Circus-Avalon.com

OH&S Documentation

Circus Avalon Activities

Age Group Organiser Average number Ratio (max) Activities

5-12 OOSH or Primary School 20 Adult:Student 1:7
Trainer:student 1:40 Juggling; Diablo; Small Unicycle; Low Tightrope; Level One Tumbling; Devilsticks; Low Stilts; Clowning; Singing; Dancing; Level One Balances; Slapstick Chair; Spinning Plastic Plates.

11-16 Secondary School or Avalon 25 Adult:Student 1:15
Trainer:Student 1:30 Juggling; Diablo; Small Unicycle; Medium Tightrope; Level Two Tumbling; Devilsticks; Low and Medium Stilts; Clowning, Singing, Dancing, Still Trapeze; Basic and Advanced Rola-Bola; Level One and Two Balances; Barrel; globe; Slapstick and Low Chair; Spinning Plates.

14-50 Avalon 15 Trainer:Student 1:25
Many Adults All Activities Listed Below

5-50 Festivals 30 Trainer:Student 1:50
Many Adults Juggling, Diablo, Unicycle small), Low Tightrope; Devilsticks, Low balances, Still Trapeze.

In addition, Circus Avalon does six performances per year. These may involve any of the above skills, performed in front of an audience. The show is free to the audience, who are arranged ¾ of the way around the stage area. The stage area is 60cm high with mats on top of that, and the audience is separated from the stage area by a barricade. Audience numbers would be about 200 at a time, standing around, outdoors. There would be about 15 performers in total, although for almost all the time only one or two would be onstage.
Circus Avalon does not work with animals.
Glossary:

Aerial Ring A steel hoop about 1m in diameter is suspended in the air.
Safety: Appropriate Mats, Sequential Activities

Balances One or more people (called Fliers) balancing on one or more other people (called bases) while being helped by one or more trainers (in this case called spotters).
Safety: Appropriate Mats, Frequent Supervision, Proper Spotting, and Sequential Activities.

Level One: All Basic Balances from "Pyramids and Balancing Illustrated" and kneeling pyramids up to two high.

Level two: All intermediate balances from "Pyramids and Balancing Illustrated" but excluding those involving the head; Plus jumping into thighstands,shoulder stands and basic throws; kneeling pyramids up to three high.

Level three: All advanced balances from "Pyramids and Balancing Illustrated" but excluding those involving weight on the head; plus jumping to shoulders, jumping to flag and intermediate throws, three-high balances.

Barrel Walking balanced on top of a 44 gallon drum.
Safety: helmet, shoes, knee, wrist and elbow pads to be worn while learning. Adequate spotting to be provided by sufficiently trained or experienced adult.

Chair A very strong chair (generally purpose built) is used for various acts.
Safety: Continuous Supervision, Appropriate Mats, Appropriate Footwear, Sequential Activities and Control of Distracting Activities Nearby.

Slapstick Chair: Is various low falls from the chair (Does not Require Close Supervision)

Low Chair: Includes Handstands on the Chair

Medium Chair: Is stacking two chairs and balancing on the uppermost one.

High Chair: Is stacking multiple chairs and balancing one or several people on the upper chairs.

Clowning Involves any of the Circus Skills used by the Character.

Cloudswing A rope is suspended from each end so it forms a U shape. Performer does tricks similar to trapeze.
Safety: As Trapeze.

Devilsticks Manipulation of one stick using two other sticks.

Diablo Manipulation of a spinning object using two sticks connected by string.
Safety: Separate area to minimise risk of diablo landing on someone.

Globe Walking balanced on top of a fibreglass globe 500 – 2000mm in diameter.
Safety: Demonstrated Proficiency in rola-bola, unicycle and barrel before attempting globe. Must wear helmet, shoes, knee, wrist and elbow pads while learning, and helmet at all times.

Juggling Manipulation of multiple objects, including balls, clubs, rings, cigar boxes.

Stage Magic Performance of magic. May involve tiny amounts of fire with the flash-paper.

Rola Bola A cylinder about 200mm diameter is placed on the ground (so it can roll) and a board is placed on top of that. The performer stands on the board and balances.
Safety: Rider must wear shoes and mats placed on either side of rola-bola.

Basic: Rola-Bola is standing on the rola-bola and manipulating objects.

High: Rola-Bola involves stacking several rola-bola on top of each other.

Advanced: Rola-Bola involves body moves while on the rola-bola.

Spinning Plates A plate is spun on a stick.
Safety: The stick is pointy, so all participants are required to face the same direction, and a trainer is delegated to supervise this.

Plastic: Plates are light and easy. They are spun on a wooden stick held in the hand.

Ceramic: Plates are heavy and fragile. They are spun on steel poles stuck into a support.

