Soaring through the Years: ISM’s Middle School Circus Arts Program

The Middle School (MS) Circus Arts Program at International School Manila (ISM) has become an enriching experience for students, combining physical skills with creativity. What started as an innovative addition to the curriculum has grown into a well-loved program that continues to challenge students to explore movement, performance, and personal growth in an exciting and unique way.
 

A Program That Keeps Evolving
The Circus Arts Program started in 2008 when an Elementary School (ES) student raised interest in learning circus skills. “We are always looking to empower students and amplify their voices, and so the answer was a resounding yes, and we put in our first order for juggling balls and some unicycles!” shares MS Assistant Principal Amanda Pekin, who also started the Circus Arts Program. What began as an after-school activity in ES soon expanded to Grade 5, and later extended to all of Middle School. The ES PE program also introduced a unit on circus skills, using it as a perfect opportunity to teach the concepts of skill acquisition and perseverance.




Each year, new equipment and acts are added based on student readiness, interests, and creativity. “Our ladder act was new this school year! Our newest cohort is interested in some clowning acts, so we will introduce some new skits,” Amanda adds, a true testament to the program’s evolution into a more creative and dynamic part of students’ experience.

Building Confidence and Embracing New Challenges
More than just a physical activity to improve coordination, the Circus Arts program offers a space for students to develop patience and creativity in a supportive environment. “Circus Arts is also a wonderful inclusive program that unites children together across grade levels and genders. It builds enormous confidence in children when they can master a skill that requires significant time and practice and perform in front of a live audience,” Amanda shares. Many students who may not be drawn to mainstream competitive sports find their place in Circus Arts, enjoying the mix of physical activity and creative expression.
 

“The parents of the students involved over the past fifteen plus years have been incredibly supportive,” Amanda says, with parents sharing that their children have asked for unicycles, stilts, or pogo sticks for birthday gifts. Some ISM alumni have even pursued careers in circus arts, with one graduate now working with the world-famous Cirque du Soleil.

Prioritizing Safety in Every Step
As with all physical activities, safety remains a top priority for the Circus Arts program. Students begin with small progressions, ensuring that they develop control and skill before advancing. “For example, stilts have various height settings, and we always start with the lowest settings along with adult support as they build competence and confidence, gradually increasing the height. The progressions are similar to training wheels when learning to ride a two-wheeled bicycle,” Amanda shares.

Learning how to fall is another essential part of the program, with instructors teaching students to land on two feet with a wide bent-knee stance and arms outstretched. Mats and rubberized surfaces provide additional safety when students practice balance skills such as the Earth ball, barrel walking, stilts, unicycles, pogo sticks, and the human hamster wheel. Coaches do routine safety checks on all equipment, such as always checking to ensure rubber stoppers are in place on the tops and bottoms of all stilts–ensuring that all students and instructors are in a completely safe space.
 

The Future of Circus Arts at ISM
Year after year, the Circus Arts program continues to grow, offering new experiences and challenges for students. ISM remains dedicated to fostering a safe space where students can explore creativity, movement, and confidence through the art of circus performance.

For schools looking to start their own program, Amanda advises beginning with the basics first and slowly expanding. “If a school is interested, then we recommend starting with small balancing acts, juggling balls, or juggling scarves and a few other simple items such as spinning plates and diablos, and then gradually build out,” she says.

Through each new act and skill mastered, ISM’s middle schoolers continue to demonstrate that the Circus Arts Program is more than just an activity–it’s a celebration of perseverance and a lifelong love for movement and learning.