FROM THE U.K.---

NORMAN BARRETT

Clowns visit Kinsman

tribunechronicle

Shy around clowns?

No longer Kids taught ‘clown magic’

Dave and Sherri Shepard, a.k.a. Charlie and Carlee the clowns, talk to Elizabeth, 4, and Jeremiah, 3, Logan of Gustavus Thursday at Kinsman Public Library. Charlie and Carlee performed at the library as a preview for the upcoming visit of the Kelly Miller Circus. Photo by Virginia Shank

July 18, 2011
By VIRGINIA SHANK - Staff reporter (vshank@tribtoday.com) , Tribune Chronicle TribToday.com

KINSMAN - Thanks in part to Sherri and David Shepard, Elizabeth Logan no longer fears clowns.
At the Kinsman Library on Thursday, the 4-year-old had no problem talking to her new friends, a.k.a. Carlee and Charlie - two ''Advance Clowns'' sent to provide area children with a preview of the upcoming Kelly Miller Circus.
The circus is coming to Kinsman on July 29.
''We don't like using certain words, like scared or scary when it has to do with us,'' Carlee said. ''We like to say 'shy.' Sometimes children are just shy or a little backward around us.''
Not Elizabeth, at least, not anymore. In fact, Elizabeth and her 3-year-old brother, Jeremiah, of Gustavus, spent as much time as they could with the two clowns, watching closely as they displayed their ''clown magic'' in front of almost 50 local children outside the library.
Rachel Varga, 7, of Kinsman, said she liked hearing Charlie ''scream like a baby.'' The performance inspired her to learn as much as she can about doing some magic tricks like the clowns.
''I loved it,'' she said. ''They're so funny and nice. I'm glad I came.''
The Shepards, who are based in Florida, have been performing together since 1995. The couple spends five days a week on the road traveling ahead of the circus, which will take center field at the former Badger school grounds near the library.
David Shepard said everyone is welcome to watch the raising of the Big Top and the unloading and feeding of the animals at 9 a.m. that day.read more:http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/559349/Shy-around-clowns---No-longer.html?nav=5021

On Leadership: Mayor of 'The Greatest Show on Earth'
Washington Post

CIRCUS MOM

Geovi, Jodie, Alyssa and Erwin Urias

Written by Caitlin Byrne

from theadvertiser.com
Jul. 17, 2011
Some kids say they want to run away and join the circus. Geovi and Alyssa Urias will never have to worry about that: They've grown up in it.
But while that gives them some amazing opportunities, their mom Jodie says it doesn't change her parenting perspective.
"I'm just an ordinary mom with a very extraordinary career," said Jodie.
And extraordinary is the perfect word to describe what the Urias family does. They are currently touring with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus on the Zing, Zang, Zoom — Gold Edition tour.
Their act, the Urias Family Globe of Steel, involves Jodie standing in the middle of a steel globe while her husband, Erwin, his brother and his brother's fiance ride motorcycles around her at 55 miles per hour.
But Jodie says the craziness of their act fits into her life perfectly. "It's a great analogy for my life as a mom — always surrounded by chaos!"
But despite that chaos, they try to keep their kids lives as normal as possible. Geovi, 10, and Alyssa, 7, still go to school, do their homework, and spend time with their parents, just like kids who aren't traveling around the world with the circus.
"They go to school Wednesday through Sunday," Jodie said. "On Mondays we're traveling and Tuesdays are what we call a 'dark day.' There's no media appearances, set-up or performances. On those times we try to spend as much time together as possible."
While the kids have attended both public and private schools, their parents really enjoy the opportunities the school on the tour have given them. They go to school for four hours with their teacher and then do the rest of their work at home.
"It's great for them, because they're really excited about their day and excited about learning."
And traveling around the world with Ringling Brothers has provided some great learning experiences as well.
"They learn about things in school that coincides with places we've been or are going to," Jodie said.
"They were studying Rome right about the time the Ringling Brothers went on their first European tour, and we went to Italy and were able to take the kids to the Coliseum. It made me want to cry because if it had not been for the work that we do, that might be something my children would never have seen."
Performing in the circus runs in the Urias family. Erwin is a fourth generation circus performer. His parents were actually performing the same globe act in the 1970s that the Urias family currently performs.
But does that mean that Geovi and Alyssa are destined for a circus career? That's entirely up to them.
"We do what other parents do. We teach our kids what we know so that they can't make an educated decision about what to do." Jodie said.
The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus on the Zing, Zang, Zoom — Gold Edition tour will be at the Cajundome this Thursday through Sunday.
And for moms on a budget like Jodie, this week's performances are full of opportunities to stretch your dollar. On opening night, Thursday, all tickets are just $10, and kids tickets are $10 for performances all week long.
But if you get to the show an hour early, there's a ton of fun activities for kids that are all free. There are vintage circus costumes that you can try on, jump ropes, tightrope walking (with close supervision of course) and you can even meet Dutchess, one of the shows elephants.
"It's a fun and a learning experience," Jodie said. "It's almost like a circus museum!" Jodie be teaching hoola hooping, and says she loves the preshow because it's when they get to meet everyone who comes to the show.

