Saturday, June 1, 2013

Circus Flora Opens With, “A Trip To The Moon”
from: fox2now.com
by Patrick Clark
May 31, 2013



http://fox2now.com/2013/05/31/circus-flora-opens-with-a-trip-to-the-moon/
Circus performers come to town

 
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ClownSnotBombs is set to entertain Willits next week.
Photo courtesy of ClownSnotBombs. (The Willits News)
By The Willits News staff
from:  willitsnews.com
ClownSnotBombs is set to entertain Willits next week. Photo courtesy of ClownSnotBombs. (The Willits News)The circus company ClownSnotBombs is returning to Willits next week with workshops on June 5 and 6, climaxing with performances for the whole family June 7 and 8.
The workshops are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Little Lake Grange. Performers of all ages and skill levels are invited to take part. The classes cover a variety of circus-style activities including clowning, basic acrobatics, stilt walking, unicycle, and juggling (balls, clubs, diabolo, plate spinning and more). There is a suggested donation of $20 per session or $10 each for families.
Afternoon classes from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. both days will cover the circus' aerial arts. The suggested donation for these classes are $15.
Call 972-8558 for more information.
A parade is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. June 6 at the Little Lake Grange and end at the Willits Farmers Market in Bud Snider Park. Show up at the Grange to take part.
The troupe will perform "A Spaghetti Western" followed by a performance by the Jaunting Martyrs on June 7 and 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Willits Shakespeare tent at 1195 S. Main St. This show is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids at the door.
The show offers a menu of circus with entrees of acrobatics, comedy, performance art, physical theater, circus skills, and original music and is directed by Faeble Kievman.
The Jaunting Martyrs is a Bay Area cross-genre band.
ClownSnotBombs is a non-profit six-person circus company which provides entertainment and workshops to venues throughout Northern California.

RBBB--OMAHA

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus comes to Omaha

 from: omaha.com
May 31, 2013


MARK DAVIS/THE WORLD-HERALD
A handler plants a kiss on a horse as it is moved to the CenturyLink Center on Thursday.


Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey shows have hit Omaha. The first performance is today at 7 p.m. and features more than 110 performers and 95 exotic and domestic animals.

MARK DAVIS/THE WORLD-HERALD
More than 270 employees have a hand in bringing animals such as elephants to audiences.
 
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MARK DAVIS/THE WORLD-HERALD
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey employees unload horses at the CenturyLink Center on Thursday.

read more:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20130531/NEWS/705319920/1016
Tim’s Travels: Circus Flora #2
from: fox2now.com
by Tim Ezell,
May 31, 2013



http://fox2now.com/2013/05/31/tims-travels-circus-flora/

Circus starts the summer off in style
 
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from:  greenbaypressgazette.com
by Mary Anderson
May 31, 2013
It turned into an exciting weekend when I was invited to go to the Shrine Circus with my son and his six children. I haven’t been to a circus since I was about 5 years old.
I don’t know who had more fun, Grandma (that’s me) or the kids! Having just watched the movie “Water for Elephants,” I was interested in how the whole thing ran behind the scenes. The whole crew was outstanding and we sure got a chuckle when the camels decided to wander off from the ring. The little ones especially enjoyed meeting the Shriner clowns, and getting their faces painted.
We also managed to pack in mini-golf, two fishing outings, a trip to Maifest, and a campfire on the weekend. Summer is now officially started at our house!

Tim’s Travels: Circus Flora #3
from: fox2now.com
by Tim Ezell,
May 31, 2013



http://fox2now.com/2013/05/31/tims-travels-circus-flora/

FIRE JUGGLERS-HUDSON VALLEY

Circus performers, fire jugglers take over the Hudson Valley

 
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Photo courtesy of A Different Spin A Different Spin weaves a fiery web.
from:  advertisernewssouth.com
May 31, 2013
SLEEPY HOLLOW — Two events inspired by circuses of old will take place Friday, June 21, through Sunday, June 23, at two Historic Hudson Valley sites.

