Painted pachyderms invade area for 'Herd About Tampa Bay'

Published on Jun 20, 2012 by ABCActionNews

"Herd About Tampa Bay" is a partnership between the Outdoor Arts Foundation and Tampa Bay's Host Committee. More than two dozen elephants, each with a unique design, will invade the area.

Circus stars lighting up young lives in Swansea

 

from:  South Wales Evening Post
Thursday, June 21, 2012
A CITY barber has proved there are fringe benefits to being a trader, after giving another group of youngsters a day to remember.
\Phil Cleveland, the owner of The Barber Shoppe, Morriston, has been donating circus tickets to disabled and disadvantaged youngsters for 25 years.
And this year's beneficiaries, among more than 700 youngsters, had a blast when Circus Starr performed twice in Swansea's Singleton Park.
\Many of the 700-plus children were from special needs schools across Swansea, including Penybryn Special School in Morriston, Ysgol Crug Glas School in central Swansea, Maytree Autistic Unit in Morriston, and Stepping Stones Children Centre in Killay.
Mr Cleveland, 62, said: "I think the circus is brilliant. It brings a lot of colour and life into children's lives who otherwise do not get the chance to see it as much."
\The audience revelled in the clowns and gasped at acrobats last Friday, among them 3-year-old Jack Rigdon from Uplands who suffers from hypermobility, which means every joint in his body is double-jointed.
\Mum Louise, 37, from Uplands, said: "This is the first year Jack has been to the circus as the hypermobility problems mean he wouldn't have been able to sit up straight last year.
"He absolutely loved it. He loves clowns because he loves Mr Tumble (pre-school children's favourite) so going to the circus was a fabulous day out for him.
\"We're so thankful to Circus Starr for bringing this free circus to Swansea. It was a brilliant performance and made for a truly special day out for Jack and me."
continued at:
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Circus-stars-lighting-young-lives-Swansea/story-16425064-detail/story.html

50 DAYS IOWA STATE FAIR ---

Published on Jun 20, 2012 by iastatefair

50 Days and counting to the 2012 Iowa State Fair!

AUGUST 9-19, 2012

www.iowastatefair.org

Circus leader accuses animal rights groups of ‘getting their facts wrong’ as controversial show begins
 

Duo Huba Baba, Julia and Oleh with the zebra at Circus Mondao, this week on Blackshaw Beck Lane, Queensbury
from: halifaxcourier.co.uk
Wednesday 20 June 2012
A ring mistress has condemned animal rights groups who have called on the public to boycott the Circus Mondao, which started last night.
The Circus Mondao, which is one of the few remaining in the country to include performances by animals, began in Blackshaw Beck Lane in Queensbury last night, with two shows a day until Sunday 24 June.
But animal rights groups have called on the public not to attend because the show offers a cruel standard of living for the animals involved.
Liz Tyson, Director of the Captive Anmials’ Protections Society, said: “Constant transportation, confinement and repetitive unnatural performances is no life for any animal.”
“Visitor numbers to circuses with wild animals have halved in the last five years and there is a huge amount of support for the new proposals for a ban.
“But the Government needs to act quickly and we ask that people stay away from those shows that continue to use animals in the meantime.
“We sincerely hope that we will soon see a ban on this practice but we remain concerned for all animals in circuses, whether domestic or wild.”
Protests groups have also threatened to attend the show fields throughout the performances, but ring mistress Petra Jackson said the animals in the show were all well treated.
“People can protest if they want,” she said. “But they should find out their facts themselves and not just believe what some animal charities say.
“Most protestors have never been to a circus and what they claim is massively untrue.
“All our animals are well cared for and spend the day in the fields grazing. They live happy and fulfilling lives - unlike many animals which are left at home by themselves all day,” she said

Shriner Circus comes to town

 

Jordon Beesley/Idaho State Journal The elephants were the grand finally Tuesday evening at the Shriners Circus held at the Bannock County Fairgrounds in Pocatello.
By Eniko Jordan
from: idahostatejournal.com
June 20, 2012
POCATELLO — “Is everybody ready for the circus?” was the cry of the ringmaster at the start of the El Korah Shrine Circus at the Bannock County Fairgrounds on Tuesday night. “Yes!” was the enthusiastic reply from the crowd in the stands, and the fun got under way. 

