SARASOTA – Students at the Sailor Circus Academy are preparing for one of their biggest shows of the year.
The high flying fun of Sailor Circus is back this time under the Big Top. “It really is an incredible show; it’s the greatest little show on earth,” says Grace Johnson, a Sailor Circus performer
The Circus Arts Conservatory and Sailor Circus present Big Top Holidays. The students performing this death defining stunt range from ages 10 to 18.
“I chose sailor circus because it really is a family you get to know the students and you learn to trust them, just like you trust your parents or your siblings. Often times a little bit more cause you have to trust them with your life,” says Johnson.
Johnson, a Pineview High School senior has been part of Sailor Circus Academy for six years. This will be one of her last winter show before graduating. “I had tried everything, you name a sport or performing art I had tried it,” she says.
Johnson is one of the ring mistress that guides the audience throughout the show, but that’s not all… “I also do areal lira, which is essentially a medal hula hoop that you hang up in the air and do a bunch of crazy tricks on.”
Defying gravity in her act Johnson has a pre-show ritual to shake the butterflies away. “I have to, you know, remind myself to breath, remind myself to smile and calm down. It takes me 45 minutes to mentally prepare myself for both of those acts.”
Come curtain call Johnson hopes the audience takes away two important messages.
“I hope that people know two things about circus one it has a very profound effect on the audience. and I also really hope that they now just how much effort goes into it, it’s years of practice.
