San Marcos dance teacher creates 'Circus of Dancers'

By: BRENDA DURAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, January 20, 2007 11:20 PM PST ∞

SAN MARCOS ---- San Marcos High School dance teacher Bonnie Bagheri was scrambling to find ways to make her dance classes more creative and exciting for students when an idea popped in her head.

"I thought of Cirque du Soleil," said Bagheri, referring to the Canadian dance troupe that features eccentric jugglers, trapeze artists, colorful props and elaborate modern dance moves in its shows.

Bagheri said she wanted to start incorporating some of the troupe's themes and ideas into her five dance classes at the high school, which range from beginner to advanced.

To make that idea a reality, she applied for a grant last year to buy props such as balls, flower batons, hoops, colorful body balls and ropes.

Last month, Bagheri's wishes were granted when she received $1,000 from the San Diego Foundation, a philanthropic organization that gives grants to schools, among other programs.

"I was ecstatic," said Bagheri. "It's really hard to get money for the arts."

Since receiving the grant, Bagheri has bought props, and also has been using the money to buy Cirque du Soleil and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus DVDs. She said she plans to show them to her dance students to teach them about the historical and cultural impact of the circus throughout the years.

She also hopes it will spark some inspiration.

"It's something new. They've never tried it before," said Bagheri. "It's exciting because they are all very, very creative."

Bagheri said her students will learn how to create, perform and produce new dances with small and large groups based on the circus theme for a show in May.

She has already begun to introduce her students to the new props and has challenged them to create dance moves with them.

Sophomore Elaine Munro said she was very intimidated when she learned a bit of juggling in one of her classes recently.

"I dropped the balls a lot," said Elaine. "But it was fun. It was something really different."

For others, like sophomore Christina Moulton, learning how to incorporate circus props in her daily dance routines has been fun ---- and an interesting task. She has already decided that she will be practicing how to twirl the colorful streamers around while she dances instead of juggling.

"I think it will look good on stage," said Christina, while taking a break at lunchtime this week. "It's going to be really neat."

Bagheri's daughter, Leah, a sophomore at the school who is enrolled in dance, said being introduced to Cirque du Soleil has made her appreciate other dance genres.

"I have a lot of respect for them," said Leah, who plans to incorporate ballet with circus props this year.

Bagheri said she hopes the circus theme will spruce things up for the spring show, but also motivate her students to think of careers in dance or to challenge themselves in other areas.

Although she was intimidated by the juggling at first, Elaine has already begun to think of other ways she and her peers can make a more interesting show this year.

"I wish we could do acrobatics," chuckled Elaine. "That would be really neat to see."

Contact staff writer Brenda Duran at (760) 761-4408 or bduran@nctimes.com.

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