A band of fire jugglers will light up Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow during A Night on Fire, Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22. Expanded this year to four performances over two evenings, A Night on Fire debuted last year to a sold out crowd.

Performed by the juggling and comedy troupe A Different Spin, “A Night on Fire” will feature stunts and family friendly humor and is ideal for audiences of all ages. Performances take place at 8:15 and 10 p.m.

This one-hour performance is a fully choreographed, live display of fire arts featuring four flame-wielding, fire-eating performers twisting and turning, juggling and dancing, spinning and sword fighting. The vaudeville-meets-funk sounds of Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band kicks off the show.

Though it is a separate ticketed performance, “A Night on Fire” is a complement to Animals & Acrobats, which takes place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23.

Featuring a variety of performers and animal conservation groups, Animals & Acrobats evokes an early-American traveling circus. An ambassador wolf, stilt-dancers, soaring acrobats, gargantuan puppets, and the chance to hone your circus skills are some of the event’s highlights.

In America’s early days, fire jugglers, tumbling acrobats, rope walkers, magicians — indeed, clever characters of all sorts — used to travel the countryside as a ragged band of entertainers, setting up shop at various locales.
read more:
http://advertisernewssouth.com/article/20130531/ENTERTAINMENT/130539999/Circus-performers-fire-jugglers-take-over-the-Hudson-Valley
Circus Flora’s Flying Goats
from: fos2now.com
by Tim Ezell
May 31, 2013



ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Circus Flora’s flying goats can do some amazing tricks. They also have really cool costumes. Their trainer Carlos shows what they can do.
http://fox2now.com/2013/05/31/circus-floras-flying-goats/

MOSCOW CATS

Circus family reopens Moscow's unique cat theatre


In this photo, taken on May 3, 2013, Vladimir Kuklachev is seen performing with a cat during a show at the Moscow Cat Theatre, founded by his father, famous Russian clown Yuri Kuklachev, shortly before the fall of the USSR. The theatre was recently re-opened after a top to bottom renovation.
from: france24.com
June 1, 2013
AFP - Up on a brightly lit Moscow stage a clown loudly welcomes the stars of today's show -- 20 highly trained cats.

Packing out the auditorium with excited children and adults, the feline performers are the main attraction at the world-famous and unique cat theatre.

Founded just before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the theatre -- run jointly by its founder, circus clown Yuri Kuklachev, and his sons Dmitry and Vladimir -- has recently reopened after a major renovation.

From the very first moments in the venue -- even before the show begins -- visitors are plunged into the feline kingdom's unique atmosphere: some cats watch spectators' arrival from behind a glass wall while others are already darting about the stage.
 
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In this photo, taken on May 3, 2013, a cat is seen performing during a show at the Moscow Cat Theatre, founded by famous Russian clown Yuri Kuklachev, shortly before the fall of the USSR. The theatre, with twenty cats, a dog and a few clowns on stage, was recently re-opened after a top to bottom renovation.
When a bell rings for the beginning of the show and the curtain opens, the audience explodes with applause: on stage, a cat balances on a wheel spun by a clown as a furry co-star skateboards on its hind legs.

Then a conjuring number follows and a cat appears to bang a drum as a dove emerges from under a cloth in a clown's hand.

Other numbers -- less acrobatic but equally difficult -- also show that training the cats must require well-honed skills.

"With cats, each show is an improvisation," Yuri Kuklachev's younger son, Vladimir, told AFP.

"Cats often behave instinctively and one should always be behind them as they just do what they want."

"Some cats enjoy the stage, they love it when we watch them attentively, while others do not like noise or lights and sit motionless," he added.



In this photo, taken on May 3, 2013, a cat is seen performing during a show at the Moscow Cat Theatre, founded by famous Russian clown Yuri Kuklachev, shortly before the fall of the USSR. The theatre, with twenty cats, a dog and a few clowns on stage, was recently re-opened after a top to bottom renovation.
The 30-year-old former ballet dancer said it took him a year to get used to training cats.

"With dogs it is easier, we show them what to do once, and that is it."

His father Yuri, a legendary Soviet-era clown, started training cats to stand out from the competition and established the theatre in 1990 on Moscow's central Kutuzov Avenue.

