Circus is presented by families, for families
January 20, 2011
By Linda Sickler from http://savannahnow.com
Circus acts can be family treasures, handed down like heirlooms.
Ramon Esqueda, the official elephant trainer and presenter for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, is a multi-generational circus performer, with four generations on his father's side and five generations on his mother's side.
The circus will present "Zing Zang Zoom, Gold Edition" tonight through Sunday at the Savannah Civic Center.
Esqueda was born into two prominent Mexican circus families, and his parents, Ramon Esqueda Sr. and Esperanza Atayde, were noted performers. He has performed in numerous circuses, including his family's own Circo Atayde, the oldest and largest circus in Mexico.
Today, Esqueda's children are following in the family trade. But there is something they must do first - get an education.
Esqueda always wanted to join the circus, but his parents insisted that he earn a degree first. He graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in communications.
"I went to the university, but during every holiday, I was at the circus," Esqueda said. "Right when I graduated, I was asked if I'd like to learn an act in the circus, so I started doing an aerial act.
"When I was asked if I wanted to learn something by myself, I said I wanted to learn about the animals," he said. "When I was a kid, I had a dog and tried to train him to do tricks."
After developing a dog act, Esqueda worked with horses and llamas before switching to elephants. "Since the beginning, the elephants caught my attention because they are so special," he said. "They all have different personalities, like humans.
"You have to understand each one individually and see what they are capable of doing," Esqueda said. "Their favorite reward is when I talk sweet to them and caress them. They get all excited."
Elephants are intelligent. "You really have to spend a lot of time with them," Esqueda said. "You become the leader of the herd because you provide water and food.
"That's how the relationship starts with them," he said. "Observe what they do, how they play, see all the characteristics each elephant has."
With nearly 40 years experience in animal husbandry, Esqueda loves all animals.
"We have two dogs that travel with us that are house pets," Esqueda said. "One is a little Chihuahua and the other is a bichon frise."
Esqueda is proud that his own children want to do circus work. "My son is working in Europe," he said. "My older daughter is married and lives in Romania.
"They all went into the circus and really like it," Esqueda said. "All of them work with elephants once in a while, and the elephants have become part of the family."
One of Esqueda's daughters is a student at Sarasota Community College. "She worked with me last year, but I told her, 'You've got to finish college and get that degree,'" he said.
His youngest daughter, Rosemary, 12, assists her father in the pre-show. She attends the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey school, which travels with the circus.
For a time, Esqueda's wife, Lenuta, helped in the act. "She has retired from the ring, but is in charge of the show's nursery," he said.
The All Access Pre-show, which is open to all ticketholders, gives audiences the opportunity to meet and greet circus performers and register for a chance to win a masterpiece.
"One hour before the show, we have a pre-show where all the kids and families can interact with the performers," Esqueda said. "One of my elephants will make a painting for some lucky family to take home."
Ramon Esqueda, the official elephant trainer and presenter for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, is a multi-generational circus performer, with four generations on his father's side and five generations on his mother's side.
The circus will present "Zing Zang Zoom, Gold Edition" tonight through Sunday at the Savannah Civic Center.
Esqueda was born into two prominent Mexican circus families, and his parents, Ramon Esqueda Sr. and Esperanza Atayde, were noted performers. He has performed in numerous circuses, including his family's own Circo Atayde, the oldest and largest circus in Mexico.
Today, Esqueda's children are following in the family trade. But there is something they must do first - get an education.
Esqueda always wanted to join the circus, but his parents insisted that he earn a degree first. He graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in communications.
"I went to the university, but during every holiday, I was at the circus," Esqueda said. "Right when I graduated, I was asked if I'd like to learn an act in the circus, so I started doing an aerial act.
"When I was asked if I wanted to learn something by myself, I said I wanted to learn about the animals," he said. "When I was a kid, I had a dog and tried to train him to do tricks."
After developing a dog act, Esqueda worked with horses and llamas before switching to elephants. "Since the beginning, the elephants caught my attention because they are so special," he said. "They all have different personalities, like humans.
"You have to understand each one individually and see what they are capable of doing," Esqueda said. "Their favorite reward is when I talk sweet to them and caress them. They get all excited."
Elephants are intelligent. "You really have to spend a lot of time with them," Esqueda said. "You become the leader of the herd because you provide water and food.
"That's how the relationship starts with them," he said. "Observe what they do, how they play, see all the characteristics each elephant has."
With nearly 40 years experience in animal husbandry, Esqueda loves all animals.
"We have two dogs that travel with us that are house pets," Esqueda said. "One is a little Chihuahua and the other is a bichon frise."
Esqueda is proud that his own children want to do circus work. "My son is working in Europe," he said. "My older daughter is married and lives in Romania.
"They all went into the circus and really like it," Esqueda said. "All of them work with elephants once in a while, and the elephants have become part of the family."
One of Esqueda's daughters is a student at Sarasota Community College. "She worked with me last year, but I told her, 'You've got to finish college and get that degree,'" he said.
His youngest daughter, Rosemary, 12, assists her father in the pre-show. She attends the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey school, which travels with the circus.
For a time, Esqueda's wife, Lenuta, helped in the act. "She has retired from the ring, but is in charge of the show's nursery," he said.
The All Access Pre-show, which is open to all ticketholders, gives audiences the opportunity to meet and greet circus performers and register for a chance to win a masterpiece.
"One hour before the show, we have a pre-show where all the kids and families can interact with the performers," Esqueda said. "One of my elephants will make a painting for some lucky family to take home."
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