THE BALLOON MAN

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Students get sneak peek at Circa circus show

AUSTRALIAN GROUP TO PERFORM TONIGHT AT MYRNA LOY CENTER

Eliza Wiley Independent Record - From left, Circa performers Kimberley Rossi, Nathan Boyle and Brittannie Portelli battle the clock in ‘46 Acts in 45 Minutes’ on Monday at Helena Middle School. The acrobats bend, fly, juggle and balance at a fast and furious pace in such disciplines as aerial acrobatics, hand balancing, contortion and clowning around. Circa performs tonight at the Myrna Loy Center.

From: helenair.com

By JULIE BAUGHMAN Independent Record

March 18, 2014 •

The auditorium at Helena Middle School was abuzz with “oohs” and “ahs” from third-, fourth- and fifth-graders Monday afternoon.

Lights flashed, music played and the children squealed with delight as four acrobats from the Australian circus group Circa performed “46 Acts in 45 Minutes” for the crowd.

The group will perform at the Myrna Loy Center tonight at 7:30 p.m., but had two special events for the elementary schoolers Monday as part of an ongoing partnership between the center and the schools.

“It was originally part of an Arts Plus program, and when that kind of faded away we didn’t want to let go of the partnership,” said Lona Carter-Scanlon, principal of Jefferson Elementary and K-5 fine and performance art liaison for Helena schools.

Eliza Wiley Independent Record - With 42 minutes, 8 seconds left in the 45-minute performance, Kimberley Rossi spins three hula-hoops at once.

“The relevance of it is to give kids live performances and show them that art isn’t just drawing or painting,” she said.

Carter-Scanlon said she works with Myrna Loy Center to pick two shows each year, one for kindergartners and first- and second-graders and another for the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

“We’ve never had a circus before,” she said. “I have to say, this was some of the most enthusiastic crowds I’ve ever seen.

“It was just silly and fun and quick and always had them guessing what would come next,” she said.

Eliza Wiley Independent Record - Kimberley Rossi does a back walkover through a hula-hoop held by Brittannie Portelli.

Carter-Scanlon said she works with Myrna Loy Center to pick two shows each year, one for kindergartners and first- and second-graders and another for the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

“We’ve never had a circus before,” she said. “I have to say, this was some of the most enthusiastic crowds I’ve ever seen.

“It was just silly and fun and quick and always had them guessing what would come next,” she said.

Acts like the “Irish Jig” had the auditorium roaring with laugher as performer Nathan Boyle danced across a sheet of bubble wrap, while others like “Energizer Bunny” solicited gasps as Brittannie Portelli flipped and flew across the stage in a stunning display of acrobatics.

Brooke Walker and Dani Stinson, both fifth-graders at Rossiter Elementary, said they thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Brooke was so impressed she was unable to choose a favorite act, instead citing “all of it” as her favorite part.