Every show involves around 20 cats and the theatre has 100 in total.

Before the theatre reopened, animal rights groups called for its shows be banned, saying that the animals suffered abuse from trainers.

But Vladimir Kuklachev dismissed the criticism, arguing that recent inspections found no violations in his theatre.

One of the young children watching the show, Daria Kalinovich, said she was thrilled by cats' talents.

"I loved so much seeing the cats jumping up and down, running after a ball and juggling," she said.

The theatre's shows -- "The Cat Thief", "The Puss in Boots", "The Nutcracker and the King of Rats", and even "Swan Lake" -- run throughout the year, with teams of feline performers led alternately by Kuklachev-senior and his two sons.

Besides Russia, the theatre has toured France, Canada, Japan, the United States and China.

It is not the only unusual animal theatre in Moscow.

The Durov animal theatre founded in 1912 has performers including a raccoon, ravens and mice who run a miniature railway.
http://www.france24.com/en/20130601-circus-family-reopens-moscows-unique-cat-theatre
Cotton Candy At Circus Flora
from: fox2now.com
by Tim Ezell
May 31, 2013



ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Tim Ezell tries his hand making cotton candy at Circus Flora. He should probably stick with his day job, His cotton candy didn’t turn out too well.
http://fox2now.com/2013/05/31/cotton-candy-at-circus-flora/

AUSTRAILIA CLOWN

Stardust Circus clown 'Dum Dum' punched by teenage girl at Berri


Stardust Circus clown ' Dum Dum ' ( Lee Dorfliger ) was punched by a 16 year old girl while trying to break up a fight while putting on a show in Berri.
Picture: Tait Schmaal
Source: adelaidenow
from: heraldsun.com
Tessa Akerman•adelaidenow•
June 01, 2013
A CIRCUS clown who claims he was "whacked" in the face by a teenage girl says he just had to take the punishment because he doesn't hit girls.
After a week in which a 13-year-old girl called one of our greatest footy stars an ape, and a high-school student threw a sandwich at the prime minister, a South Australian 16-year-old is now in trouble for allegedly hitting Lee Dorfliger  outside the Stardust Circus in the Riverland town of Berri.
Mr Dorfliger, whose stage name is Dum Dum, was dressed in his clown costume when he stepped in to stop a "coward" allegedly hitting the girl outside the Stardust Circus on Thursday before the girl in question turned on him.
He said he went over with the circus security guard to talk to the couple who ran and hid under a truck.
"They were having a big argument. So I went over to stop it," Mr Dorfliger, 32, said.
 
Picture: Tait Schmaal Source: adelaidenow
"We said, 'look you guys, you can't stick around at the circus',' he said.
"They wanted to come back into the show."
Mr Dorfliger said the couple started loudly "swearing and screaming and carrying on".
"The fella (with the girl) said 'f-- you, I'm really going to bash you now' and he marched towards me, fists clenched as if he's about to hit me," he said
 
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Stardust Circus clown ' Dum Dum ' ( Lee Dorfliger ) was punched by a 16 year old girl while trying to break up a fight while putting on a show in Berri.
Picture: Tait Schmaal
"I have laid one on his chin and he's decided the clown isn't the easiest target."
But to his surprise the man stood back and let his girlfriend attack Mr Dorfliger.
"Of course, I'm not someone who hits girls so I had to stand there and take it," he said.
"She's gone and whacked me in the face and I just had to back down and keep walking away from her."
 
Stardust Circus clown ' Dum Dum ' ( Lee Dorfliger ) was punched by a 16 year old girl while trying to break up a fight while putting on a show in Berri.
Picture: Tait Schmaal
Mr Dorfliger, who was not injured, said he decided not to press charges against the girl.
"The poor thing has enough on her plate," he said.
The girl was charged with offensive language and resisting arrest while her companions - a man, 24, faces a charge of offensive language and another man, 33, was charged with hindering police and resisting arrest.
They will appear in the Berri Magistrates Court at a later date.
Mr Dorfliger said it was rare for people to be violent at the circus.
"We're fun-loving people and we have a lot of fun wherever we go," he said.
"Stardust Circus stands for traditional values and we certainly don't allow that sort of thing to go on on at our site."

