Liz Giles-Brown I taught K-8 physical education for 31 years, have written several books, and currently develop, promote, and deliver workshops and learning experiences that connect teachers, children, and parents to the magic of movement, music, rhythm, rhyme, and how the brain and body learn best. My jump story started in 1987 as an undergraduate at Plymouth State College. One fall evening, I attended a PE Major's Club that featured the Red Hots from Conway, NH, coached by Andy Blanchard. As I sat in the audience and watched this fantastic jump rope performance with children of all ages, I said to myself, "That's what I want to do someday." I got my opportunity in 1995 when the AHA in Maine was looking for someone to start a demonstration team. I jumped at the chance to attend a coaches workshop in Maryland. Guess who was there! Yes - Andy Blanchard. The following year I had six boys and three girls interested in giving it a go. After that first year, our group grew to include, on average, about 50% of the school population each year. I coached the South Bristol Spindrifters in practices held before school and traveled around the state of Maine performing for 20 years and loved every minute of it. During that time, I was introduced to fellow physical educator Jon Cahill, creator of the Scarborough Gym Dandies, an amazing children's circus in Southern Maine. This began my juggle story. We brought Jon in as an artist in residence to work with our students one spring, and we all caught the juggling bug. I wrote a grant to get some equipment and started a multi-generational after school circus arts club during the winter months. We called ourselves - Circus Marinus, and had a lot of fun learning, creating, and performing. Jordan, Braxton, and Jarrett were three of the many students who chose to jump and juggle with me at South Bristol School. I continue on my jump and juggle journey as I learn and teach with children and adults of all ages!
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Jordan FarrinI am a current student at The University of Maine at Farmington, majoring in Community Health Education with a concentration in Nutrition and Physical Activity. Jump rope has been a part of my school career and life since I was in Kindergarten at South Bristol School, under the instruction of Liz Giles-Brown. I quickly found that I loved jump rope and practiced every chance I could get, so I am told. I became a part of our Demo Team, The South Bristol Spindrifters, when I was in second grade and traveled with the team through 8th grade. After graduation, I missed jump rope, so I approached Mrs. Giles-Brown to see if I could continue to travel and practice with the team through high school, and that's what I did! Through my years on the Demo Team, I would go to school early on the Club Team day to help teach the younger kids. Now, as a college student, when I am home on break, I am back at jump rope practice helping. I love the sport of jump rope, and I value all of the physical and personal skills that it can teach you as a person. While in South Bristol, I joined our Circus Marinus club and learned how to juggle, walk on a globe, spin plates, balance objects, use a diabolo and flower sticks, among other things. I was lucky enough that my Grandmother recognized our (mine and my brother Braxton’s) love for circus arts. In the summer of 2016, she sent us to Circus Smirkus Camp in Vermont for a week.
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Jarrett & Braxton
Braxton and Jarrett have always loved to move and learn. They both started jumping rope in first grade and had soon mastered all the skills enabling them to travel on the demonstration team. They were also star performers in Circus Marinus, showing off their amazing coordination and balance abilities in a variety of ways. As seniors in high school, they still love to play and create, and are always willing to show up and help create video resources.