Unicyclist pedals from Bronx to all over the globe with the circus; will perform at Jackson Houses on Sat.
King Charles Unicycle Troupe to perform at Bronx housing project
Viorel Florescu/for New York Daily News
Unicyclist Dennis Amey.
By Kerry Wills
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, August 3, 2012
Dennis Amey and Apprinace Harrison grew up in the South Bronx but found a traveling home with the King Charles Unicycle Troupe.
The performers launch unicycling to a new level with their carefully choreographed show, playing basketball against each other and even doing double-dutch jumprope on the one-wheeled contraptions. Their troupe was the first black act in the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Amey, 28, of Melrose, was just 7 when he first saw the troupe practicing behind a local school,and soon after he was performing with them. The thrill of the show blew his mind and expanded his horizons.
“Where I grew up on Courtlandt Ave. is a real high drug area with a lot of crime,” Amey said. “Unicycles took me away from all that. I’ve been around the world to see there’s more to life than that.”
He often rides through the Andrew Jackson Houses at Courtlandt and 157th St., and on Saturday, the troup will perform there for Family Day.
King Charles Unicycle Troupe to perform at Bronx housing project
Viorel Florescu/for New York Daily News
Unicyclist Dennis Amey.
By Kerry Wills
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, August 3, 2012
Dennis Amey and Apprinace Harrison grew up in the South Bronx but found a traveling home with the King Charles Unicycle Troupe.
The performers launch unicycling to a new level with their carefully choreographed show, playing basketball against each other and even doing double-dutch jumprope on the one-wheeled contraptions. Their troupe was the first black act in the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Amey, 28, of Melrose, was just 7 when he first saw the troupe practicing behind a local school,and soon after he was performing with them. The thrill of the show blew his mind and expanded his horizons.
“Where I grew up on Courtlandt Ave. is a real high drug area with a lot of crime,” Amey said. “Unicycles took me away from all that. I’ve been around the world to see there’s more to life than that.”
He often rides through the Andrew Jackson Houses at Courtlandt and 157th St., and on Saturday, the troup will perform there for Family Day.
Viorel Florescu/for New York Daily News
Unicyclist Dennis Amey, who is part of the King Charles Troupe, doing double-dutch at Jackson Houses basketball court in the Bronx.
Harrison, 31, has also been with the troupe for about 20 years. They discovered him in a talent show, performing on roller skates.
“I love the sport,” Harrison said. “It’s great exercise.”
It isn’t steady or easy work. Their last gig was five months ago, riding in a show in London.
Viorel Florescu for New York Daily News
Unicyclist Dennis Amey, who is part of the King Charles Troupe, training at Jackson Houses basketball court in the Bronx.
Their five-hour practice sessions can be grueling. But it’s worth the trouble, Amey says. He gets a kick out of the looks he gets on his long rides through the city.
“When you’re going down the street, people will be like, ‘Man, how do they do that?’” Amey said. “We do it because it’s a passion. It took most of us out of the ghetto and put our minds on other things.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/unicyclist-pedals-bronx-globe-circus-perform-jackson-houses-sat-article-1.1127613#ixzz22TdKOZTN
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