BY BILLY COX — HERALD TRIBUNE: Hundreds of thousands of Americans, maybe upwards of a million, are about to learn that reports of the circus’ death have been greatly exaggerated when they visit the National Mall in Washington, D.C., over the next few weeks. But local audiences can get a sneak preview at a fundraiser Tuesday night. That’s when the Circus Arts Conservatory and its versatile Sailor Circus students will stage their final dress rehearsal before joining the Smithsonian Center’s Folklife and Cultural Heritage Festival in the nation’s capitol from June 29-July 4 and July 6-9. MORE
BY WADE TATANGELO–HERALD-TRIBUNE: The Circus Arts Conservatory is hosting a special performance here before heading to Washington, D.C. Sailor Circus students will entertain inside the iconic arena on Bahia Vista before they head out to represent Sarasota at the 50th Anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Sarasota attendees will get an exclusive look at what the students will be presenting to an expected audience of a million people on a “circus playground” on the National Mall. MORE
BY JESSIE R. BOX — SUWANNEE DEMOCRAT: The 65th annual Florida Folk Festival had around 10,000 people attend Memorial Day weekend. The 2017 Folklife Area celebrated the diverse cultures of Southwest Florida. Karen Bell and Robin Eurich, of the Sarasota’s Circus Arts Conservatory, demonstrated circus arts and clowning. Bell said growing up she always took the comedy route. She said she was drawn to clown college… MORE
SRQ DAILY SATURDAY PERSPECTIVES: Co–founder of the Circus Arts Conservatory, Dolly Jacobs was honored with the Voice of Sarasota Award from Visit Sarasota County at the organization’s National Travel & Tourism Week Awards Luncheon last week. Upon learning she had been chosen for this award Jacobs expressed, “I was blown away, literally speechless. But the more I’ve gotten my arms around it, the more I’ve realized it’s not all about me, but about our industry and I accept it on behalf of all the greats before me that paved the way for the rest of us.” MORE
BY JANELLE O’DEA — BRADENTON HERALD: On Sunday night in New York, the curtain will close for the final time on The Greatest Show on Earth and a way of life for residents of “the town without a zip code.” …Despite Feld’s decision to close the [Ringling] circus, [CAC co-founder and CEO] Pedro Reis and other local luminaries such as high-wire master Nik Wallenda say it’s far from the end of the circus. MORE
BY KATHERINE PYNE — ABC 7 WWSB: Hundreds of people gathered under the big top on Tuesday [May 16, 2017] to help the Circus Arts continue here on the Suncoast. The Circus Arts Conservatory hosted La Cirque Appetit at Sailor Circus Arena in Sarasota. The annual fundraiser helps bring in money for the conservatory’s outreach programs. For CAC co-founder Pedro Reis, it’s a way to make sure the Circus Arts continue to be a part of our community.
BY NIKI KOTTMANN — OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP: All eyes were on them. High above the ground — 24 feet, to be exact — five teenagers prepared to cross a wire only 5/8 of an inch in diameter. The daredevils are members of Sailor Circus, the nation’s longest-running youth circus, whose roots date back to 1949 Sarasota when it began as a small high school gymnastics class. However, what’s grown to be called “The Greatest ‘Little’ Show on Earth” is just one of the many components of the Circus Arts Conservatory, which shared its mission with both old and new supporters alike at La Cirque Appetit on May 16 at Sailor Circus Arena. MORE
BY VIRGINIA HALEY — HERALD TRIBUNE: We are at a critical and potentially pivotal moment for the travel and tourism industry in Florida. With Visit Florida, the state tourism marketing entity, falling victim to Tallahassee politics, there is no better time than now to educate, advocate and support the value that tourism and tourism marketing brings to our state and our community…The Voice of Sarasota award goes to a member of the county’s community who has succeeded in putting Sarasota County on a national stage, Dolly Jacobs, co-founder of the Circus Arts Conservatory. MORE
BY BUSINESS OBSERVER — OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP: Circus Arts Conservatory co-founder and aerial silks performer Dolly Jacobs is the recipient of the 2017 National Travel and Tourism Week Voice of Sarasota Award from Visit Sarasota County. The Visit Sarasota County board of directors chose Jacobs based on her ability to positively raise awareness of Sarasota County and affect tourism through her words, actions and deeds. “Dolly’s work in keeping Sarasota’s circus heritage and legacy alive throughout the world is a testament to her passion,” says Drayton Saunders… MORE
BY JAY HANDELMAN — HERALD-TRIBUNE: This year’s performances [of Cirque des Voix] mark…something of a test run for shows that Key Chorale and Circus Sarasota will present in Washington, D.C., this summer as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. It also marks the world premiere of “Arise,” a piece commissioned by frequent Key Chorale collaborator Ola Gjeilo, a Norwegian composer, to accompany performances by aerialists Dolly Jacobs and Rafael Palacios. MORE
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