Developing Character and Community Through Aerial Arts Training

by Pendulum Aerial Arts

Seeing the people at Pendulum and the things they did reorganized my vision of reality. They were testing the limits of the human body in the most beautiful ways, telling a story through movements that said so much more. It was like looking into a world where reality was suspended. I immediately fell in love with it.

- Sara, Age 12

About Pendulum:
Pendulum’s education program was founded in 2000 by Artistic Director, Suzanne Kenney, who, after having a difficult time in her own teen years hoped to create a supportive community for middle- and high school girls during what tends to be a challenging time in life. Most of our students are girls, who average 3-5 years with the program. Through aerial, dance, strength and flexibility training, we offer a positive environment for them to develop many of life's needed skills: physical fitness, teamwork, leadership, and the ability to overcome challenges and accept constructive criticism. We find that girls who come to Pendulum avoid many of the potential pitfalls of adolescence such as drug use, teen pregnancy and academic problems. Our program gives them a place where they are valued for working hard while still having fun and spending time with their peers.

The program offers year-round classes in aerial arts and contemporary circus skills to students aged 8-18. We offer weekly recreational classes, workshops with guest artists and a popular two-week Summer Intensive. In addition we have a two-year professional training program for teens and young adults who hope to pursue a career in the aerial arts. Although there is always a wide range of abilities in our classes, we are inspired by achievements big and small – whether it’s a young student finally mastering a skill that has eluded her all term or a former student (and current coach) reaching the final round of Cirque du Soleil auditions.

At Pendulum we honor circus as a respected artistic discipline. Our focus is on rigorous training and correct technique. We differ from many programs in that we offer classes on a semester rather than a drop-in basis, which allows us to create a progressive curriculum where each student has an opportunity to build upon what she’s learned in previous classes and terms. Our program offers more hours of training each week than any other local group, allowing our students to experience what it’s like to explore a discipline in-depth. In addition to our local coaching staff, which has included graduates of the prestigious Montreal Circus School, for the past 13 years we have brought guest artists to Portland from organizations like Cirque du Soleil to offer specialized workshops. With all of these elements in place, there is no limit to what our students can achieve!

For more information visit www.pendulumaerialarts.org or our Facebook page.

The Need:
In March 2012, the US Department of Education released a report on the state of arts education across the country, the first report of its kind in over a decade. Only 18% of metro Portland elementary schools were shown to offer arts education as a regular part of their curriculum. The national average is 84%. Access to arts education, both in and out of regular school time, helps kids stay in school, excel at the core competencies, and build self-esteem.

Throughout this challenging time for arts education, Pendulum’s education program has provided a place for young people to focus on personal development, commitment, and skills-building through exposure to aerial arts, a unique and challenging art form. The program helps build students’ physical strength, confidence, and individual creativity. Our enrollment grew over 50% during the 2011-12 season, which showed us how much parents want to include the arts in the lives of their children. And we also know from parents that cost is a significant factor on whether or not their children can participate.

What We Want to Do:
Although Pendulum has awarded scholarships in the past, it has always been in an informal way out of our general operating funds. We have always wanted to have a designated scholarship fund, and with the recent growth of our program and the ongoing popularity of contemporary circus in the United States, this seems like a perfect time. We hope to raise $15,000 with this campaign.

How We Will Use the Funds:
Pendulum’s classes are the same cost per hour of class time as – and in some cases lower than – other aerial and circus programs in the Portland area and across the country. At $15 per hour, if we reach our $15,000 goal, we will be able to provide 1,000 hours of scholarshipped class time for our students! This will allow us to offer an additional class per week to students who currently can only afford to come one day a week, reach out to students and families who currently can’t afford to attend classes at all and help fund a portion of the cost of our Professional Training program for students who hope to make a career in the aerial arts.

Other Ways to Help:
We know that times are tough, so if you can’t make a financial contribution at the moment, but want to help Pendulum, here are some possibilities:

- Get the word out! Help spread the word about this project to your friends and family. Encourage them to give or tell their friends, too.