Experience Circus Sarasota like never before

SARASOTA, FL — Growing… Interacting… Elevating… The excitement is palpable at Circus Sarasota as they begin a new circus season and continue to further their mission of expanding the circus arts, engaging the community and taking the circus experience to a whole new level. The 2012-2013 circus season not only promises to be the entertainment extravaganza that Circus Sarasota – and the legendary, youth circus, Sailor Circus – is known for, but has also grown to include hands on training classes where participants dive inside the belly of the circus arts for a physically charged experience of athleticism and adventure. The combination provides the circus town of Sarasota and Southwest Florida with an all-encompassing circus revelry that raises the bar of entertainment and interaction.

Pedro Reis, co-founder and producer of Circus Sarasota, explains, “We live in a place that is alive with circus history, passion and performance. What better way to spark the excitement and appreciation for the circus arts than to engage our community through exciting performances while also offering an opportunity to physically experience the training that takes place behind the magic of the big top.”

The season has already kicked off with the introduction of two new circus-style fitness classes sure to inspire your inner acrobat. Aerial Gym, a combination of yoga and other muscle engaging exercises, is a program designed for adults (ages 16+), of all fitness levels, that incorporates the use of unique circus arts techniques with aerial circus hoops to help increase strength, flexibility, balance and body awareness. Classes are offered on Mondays from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m., Wednesday’s from 9:30 to 11:00 A.M., Fridays from 8:30 to 10:00 A.M. and Sundays from 3:00 to 4:30 P.M. Cost is $20 for one class or $55 for three. Now through December 31, your first class is only $10. Student discounts are available and reservations are recommended. And, if you have ever dreamt of flying through the air with the greatest of ease, the Flying Trapeze Classes will help you discover your courage and take your fitness goals to new heights. Led by seasoned instructors and world-renowned professionals, the classes are designed for participants (ages 6+) who dare to challenge gravity and swing through the air, trapeze style. Classes are offered most Sundays from 12 to 2 P.M. and Mondays from 9:30 to 11:30 A.M.. Check the website, www.CircusSarasota.org, for specific dates. Cost is $35 per class or six classes for $175. Registration is required and Sailor Circus Alumni and student discounts are available. All classes take place at the Sailor Circus Arena located at 2075 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota. For more information regarding either class or to register call (941) 556-5480 or email Courtney@SailorCircus.org.

The excitement doesn’t stop there… Sailor Circus, America’s Oldest Youth Circus, presents “The Greatest “Little” Show on Earth” with the 2012 Holiday Spectacular – The Polar Express. Based on the story of a young boy who boards a magical train headed to the North Pole in search of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, this circus adventure will embark on an extraordinary journey of entertainment that proves the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. The 2012 Sailor Circus Holiday Spectacular – The Polar Express, runs for four holiday-magic-filled days from Thursday, December 27th through Sunday, December 30th at the Sailor Circus Arena located at 2075 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota. The cost is $16 for adults and $12 for children under 12. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling (941) 366-0156. Show times are Thursday, Dec. 27 and Friday, Dec. 28 at 7 P.M., Saturday, Dec. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 30 at 2 P.M. & 7 P.M.

Then to start the New Year, Circus Sarasota invites you to embark on a journey of discovery and thrills as they present Nik Wallenda – His Journey Continues. Starring, Nik Wallenda – daredevil wire- walker and the only person in the world to cross directly over the precipice of Niagara Falls – this circus engagement promises hire wire excitement and daredevilry from Wallenda and his family in addition to other jaw-dropping performances, from internationally acclaimed circus artists, and guarantees an all-around, spectacular circus experience. Other performers featured in the 2013 Circus Sarasota Big Top performances include: Encho, an incredible hand balance act who made his American Debut last year in Sarasota and is back by popular demand, the aerial artistry of Co-Founder Dolly Jacobs who inspires with grace and beauty, the hilarious acrobatic antics of Duo Manduca, the mystery and illusion of Quick Change artists Vladimir and Olga Smirnov, interactive Ventriliquist Willer Nicolodi who will have audiences in stitches, the precise and skillful juggling of Duo Platchkov …and more…all led by Ringmaster Extraordinaire Paul Binder of The Big Apple Circus. The Show runs from Friday, January 25 through Friday, February 15, 2013, at the corner of Tuttle Avenue and 12th Street, under the Circus Sarasota Big Top. Tickets start as low as $10 and multiple discount opportunities are available. For more information regarding show times or to purchase tickets call (941) 355-9805 or visit www.CircusSarasota.org.

 

 

 

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Clowns helping teach science in Suncoast schools

SARASOTA, Fla. – How do we get Suncoast students to score better on the FCATs and to retain what they learn about difficult subjects? That’s a question educators grapple with every day. And now an answer has come from a very unexpected source: clowns.

Circus Sarasota clowns Karen Bell and Robin Eurich teach science to Susan Aubel’s 5th graders once a week. She says they take difficult, abstract scientific concepts — kinetic energy, potential energy, balance, force, friction, accreditation — and use hands-on experiments to show students how the concepts work in circus tricks.

Then the students do a test to prove that the principles they’ve been taught by the clowns really work.

The clowns may look funny, but they have advanced degrees and are specially trained to teach science in accordance to state and FCAT standards, and they must stick to the teacher’s lesson plan.

But they have unique circus teaching tools at their disposal. “We’ve got in the circus the teeter board act, the trapeze and juggling, and the human cannonball…we have all these wonderful vehicles for explaining the principles of physics in a way that children can remember,” says Eurich.

5th grader Veronica Bekhit will vouch for that. “We’re learning force and gravity…we’re having fun at the same time and we start remembering it when we take the test.”

