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Submitted by Jessica Hentoff on 5/21/2008 Last Modified
Renaldo “Junior” Williams came to us out of the audience. I was immediately impressed with his direct approach. He shook my hand, looked me in the eye, introduced himself and said “I want to do this.” Well, that was 5 years ago and ‘do this’ he has! Renaldo has done tumbling, aerial, bareback riding, juggling, clowning and minitrampoline. His specialties are hand-balancing and partner acrobatics. He is really a brilliant choreographer and a very good (if sometimes too tough) teacher. This year was Renaldo’s last year of high school. Instead of going to college, he decided to apply to circus schools. By the time he made this decision, he missed the deadline for the school in Montreal that interested him, so he turned his eyes to France.
He decided to apply to the National Center of Circus Arts. He put together a video, got one of our students --- who happens to speak French--- to help with the written application and, in true Renaldo fashion, got the application to the post office 10 minutes before the postmark deadline.
Renaldo at the 2007 AYCO Festival. Photos by Darin Basile
A few weeks later, he got an envelope saying he was invited to come and audition, in France, IN TWO WEEKS!!! Luckily, Renaldo already had a passport, since he was one of the youth circus performers who went to Israel with us this past summer. However, neither he nor anyone in his family had the money for the plane ticket to France!
I sent out the post below. Thanks to the generosity of many and the family that we belong to that is "Circus", within two days, we raised the money for Renaldo to go to France to follow his circus dream. In France, he was taken care of by circus angels, wherever he went. So, this is the first in the series of "Renaldo's Adventures in France" and it is only the first chapter of what I know will be a great story.Jessica
One of our most talented and dedicated students needs help getting to an audition in Chalons-en-Champagne, France IN TWO WEEKS! Can you help him or do you know anyone who can????!!! If so, please contact me via email or phone (314-226-3633).Thank you! JessicaHere, in his own words, is what is going on:
Life is like a circus because you never know what to expect. Six years ago I attended a school field trip to The St. Louis City Museum, not knowing it would change my life forever. As I approached the third floor of this peculiar museum a thunderous voice, out of nowhere, broadcasted that a show that would be starting any minute. This performance was like nothing I had ever seen. Children were tumbling, juggling, and executing acrobatics with style and finesse. It was literally a circus and I wanted to be a part of the magic.
My stage name, “Jumping Junior”, describes what I do and who I’ve become: an acrobat, juggler, aerialist, and clown. Some of the best times I’ve had include a trip to Israel were I performed with the great Galilee Circus. There I taught the younger circus performers new skills, and gave them the courage to believe that no matter what the circumstance, the best would become of them, “in the circus of life". It is now 2008, and looking forward, past prom, graduation and the summer circus travels of ’08, continuing my circus education at Centre National des Arts du Cirque( the national circus school of France) would be a dream come true.
CNAC is an institution of higher education in which two years are devoted to the technical mastery of a circus discipline. The program culminates in the DMA, diploma of the circus arts professions (equivalent to a two-year university degree), accredited by the National Education Ministry and the Culture and Communication.
I would like to attend this particular school because I am very interested in becoming a professional circus performer and I feel that CNAC will prepare me mentally and physically to handle the stresses of being a circus performer. My fascinations with the French language and culture are also a driving forces. I am certain this would be an amazing opportunity to embellish on what I know.
The admission process starts with the submission of the written application, photos and a video of your selected discipline. Admission to the school is highly competitive and fortunately I have been chosen to continue the process. The next stage requires that I travel to France for the live evaluation .The pre-selections will take place Friday, May 2, Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, 2008. If I make it through pre-selections, final selections will take place Monday, May 5, Tuesday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
Currently I live with my father and he is unable to support me fiscally but he has shown so much support and believes that I should do what I love. I am asking for any contributions possible to help me fulfill my dream of running away to join the circus. Wherever I am going, and whatever I become, I will be the best that I can be. Thank you for your time
"Bon Jour" Renaldo's first French greeting!
Hosts and new friends from the Circus School.
On most days after practice, there was free time. While we waited for the sun to go down , The other auditionees and I would have lots of fun playing in the park. We would tumble, juggle and twist our bodies in every direction feasible. This was one thing I looked forward to after each mornings workout , the other was eating. Kaely and I would often go into town and eat at the local restaurants were most people only spoke French. This would often lead to very interesting conversations and sometimes free food.
Practicing circus skills in the park Having lunch with a friend
As the final day of auditioning came and went, I realized that I was lacking in artistry and skill in my chosen specialty. It turns out that on the application--- which was in French--- I put the technique that I was interested in learning and not the one that I was proficient in. This set me back miles because the competition was tough. When classes where over for the day, the jury went into deliberation. We waited outside the school for hours before we were allowed back in. Whether it was drinking , smoking, or, in my case, talking everyone had some type of ritual that relived stress and passed time. When jurors started to reappear, we knew that the time of selection would come soon. Finally the doors opened and, like a swarm of bothered bees, we attacked the bleachers so we could get the best seats. The verdict was delivered in French so I was listening for names. The names stopped and mine wasn't called.
Waiting outside to see who made it. I was not selected.
Soon after the judges delivered their verdict we all met in the park and took a few pictures. Then, some people went to their hotels and some people went to the train station, it was woeful to see people leave but it was inevitable.
Group Photo in the park
Once Kaely and I finally arrived at home, other house guest were packing and preparing themselves for the next morning. We did the same. Kaely called the train station to check departure times for trains destined for Paris. I checked over my long list of French contacts and my eyes went directly to Caroline. I called the number alongside the name. A male voice was on the other end. I asked for Caroline but she was unavailable so I had to explain my situation and I was told to call back the next day at seven.
When morning finally arrived Kaely and I walked through the streets of Chalons, for the last time . Just before we got onto the train, we saw a face. It was Dimitri, another auditionee who was cut and headed for Paris. He was an amazing performer but was not accepted only because he had not received his BAC (France's high school diploma). Dimitri was from a circus prep school in Ronys-sous-bois that a number of coaches at CNAC recommended I visit. Dimitri and I exchanged numbers and he insisted that I call if I planed to visit. We all soon arrived in Paris and went our separate ways.
Kaely and I decided to stick together and tour Paris. We whipped out our guide books, set a path and hopped onto the metro. We got off at Notre Dame and walked alongside the Seine River. We stopped at various street shops and grabbed a bite to eat. Time seemed to sprint away because, before we knew it, seven o'clock had arrived. I called the man who claimed to be Caroline's husband. I was given detailed directions and pass codes and told to meet at the house at nine.
Nine was approaching fast, so, Kaely and I got back onto the metro and zipped to La Tour Eiffel (The Eiffel Tower). When we got off the metro, we were certain it was the wrong stop because we saw nothing but little cars and big buildings. As we checked over our maps out of nowhere the iron structure appeared. We rushed through the crowds and eventually got to the Tower. There were two lines: one for the elevator and one for the stairs. I hate waiting... so we took the stairs. It took what seemed like an eternity to climb to the first of three levels but we had acrobatic ways to pass the time.. Eventually, we overcame the stairs and it was worth every moment. The sights were breathtaking and pictures can only capture fragments of what was seen. Unfortunately nine o'clock was approaching fast so we didn’t have enough time to go to the summit. When we came down we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.
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