    Tuesday night’s circus had everything one would expect: jugglers and clowns, popcorn and cotton candy, balloons and performing dogs. But since it was a Shrine Circus, it was also an annual fundraising effort for the Shrine Temple, a part of the organization of the Shriners International. The organization is best known for its system of hospitals for children. 

    Stan Garrett, Shrine Temple Potentate for Southeast Idaho, explained that Idaho’s Shriners organization has always had good success from its fundraising with the circus, and this has proven true this year, with a turnout of 989 attendees at Tuesday afternoon’s show, and with even more attending Tuesday evening’s show.

    Garrett, who has been involved with the Shriners organization for 20 years, said “It’s the kids’’ that keep him willing to spend his time and effort with the group.

    “I went to a meeting and they had a movie that showed what they do for kids and I thought that if I was going to get involved in something, I wanted it to be with something that helped kids,” Garrett said. 

    Proceeds from the circus will help support the Shrine Temple’s activities, support the Shriners Hospitals, and be used for the travel fund that transports child patients and parents.

     “This year we will pass the milestone of having helped one million kids,” said Garrett.

    Tuesday evening’s performances enchanted the children at the show with many of them crouching down in front of the barrier to the three ring circus to get a closer look at the acts. Acts included a dancing couple that could magically switch outfits in the blink of an eye, a team of aerialist beauties swirling high above the ground, and performing afghan hounds jumping through hoops.

    Little Elsie sat with her family sipping her fruity, icy drink, and said her favorite act was the dogs. “They’re cool,” she said.

    In all about 16 acts made up the Shrine Circus on Tuesday night, including balancing gymnasts, circus comedians, and trick roller-skating.

    The Bengals were also out in force at the circus; not the Idaho State Bengals, but six Bengal tigers. Trainer Adam Burke led his three yellow tigers and three rare white tigers to climb up on their stools in formation, line up, roll over, and even hug him. Making it look like child’s play, Burke even had the Bengal tigers playing leapfrog with each other. The highlight of the tiger show elicited loud oohs and aahs from the crowd, as the tigers leaped through a flaming hoop.

    To learn more about the Shriners International and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, call 1 800 237-5055, or visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Read more: http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/article_28f88614-baa1-11e1-bfa5-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story#ixzz1yKr8beAL

Preview: When circus and dance meet
This show promises to blow your mind

 

The Montreal troupe Les 7 doigts de la main has created a show, PSY Mind-Blowing Circus, that reflects a montage of mental conditions, from hypochondria to addiction, amnesia and agoraphobia group.
By Peter Robb
The Ottawa Citizen
June 19, 2012
The show: PSY Mind-Blowing Circus
 The company: Les 7 Doigts de la main
 When & where: June 20 to 23 at 7:30 p.m., National Arts Centre Theatre
 Tickets: $40 to $60 www.ticketmaster.ca
A contemporary circus arriving at the NAC this week promises to blow your mind — or at least explore it.
 The Montreal troupe Les 7 doigts de la main has created a show that reflects a montage of mental conditions, from hypochondria to addiction, amnesia and agoraphobia group. Each of the 11 performers in the show has a unique condition.
 The PSY in the title has many meanings, says Isabelle Chassé, one of the founders of Les 7 doigts and the current co-director — think psychoanalysis, psychotic, psyche, psycho.