And test results back her up. “The pre-test – the knowledge the kids have — is 53%. The post-test was 97% knowledge base; so a pretty big significant difference,” says Bell.

The egg trick helps 5th grader Brandon Radu remember his physics lesson. “Friction and the potential energy that the egg has when it drops into the cup.”

As Susan Aubel watches the delight on the faces of her students as they see science in action, she says she’s so glad she brought the two clowns into her classroom. “It was just a perfect fit, because it’s like taking the magic out of the circus and putting it into physicals and making it alive and real.”

The Big Top Education Clowns go into elementary and middle schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties to teach science and language arts. It’s part of Circus Sarasota’s Community Outreach Program.

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Hero’s Welcome Planned For Nik Wallenda…The Man Who Walked Into History

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED

Sarasota, Florida; October 15, 2012 — Nik Wallenda, illustrious high-wire artist and Sarasota’s hometown superstar, will be given a hero’s welcome when he steps-off a JetBlue flight at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport on Friday morning, October 19th at 10:45 AM. The public is invited to the airport to welcome Wallenda as he returns to Sarasota for the first time since his amazing walk on a silver strand suspended above the precipice of Niagara Falls earlier this summer. The airport celebration will include a Welcome by Sarasota Mayor Suzanne Atwell, a Proclamation from Sarasota County Commission Chair Christine Robinson and Sailor Circus youth cheering their idol on! Pedro Reis, co-founder and CEO of Circus Sarasota, will also be at the airport to welcome his friend, and reveal that Wallenda will be starring in the 2013 edition of Circus Sarasota.

The welcome reception will take place in the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport Lower Level adjacent to the waterfall between the departure/ticketing area and baggage claim. Free parking courtesy of the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport has been arranged for those attending the event to celebrate the hometown hero’s arrival to Sarasota!

“Over the weeks leading up to his walk above The Falls, Nik Wallenda shared the spotlight with his hometown; and the world took note,” comments Pedro Reis. Following the Niagara Falls feat, Nik and his family have been on-the-road throughout the summer performing in such venues as the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City. Reis concludes, “When we welcome him home to Sarasota, we are letting Nik know how proud he has made us, and how proud we are of him! I hope that we will have a huge and enthusiastic crowd to meet Nik at the airport this Friday morning.”

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2012 Circus Sarasota Winter Performance of Bello Mania Sarasota Magazine Review

http://www.sarasotamagazine.com/Blogs/On-Stage/Circus-Sarasota-2012.aspx

 

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CIRCUS SARASOTA – SHOW REVIEWS

CIRCUS SARASOTA SHOW REVIEWS
With Impressive new acts, Circus Sarasota soars higher  Herald Trib, Sunday Feb 3, 2008 Jay Handelman    “There’ something magical about Circus Sarasota.  The intimacy of its big top gives every9one the feeling of sharing a fun experience.”

Spectacle Mag, spring 2007 Hovey Burgess  “I went, for the first time, to Circus Sarasota, now in its tenth year, expecting , frankly, to see just another good, one ring, tented, American circus.  What I saw was better than that—a circus akin to some of the excellent performances I expect to see at an international circus festival in Monte Carlo or Paris.”

City of Sarasota, Lou Ann Palmer  On behalf of the City of Sarasota Commission, citizens and visitors of the community we are honored to support CS which has becomes an integral part of the economic life of Sarasota, giving our area its unique identity.”

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LAUGHTER UNLIMITED – REVIEWS

LAUGHTER UNLIMITED – COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The East County Observer Thurs Oct 27, 2005  Bill Rosenberger “In this environment, laughter isn’t the reaction you’re looking for,” Sidlow says  “It’s nice when it happens, but with (institutionalized seniors), it’s a brand new reaction you feel.

Style Mag.  June 2004  Deborah Seeber “The simple act of placing a hand upon a hand, the comfort of a caring arm around a shoulder… is something that every living person needs, and something that the elderly and handicapped are frequently denied.”

Herald Trib Sept 24, 2005 Tilde Herrera  “All you have to do is look into somebody’s eyes and you see their soul,” Bell said. “And you see their history.”

Venice Gondolier Sun 2005, Jeremy Rottgen  “It’s more about building relationships than just having a clown visit the elderly,” said Chuck Sidlow. “I’ve worked very closely with them (clowns) since I’ve been here, said Pinebrook Activities Director Colleen Tempier.  “They come here every week meet the residents.  It’s just amazing how the residents react to them.  Dementia residents who don’t really have much of a reaction to anything.”  “Residents who are cognitively impaired, some of them have so many things going on with them they might e depressed or just not up to things and the Laughter Unlimited program is the one thing.  They’ll actually go up and talk to the clowns and they react differently to them.  It’s been very beneficial and it’s really neat to see.  Even in our Alzheimer’s unit.  They just get such a  response,” said Tempier.

“It’s truly being friends and listening to what they have to say because a lot of times their families are living elsewhere.”

Pines of Sarasota 1-25-05 John Overton  “Our philosophy of care addresses clearly the three plagues of aging…loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.  The Laughter Unlimited Program also focuses on each of those plagues in a n exemplary manner.”

SFC-Venice Kathleen Simonds “LU lightens hearts, puts a sparkle in eyes, and promotes recall in our clients with dementia and Alzheimer’s”.

Pinebrook, Linda Fazio 10-28-08  “Patients that are dependent upon others for care ‘light up’ with pride and joy as their strengths and assets are quickly identified and supported by the clowns.”

Springwood rehab and nursing center, Amy Paine and Debra Simmons, 9-9-07  “We have seen over the course of 2 years, how this program provides quality of life for all our residents who, even in spite of some memory deficit, do not forget Laughter Unlimited!”

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