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Poemas juggle their children on their feet
This year, the theme is "Sherwood Forest," with the legendary Robin Hood setting wrongs to right and pursuing his beloved Maid Marian in Circus Flora's rendition of the classic tale. "Sherwood Forest" includes acts that draw laughter and amazement with many returning and first time talents making up Robin Hood's band of merry men who challenge the nasty villain and the Sheriff of Nottingham and win the hearts of all attending. Among this year's acts are trapeze performances by Nino the Clown, a triple trapeze somersault by The Flying Cortes and Duo Madrona, a couple new this season who delight with an intricate acrobatic dance 20 feet above the crowd. The Poemas, also new this year, will juggle their children on their feet, while Carlos Svenson brings on his beloved goats. "It's the only performing goat act in the United States - maybe the world," said Ivor David Balding, who cofounded Circus Flora with his late sister Sheila, Sam Jewell and Alexandre Sacha Pavlata in 1985. "Only he is crazy enough to train goats." Lisa Dufresne returns with her Haute Ecole horse and "mighty mite" ponies. "It's very beautiful," Balding said of Dufresne's dancing horse. "And her unbridled ponies form a series of maneuvers in the ring. They get in trouble and do a lot of tricks." Returning to the island this year are the famous Flying Wallendas, who perform their high wire act more than 20 feet above the crowd without a net. Alessandro Wallenda will portray Robin Hood. Also returning are the Ianna Spirit Riders and Tosca Zoppe on horseback and featured company members Alexandre and Katherine Nevidonski and Alexandre and Melina Pavlata. Alexandre Pavlata is a master aerialist and Melina is a belly dance artist. Ianna Spirit Rider member Claire Kuciejczyk-Kerman plays Maid Marian. Cecil MacKinnon is theater director and the circus narrator. Of course, Clarkie Lewis the rooster will be on hand. "We've always got a rooster with us," said Balding. "His job is waking us up in the morning and being part of the forest scene with other small animals. I honestly feel this is the best show we've brought to the island. In St. Louis, every review was a rave review. It's a strong show." Balding also founded the New Theatre in New York City where he produced 21 plays and had productions nominated for two Tony Awards, with others winning five Obie Awards. Circus Flora, based in St. Louis, Missouri since 1987, was established as a theater company specializing in an ensemble, one-ring circus to educate and entertain. Its nonprofit parent company is the Circus Arts Foundation of Missouri. The circus was named after Flora, an orphaned African baby elephant Balding rescued when ivory poachers killed her mother. Flora starred in the circus for 15 years until she retired in 2000 and became a resident of the Hohenwald, Tenn., Elephant Sanctuary. This year, Circus Flora has installed bucket seats with backs to replace the former bleacher seating. Tickets are available at nantucketatheneum.org or at the Atheneum box office at the library. All proceeds from the circus benefit the library. The schedule is: Friday, July 25 at 5 p.m. at Tom Nevers field, Gala Opening Night Under the Big Top, a fundraiser for the library including dinner, a circus performance, dessert and dancing to The Sultans of Swing. Regular performances are Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27 at 3p.m. and 7 p.m. New this year is a special children's breakfast on Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m. when kids can meet the circus stars. That night from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. there will be a Circus Flora Family Barbecue to enjoy either before or after the performance. I |
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