Hanging by a moment

Hanging by a moment

The circus is in town everyday at Spectacle Blue

Story by JODY SANDERSON

The first thing one notices when walking through the door of Spectacle Blue, is the big black curtain directly in front. It’s enticing, because who doesn’t want to know what’s behind a curtain?

Robin Szuch notices right away, and we sit down in a couple of chairs just in front of the curtain.

“We make magic back there,” she says, and smiles.

Originally from the ‘hood of Forest Lawn, Robin’s life of dance culminated with a Theatre and Dance Degree from the University of Calgary, which of course meant moving to Toronto.

“Everyone in theatre, music, dance, went to Toronto,” says Robin, “because there just wasn’t anything around here to aspire to. My mom told me I always marched to the beat of a different drummer.” She laughs. “My dad asked if this was really a serious career choice!”

It was while there, as she made the rounds of auditions and training at night, and plied her skills in accounts payable by day, Robin became interested in physical theatre.

“It had to work. I could never have been a ballerina,” laughs Robin. “I have actual legs.” “I saw the flying trapeze at Harbourfront, and put it on my bucket list. My very sensitive boyfriend at the time, bought me six weeks of training for my birthday.”

Robin, who had never even been to a circus, never looked back. The training and auditions stopped, and full on aerial and acrobatic arts became her life.

She eventually began working at the school, and dreaming with her dance partner Stacy, of a company of their own. With the encouragement of her very appreciative accounts payable boss, who became her business mentor, the pair built their own outdoor aerial rig.

They started small; summer festivals around Southern Ontario, contracting out to other schools and companies. And the word spread. Robin and Stacy have trained, coached and performed on every continent, for over ten years.

“But there comes a time, when you become tired of the road. Stacy was dating the owner of a theatre company in Calgary, so we came home. So, naturally, I spent the next five years in veterinary medicine to pay the bills! I loved my work, but I also loved my dog.”

A gig in Turner Valley, some time at an emergency vet clinic in Calgary, and the fortuitous meeting of her husband Andy, Robin was ready for a change.

“Andy encouraged my to open my own studio. He totally believed in me.”

Five years in Okotoks, Spectacle Blue moved to their current location in March, 2017.

Classes are available for ages 3-17, and drop in pro-grams for 18 and up. Programming includes Adaptive and Sensory Circus, for those with physical/cognitive disability, where every student gets their own coach, and all work is done with parents. The Performance Company for 9–17 includes coaching for three shows in house, and multiple shows on the road, which last year included the Mayan Riviera.

Robin builds her own stories, recreates stories and is proud to announce that Coraline will be the big show in May.

Robin’s goal is to eventually develop a circus school, similar to the Alberta Ballet School, which would include three equal elements: academic, skills and community, that would include real life skills.

And here, she gets serious, and with tears in her sparkling blue eyes.

“I love watching my students grow. They give so much. And for me, being a great human being is more important than being a great performer, or anything else. Because you won’t always be able to perform… but you can always be a great human being.”

For more information on programming, go to spectacleblue.ca

Making a spectacle of oneself

Fearless freelancer learns the ropes, literally

When Robin finally let me behind the black curtain, I learned to do four new things I could never do before. And they say that’s how to stay young and how many people actually get to go to circus school?

Robin is the consummate professional, her warm encouragement was palpable. I stopped being nervous.

“Yup, you’re doing this,” she laughed, as she introduced me to the hammock. Who hasn’t eased into the sway of a hammock? Robin’s hammock is nothing like that! First, you don’t sit in it. It goes behind your back, you lean against it, swing your legs up and there you are…like a happy bat! And it really is as easy as it sounds. With Robin spotting me, just like that, I moved into a back straddle. Who knew? I could feel this would be a work out, and the world took on entirely different perspective.

On to the trapeze. When standing in front of it, I thought No way! Yes, way, with Robin coaching, I learned how to strategically mount the trapeze, let go, and was exhilarated! Then, get this, Robin turned me into an angel! Really, it’s an actual aerial move.

The hoop looked a little more daunting. I’ve been to the circus, I’ve seen what those artists are capable of. But now I’m pumped, motivated and trust Robin completely. Bring it on! I was more uncertain about the physics of being able to manoeuvre this apparatus, but once again, Robin’s patience and encouragement won out. In everything students learn at the academy, safety is primary. The mat gave me some assurance that if I did land flat on my back, it wouldn’t be so hard. But that didn’t happen. Placing my hands, arms and legs in sequence, I was told I had just made an angel mount. Me! It reminded me of swinging as a child, trying to touch the sky. She asked if I like spinning fast. I must have turned green. She then told me the trick to managing that…and I learned the science spin!

When I got back on the ground, I felt a little disappointed. Being up there was free! And it was the most enjoyable workout I’ve ever experienced. Thank goodness for the Adult Drop In classes! Cuz I wan’t that feeling again!