For the first time, the Quad City Clown Troupe will be holding its annual multi-generational “Clowning Around” clown class at the Davenport Family Y. This year's eight-week beginner clown class will meet Thursdays beginning June 9th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Downtown Davenport Y at 606 W. 2nd St. Our program will culminate with a clown show performed by students on July 30th at the Davenport Y. The class encourages participation by diverse ages from 10 to 110 and costs $40 for Y members and $60 for others. Partnering with the YMCA enables financial assistance for those who qualify.
Registration is available at any Scott County YMCA branch location. For more information, contact, and registration, please visit www.scottcountyfamilyy.org/davenport. Also, please check the Scott County Family Y Facebook page at facebook.com/ymcascottcounty for updates.
Members of the Quad City Clown Troupe (QCCT) are teaming up with the Y to offer the summer clown class which is designed for students of many ages. It will be taught by members of the QCCT, which is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization. Instructors include Bob Smith, Toto Johnson, Dwight Englund, Jim Caffrey, Sue Collins, and Archie Harris, assisted by other troupe members of various ages. Students will learn some history of clowning, clown code of ethics, proper makeup application, costuming, beginning skills of juggling, balloon sculpturing, skits, and magic, with an overall theme of having fun.
The clown class is open to anyone with an interest in clowning, from those who have had no previous exposure to the art to those who have given it a try before. It can serve as an activity for family members and friends to enjoy together for fun or as a way to meet others and make new friends. Or, taking the class might lead to continued clowning in the future as it has with many QCCT members.
Karin Hanson, also known as Pockets the Clown, took the Clowning Around Class in the summer of 2008, right after retiring from 40 years of teaching with the Davenport Schools. She loved the class, learned a lot, and was impressed with the level of teaching and the emphasis on demonstration of the skills of clowning, followed many hands-on experiences. Since then, she has found that becoming a more-skilled clown is a continual process and that she keeps on learning as she clowns.
Since her graduation from class, Karin has been active in the Quad City Clown Troupe, serving as secretary, helping with the classes, and participating in community events with her QCCT clown friends. After being mentored by more experienced clowns, she has been mentoring newer clowns herself. She has spent a great deal of her clowning time volunteering in area care centers (nursing homes) with other clowns, friends, and family members. She also clowns at her church sometimes. Although her grandchildren live in Minnesota, clowning with them at care centers (when they visit here or when she visits there) has been among the best clowning experiences she has had. This is also true of other QCCT parents and grandparents who have had the pleasure of clowning with family members. Three generations of one family have been in the troupe's classes in the past few years.
Another clown class grad, Archie Harris, said, “One of the greatest pleasures for me is that I get to clown with my granddaughters, both who have taken the clown class. Most of my clowning is done in care centers, parades and a myriad of charitable fund raisers.”
Karin's love of clowning came through when she commented, “Sometimes I hear the people I am connecting with as Pockets the Clown say, 'Thank you for helping me smile today!' or 'Your visit made my day!' My response is a sincere, 'Thank YOU! You made me smile, too!'” She closed by saying, “I consider it my privilege to be doing what I am doing! I am thankful for this God-given opportunity that started with the Quad City Clowning Around Class. ”
For more information, contact either Bob 'Mulligan' Smith at (563)-570-4650 or beguilingbob@hotmail.com, Toto Johnson at (563) 441-0290 or rtotoj@aol.com, Karin 'Pockets' Hanson at (563) 528-2064 or tkmax2502@gmail.com, Frank Klipsch IV at (563)-570-0770) or fklipschiv@scottfamilyy.org, or the Davenport Family Y at (563) 322-7171.
General Information about Clown Class Participants
Former Clowning Around Students:
*All ages –
-elementary, intermediate, high school, and college students
-retirees
-all ages in between
*Families – ready to learn and have fun together
-three generations of a family
-grandparents and grandchildren
-moms, dads, and kids
*Friends – Two friends who took the class in 2008 are still clowning together, and others have done the same.
*People on their own come, not knowing anyone else in the class, but leave with some good, new friends
Reasons people have given for taking the class:
*Try something new
*Have a fun time
*Fulfill a clowning wish on their bucket list
*Fulfill a long-time interest in being a clown
*See if clowning is for them
What people are doing with what they learned:
*Participating in community events as part of the Quad City Clown Troupe – MS and other walks, fundraisers, library shows, parades
*Caring Clowning – Visiting residents of QC care facilities
*Parties, family events
*Balloons, face painting, magic, using music
*Performing in skits
*Clowning professionally – some do go on to clown professionally
*Mentoring new clowns
*Of course, everyone who takes the class doesn’t go on to do a lot of clowning....even though they had fun exploring the possibilities!