Friday, May 31, 2013

Three-ring circus coming to Hailey
Hailey Rodeo Arena to host Jordan Family Circus on June 7

 
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A two-hour performance of the Jordan World Circus on June 7 will include elephants, horses and other animals.
Courtesy photo
from: mtexpress.com
By TONY EVANS, Express Staff Writer
May 31, 2013
Haley,ID--The Jordan World Circus, based in Las Vegas, Nev., will perform at the Hailey Rodeo Arena on Friday, June 7, at 6:30 p.m. The legendary Jordan family of circus performers started during the days of vaudeville. Jordan members performed with the Tom Mix Circus during the 1930s.

     The two-hour show will feature elephants, horses and other animals, as well as trapeze and high-wire artists, and the death-defying “Wheel of Death” act high above the floor. The show will also feature numerous clowns, motorcycle daredevils, balancing acts and other surprises.

     According to a Facebook fan page, many of the Jordan Family Circus acts were developed over the years by Jordan family members John and Patsy Jordan. Patsy Jordan is a second-generation circus performer. Her mother came from Germany and performed in major circuses and night-clubs with a bicycle act.
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The two-hour show will feature elephants, horses and other animals.

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     Patsy grew up in the dressing rooms of these shows and joined the famed Flying Wallendas high-wire act in 1954. John Jordan also joined the Wallendas, performing the famed seven-people pyramid with Patsy.

     After career-making acts in New York City, John and Patsy formed their own aerial act and performed with major circuses, fairs and parks throughout the country. After a serious accident while performing, John Jordan conceived the idea of “The Globe of Death”and started rehearsing with his 12-year-old son, Jody, and 16-year-old daughter, Delisa.

     This act, which features motorcycles inside a metal sphere, appeared at Circus Circus in Las Vegas and Reno for l 2 years.

     John and Patsy Jordan continue to run the Jordan Family Circus as it tours the United States each summer. Concessions will be sold at the show but no alcohol. Ticket prices are $16 for adults and $12 for kids. One child can enter for free with a paid adult ticket. For more information or to reserve seats, contact: www.thejordanworldcircus.com.
Aloha Live Producer Tuffy Nicholas
 


Published on May 28, 2013
The producer of the new Aloha Live show in Waikiki, which combines Polynesian dance with Cirque du Soleil type acts, tells how he was born into the circus biz -- and plans on doing a Big Top modern circus on Oahu before taking it to Asia later this year!
Circus life is a real family affair
 Jan Lennon joined the circus when she was just 17 and seven children and countless grandchildren later, her family has become one of the largest performing outfits in Australia.

 
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The circus business is a family affair for Stardust Circus matriach Jan Lennon
(Catherine Heuzenroeder - ABC Local)

from:  abc.ne.au
By Catherine Heuzenroeder
31 May, 2013
It's a family that has not only stayed together, but travels together year-round, living on the road in their caravans.
 They train, perform and even holiday together.
 The young ones have teachers who travel with them, taking lessons in a caravan classroom.
 It is a lifestyle that Jan admits is in their blood.
 "I've not forced any of them to stay, not that you could even if you wanted to, but they've all chosen this life, and they all work hard and take the bad with the good," Jan says of her children's decision to stay with the circus.
 Everywhere they go, this family-run circus is a magnet for children and families, keen to see performers and animals under the big top.
 This week the Stardust Circus pulled up near the swimming pool at Berri.
Within a day, the empty reserve was transformed with carnival rides, caravans, brightly-painted semi trailers and a large circus tent.
 By Monday night - a week after they first arrived - they will be gone.
 "We are probably not in one place long enough to make real friendships with people," Jan says of their itinerant lifestyle.
 The circus family is self-sufficient, each bringing different skills to the business from performing and animal training, to building, carpentry, welding and tent-making.
 "They all drive trucks or semis, they are all pretty versatile," Jan says.
 Even outside of work, they remain together.
 "They have their arguments of course but they get over it pretty quick," Jan says of her family.
 "They're together all the year, even when they have four weeks off at the end of the year, would you believe, they all go off together?
 "It goes to show they really do have a close relationship."
read more:
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/05/31/3771929.htm?site=riverland
Local performers have 'soul' in circus
By: WMAR Staff
May 30, 2013
BALTIMORE (WMAR) -

