CLOWNING AROUND
Clown course to be be offered at HVCC during next month
TROY, N.Y. >> Anyone aspiring to learn the skills necessary to become a clown will have that opportunity through a non-credit course being offered next month at Hudson Valley Community College.
The clowning class being offered is a 36 hour course that will run for 12 sessions and is scheduled to go from March 1 until May 31, on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The class is being taught by Marie Beck who has been clowning since 1979 and has taken and taught several clown courses throughout the years. Beck said that the course starting date could be delayed since the course is only about half full right now, although she said if the class cannot be offered then she would consider teaching some of the students who have signed up already from her home.
Beck started her clowning in a church setting then branched out to birthday and corporate events. She has even done mission work in the U.S., Ecuador and Bosnia. Beck was also invited to perform at the White House for the Easter Egg Roll in 1991. She has developed three characters, Mischief, Delight and Dr. Funnybones. Dr. Funnybones was born in 1991 and has been with the Clowns on Rounds program to this date. As part of Clowns on Rounds, Marie works in area hospitals as Dr. Funnybones, Pretending Physician. She has worked at Albany Memorial, Ellis and Sunnyview Hospitals in Schenectady, Saratoga Hospital, Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Medical Center.
“If I have to I will end up teaching some at my house, but I would much prefer having a bigger class to do a lot more with them,” said Beck. “I am hoping to be able to get eight people to sign up for the course being offered at Hudson Valley.” Beck said that the course being offered covers many aspects of clowning, some magic tricks and learning a new balloon sculpture each week, hospital clowning will also be introduced as well as putting on clown shows. At the end of the 12 sessions the students will give a live performance during their graduation ceremony.
Although Beck said that clowning is becoming a dying art, she did say that she believes clowning is still important for people to learn and do.
“It’s a dying art and there is not as much of an interest in it,” said Beck. “With the way the world is today, there are so many hard things in our world that cause a lot of stress for people and being able to smile and laugh takes away a lot of pressure and tension.”
Students interested in taking this non-credit course at HVCC can still register through the college. The course fee of $265 includes an $86 materials fee. The materials fee covers the costs for text book materials and a oneyear membership to Clowns of America International.