She says there is no intent to demean those with mental problems. The troupe wants to explore the mind, demystify what might seem strange and threatening and even offer hope to the afflicted through the physicality inherent in circus performance. In one instance, for example, an agoraphobic is freed of her condition by way of an aerial move.
 “Psychiatrists and psychologists who have seen the show have told us they are happy with the show, happy with how we are portraying things,” she said. “We are sensitive to the fact that one in three people has enough symptoms to be considered to be dealing with a mental disorder. It is part of reality.”
 Chasé says the issue of mental illness has been a matter of artistic concern for the group for several years, but work on PSY started in 2009 and the first performance was in 2010 in Sweden. As a collective organization the decision to do the show was taken by all seven founders. It has been seen worldwide but arrives in Ottawa for the first time this week at the NAC.
 Les 7 doigts, which is made up of former performers with Cirque du Soleil who formed their own company in Montreal in 2002, has now fully emerged from the shadow of the Cirque. Their shows tour the world.
 “The essence of circus is travelling,” Chassé says.
 Currently they have eight productions on the road, and this year those productions have been seen in such diverse places as Buenos Aires, Argentina, New York and Berlin, Germany. PSY is just back from Europe and will return there after the NAC shows this week.
 The company has two new productions under construction at the same time, says Chassé. The company has been very popular in Ottawa since first appearing in 2005 at the NAC.
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Preview+When+circus+dance+meet/6808280/story.html#ixzz1yKoQzpZO

Circus clown puts on his game face for shows in Marshfield, Plymouth


Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger
Jahirt Bermudez takes a phone call from a family member before he heads off to the bigtop on Monday, June 18, 2012.
Jahirt Bermudez was born into a clown family and has spent most of his life as one. His four brothers were clowns, and now his two daughters are performing on the circuit as well. Each day he works with the Cole Brothers Circus, he spends an hour putting on his makeup and costume to become “Perolito.” The circus is playing for two days at the Marshfield Fairgrounds and Wednesday and Thursday at Plymouth Airport.

Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger
Jahirt Bermudez gets ready to become "Perolito," a clown with the Cole Brothers Circus on Monday, June 18, 2012. He dresses in a small, hot trailer known as clown alley.
Next 2 Photos--

 

 

At Cirque du Soleil, 2 acrobats juggle parenthood

 

This June 14, 2012 photo shows Cirque du Soleil "Zarkana" performers Jeremie Robert, left, and Julie Dionne play with their two-and-a-half year-old son Émile in their temporary apartment in New York. The couple, who are performing in New York City through September, met and fell in love while doing another Cirque du Soleil show. KATHY WILLENS — AP Photo
By MARK KENNEDY — AP Drama Writer
Published: June 19, 2012
NEW YORK — It's hard enough for the parents of a toddler to balance work and home. So imagine how hard it is if the work itself is all about balancing.
Meet Jeremie Robert and Julie Dionne, two acrobats in Cirque du Soleil's show "Zarkana" who are raising a 2-year-old son while both earn a living by spinning in a metal wheel that's thinner than a hula hoop.
While their jobs are unusual, they're like any other doting parents. Robert, 28, from Paris, and Dionne, 36, from Montreal, are clearly enchanted by Emile, an exuberant blur of movement who speaks French and Russian.
"It doesn't matter how bad the day went or how good it went," says Robert. "We step in the door and it's 'Papa!' and 'Mama!' and lots of running. If you have a bad day or you're tired, he makes you forget."
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/06/19/2230304/at-cirque-du-soleil-2-acrobats.html#storylink=cpy

David Balding, the man behind Circus Flora, has interesting story

from: ksdk.com

Jun 19, 2012

Late Night Shows Have Fun With Wallenda

Letterman, Leno and Conan all have fun with Sarasota resident Nik Wallenda's walk across Niagara Falls.

By Charles Schelle

from: sarasota.paqtch.com

June 19, 2012

Conan's Tightrope Walker One-Ups Niagara Falls Stunt - CONAN on TBS

On Conan, the show re-enacts a tight rope stunt of their own behind Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter:

"We have a tightrope walker with us this evening attempting a far more danagerous stunt. Renowned daredevil Anton Sinclair— he's going to attempt to walk across the Santa Monica Bay located right behind me in this real window," Conan said.

Sinclair nearly makes it before seagulls and a bear attacks. Oh no!

In Leno's monolgue on NBC's The Tonight Show, Leno ran a bit where Bear Grylls delivered the Olympic flame down a zip line and then magically crashed into Wallenda walking the wire over Niagara Falls.

On The Late Show with David Letterman, Letterman starts with a zinger before settling into his monologue to open with Wallenda for a full two minutes:

"What an ugly crowd we had Friday night. These were the kind of people who would heckle a Wallenda," Letterman said.

