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

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