Sailor Circus, known worldwide as “The Greatest ‘Little’ Show on Earth,” will delight audiences with its 68th annual spring performance “Once Upon a Circus” – this year centered around fairy tales and timeless stories come to life.
The show will feature new acts and other acts that have not been performed for several years including the aerial cradle, shoot thru ladder and low casting. The youth circus artists ages 8-18 have been practicing their routines for months gearing up for Once Upon a Circus – an ambitious production that uses over 800 costumes and music from many beloved animated classics, including Cinderella, Fantasia and Beauty and the Beast. The lessons learned in fairy tales parallel those learned throughout the circus training process, extending beyond the storybooks and into the arena.
“Sailor Circus has taught me to welcome change,” said senior Alice Hafner, who has been training for nine years in the Sailor Circus program. “I have formed friendships that will last forever and valuable skills that will carry over into every aspect of my life. I am grateful for all of the coaches and fellow students who encouraged me to train and accomplish feats I never imagined."
Celebrating its 68th season, Sailor Circus is known as The Greatest “Little” Show on Earth and is the longest-running youth circus in the country. The program, the Sailor Circus Academy, trains students in over 30 disciplines of circus arts including aerial skills, trampoline, roller-skating, acrobatics and more. Over 100 students from over 30 schools (K-12) in Sarasota and Manatee counties represent the best of the youth circus arts, some training for almost a decade in their craft. This year six seniors will be graduating from the program.
"I’ve learned, from experience, that the best way to prepare for a performance is to treat every practice, every rehearsal, as if there was a full house there watching you, and encourage your fellow performers to do the same,” says senior Michael Mitchell, who has spent seven years in the Sailor Circus program.
Once Upon a Circus is being presented Tuesday, April 11 – Saturday, April 15 at the Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota. Shows are at 7PM daily and 2 and 7PM on Saturday, April 15. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. For tickets visit CircusArts.org or call the box office 941.355.9805. Group sales are also available – contact Mateo Cristiani, Box Office Manager, for more information: boxofficemgr@circusarts.org.