Stilts Leg extenders strapped to the calves. Height is distance from bottom of feet to the ground.
Safety: Kneepads, shoes and supervision. Shoulder-roll fall from stilts is taught first.

Low stilts are 100 - 400 mm tall.

Medium stilts are 400 - 800mm tall.

Tall stilts are above 800mm tall.

Rope A thick rope is suspended and the performer climbs it in various ways and does tricks on it.
Safety: As Trapeze.

Tightrope A steel wire stretched tightly between two supports.
Safety: Continuous Supervision, Appropriate Mats, Appropriate Footwear, Control of Distracting Activities Nearby. No one whose waist is lower than the rope is allowed to learn unspotted.

Low tightrope is less than 400mm high

Medium tightrope is between 400 and 800mm from ground. This height allows for more difficult tricks.

High tightrope is above 800 mm.

Tissu A piece of material is suspended and the performer does tricks hanging from it.
Safety: As Trapeze

Trapeze A horizontal bar connected to the ceiling by a rope from each end. The bar is placed 3200mm or higher from the ground.
Safety: Continuous Supervision of Recently Acquired Tricks, Appropriate Mats, Appropriate Footwear, Sequential Activities and Control of Noisy or Distracting Activities Nearby. Strict written control of the activities each person is authorised to perform. No use of the apparatus if performer is considered by the trainer to be unfit to train.

Still Trapeze: Involves moving the body around the bar and ropes while the trapeze remains still.

Swaying Trapeze: Involves the same movements as still trapeze, but the bar is swaying gently, less than 45 degrees either side of vertical.

Duo Trapeze: Involves two people on the one trapeze.
Safety: Flier may be in a safety harness belayed from the ceiling if appropriate.

Double/Triple Trapeze is two or more people on the one trapeze apparatus.

Tumbling The floor section of gymnastics as described by the Australian Federation of Gymnastics.
Safety: Appropriate Mats and Sequential Activities.

Level one is Kindagym

Level two includes Basic Rolls, Cartwheels

Unicycle Single wheeled bicycle.
Safety: separate space cleared of potentially dangerous objects, people are kept out of the unicycle space and riders must wear shoes. For tall uni, a bicycle helmet is to be worn.

Small means wheel cranks are connected directly to the wheel.

Tall means the cranks are connected to the wheel via a chain and two sprockets.

Web A rope is suspended from a swivel. The performer climbs and the rope is spun.
Safety: As Trapeze

Whip-cracking A 2-meter stockwhip is cracked in various ways.
Safety: Safety glasses worn by cracker, complete isolation from anyone else in 4meter radius.

Contact Circus Avalon

Age Group	Organiser	Average number	Ratio (max)	Activities
5-12	OOSH or Primary School	20	Adult:Student 1:7 Trainer:student 1:40	Juggling; Diablo; Small Unicycle; Low Tightrope; Level One Tumbling; Devilsticks; Low Stilts; Clowning; Singing; Dancing; Level One Balances; Slapstick Chair; Spinning Plastic Plates.
11-16	Secondary School or Avalon	25	Adult:Student 1:15 Trainer:Student 1:30	Juggling; Diablo; Small Unicycle; Medium Tightrope; Level Two Tumbling; Devilsticks; Low and Medium Stilts; Clowning, Singing, Dancing, Still Trapeze; Basic and Advanced Rola-Bola; Level One and Two Balances; Barrel; globe; Slapstick and Low Chair; Spinning Plates.
14-50	Avalon	15	Trainer:Student 1:25 Many Adults	All Activities Listed Below
5-50	Festivals	30	Trainer:Student 1:50 Many Adults	Juggling, Diablo, Unicycle small), Low Tightrope; Devilsticks, Low balances, Still Trapeze.

