Circus trainer, performer loves working with animals
Trainer and performner Andre McClain works with horses and other animals in his gig with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which visits the Greensboro Coliseum for shows Feb. 8-12.From: The Burlington Times-News
By Charity Apple / Times-News
February 02, 2012GREENSBORO — When it comes to training animals in the “Greatest Show on Earth,” Andre McClain follows the three P’s — patience, perseverance and praise.
“They’re just like people. They have their moods and their strengths and weaknesses,” he said in a phone interview from Birmingham, Ala., where the circus was performing last week. McClain, known as “America’s Favorite Cowboy,” performs with his 7-year-old Appaloosa Comanche along with an animal act that includes ponies, goats and llamas in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s first-ever tour of “Dragons.”
The 142nd edition of the circus features three touring companies this year — Dragons (blue tour), which is new, Fully Charged (red tour) and the Barnum Bash (gold tour). Fully Charged will be at the RBC Center in Raleigh Feb. 8-10; Dragons will be at the Greensboro Coliseum Feb. 8-12 and Barnum Bash will come to the Crown Center in Fayetteville March 8-11.
The circus staff and animals all travel by train, something McClain enjoys.
“It’s relaxing,” he said. “I love it!”
McClain was raised on a ranch in Kansas City, Mo., and began riding bucking ponies and steers at the age of 5. His father, Lu, founded the Bill Pickett Rodeo in 1984; it was America’s first all African-American touring rodeo and Andre made his rodeo debut at the age of 7.
It was in 2002, while researching stilts for a routine he hoped to use in his “Wild West Arts” one-man show with his father’s rodeo, that he visited the 132nd edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus. Andre’s animal training ability interested the circus personnel and he was offered a job working with the show’s exotic animal staff. He has also served as the host of the All Access Pre-Show for the 133rd edition.
This particular tour is called “Dragons” because it is the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese Zodiac.
“Strength, courage and wisdom — this show brings out the spirit of the dragon,” he said.
The ads make it look mystical and dream-like, so when McClain is asked if there are any “dragons” at the event, he just said “come to the show to discover what it’s all about.”
As a child, McClain never went to the circus, but as an adult, he described the experience as “just amazing. Generations after generations of these artists perform. These performers risk their lives every day; there are no special effects.”
Some of the acts McClain mentioned included Viktoriya Medeiros and Widny Neves, the Hair Hang Heroines, who will hang 35 feet in the air from their hair; the Great Alex Lacey, who trains lions and tigers, and the Globe of Steel, a popular motorcycle stunt show, which he said “could break some world records this year.”
“It’s truly a great show. We make dreams come true every night. We encourage everyone to come on out and discover the secret behind Dragons,” he said.
“They’re just like people. They have their moods and their strengths and weaknesses,” he said in a phone interview from Birmingham, Ala., where the circus was performing last week. McClain, known as “America’s Favorite Cowboy,” performs with his 7-year-old Appaloosa Comanche along with an animal act that includes ponies, goats and llamas in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s first-ever tour of “Dragons.”
The 142nd edition of the circus features three touring companies this year — Dragons (blue tour), which is new, Fully Charged (red tour) and the Barnum Bash (gold tour). Fully Charged will be at the RBC Center in Raleigh Feb. 8-10; Dragons will be at the Greensboro Coliseum Feb. 8-12 and Barnum Bash will come to the Crown Center in Fayetteville March 8-11.
The circus staff and animals all travel by train, something McClain enjoys.
“It’s relaxing,” he said. “I love it!”
McClain was raised on a ranch in Kansas City, Mo., and began riding bucking ponies and steers at the age of 5. His father, Lu, founded the Bill Pickett Rodeo in 1984; it was America’s first all African-American touring rodeo and Andre made his rodeo debut at the age of 7.
It was in 2002, while researching stilts for a routine he hoped to use in his “Wild West Arts” one-man show with his father’s rodeo, that he visited the 132nd edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus. Andre’s animal training ability interested the circus personnel and he was offered a job working with the show’s exotic animal staff. He has also served as the host of the All Access Pre-Show for the 133rd edition.
This particular tour is called “Dragons” because it is the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese Zodiac.
“Strength, courage and wisdom — this show brings out the spirit of the dragon,” he said.
The ads make it look mystical and dream-like, so when McClain is asked if there are any “dragons” at the event, he just said “come to the show to discover what it’s all about.”
As a child, McClain never went to the circus, but as an adult, he described the experience as “just amazing. Generations after generations of these artists perform. These performers risk their lives every day; there are no special effects.”
Some of the acts McClain mentioned included Viktoriya Medeiros and Widny Neves, the Hair Hang Heroines, who will hang 35 feet in the air from their hair; the Great Alex Lacey, who trains lions and tigers, and the Globe of Steel, a popular motorcycle stunt show, which he said “could break some world records this year.”
“It’s truly a great show. We make dreams come true every night. We encourage everyone to come on out and discover the secret behind Dragons,” he said.
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