Balance + Acrobatics Bootcamp

See what it takes to get into circus school by watching this preview of "Big Top Academy." What would you want to learn if you were a circus school student?

Cirque du Soleil is home to some of the most talented acrobats on the planet. Their performances require strength, flexibility, rhythm, balance—and courage! Take a look at some of their most impressive acts in this 50-minute video.

Meet Silvia Dopazo. She's an aerialist, or a person who performs acrobatics high above the ground, with Cirque du Soleil. This is a day in her life.

Check out these talented young circus stars from Guinea as they train. Many of these kids have been practicing the circus arts for most of their lives!

Ever wanted to become a mime? Mimes are circus performers who use their bodies and expressions to communicate and entertain without words. Watch this video to learn more about how it's done. Then, without talking or making a sound, start practicing your miming. Quietly entertain your entire family with your mime skills.

In 1974, French aerialist Philippe Petit walked across a wire 110 stories above ground. He planned this illegal undertaking for months before shocking the world. Read more about him in this article from Biography.com.

Have you ever seen a person dance on stilts? The UniverSoul Circus stilt walkers are pros at it. Watch this quick clip to get pumped for what you’re about to create today: Your very own stilts!

The stilts you see in the circus are usually very tall, but beginners start with lower ones to build their skills. Follow these step-by-step instructions for how to make your own stilts out of sandcastle buckets and rope.

To start, tape a straight line on your floor (about 5 feet long) to create a "tightrope." You could also use a jump rope, a long piece of string or yarn, or anything long and straight that you can lay flat on the floor.

Start by walking sideways across the line. Can you keep your feet on the line the whole way? If that's too easy, try walking forward on the line, placing the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot.

Still too easy? Add new ways to walk across your tightrope: slow, quick, backward, on tiptoe, whatever you want to try. You can also place obstacles—like a toy or a pillow—on your tightrope. Can you hop over them and land perfectly on the line? If you know how to do a cartwheel or somersault, try doing one while staying on your line. Now imagine you're hundreds of feet in the air. Would you have stayed balanced? Or plummeted to the ground?

For some fun that is surprisingly athletic, try the Invisible Box Challenge. Texas high school cheerleader Ariel Olivar was considered the #1 Invisible Box Challenger back in 2017 and teaches us how to do it. Now it's your turn.