He then asked if anyone watched the show, remarking how beautiful Niagara Falls appeared explaining how there was a cable connecting the United States and Canada sides.

"It's I don't know, how many miles? Forty? And then they got a guy — they got a Wallenda and so he has to walk across a two-inch cable."

Letterman then poked fun at the tether, saying he wouldn't fall into the "raging, rapid falls" but go "woo, woo, woo" spinning around the cable. (It's best towatch all of this starting at the 2:30 minute mark.)

And what happens, if he would have fell?

"He would get his shirt wet," Letterman deadpanned.

Wallenda reached out to The Late Show via Twitter offering Dave a one-on-one lesson:

Hey @Late_Show! I loved Dave's monologue piece about my walk! Does Dave want a ‪#wirewalk‬ lesson from the ‪#kingofthehighwire‬?

It's time for the fair

 

The Sonoma-Marin Fair runs June 20-24.
Scott Hess
By Yovanna Bieberich
from: petaluma360.com
 ARGUS-COURIER STAFF
Monday, June 18, 2012
Fairs are a time to indulge in cotton candy, corn dogs and carnival rides, but they are also a time for bringing the community together to celebrate everything that makes a particular place unique.
Last year was the 200th anniversary of American fairs,” said Pat Conklin, executive director of the Sonoma-Marin Fair. “They've always been a time of celebrating area agriculture and community. Fairs have always meant competing for blue ribbons and people bringing everything from their quilts to their cattle in to see who was the best. Fairs showcased trends in agriculture and the community. It's the same way today.”
The 73rd annual Sonoma-Marin Fair takes place June 20-24 with a “Straight to the Golden Gate” theme celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. Though this is the 73rd year of the fair, Conklin said that the fair has been around for 75 years, but took two years off during World War II.
A lot of change has happened in those 73 years, but Conklin said the fair remains a reflection of those changes and what matters most to its community.
“The competitive exhibits have stood the test of time,” said Conklin. “You go into the buildings and see what your neighbors made and what makes your community tick. You still see the jellies, jams and photographs, but the exhibits have also evolved with the times to include Legos, digital photography and scrapbooking. In an area where it's about poultry and dairy, we showcase those things, too. We have roots, but we've also evolved with the times.”
Conklin said that the Teen Edge events, which include teen bands and text messaging competitions, are just one example of how the fair has kept up with trends.
read more at:http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20120618/COMMUNITY/120619526/1373/COMMUNITY03?Title=It-s-time-for-the-fair

Circus Worker Killed In Queens Bicycle Accident
By: NY1 News
06/18/2012

A worker for the Big Apple Circus is dead after a bicycle accident in Queens.

Police say 39-year-old electrician Tskaka Cooke was riding his bike Saturday evening on Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows when the driver of a parked car opened his door and Cooke slammed into it.

The circus says the accident happened after a show at nearby Cunningham Park.

"The two nurses when they were working they were asking for towels, and I ran inside and I grabbed a towel so they could make some type of tourniquet. But when I first saw him I did the sign of the Cross cause I knew only God can probably help him now," said one witness.

Cooke was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police say the driver of the car stayed on the scene and was not charged.

The circus dedicated Sunday night's show to Cooke.

UP DATE

BILL PRICKETT VISITS--

CIRCUS WORLD, BARABOO, WI

JUNE 5, 2012

Larry Stoudt, David SaLoutas & Cassidy Herriott

Tabatha Del Moral & Minnie

June Sturgis & Bill Prickett

Photos by Bill Prickett

13 Million Watched Nik Wallenda Walk Over Niagara Falls

By Charles Schelle

June 18, 2012

Sarasota's Nik Wallenda earned huge ratings for ABC during his "Megastunts: Highwire Over Niagara Falls" on Friday and has a new show on The Science Channel premiering Monday night.

Nik Wallenda told the world Friday he wanted to inspire them after walking across Niagara Falls, and he had a huge audience Friday to do just that.

Wallenda's special on ABC "Megastunts: Highwire Over Niagara Falls" attracted 13.1 million viewers becoming not only the most-watched show of the night, but the most-watched non-sports summertime event since at least 2006 on any of the major four broadcast networks, according to a statement issued by ABC. It's also the most watched show in the 9 to 11 p.m. block in more than five years and most-watched Friday show since November 2007, according to ABC.

