A’s for the class clown
On the afternoon before they perform at Staples Center, a group of would-be clowns, jugglers and acrobats -- ages 8 to 13 -- gather at the Hope Street Family Center on the campus of the California Hospital Medical Center in downtown Los Angeles to practice their routine.
But Evelyn Ramos, a day short of her 10th birthday, arrives on crutches. It’s nothing serious, but she is questionable for the big show. Then the coach, Donna Wood-Babcock, learns that the only boy in the troupe, Edgar Zambada, 9, has taken a field trip to Universal Studios and will miss the rehearsal.
So that leaves seven, but Wood-Babcock is unfazed -- even though her charges in the Hope Street Youth Circus will ply their skills in the center ring at Staples in front of real professionals from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which is in Anaheim for a string of performances ending Aug. 7.
Wood-Babcock and her assistant for the day, Julien Heron, put the troupe through a stretching regimen before the youngsters launch into their routine. They balance on rubber balls and teeter on boards supported by rolling cylinders while juggling bean bags and rings. They form a human pyramid, and if they stop smiling, it’s only because they’re concentrating so hard on the tricks they’ve practiced so much.
The children, none of whom could do a somersault when they first arrived at Hope Street, have been learning circus skills at no cost thanks to the Jumbo Shrimp Circus Academy, a local nonprofit that trains performers in physical comedy. Wood-Babcock, Jumbo Shrimp’s executive director, has taught circus skills at Hope Street for nine years, the last three through the academy.
The point of the program isn’t to launch kids into the circus but to teach them important life skills, such as how to perform in front of an audience and how to work as a team.
“It really helps develop teamwork and just a general sense of supporting each other, because they literally have to support each other,” Wood-Babcock said. “I think of it as more of a social tool. It develops all kinds of skills. It’s an amazing tool for developing focus. Kids that can’t stand still will spend a long time learning how to spin a plate or juggle.”
The children all live within walking distance of the center in a neighborhood known as South Park near downtown. The center is a haven for low-income families, many of which are recent immigrants from Mexico or Central America.
“We really started this as kind of a diversion for kids,” said Vickie Kropenske, who has been the director of the Hope Street Family Center since it opened in 1992. “But what it’s really come to be is a program that builds on kids’ self-esteem, builds their confidence, their ability to speak before groups, their poise, certainly, and also, unexpectedly, it’s been a huge help with physical fitness.”
The children do get a workout during practice. Obesity and risk of diabetes are significant problems in the area, and the closest park for the children to play in, besides a small one designed for infants and toddlers, is not within walking distance.
There are other benefits as well.
“It allows them to learn to make mistakes over and over and over, but that through repeated attempts they’ll succeed,” Wood-Babcock said. “And it allows them to learn to be vulnerable in front of other people and to trust that that’s OK and to trust other people.”
It also creates opportunities. In late August, the troupe will travel to San Francisco to represent Los Angeles at the America Youth Circus Festival. Wood-Babcock said she tries to get the troupe involved in six to eight shows per year, including local street fairs and festivals. The trip to San Francisco will mark the first time the kids have traveled to perform outside the L.A. area, and also the first time any of them have been to the city.
At last Friday’s show at the Staples Center, the children assembled in the center ring to perform in front of the professional clowns. Jitters prevailed.
A few family members joined the audience in a circle, and the Hope Street performers got to work.
They executed the show with few flaws, juggling and balancing, building a human pyramid, and yelling “Hey!” enthusiastically to begin each act.
Edgar made an appearance on stilts and Evelyn tried her best to overcome her injury but had to sit out some acts just to be safe.
Throughout the show, the crowd of family and clowns cheered loudly.
“They’re picking it up so much faster than I did,” said David Gregg, a current Barnum & Bailey clown. “I’m jealous.... I wish we had this when I was a kid.”
Peggy Williams, who was the first woman to get accepted to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, said the show was amazing.
“They will remember this for the rest of their lives,” she said.
After the performance, one professional kidded, “Who wants to run away and join the circus when they get older?”
All the troupe members raised their hands, some looking around for permission.
Doris Ruiz, Evelyn’s mother, said her daughter is always practicing her routine at home.
“I feel so happy for her because she gets very excited every time she participates,” she said. “She will some day be a good model for others.”
Wood-Babcock, 42, looked around at all the happy faces following the performance.
“It’s why I do this,” she said.
Brian Triplett can be reached at weekend@latimes.com.
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The circus
Jumbo Shrimp Circus Academy
For information on the children or to help sponsor their trip, visit www.jumboshrimpcircus.com
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Where: Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, 2695 E. Katella, Anaheim
When: 1 and 7:30 p.m. today, Friday, next Thursday and Aug. 5; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 6; 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 7; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ends Aug. 7.
Price: $13 to $85
Info: (213) 480-3232