Circus takes over Reinhard

Coaches from Cirque Du Jour, a Florida-based circus school, visited Bellmore’s Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center earlier in the school year to teach students some fun new tricks to add to their repertoires.

A Cirque Du Jour team came to the school, which houses Bellmore’s youngest students, on Nov. 13 and 14. The program was held in conjunction with a Bellmore PTA-sponsored cultural arts program.

Cirque Du Jour’s programs are designed for children of all ages, as well as children of all levels of physical development, according to the company website. Coaches aim to offer students the chance to experience the exciting world of the circus –– and not by watching, but by doing.

The Bellmore program began with a showcase of some of the coaches’ skills and an assembly, which also included student participation. Following the circus show, students hit the gym for a more personal experience, as they learned to juggle, spin a plate on a stick and perfect the art of balance.

Cirque Du Jour representatives said they wanted students to use their imaginations and be creative on their circus journeys, in addition to learning circus skills along the way. The Cirque Du Jour mission is to offer students loads of circus fun in a safe and non-competitive environment.

The Bellmore PTA, which comprises parents of students in all three of the district’s schools, funds numerous cultural arts events and educational activities throughout the school year. PTA fundraising helps pay for events like the Cirque Du Jour program and other shows, performances, author visits, field days and more.