ZIPPO'S CIRCUS

Zippo’s Circus heading for Cumbernauld

Zippo's Circus brings Yasmine Smart and Horsepower to Cumbernauld.
Published on Sunday 17 July 2011
cumbernauld-news.co.uk
THE circus is coming to town!For famed horsewoman Yasmine Smart, the current tour – which reaches Broadwood later this month – is something of a homecoming as this is her first tour in the UK for more than 20 years.
Yasmine’s grandfather was Billy Smart, whose circus included a 6000-seater big top, and she was one of the main stars in TV specials that drew up to 22 million viewers. She continued recording for the BBC and later ITV well into the 1980s, a decade after the circus stopped touring. Today, she is with the Zippo Circus.
“The show is called Horsepower and I’m in the first half with my horses, while the second half is about horsepower of the mechanical kind,” said Yasmine when the News and Chronicle caught up with her after a training session in Kircaldy yesterday (Tuesday).
Also featuring are motorcycle stunt team the Lucius Troupe, biker/juggler Germaine, trapeze artist Kimberly and comedy acrobats The Konyots. The ringmaster is MBE recipient Norman Barrett, another veteran TV performer famed for his performances with budgies.
Yasmine performs two different acts in the current tour - a “dance” routine with Argentinian dancers Gabriel and Germaine, and also a “liberty” display in which she has four horses obey her voice commands set to the music of Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Yasmine said: “It takes longer to train horses for the riding show than the liberty act which seems a bit odd as I consider the liberty to be the more impressive, but I think it is to do with horses being herd animals. They see me as their alpha female.”
It takes up to nine months of hard work to be able to build a new performance from scratch with fresh horses, although refinement of the act is neverending.
Yasmine , the oldest of five children, is the only one who continues to perform. “All the others settled down and married ‘normal’ people,” she said. “But my youngest brother was just a baby when the circus stopped touring, and has often said that he wishes he had become a performer.
“They come to stay with me for holidays and their children love the circus. For a child, a circus is a magical playground - just as it was for me when I was that age.”
Zippo’s Circus is at Broadwood from July 26-31, at 5pm and 7.30pm. Tickets range from £8/£6 to £22/£16 for ringside. Book on 0871 210 2100 or pay on arrival.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus presents "Fully Charged" in Orlando
January 15, 2011



Visit http://AttractionsMagazine.com for more information.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus present "Fully Charged", the all-new circus show with breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances The Circus ran at The Amway Center in Orlando from Jan. 13 to 17, 2011

Edgard Zapashny performs unique horse act for Guinness Book of World Records




Renowned animal trainer Edgard Zapashny and his two female assistants have set a world record at the Sochi Circus. The actors formed a 4.5-meter-tall column on horseback, as journalists watched the horses circle the arena.