And those numbers don't include public viewing parties, such as the one in Sarasota, or a crowd gathered at a bar, as everyone wondered what is Wallenda doing and will he make it.

Wallenda appeared on Good Morning America Monday morning to recount his experience and even asked himself that same question during the walk, he told ABC:

“Mentally, your mind goes, ‘What are you doing?’ That’s where I tell myself you’re on a wire. The wire is the same whether you’re over land or over water or over the moon, it’s still the same so focus on the wire and, again, focus on the other side,” he said.

In the final half hour alone, when the walk actually took place, 13.1 million viewers tuned in during that time, according to ABC.

Even the pre-show at 8 p.m. ABC's Countdown to Niagara: The Greates Megastunts of All Time drew 5.7 million viewers, winning the night for broadcast.

Granted, the producers knew how to whet the appetite for the stunt, providing plenty of pre-event coverage for a 25-minute walk, as Examiner.com's Doug Miles took ABC to task:

Television producers have a way of overkill. Why ABC decided to devote three hours of air time to Sarasota nativeNik Wallenda’s walk over Niagara Falls on a high-wire when he didn’t even begin the stunt until well into the third hour is a case in point.

Wallenda also appeared on GMA to promote his 5,000 feet walk across the Grand Canyon and a new show, Danger by Design on Discovery's The Science Channel that premiers tonight at 9 p.m.

Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak first look - Details and water effects, Fantasyland Storybook Circus

Published on Jun 15, 2012 by AttractionsMagazine

A look at the Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak water play area in the Storybook Circus area of new Fantasyland. Check out tributes to all the opening years of the Walt Disney World theme parks before the very wet water effects begin!

Culpepper and Merriweather Circus draws crowd in Shepherd

Sun photo by HEATHER HENRY

DJ, clown for Culpepper & Merriweather Circus, spits out water during an act at the show in Sheperd on Monday.
By Randi Shaffer
from: thyemorningsun.com
06/18/2012
Simone Key flew through the air on a trapeze, dangling from a strap around her neck and spinning in circles with her arms stretched out on either side of her.
Key, 22, worked as the ringmaster of Monday’s Culpepper and Merriweather circus in Shepherd’s Little Salt River Park.
Key is a third-generation circus performer, born into a circus family and travelling from city to city her entire life.
 “This is my version of normal (and) this is very much a day in the life of me,” she said. “I’ve never lived in one place for more than four months.”Shepherd was one of the stops on the 32-week tour.
Key said this is the first time in 11 years the circus, based out of Oklahoma, has made a stop in Michigan.
 Key worked as the circus ringmaster until the intermission of the two hour show, and then performed stunts on a unicycle and a trapeze.
 The circus also included fire juggling, hula-hooping, stunts with birds and horses, clown acts and a balancing feat, concluding with a performance on a Russian swing, where a performance artist flew off a swinging wooden platform, flipping through a hoop suspended about 40 feet in the air and into a large red net.
 Another performer, 9-year-old Georgia Cainan assisted on stage, as DJ the clown jumped rope with Mt. Pleasant resident Jesse Hacker.
 Georgia said she is homeschooled, and travels with her mom as they both act as part of the circus.
  

 Circus acts coming to Rehoboth, Berkley

 

