By: Ilene Denton, Sarasota Magazine

It stars in the 50th anniversary Smithsonian Folklife Festival through July 9.

Watching the stars of Circus Sarasota perform under its wonderfully familiar Big Top on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.—and experiencing the roar of delight and appreciation from thousands of circus-goers from around the world—is a moment of civic pride hard to put into words.  More

By: Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Arts Editor

The 50th folklife festival runs through July 9 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — Ringling Schmingling!

With some of the nation’s most prominent circus performers, promoters and historians taking part in the 50th Smithsonian Folklife Festival, it’s no surprise that the demise of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is a frequent and much-debated subject of conversation. More

HERALD-TRIBUNE PHOTO GALLERY — BY THOMAS BENDER: The Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus students performed for donors and supporters during a recent dress rehearsal for its up-coming appearance in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Click to view more photos of Sailor Circus student performances including acrobatic adagio, silks, juggling, clowning, slack-wire, stilt-walking, roller-skating and  many more circus arts…  MORE

BY NIKI KOTTMANN — OBSERVER GROUP: Not many people can say they know how to unicycle, but even fewer can do it on a slack rope while juggling. That’s just one of the many circus acts performed at the CAC in DC send-off performance on June 20 at Sailor Circus Arena, during which all the performers were 18 years old or younger. The performance was a sneak preview of the show and demonstrations that 31 Sailor Circus students will perform for millions of audience members on the National Mall at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival from June 29 to July 4 and July 6 through 9, 2017.  MORE

MY SUNCOAST — SNN NEWS: An amazing honor is coming soon for the Circus Arts Conservatory. The 50th Anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins this month, and Circus Arts stars from the Suncoast are headed to Washington, D.C., to help them celebrate! Co-Founder Dolly Jacobs and Managing Director Jennifer Mitchell join us in this clip to preview their fabulous show. WATCH VIDEO

 

BY NIKI KOTTMANN — OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP: When the red noses come out, you know it’s going to be a good time. That’s exactly what it appeared to be on June 21 at Michael’s Wine Cellar when supporters of the Circus Arts Conservatory gathered to toast to the organization before it brings over 100 people — performers, coaches, volunteers, etc. — to Washington D.C. to perform at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. VIP guests munched on hors d’oeuvres and mingled with other eventgoers before making their way across the street to the Sailor Circus Arena to see the show… MORE

SAILOR CIRCUS VIDEO — SNN NEWS: The circus is far from dead and some local performers are ready to prove that in our nation’s capital. The circus arts conservatory and its versatile sailor circus students will stage their final dress rehearsal before joining the Smithsonian Center’s Folk-life and Cultural Heritage Festival in Washington D.C.   MORE

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 NIKI KOTTMANN — OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP: When Alice Hafner joined Sailor Circus, she just wanted to learn to unicycle. Now, she and 30 other members will head to Washington, D.C., to unicycle, walk the tightrope and perform various other acts for millions later this month… Hafner will bring her unicycle act — along with three other acts — to Washington, D.C., to perform in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival with 30 other Sailor Circus members. The festival is run annually by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage… It was only recently that the circus arts was added to the list of cultural traditions celebrated at the festival… 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