Circus City Festival begins

Event runs until next Saturday

Published : Saturday, 16 Jul 2011
PERU, Ind. (WLFI) - Each July for the past 52 years, downtown Peru has been turned into an amusement park for the entertainment of the community. The first show of the Festival was earlier this afternoon.
"It's fun, it's a community-based organization. It involves a lot of children. It brings out parents and adults to help support the children," said Chris Robinson, ring boss for the festival. "It's just an overall good time for bringing a lot of community members together."
There are still plenty of chances to catch a show. The event continues until next Saturday with shows scheduled for 7 pm. There's a matinee at 2 pm next Saturday the 23rd. A parade is also planned for the final day of the festival.

Ringling Circus 1983 - Soap Gag

http://ringlingclown.wordpress.com - Red unit clowns doing the Soap Gag! Featuring Uncle Soapie, Bob Hunt, Greg Mooney, Peggy King, Ravioli McGuire, Dan Looker, Kip Reynolds as The Pink Panther, Jim Arneberg, Jim Vogelgesang, Chris Silks.

Young circus cast creates smiles

A group of acrobats entertain young and old alike at Circus Smirkus, which has a cast of perfomers who are all between the ages of 10 and 18. (Stephanie Zollshan / Berkshire Eagle Staff)

By Scott Stafford, Berkshire Eagle Staff

Sunday July 17, 2011

WILLIAMSTOWN -- On a field where middle- and high- school students play soccer, kids in the same age group performed carefully choreographed acrobatics, tumbling, dance and gymnastics, with some comedic miming thrown in.
Welcome to Circus Smirkus on the campus of Mount Greylock Regional High School.
Make no mistake -- this isn’t your dad’s circus. The performers are kids between 10 and 18 years old. The music is live. And there are no tigers, lions or elephants -- just 30 kids in bright costumes having what seems to be a whole bunch of fun.
And while the audience of nearly 700 for Saturday’s matinee show seemed mostly children, they weren’t the only ones having fun.
"It’s wonderful," said Richard Mahler of Manhattan. He was at the circus with his daughter and grandkids.
"I love it," he said. "I saw one of the big circuses in New York, but it wasn’t nearly as much fun. It was so big and impersonal. Here you’re so close it’s like you’re a part of it. And the kids love it, too."
This is the second year for Smirkus in Williamstown sponsored by Northern Berkshire Healthcare. According to NBH spokesman Paul Hopkins, the company arranges for housing for the performers at local homes, and seeks local business sponsors to pay for underprivileged children to see the show.
NBH pays a flat rate for the circus to come to town, and collects all the proceeds from ticket sales to benefit the company’s REACH community health education programs. Smirkus is based in Greensboro, Vt., and also operates the Circus Smirkus summer camp, where kids can learn performance skills used in the Smirkus shows.
The youth circus will perform 67 shows this summer through New York and New England, according to Troy Wonderle, artistic director of Circus Smirkus.
Wonderle also serves as director of clowns for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
He explained that many of the performers attended the Smirkus summer camp. One of the 10-year-old performers has been performing for seven years. They rehearse the show for 16 days before they go on tour, he noted.
"They are thrilled to be following their passion and they only have seven weeks a year to do that, so they push and push," Wonderle said. "And many of them do aspire to go professional, but many of them go on to do something else fantastic -- our goal is to make them into great human beings."
For the most part, the same youngsters perform from year to year, and many of them grow up in the circus, at least in the summertime.
It seems to be working. The children in the audience were engrossed by Saturday’s matinee, and the grown-ups left smiling.
"A circus made up of all kids? It’s gotta be good, right?" noted Kevin Rhoads as he herded his kids out of the tent. "For the record, they loved it."

