Circus Sarasota Celebrates 250th Anniversary of the Modern Circus with OVATION!

Quick Answer: Circus Sarasota is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the modern circus with a show called Ovation, presented by The Circus Arts Conservatory from Friday, February 9 through Sunday, March 4 under its Red and White Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park.

Each year, Circus Sarasota boasts an impressive roster of international artists who test human boundaries and leave audiences awestruck. This year’s performance, titled Ovation , honors the 250th anniversary of the modern circus and those who have impacted the artform.

In 2017, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus shocked the circus world when it announced the closing of both traveling units of The Greatest Show on Earth after 146 years of entertaining the masses. But less than two months after Ringling’s closing, the Smithsonian Institution honored “Circus Arts” as the theme of its 50 th Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian Institution turned to The Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC), the country’s only combined professional circus, youth circus and training center, to anchor the 10-day event. The festival drew more than two million patrons and was a boon for American circus arts.

Now, The CAC and Circus Sarasota returns home with a renewed fervor for fearless entertainment, bringing the best circus artists in the world to their red and white Big Top, helping to guarantee a bright, innovative and prosperous future for circus arts for another 250 years!

From Friday, February 9 – Sunday, March 4, Circus Sarasota will present 32 performances under the Red and White Big Top full of elegance, excitement and unforgettable moments. The show is being produced as an ovation to the circus arts itself – a moving tradition of depth, daring and perseverance.

This year’s lineup of performers will soar through the air and whirl around the center ring with their unforgettable, incredible acts. Audiences will see acts of all varieties, from lightning-fast juggling and outstanding hand-balancing to tricks on the tight wire and the fearless flying trapeze! There is something for everyone in Ovation – which is a staple of the legacy of the circus arts almost three centuries later.

Circus Sarasota prides itself on being a show designed for children of all ages. Audiences young and old flock to the Big Top at Nathan Benderson Park year after year to indulge their senses in the brave, beautiful acts that have transfixed the world for two and a half centuries.

Tickets for Circus Sarasota presents OVATION are $15-$55 with children under 2 free. To purchase tickets in advance, please go online to CircusArts.org/BuyTickets or call or visit the Box Office (2075 Bahia Vista St. Sarasota, 34239) at 941.355.9805. Box Office hours are 9AM-5PM weekdays and 9AM-1PM on Saturdays. All opening weekend tickets are 20% – sponsored by ABC7!

###
About The Circus Arts Conservatory
The Circus Arts Conservatory, Sarasota is home to world-class performances, excellence in training the circus arts, and
community based education and humor therapy outreach programs. The organization was born from decades of circus history
and today serves as a legacy to those that have set the standards for international circus artistry and athleticism. The Circus
Arts Conservatory is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts educational organization, whose extraordinary mission underscores
its commitment to sharing the entertainment, education and enrichment of the circus arts.