Illusionist Kevin Spencer is on a mission to heal the mentally and physically challenged, and he’s doing it by empowering parents, caregivers and therapists with the tool of magic.
A turning point that revealed the healing power of magic occurred after he completed a workshop for therapists at a major hospital in Florida. He was asked to work with autistic children, something he’d never done before.
“I sat down across from this little boy. I have this mixed bag of tricks and I reach for a trick. I perform it, but he says nothing. Then he leans in all the way, but he still didn’t say anything.
I try a second trick. He looks at me and says, ‘Can you teach me that?’ His father in the meantime is behind me videotaping everything. The boy masters the trick after three or four tries, and in 25 minutes he learned three tricks.
The boy awkwardly slaps me a high-five and walks away, and his dad is crying behind me. He gives me a bear hug. He said that was the first time he heard his son speak in nine years. That changed everything for me. How can you walk away from something like that,” said Spencer.
He is widely considered a leading authority on the therapeutic value of magic tricks in education and rehabilitation. He has several degrees including a certification in autism studies, and is a regular speaker at international conferences.
As an introduction to the International Children’s Festival of the Arts, Spencer will host Autism & Arts Integration workshops for caregivers, practitioners, families, teachers, and arts professionals on May 15 and 16.
After two decades of international fame as a world-renowned illusionist and two-time recipient of the Merlin Award for International Magicians of the Year (the Oscar equivalent), he retired from the circuit.
The magician left audiences mesmerized using Houdini’s trick of walking through brick walls or pulling his body through a huge industrial fan as its blades were spinning.
“They were tricks I loved to do and they were as much a rock concert as a theatrical event,” said Spencer who paid his way through college performing magic shows.
He retired in 2015 to work with people with disabilities. The trigger was a serious automobile accident when he was 27 that resulted in brain and spinal cord injuries.
He spent nearly one year in physical therapy but grew tired of repetitive exercises necessary to his recovery.
“I didn’t see the point of dropping pegs on a board. But practising magic was different. As soon as I realized some of the movements were the same, I dove back into magic.”
Through his own experiences, Spencer understands the feeling and frustrations of people with disabilities – mental, physical and emotional.
“I know what it feels like to be broken and be reminded you are broken. To do something others can’t do such as a magic trick, can be a real boost to self-esteem.”
He explains that magic tricks achieve certain therapeutic goals. They work an individual’s dexterity through the manipulation of props. And since a good trick needs practice, it enhances motivation.
“And every time a trick is practised it improves cognitive skills.”
Magic taps into curiosity and ultimately improves cognitive thinking, motor skills, communication, social skills and flex thinking.
The healing workshops take place Tuesday, May 15 at the ATB Financial Arts Barns, and on Wednesday, May 16 at Lois E. Hole School, 120 Everitt Dr. Both workshops run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $80 adults, $30 students.
Spencer also gives a Theatre of Illusion performance that welcomes children with autism on Thursday, May 17 at ATB Financial Arts Barns at 6 p.m.
“Families often feel isolated from the community. If they do something, the kids often stay at home. I’m excited to do a show where the whole family can come. It’s judgment-free.”
Tickets are $13 to $15. Visit eventbrite.ca for tickets.
