American Circus Educators Magazine Fall 2017 (Issue 2, Volume 10) | Page 14

SPOTLIGHT
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural
heritage presented every summer in Washington, D.C. This year’s event
included a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of circuses and circus people from
all over the United States. The representation from groups from all sides of
the circus industry (from youth troupes to retired circus performers and
professional traveling circuses) generated excitement surrounding the meeting
of new friends, and visiting with old friends and colleagues.
Youth Circus was well represented by many of the most prominent and
longest-running organizations in the country, including Circus Juventas, Sailor
Circus, The Wenatchee Youth Circus, and Circus Harmony. Each of these
organizations performed full shows under the Circus Sarasota big top, as well
as multiple performances of all shapes and sizes at a variety of festival venues.
Revisiting the
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Circus energy and exchange were everywhere. Everyone worked double time
using their talents in ongoing demonstrations throughout the festival, from the
“Juggling Tent” to the “Circus School,” offering kids from different programs
the chance to work together to demonstrate skills, pop up performances,
and much more. Adults attended panel discussions on topics ranging from
Social Circus to Circus Personalities to Medical Clowning, and more. The
Cook Tent gave demonstrations about circus cooking, or what it’s like to cook
for hundreds of people multiple times a day, all in a portable kitchen. The
flying trapeze rig was constantly in action, operated by Jonathan Deull (Circus
Warehouse) and Listo Trapeze Volant, a troupe formed specifically for this
festival.
BY JESSE ALFORD
The presence of so many circus legends offered an excellent opportunity
for the attending youth circus members to take master classes from experts
including Dolly Jacobs (aerial), Rosa Yagaantsetseg (contortion), Veronica Blair
(aerial), Elena Panova (swinging trapeze), and even The Flying Wallendas (high
wire).
The festival hotel was also an incredible hotbed of circus activity with so many
old and new friends staying under the same roof. The pool had a near-constant
presence of young acrobats, and the lounge was abuzz with clusters of circus
folk, huddled around tables telling old tales and making new connections.
It felt like every meal included a chance to hang out with an idol or legend.
I personally enjoyed sharing meals with Hovey Burgess (teacher, juggler,
unicyclist), Karen Gersch (artist and circus performer), and Keith Nelson (co-
founder the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus) are a few of my personal highlights.
Performing companies included Circus Bella, The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus,
Circus Sarasota, UniverSoul Circus, Cirque de Voix, and a special “Stars of the
Circus” show, curated by Circus Sarasota and the Smithsonian.
While the festival was designed to be enjoyed by the general public, it was
still a treat as a circus person as well as from my point of view from inside
the festival workings. Seeing circus tents, performers, and enthusiasm,
all prominently displayed on the National Mall gave a feeling of depth and
recognition to the work that we do. If the public took away only a fraction of
the joy that we experienced, then the festival was a resounding success for the
American circus community.
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Photo by Jesse AlFord
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