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

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

SRQ DAILY SATURDAY PERSPECTIVES EDITION — The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) and Key Chorale present an artistic experience like no other in Cirque des Voix: Circus of the Voices. This spectacular production beautifully intertwines wondrously engaging circus arts entertainment, by world-renowned circus artists with live choral music, and a 30-piece orchestra performing music from classical and famous composers. MORE

BY SRQ DAILY SATURDAY PERSPECTIVES EDITION: The Circus Arts Conservatory and 160 first grade students from Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication presented Rowlett Academy for Arts and Communication 1st Grade Circus on February 28 at the Circus Sarasota Big Top. Since the beginning of January students have been working on circus-related activities in language arts, math and science as well as working with the Circus Arts Conservatory Teaching Artists to build a circus presented at the Big Top… MORE

BY WILLIAM S. OSER — TALKIN’ BROADWAY: Celebrating 20 years, Circus Sarasota presents this year’s edition, Synergy… I look forward to each year’s edition of Circus Sarasota and this year’s show, Synergy, is equal to their best. Don’t miss the all too brief opportunity to see this year’s edition. MORE

BY BERKLEY MASON — YOUROBSERVER.COM: For Quinn Birmingham, a senior at the Out-of-Door Academy, achieving the required 25 hours of community service can get boring. Then she found Circus Sarasota. This year, not only will Birmingham be a volunteer at the circus, she will be taking on the role of volunteer leader among her fellow Out-of-Door Academy students. “Everything about the circus interests me,” Birmingham said. “I like feeling in charge, moving all of the time, and I also like that you can volunteer and watch the show at the same time. Every day that Circus Sarasota has a show they have a volunteer sign up. I sign up every single day.” MORE