Thieves steal £7,000 bikes from circus in Gravesend - cash reward offered for their return


Abraham Medina in the Globe of Death.
thislocallondon.co.uk
by By Alan Woods
31st May 2013
A CIRCUS visiting Gravesend this weekend has been forced to cancel its star act after thieves broke into the big top and stole three motorbikes worth £7,000.

The final act at Uncle Sam’s American Circus, which is performing at the Riverside Area in Ordnance Road until Sunday, is the daredevil Medina Riders in the Globe of Death.

Three motorbikes are driven by South American riders around the metal globe at one time at speeds of up to 40mph during the hair-raising act.

But this morning, circus staff were “gutted” when they found thieves had broken into the circus tent overnight and stolen the three bikes used for the act
A £1,000 cash reward is now being offered by the circus for the return of the bikes, which have been used on the show for the past two years.

Ringmaster Paul Martinez told News Shopper: “I got up this morning to open the ticket office and the tent was sliced open down the side exactly where the globe was.
read more:
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10455474.Thieves_steal___7_000_bikes_from_circus_in_Gravesend___cash_reward_offered_for_their_return/
Lara Elise - Cloud Swing Promo



Published on May 16, 2013
Lara Elise - Australian Cloud Swing performer.
For bookings email - lara_hilborn@hotmail.com
Music - Destination Unknown by Alex Gaudino. Credit photo by Brian Luxton.


From Larry Snyder---05/30/2013
Dick, I have learned that our friend LeBrone Harris has passed away yesterday of ALS.  He was a retired college professor who loved clowning and the circus in general.  After his retirement from teaching, he worked in the office of various circuses including: ROBERTS BROS., COLE BROS.,and KELLY MILLER.  I was told there will be no funeral, but a rememberance of him will be held at his home in Florida in the fall, when his friends will be back in town.  Larry


COLE BROS CIRCUS--NEW PALTZ, NY #2


Ringmaster Chris Connors who was originally of Newburgh talks to the crowd as he announces the next act of the Cole Brother Circus, which is in its 129th year of performing and is the last American under the tent big top circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record

Petya Milanova performs an aerial ballet as she is suspended by her hair under the big top at the Cole Brothers Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013. The circus will be back Middletown from Monday June 3rd to Wednesday June 5th and at Dutchess Stadium from Thursday June 6th to Sunday June 9th.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record


Performing for their first time in America the Tabares family troupe from Columbia perform their highwire act under the big top of the Cole Brother's Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record


Ringmaster Chris Connors, originally of Newburgh (center) watches as the Tabares family troupe from Columbia perform for the first time in America, their highwire act under the big top of the Cole Brother's Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record
 
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Vicenta Pages' Bengal Tigers wait in their cages in the backstage area of the cirus before their act in the ring at the Cole Brothers Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=TH&Date=20130530&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=530009997&Ref=PH&Presentation=desktop

COLE BROS CIRCUS--NEW PALTZ, NY




Julius Carallo aka Chips the Clown sets up an quick act outside the big top at the Cole Brothers Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Carallo who used to own a printing company in New Jersey made a major life change when he decided to join the cirus and hasn't looked back since saying that he gets paid to travel and "I love what I do."
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record

Kingston on Thursday, May 29th, 2013. The Cole Brothers Circus has been running since 1884 and remains the last under the tent big top circus in the country, the troupe travels the east coast and will make stops in Middletown and Dutchess Stadium next week.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record

Erica Peterson of New Paltz holds her hands over her son Tory's 3, ears in preparation of the human cannon ball being fired during the Cole Brother Circus, which is in its 129th year of performing and is the last American under the tent big top circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013. The circus will be back Middletown from Monday June 3rd to Wednesday June 5th and at Dutchess Stadium from Thursday June 6th to Sunday June 9th.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record