Aerial Ring	A steel hoop about 1m in diameter is suspended in the air. Safety: Appropriate Mats, Sequential Activities
Balances	One or more people (called Fliers) balancing on one or more other people (called bases) while being helped by one or more trainers (in this case called spotters). Safety: Appropriate Mats, Frequent Supervision, Proper Spotting, and Sequential Activities. Level One: All Basic Balances from "Pyramids and Balancing Illustrated" and kneeling pyramids up to two high. Level two: All intermediate balances from "Pyramids and Balancing Illustrated" but excluding those involving the head; Plus jumping into thighstands,shoulder stands and basic throws; kneeling pyramids up to three high. Level three: All advanced balances from "Pyramids and Balancing Illustrated" but excluding those involving weight on the head; plus jumping to shoulders, jumping to flag and intermediate throws, three-high balances.
Barrel	Walking balanced on top of a 44 gallon drum. Safety: helmet, shoes, knee, wrist and elbow pads to be worn while learning. Adequate spotting to be provided by sufficiently trained or experienced adult.
Chair	A very strong chair (generally purpose built) is used for various acts. Safety: Continuous Supervision, Appropriate Mats, Appropriate Footwear, Sequential Activities and Control of Distracting Activities Nearby. Slapstick Chair: Is various low falls from the chair (Does not Require Close Supervision) Low Chair: Includes Handstands on the Chair Medium Chair: Is stacking two chairs and balancing on the uppermost one. High Chair: Is stacking multiple chairs and balancing one or several people on the upper chairs.
Clowning	Involves any of the Circus Skills used by the Character.
Cloudswing	A rope is suspended from each end so it forms a U shape. Performer does tricks similar to trapeze. Safety: As Trapeze.
Devilsticks	Manipulation of one stick using two other sticks.
Diablo	Manipulation of a spinning object using two sticks connected by string. Safety: Separate area to minimise risk of diablo landing on someone.
Globe	Walking balanced on top of a fibreglass globe 500 – 2000mm in diameter. Safety: Demonstrated Proficiency in rola-bola, unicycle and barrel before attempting globe. Must wear helmet, shoes, knee, wrist and elbow pads while learning, and helmet at all times.
Juggling	Manipulation of multiple objects, including balls, clubs, rings, cigar boxes.
Stage Magic	Performance of magic. May involve tiny amounts of fire with the flash-paper.
Rola Bola	A cylinder about 200mm diameter is placed on the ground (so it can roll) and a board is placed on top of that. The performer stands on the board and balances. Safety: Rider must wear shoes and mats placed on either side of rola-bola. Basic: Rola-Bola is standing on the rola-bola and manipulating objects. High: Rola-Bola involves stacking several rola-bola on top of each other. Advanced: Rola-Bola involves body moves while on the rola-bola.
Spinning Plates	A plate is spun on a stick. Safety: The stick is pointy, so all participants are required to face the same direction, and a trainer is delegated to supervise this. Plastic: Plates are light and easy. They are spun on a wooden stick held in the hand. Ceramic: Plates are heavy and fragile. They are spun on steel poles stuck into a support.
Stilts	Leg extenders strapped to the calves. Height is distance from bottom of feet to the ground. Safety: Kneepads, shoes and supervision. Shoulder-roll fall from stilts is taught first. Low stilts are 100 - 400 mm tall. Medium stilts are 400 - 800mm tall. Tall stilts are above 800mm tall.
Rope	A thick rope is suspended and the performer climbs it in various ways and does tricks on it. Safety: As Trapeze.
Tightrope	A steel wire stretched tightly between two supports. Safety: Continuous Supervision, Appropriate Mats, Appropriate Footwear, Control of Distracting Activities Nearby. No one whose waist is lower than the rope is allowed to learn unspotted. Low tightrope is less than 400mm high Medium tightrope is between 400 and 800mm from ground. This height allows for more difficult tricks. High tightrope is above 800 mm.
Tissu	A piece of material is suspended and the performer does tricks hanging from it. Safety: As Trapeze
Trapeze	A horizontal bar connected to the ceiling by a rope from each end. The bar is placed 3200mm or higher from the ground. Safety: Continuous Supervision of Recently Acquired Tricks, Appropriate Mats, Appropriate Footwear, Sequential Activities and Control of Noisy or Distracting Activities Nearby. Strict written control of the activities each person is authorised to perform. No use of the apparatus if performer is considered by the trainer to be unfit to train. Still Trapeze: Involves moving the body around the bar and ropes while the trapeze remains still. Swaying Trapeze: Involves the same movements as still trapeze, but the bar is swaying gently, less than 45 degrees either side of vertical. Duo Trapeze: Involves two people on the one trapeze. Safety: Flier may be in a safety harness belayed from the ceiling if appropriate. Double/Triple Trapeze is two or more people on the one trapeze apparatus.
Tumbling	The floor section of gymnastics as described by the Australian Federation of Gymnastics. Safety: Appropriate Mats and Sequential Activities. Level one is Kindagym Level two includes Basic Rolls, Cartwheels
Unicycle	Single wheeled bicycle. Safety: separate space cleared of potentially dangerous objects, people are kept out of the unicycle space and riders must wear shoes. For tall uni, a bicycle helmet is to be worn. Small means wheel cranks are connected directly to the wheel. Tall means the cranks are connected to the wheel via a chain and two sprockets.
Web	A rope is suspended from a swivel. The performer climbs and the rope is spun. Safety: As Trapeze
Whip-cracking	A 2-meter stockwhip is cracked in various ways. Safety: Safety glasses worn by cracker, complete isolation from anyone else in 4meter radius.