A tale of two circus performers
Cathy Carden’s spent her whole life in the big show while David Shipman’s new to the ring
CONTRIBUTED
Ringmaster David Shipman welcomes a crowd to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Fully Charged Gold Edition.
from: scnow.com
by TRACI BRIDGES, Morning News
Thu Feb 14, 2013
FLORENCE, S.C. – Circus life isn’t for everyone, but whether they join the big top in childhood or later in life, those who love it really love it.
Just ask Cathy Carden and David Shipman.
Carden, a seventh-generation animal trainer and performer, began performing as a ballerina on horseback in her parents’ act at the age of 5. By the time she was 7, she began working with her parents to care for animals, including her family’s three young elephants. At age 12, she was training elephants and liberty horses. Although training was her passion, Carden decided it was just as important to be skilled in other areas so she shifted her focus to performance, learning how to be an acrobat, aerialist, trampolinist, dancer and later a vocalist and announcer. She has been performing ever since.
Shipman’s journey to circus life was quite different. Shipman was working a regular 9 to 5 office job when he learned about ringmaster auditions through Facebook. He ended up completely missing the audition but determined not to let a golden opportunity pass him by, he called Ringling Bros. to see if he could still try out. That caught the attention of executives, and Shipman got the job.
Cathy Carden’s spent her whole life in the big show while David Shipman’s new to the ring
CONTRIBUTED
Ringmaster David Shipman welcomes a crowd to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Fully Charged Gold Edition.
from: scnow.com
by TRACI BRIDGES, Morning News
Thu Feb 14, 2013
FLORENCE, S.C. – Circus life isn’t for everyone, but whether they join the big top in childhood or later in life, those who love it really love it.
Just ask Cathy Carden and David Shipman.
Carden, a seventh-generation animal trainer and performer, began performing as a ballerina on horseback in her parents’ act at the age of 5. By the time she was 7, she began working with her parents to care for animals, including her family’s three young elephants. At age 12, she was training elephants and liberty horses. Although training was her passion, Carden decided it was just as important to be skilled in other areas so she shifted her focus to performance, learning how to be an acrobat, aerialist, trampolinist, dancer and later a vocalist and announcer. She has been performing ever since.
Shipman’s journey to circus life was quite different. Shipman was working a regular 9 to 5 office job when he learned about ringmaster auditions through Facebook. He ended up completely missing the audition but determined not to let a golden opportunity pass him by, he called Ringling Bros. to see if he could still try out. That caught the attention of executives, and Shipman got the job.
CONTRIBUTED
Cathy Carden jumps rope during a recent circus performance. Carden is a seventh-generation animal trainer and performer.
Today, he and Carden share life under the big top with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Fully Charged Gold Edition. Though their duties and everyday lives are different, both say there is much to be learned from the past and the present.
read more:
http://www.scnow.com/entertainment/currents/article_1fc1e5da-7636-11e2-bb75-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=story
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