Examiner.com - by Doug Bardwell
Circus is spelled S-A-R-A-S-O-T-A
October 22nd, 2010 2:56 am ET.Do you like this story?
Radiant princesses and their shimmering gowns flow gracefully as they begin to take flight. Muscled men stretch, cavort and balance on objects not known for their stability. Bodies float through the air, with little regard for gravity. Such are the ingredients of fairy tales.
Such also is the allure of an evening at Circus Sarasota. Featuring the finest acts available, Circus Sarasota aims to keep the magic alive for residents and guests of Sarasota County each winter. Dedicated to preserving the legacy and elevating the art form, they put on an exceptional set of shows each February.
For generations, many grew up looking forward to the yearly return of the big top. From P.T. Barnum’s first show in 1871 through the end of the 1930’s, the circus grew in size and popularity. In specially constructed trains, the circuses criss-crossed the country, give daily performances in three and four-ring circus tents. As many as 15,000 would attend each performance.
In 1955 Marilyn Monroe rode a pink elephant in the Ringling Bros. circus performance in New York at Madison Square Garden. That same year, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, CA. But, less than a year later, on July 16, 1956, the original Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus held its last performance in Pittsburgh, PA. People were beginning to turn to television and the movies for their entertainment.
Before the eventual sale of the circus, the Ringling Family started the Ringling Museum of the American Circus in Sarasota in 1948. Still in operation today at 5401 Bay Shore Road, it offers a terrific collection of authentic memorabilia of circuses past, including the restoration of “The Wisconsin,” the personal train car of John & Mable Ringling. [see slide show]
Next door to the museum, and included for the same admission price, is the Circus Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center with an incredible model of the 1938 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Crafted at a scale of ¾”-to-the-foot, the model covers 3,800 sq.ft. (larger than most four-bedroom homes.)
Carved by master model-builder Howard Tibbals, the model features the eight tents, 152 wagons, 1,300 performers, 800 animals, a 59-car train and thousands of circus-going attendees. Easily the world’s biggest circus model, it took him over 50 years to create. Anyone who has ever put together a model train set will surely want to spend at least an hour looking at all the detail represented in this amazing space. [see slide show]
Dedicated to keeping the circus spirit alive in Sarasota, former circus super-stars Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs founded Circus Sarasota in 1997. Their goals were three-fold: to enrich, to educate and to entertain.
To enrich the lives of shut-ins and the hospitalized, they formed Laughter Unlimited as outreach ambassadors. One of Sarasota’s most famous clowns, 83-year young Jackie LaClaire, the “Ambassador of Mirth”, often visits nursing homes & day care centers, bringing laughter to all Sarasota’s residents with his own style of humor therapy. In an effort to emphasize that point, Jackie says “It’s important you remember that Sarasota is the real home of the circus, not the Senate or the Congress as some people believe.”
Education is accomplished through multiple curriculum packages available for at-risk students & for general education about the rich circus history in Sarasota. Eventually they hope to have a permanent professional circus school based in Sarasota County.
While still one of the main goals of all circuses, Circus Sarasota excels at entertainment. Each February, a limited number of performances are scheduled in their European style one-ring tent at Tuttle Avenue and 12th Street. Next year’s schedule of performances is available now online, but ticket sales do not begin until November 1, 2010.
Tickets are available in all price ranges, making attendance affordable to anyone that wants to attend. “Circus is an art form like ballet, the theatre or opera; but, circus is something the whole family will enjoy,” explained Dolly Jacobs, co-founder and acclaimed aerialist. [see slide show]
Featuring the top acts available each year, ticket sales to this five- star performance will probably go fast. It would be a good idea to mark 11/1/2010 on your calendar and plan to secure your choice of dates a.s.a.p. When staying on Longboat Key, visit www.SandpiperInn.com
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If you have any
questions or would like more information, please contact us
904.806.3613,
email
us, or use our online request form. |
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