If the idea of heading to a full-fledged circus seems overwhelming for younger kids, especially the preschool and pre-K crowd, we might have found the perfect in-between show: Spring-a-Ding DING!
The one-hour performance playing in downtown NYC at the 14Y is filled with lively music, storytelling, acrobatics, dancing, contortions, and more—all performed with a younger audience in mind (Read: They'll be too entranced to wriggle out of their seat or your lap) from the small but mighty circus-arts company Cirque-tacular.
And if they're loving the theater experience, check out the best Broadway shows for kids and families for ages 4 and up.
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An extremely flexible earthworm chats up heroine Brianna.
I brought my 9-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son to an 11am Sunday show, and thanks to the captivating performances, I had to two kids on the edges of their seats for the better part of an hour. My younger son can be a bit dicey when it comes to live shows, but the contortionist, who played an extremely flexible earthworm, wily raccoon, and straight-jacket escaping caterpillar-turned-butterfly, kept him firmly focused on the stage. My daughter's review: "That was cool!"
The premise: Brianna, who starred in Cirque-tacular's previous winter-themed performance, Snowcus Pocus, returns to nature in search of a surefire sign of that spring is about to burst into summer. On the way, she encounters a forest full of animals, from the aforementioned critters to various birds, a busy bumblebee, and a questionable skunk. All of this is especially impressive because it's performed by a cast of five who rotate in and out of new costumes.
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Dancing flowers demonstrate the enthusiasm for the season.
One of the most admirable qualities of the show, aside from the up-close-and-personal size of the smaller but well-designed theater, is the fact that each wildlife encounter is max three minutes, so the boredom factor is eliminated. Not into the woodpecker? The frog's on deck before they can complain that they're bored.
A little background: Cirque-tacular Entertainment is a premiere New York City-based acrobatic and specialty entertainment company that has performed in more than 70 countries in conjunction with the most recognized brands, venues, and arts organizations and knows how to find that sweet spot so every member of the family can enjoy the show.
A swan dances for Brianna (and you).
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Spring-a-Ding DING! runs through June 3, with a 7pm performance on Fridays and 11am and 2pm showings on most Saturdays and Sundays at the 14th St Y in the East Village. (Bonus: Use the exclusive code "POPPINS" at checkout and spend only $30 for a VIP ticket—a $50 value.) Bring a little extra cash for the concession and souvenir stand, because they'll definitely ask for the coloring book designed by the artists themselves or a ribbon stick after seeing the dancers twirl around with them on stage.
Photos courtesy of the production.