I had managed to pin down Kieran for enough time to ask him a few questions before the show started. I asked him how he discovered NoFit State and he had said that his ex-partner, Skyler, had told him and pushed him towards it. And from the looks of things, Kieran hasn't looked back since.
This past Hallowe'en was his second year at NFS and he is now hoping to peruse a career in the circus. He is currently waiting for an audition for a circus skills course in London's Circus Space, which Kieran humbly described as a very prestigious and well-respected place.
He feels that he has no one to thank greater for preparing him and giving him the confidence and push to follow his dream than NoFit State Youth Circus and especially their educational officer, Lynn Carroll.
He admits that before joining NFS he was very unconfident and uncomfortable with himself and his body. But now that's a completely different story, thanks to NFS he has gained much more confidence and many skills and he is completely comfortable, "To take my shirt off anywhere!"
These are only two of the many youngsters NFS has helped. Such as 13-year-old Nicole who I watched skilfully and elegantly tackle the trapeze all by herself. When I had a quick talk with her she talked about how, like Catrin and Kieran, she was also shy and uncomfortable with herself but after a year at NFS she feels that she is now a lot more confident, emotionally and physically stronger and flexible, which she seemed very happy about. She talked about how NFS's laid back and exciting atmosphere was the perfect place for her to make new friends and be herself. When I asked her if she had anything else she wanted to say, she just smiled and shouted, "I love circus!"
16-year-old Joel said, "I'm not really sure what I would say, apart from everyone there is amazing and every lesson is fun and you always learn something new and push yourself to your fullest potential."
Another person who has been helped by NFS is 15-year-old Elinor, who discovered NFS when she was looking for new places to do exercise since after she quit doing gymnastics. She found out about a summer course that NFS were running and she says that she hasn't looked back since. This is her year fourth year at NFS and she says, "From circus I have gained loads of new skills developed as a person and gained confidence and it has to be the coolest thing ever to be part of NoFit. And since I have started circus it has made me realise I don't have to go to uni if I don't want to, I could study circus and perform for the rest of my life. Circus has become my life!"
Ollie is yet another person like Elinor and Kieran who wants to take up circus as a career because of NoFit. He says, "I have gained so much; technique, friends and an ambition to pursue it. I love circus it suites my personality!"
To anyone who is interested in learning how to spin around a large hoop suspended in the air or be helped to improve their confidence and strength, here are NoFit State's details:
Wednesday classes are from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday classes are from 12:00pm to 2:00pm
Phone number: 02920221330
www.nofitstate.org
John Street,
Cardiff,
CF10 5PE
Also, one last thing. The show they put on was incredible, well done guys!
Click here to see pictures from CLICawards 2011 where members of NoFit State Youth Circus performed
Click here to see some of TheSprout's pictures from the opening of Cardiff's Winter Wonderland
Organisations Nofit State Circus - Youth Circus & Circus Training
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Circus Skills
IMAGE: Polly Promo-Cymru
1 Comment – Post a comment
Sprout Editor
Commented 42 months ago - 27th November 2012 - 12:57pm
Brilliant article. I completely agree. No Fit State is a lot more than just a circus. My little brother started off as a member of the youth circus and now performs with No Fit State regularly. He loves it and has developed so much as a performer and as an individual. I like the fact that it shows you that you that there are lots of options in life. You don't always have to follow the conventional route. They also do lots of classes, so if you are interested in learning some new skills, get in touch with them.