CIRCUS ART SPOTLIGHT

Darren was a gymnast in Canada for 16 years & has an International Business degree from The John Molson School of Business in Montreal. In 2010 he joined Cirque Du Soleil and has performed in 3 Cirque Du Soleil shows & 2 Franco Dragone shows. His specialty is Aerial Straps, but he also performs Chinese Poles, Cradle, Parkour, Russian Swing, Bungees, Cyr Wheel, & more.

Karen Bell is the CAC Education Outreach Manager and Rikki Hettig-Rolfg Meaux is an Education Associate and Coach. Together, they are an integral part of the CAC Magnet programs for Middle and High Schools here in the Sarasota area. Today we are going to delve deeper into the management and student experience these programs provide.

With a name like SaSa, you know she comes from a family of performers – circus performers that is! Listen as SaSa recounts her family history of travelling the world performing in different acts and shows and how her experience led her to finally settle in Sarasota FL where she found her niche with The Circus Arts Conservatory.

We’ve spoken with Kelly Fairchild before but felt there was still a story to tell so I’m going to visit with her again today to learn more about her circus background. Kelly’s mother's family, The Campas are one of Mexico's largest & oldest circus families and she grew up on travelling circuses, touring the United States & Canada at a young age. She now plays an integral part in the running of the CAC - her circus background helping in a myriad of ways.

We shine the light on CAC Co-Founder and Vice President Dolly Jacobs. Dolly was born into circus royalty – her father was Lou Jacobs, the legendary clown for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus® and her mother was a model in New York, who quickly transformed her career to become a circus artist as well. She is the first circus artist to ever receive the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship and is known world-wide as the “Queen of the Air.”

We shine the light on CAC Founder and President Pedro Reis. Hear about how he ran away and joined the circus as a teenager beginning his career as an international performer. Then we’ll explore what inspired him to create Circus Sarasota and the Circus Arts Conservatory and finally, what he sees for the future of circus.

Miguel Trejo Vargas is a fifth-generation circus performer. He has been a flying trapeze artist since he was 7 years old. Most recently, he worked as a performer in Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba and then became an artist coach with La Nouba and other Cirque du Soleil shows. Soon he will be joining The CAC as the Sailor Circus Head Coach.

Karen Bell is the CAC Outreach Education Manager and a Teaching Artist. She started her career as a clown with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and is the only female clown in the history of the show to have had a solo ring gag. Now she uses her talents to teach children science, physics and language arts in local elementary and middle schools.