Susan Vidbel
By Christopher Nichols
Taunton Gazette staff reporter
Posted Jun 18, 2012
REHOBOTH —
Two circuses will be coming to the Greater Taunton Area in the coming weeks with performances scheduled in Rehoboth and Berkley.
Rehoboth
 Circus Vidbel will be making its way to Rehoboth on June 22 and 23 with up to 50 percent of proceeds from tickets purchased in advance going to the Rehoboth Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA). The PTSA still receives a smaller share of tickets sold at the door.
 “The trucks will arrive late Wednesday night, and they will be setting up the tents on Thursday,” said Dick Georgia, who has been helping to sponsor a circus in Rehoboth since the town’s 350th anniversary in 1993.
 Circus Vidbel has scheduled four performances at the Redway Plain on Route 44 near Bay State Road and Danforth Street. Performances will begin at 4:30 and 7 p.m. on June 22 and 1:30 and 4 p.m. on June 23.
 All tickets are general admission and may be purchased in advance for $9 at the Chartley Country Store on Route 118, Viveiros Insurance Agency in the Rehoboth Post Office Building on Route 44, and in Seekonk at the Newman YMCA on Route 44.
 Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $12.
 “What you should expect is to have a great time and be entertained,” Georgia said.
Now in its 24th tour, Circus Vidbel has added new acts for the 2012 season such as the Benna Sandlofer Riding Act, a Vidbel Dressage Riding Act and the Chicago Boyz.
 The Benna Sandlofer Riding Act is a trick horse riding act that promises to be a “dangerous, death-defying display of balance and acrobatic horsemanship”, according to a press release. The Chicago Boyz are an inner-city, fast-paced acrobatic performance that includes a rope jumping act.
 The circus will also feature aerialists, clowns, juggling acts, performing dogs, horses, ponies and live music, among other performers. This year will also feature a preshow presentation in Center Ring that will include children from the audience.
 “The performances are exciting with a lot of fast-moving acts,” Georgia said. “…They have a long history of performing here.”
Berkley
In Berkley, the Kelly Miller Circus will be performing on Thursday, June 28 at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Hill and Hollow Farm, 118 South Main St. The Berkley Lions Club is sponsoring the circus with proceeds benefiting the Lions eye research, diabetes awareness, hearing foundations and various local charities.
 “It’s always a good show, great family show,” said Tony Andrade, president of the Berkley Lions Club.
Read more: http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x1805318740/Circus-acts-coming-to-Rehoboth-Berkley#ixzz1yEAqdqzy

Shrine Circus comes to area
Spectacular colors and amazing feats

 

from: ktbs.com
Published On: Jun 18 2012

A cultural kaleidoscope of color and opulent panorama of pageantry kicks off a star-studded, all new, never before seen line up as the 2012 El Karubah Shrine Circus Spectacular rolls into Shreveport/Bossier City. Enchanting elephants, tantalizing tigers, and amazing acrobats prepare to dazzle and astound.

Acts will include Joseph Dominick Bauer, Ringmaster. Hailing from Swiss circus royalty, Bauer is emcee and conqueror of the Wheel of Death.
Daniel Raffo, World Renowned Tiger Trainer. Direct from Argentina, Raffo’s bevy of beautiful Bengal big cats are untamed, untethered, and utterly unpredictable.
• Andrea and Lluvia, Courageous and Indescribable. This daring duo hangs high above the arena, by their hair while spinning at dangerous speeds and juggling flaming batons.
• Broadway Bo, The World’s Largest Performing Elephant. Trained by Larry Carden. In a jaunty top hat, see this incredible 5 ton pachyderm perform feats of precision and perfection.
• Caroline Williams and the Liberty Horses. Eight generations of German equestrian circus history course through Caroline’s high stepping steeds.
• Hernando and Marius, Motorcycle Madness. Not for the faint of heart, Hernando and Marius take motocross to new heights, combining dangerous daredevils and a delicate incline wire.
• Fabio’s Extreme Riders, It’s a Small World After All. Fabio’s fearless foursome fly encased in a steel globe. When inches count, Fabio’s riders do not disappoint.
Tickets are $35 for Ringmaster (VIP seating), $29 for Spectacular (reserved seating), $22 for adults in Family Seating (general admission), and $16 for children. A very limited number of $9 seats are available for early purchase for Friday night’s opening show, and Saturday morning. The website for coupons, offers, giveaways and more details is www.2012circus.com. In addition, Brookshire’s is selling tickets for $20 (adults) and $14 (children). Kids under age 3 are FREE
Show times for the 2012 El Karubah Shrine Circus Spectacular at the Century Link Center are Friday (9/21) at 7:30 pm. Saturday (9/22) at 11 a.m.and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday (9/23) at 2 and 6 p.m.

The Shrine Circus is the only interactive circus in the world! Our audience is  welcomed into all three rings of the circus floor for our famous Pre-Party one hour prior to show times to meet our performers, ride the elephants, and just clown around.