SARASOTA – A group of Suncoast first graders didn’t just get to go to the circus, they helped make it happen.
“150 first graders came together to literally build a circus,” said Managing Director of the Circus Arts Conservatory, Jennifer Mitchell.
Rowlett Academy students got to experience the world of Circus through a performance of their own at The Circus Arts Conservatory
“An annual tradition where our first graders come perform in the big top, and they look forward to it like you don’t even know,” said Principal of Rowlett Academy, Dr. Chuck Fradley.
From magic, to strength, to juggling, Rowlett students got to show off their unique talents in person, masked up and live.
“Arts programs in general are really helping young people through this isolated time of the pandemic, and they’ve been through so much change, but this gives them a vehicle to express themselves and be creative,” said Mitchell.
A lot of planning goes into the tradition which has been going on for 15 years
“We let them try out different circus acts and then we choose which circus act fits their class the best and then the class practices that Karen and I put together for them,” said Outreach Education Manager, Karen Bell and Educator, Rikki Hettig-Rolfe Meaux.
Rowlett Academy, Principal, Dr. Chuck Fradley says practicing routines and working hard to get them right gives students experience with teamwork
“And then show it, show what they know, show what they can do, it really helps their confidence,” said Fradley.
“Yes they have to wear masks, yes they have to social distance, but they’re given an outlet, they’re out of school and they’re feeling like they can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mitchell.
For more information on performances, classes, and camps, you can visit The Circus Arts Conservatory website, here.