Vicenta Pages preforms a trick with one of her Royal Bengal Tigers in the Cole Brothers Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record

Emily Fassio of the Fassio family performs in the dog act under the last American big top of the Cole Brother Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record

Halley Frisco walks out of the ring with Hugo, one of two baby elephants in the show and Omar Imps under the big top at the Cole Brothers Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall in Kingston on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record
 
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in American Circus tradition the Frisco family presents Elphas Maximus under the big top of the Cole Brothers Circus at the Hudson Valley Mall on Wednesday, May 29th, 2013.
Photo By: Kelly Marsh for the Times Herald-Record
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=TH&Date=20130530&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=530009997&Ref=PH&Presentation=desktop

CIRCUS FLORA

Nationally Renowned, Locally Grown: Circus Flora Is a Treasure


from: stlouis.cbslocal.com
From Total Information AM
By Debbie Monterrey
May 30, 2013
The big top is up in Grand Center and it’s show time for Circus Flora, St. Louis’ very own circus since 1987.
For those who think they don’t like circus, trust me, I was you. Until Circus Flora. All I can say to people is, GO! I guarantee you will love it.
Circus Flora has several famous circus families who perform regularly, including the Flying Wallendas on the high-wire

It has spawned a number of documentaries, including “One Lucky Elephant,” the story of Igor David Balding (artistic director/producer) and his elephant, Flora, for whom the circus was named.
foto
The St. Louis Arches, the young tumbling phenoms from Circus Harmony school, were featured in “Circus Kids,” which followed their life-changing trip from St. Louis to Israel to work with a Jewish-Arab youth circus. It continues to be screened at film festivals around the country. Circus Harmony founder Jessica Hentoff is also a founding member of Circus Flora and New York’s Big Apple Circus before that!

Circus Flora is more than a circus. It’s a theater company with a community outreach, including the Clowns on Call program that offers children in area hospitals smiles during recovery.
It’s a world I never thought I would be a part of, but I have been a member of the Circus Flora board for several years now and have two children attending classes at Circus Harmony. My husband quipped a few weeks ago leaving after watching our son do his wire-walking act, “We’re a circus family!”
Circus Flora runs May 30-June 23. Tickets information can be found at circusflora.org.
 

FROM CASEY GIBBS--

FROM:
CASEY GIBBS
Lazy day for elephants

 
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Vintage Trapeze Girl! (1897)
(No Sound)
 


SuperVintageCinema

CARSON & BARNES--SHERIDAN, WY

Circus Raises Eyebrows; Jaycees Issues Statement

 
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from: sheridanmedia.com
By Tracee Davis
05/30/2013
The Carson & Barnes Circus is setting up at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds in rainy weather this morning amidst a significant group of citizens within the community calling for a boycott.
Controversy over the traveling act sprang up after an undercover investigator captured video of trainers physically and verbally abusing the show animals.
The Sheridan Jaycees, a local nonprofit group that sponsors philanthropic community events to include an annual Chrismas Shopping Tour and Earth Day Celebration, are acting as a sponsor for Carson & Barnes. Michelle Edwards, Jaycees President, issued a written statement saying they were contacted by the show several months ago and informed the circus would come to town with or without a sponsor, as Sheridan was slated for the traveling circuit this year. A portion of the proceeds from the circus performance goes toward the circus's sponsor, but if no sponsor is available, the circus simply retains all proceeds from the show.
Edwards said she contacted one of the owners of the circus when she heard the allegations of cruelty. Owner, Barbara Byrd said the group has not received any citations from the USDA for inhumane treatment of its animals. Byrd said the circus is routinely subject to heavy regulation and random inspections.
Edwards closed her statement by saying each person has a right to their opinion on the issue, and a choice as to whether or not they will attend tonight's events at 4:30 and 7:30 at the Fairgrounds.
read more:
http://www.sheridanmedia.com/news/circus-raises-eyebrows-jaycees-issues-statement64627