Cowboy preacher spreads a simple Gospel

Wild horse racers wow rodeo crowds

Circus benefits Bar Nunn fire department

By the Star-Tribune staff writer trib.com Sunday, July 17, 2011The Carson & Barnes Circus will perform seven shows Friday through Sunday at the Casper, WY Events Center.
Proceeds from the performances will benefit the Bar Nunn Volunteer Fire Department, according to a release.
Show times are 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday; 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are valid for any performance and can be purchased in advance at the Events Center box office, by phone at 307-577-3030 or 800-442-2256 or online at www.CasperEventsCenter.com. Advance ticket prices are $6 for children ages 2-11 and $12 for 12 and older. Tickets at the door are $10 for children ages 2-11 and $18 for 12 and older.
Read more: http://trib.com/news/local/casper/article_b33d749f-610c-5362-9d60-

50 years ago today

from: lehighvalleylive.com

Allentown, PA, 1961: Talk to the animals: "Animaland, U.S.A.," billed as America's largest traveling zoo, opened a three-day stand at the 25th Street Shopping Center. "The show features wild animals and regular circus amusements. Animals on view include monkeys, a trained seal, tigers, bears, elephants and various smaller animals. The elephants are being used to pull gaily-colored circus wagons carrying passengers. The animals are on display in circus wagons. Admission to the zoo is free. The only charge will be for the elephant ride."

Gifford’s Circus: the country circus nobody should miss

Posted on Jul 16th, 2011 in Featured, Travel, UK fun and days out

Napoleon prances round a picture of Russia, throwing knives at it from his mouth. A woman called The Comet mounts a board seated on the shoulders of two men and vaults 15 feet in the air, doing breathtaking flips. Can’t quite place the story? It’s War and Peace, Gifford’s Circus-style.
Where other circuses might content themselves with a loose theme of, oh, “the jungle” or, even more simplistically, “the circus”, this year Nell Gifford’s troupe of acrobats, actors, horsemen and musicians have soared much much higher, performing an adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic.
“It’s not My Little Pony, is it?” said a woman behind me on the simple wooden benches under the big white tent.
How to describe how charming, richly textured and awe-inspiring Gifford’s Circus is? We’ve been attending for five years this country circus that tours Gloucestershire. Here is the experience: you park your car in a farmer’s field and walk toward the painted gypsy caravans while the sounds of a fairground band organ play. You squeeze together onto benches and watch the clown Tweedy (a clown familiar to all the nursery aged children in the audience) work the audience and lose his hat (“it’s behind you”). Then the show begins.

Two handsome young jugglers radiate charisma while tossing flaming torches. Acrobats do flips and swing high into the air just feet from where you sit. A tap dancing couple fills the tent with the cheerful rhythm of dance before the man dons taps on his hands and walks down a set of stairs, tapping out a beat upside down. Nell Gifford promenades on a horse while a hawk circles inside the tent.
Each act corresponds to the classic story. At one point the entire cast, including the live band, dons masks made of feathers, leaves and bits of fabric for a big song and dance. Then, like the Russian winter, it snows inside. Petya dies. (“Daddy, mummy, why did he die?” a 4-year-old asked, in what was certain to be her first lesson in Russian literature.)
The effect is transporting, overwhelming. Each time we go to the circus I feel so overcome by a combination of excitement and emotion that I get a lump in my throat and my vision turns watery.
Last year we also tried Circus Sauce, the pop-up restaurant (in the real sense) that the troupe operates in a temporary tent next to the kitchen caravan in the same field. We sat eating simple, tasty food served family-style, while the children played under the stars – occasionally running back to tell us they’d spied some of the performers relaxing.
That’s the thing about this circus. I could tell you all about the musical director and Nell’s talent scouting trips and much more, but all you need to is that when sit in the tent with 500 other people, just feet from the performers, you marvel at their talent and really do hold your breath during tricks that seem death defying. You feel like you’ve discovered something secret and special in the villages of the Cotswolds. You might still be able scoop up the few remaining tickets for this year’s season. Even if you can’t, mark your calendar and make plans for next year so don’t miss the magic.