Posted 8/23/2006 7:45:44 AM by Ed Limbach
News from Jessica Hentoff viewed 2274 times
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - St. Louis, MO
St. Louis Arches
St. Louis Arches at Circus Flora By Jessica Hentoff
The students of the Circus Day Foundation in St. Louis have some unrivalled opportunities. Since their school is located inside City Museum, a St. Louis cultural attraction, they get to perform for the general public on a regular basis. Unlike other circus schools, which only hold their shows once or twice a year, the Circus Day students perform regularly year-round. This enables them to not only hone their circus skills but to work on their presentation skills as well. These young performers present over 400 shows a yera! Then, at the beginning of every summer, Circus Day’s advanced youth circus troupe, the St. Louis Arches, have the inspiring experience of working with a real circus, alongside some of the best professional performers in the world.
The St. Louis Arches are regular features with the renowned, theatrical, one-ring, Circus Flora. This year, the Arches worked in the show with such circus greats as the Flying Wallendas, Sacha Pavlata, Alexandre Nevidonski, Andrey Markov and the Flying Cortez. In this edition of Circus Flora, the Arches presented three acts: a fifteen person tumbling act, a five person bareback riding act and a two person lyra act.
The Arches have been developed under the direction of former circus performer, Jessica Hentoff, since 1989. The group now boasts several second generation members. This talented troupe consists of aspiring circus artists aged six to sixteen years old from throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.
The tumbling act was an exciting combination of power tumbling and partner acrobatics that filled the ring with flying children. The pinnacle of the act (pun intended) was the three-high topped by Daring Darling Little Donald who ended by leaping into the waiting arms of two of his troupe mates.
Five of the troupe made up the Ianna Spirit Riders bareback act--- Lemond Carmickle, Rosie Eastman, Elliana Hentoff-Killian, Claire Kuciejczk-Kernan and Renaldo “Junior” Williams. This exciting new act was created in only eight months with trainer, Jen Buck, from St. Louis’ Therapeutic Horsemanship. Named after Ian, the horse they trained on who was supposed to retire, these two young men and three young women did a lovely act that included strong and graceful vaulting and partner tricks along with somersaults from the horse. At the last moment, the young horse they were supposed to ride went lame and Ian came out of retirement to serve as their trusty steed during their debut season.
Two of the riders also performed a professional level aerial double lyra act, the Elliaire Duet. The two performers, Elliana Hentoff-Killian and Claire Kuciejczk-Kernan were confident and poised. The act featured double toe hangs and intricate partner work.
The St. Louis Arches also appeared in several other numbers throughout the show including the big juggle where 9 year old Kellin Hentoff-Killian sustained a five ball juggling pattern and a number of the Arches passed clubs with ease and precision.
Performing with Circus Flora is one of the highlights of the St. Louis Arches’ each year. Their other highlight is their annual Circus Harmony production--- a full length, ticketed show featuring Circus Day Foundation’s most accomplished youth circus performers accompanied by marvelous multicultural musicians. This year’s Circus Harmony will take place Oct. 6, 7 and 8th.
Circus Day Foundation lives up to its mission statement to help children to help people defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time. For more information, visit: www.circusday.org.
Read More About The St. Loius Arches in FEATURES ..."IANNA SPIRIT RIDERS"
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