|
|
|
|
| For Immediate Release! Contact: Jessica Hentoff: 314-226-3633 |
|
Circus Circling Back to DC
In 1974, I got off the train at Washington DC's Union Station. I was met by Rev. Dr. L. David Harris, the director of The Circus Kingdom, a youth circus meant to show the brotherhood of man through circus. Rev. Dave collected college-aged circus performers from across the country. We toured the eastern half of the United States. In every town we performed, we also did a show for people who couldn't come to us: senior citizens homes, homes for the mentally ill, prisons etc. The two years I toured with The Circus Kingdom were an incredible and formative experience.
Now, it is 2016, I am at Union Station meeting Warren Bacon, the man who had been my circus teacher in college. We are both in Washington DC to see Circus Harmony's Chauncey Kroner perform with Zip Zap Circus at the Kennedy Center. Warren also coached Chauncey.
Zip Zap Circus has created a show called Circus of Life which features Chauncey, Canadian/American aerialist Sara Deull, one legged Break dancer from Australia named Roya the DestRoya and two performers from Zip Zap Circus in South Africa, the social circus most like Circus Harmony in all the world, Jacobus 'Trompie' Claassen and Jason Bernard. The show promo states: "They come from different places, with different experiences and perspectives. But for each of us - individually and especially together - anything is possible."
The
Circus of Life
show is everything circus is about to Circus Harmony: bringing people together, finding their individual strengths and creating something amazing together. This show was created in four days! You can actually watch video of the show which was streamed live from the Kennedy Center HERE.
And you can see photos HERE.
In addition to the opportunity to perform on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Chauncey also got to perform at the White House for Halloween! At the Kennedy Center there is this quote from John F. Kennedy:
"I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all of our citizens. And I look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization as well."
What an opportunity this has been for Chauncey! We are grateful to Zip Zap alum, Sabine Van Rensburg, for suggesting him, to producers Sheryl Sturges and Jonathan Deull of
Zip
Zap Circus USA for making it possible, to Zip Zap co-founder/co-director Brent Van Rensburg for making Chauncey try new food and letting him shine in the show and to all the cast who so warmly embraced and shared the experience with him.
In 1974, Warren Bacon and Rev. Dave opened the world of circus to me. Warren by being my first circus teacher and sharing his love of circus and Rev Dave for giving me my first circus booking and showing me the power of circus. How perfect to meet Warren at the Union Station where I first met Rev. Dave to then go see Chauncey working with people from all over the world in a perfectly put together, inspirational circus show!
I went to DC to see Chauncey. But while I was there, I spent three hours meeting with folks from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Circus Harmony has been named a presenting sponsor for the the Smithsonian Folklife Circus Festival in July 2017.
However, we need to raise the money to participate and are currently seeking corporate sponsorship (If interested in sponsoring us, please email circusday@circusharmony.org!). This Festival will be the biggest circus event in American history. The five person Zip Zap Circus of Life show at the Kennedy Center may have been a small show but it was a tremendous moment in the history of Circus Harmony! Rev. Dave, I know you are smiling and I hear your words: "Think of it as an adventure!" What an adventure it continues to be!
Jessica Hentoff
|
| COME ONE, COME ALL to our 4th ANNUAL
JUGGLING BALL
Our 4th Annual Juggling Ball is an excellent evening of dining, dancing, drinking and daring with an awesome auction, marvelous music and exceptional entertainment, helping to support Circus Harmony. We call it a Juggling Ball because you will have a ball- not because it is fancy and pretentious! This fantastically fun event takes place in the Vault Room at
City Museum
THIS SATURDAY, November 12. So come have fun and support your local flying children! Tickets are $75. Get your tickets
HERE!
|
|
IT'S HERE:
DEFY GRAVITY COFFEE!
Give yourself a lift and help a child soar, all in one cup! 12 oz. bags, $13, pick up at Circus Harmony on the 3rd floor of City Museum , 750 N. 16th St. St.Louis, MO 63103 or mail order HERE!
|
| CIRCUS HARMONY'S PINBALL WIZARD!  On November 18, 2016, Circus Harmony's juggling coach, Richard Kennison, will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for longest marathon playing pinball. The current record is 28 hours and Richard is going to try and play the Stern Metallica pinball machine for 40 hours. This incredible feat will take place at Padavans Resturant in St. Charles,
MO. The event starts at 11:30 pm. In conjunction with this attempt Richard is raising money for Circus Harmony!
Richard is challenging 200 people to donate .50 cents an hour to encourage him to keep going for a total of $20 per donation. You can donate
HERE. So, the goals are 40 hours to set the new Guinness World Record and $4000 for Circus Harmony! Everyone is encouraged to come and watch him play. Padavans is known for pizza and other great food and drinks. Padavans is also known for pinball and is enlarging from 5 machines to 16 machines later this month. If you'd like to be an official judge please contact Richard at
Richard@circusharmony.org.
|
|
STILL SWINGING AT 90!
Still swinging! Come witness our nifty, noble, nonagenarian aerialist at a beautiful benefit trapeze performance! Elizabeth 'Bunny' Herring is celebrating turning 90 and still turning herself and people's opinions upside down! You will also be dazzled by the amazing Circus Harmony Youth Circus Performers as they celebrate Bunny's 90
th with an amazing acrobatic extravaganza! This special benefit performance will take place on
December 2, 8PM at
Circus Harmony on the 3rd floor of
City Museum
.
Attendance to the circus show only is free (donations are strongly encouraged). If you wish to explore City Museum, please purchase a wristband from the Ticket Booth.
by
November 28
to be put on the guest list for the show!
|
|
BRAVURA
Circus Harmony: Bravura is our 2017 annual confluence of music and circus arts. Bravura is a musical term whose definition also describes our youth circus performers: exceptional agility and brilliant style. Our theme this year is archetypes. Follow our King as he searches for the Trickster who stole his crown and finds out that one person can wear many hats. This original show is presented by thirty of our amazing youth circus performers and is made possible in part by the support of the Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission, Boeing Employee Community Fund, Cardinals Care and REA Charitable Foundation. Presented at City Museum on Saturday January 21 and 28 at 2 & 7 PM and on Sunday January 22 and 29 at 2 PM. Tickets, $20.
They make a great gift!
|
|
WINTERBREAK & SPRING CLASSES
Just opened! Registration for
Winterbreak
and
Spring classes
! Circus classes make a great gift--- one size fits most and no pieces to lose! Give an empowering experience!
Give the gift of circus! Gift certificates come with a clown nose and a card. Call
314-436-7676
or email karen@circusharmony.org.
|
|
YOU CAN SUPPORT THE FLYING CHILDREN OF CIRCUS HARMONY
- Go to: http://circusharmony.org/support/ and make a donation
- Sign up for classes (for all ages--- join Juggling Club as a family, try our new Circus Strength class for adults)
- Follow our blog
- Check our schedule and catch some of our flying children and young adults
-
Invite our director, Jessica Hentoff, to come and speak
to your organization about Circus Harmony
Your donation helps one of our over 600 children directly and it also inspires the over 80,000 people who see our shows and the St. Louis communities where our children live.
You can also send a donation to us at :
Circus Harmony
4120 Parker Rd. Florissant, MO 63033
Thank you from e
veryone at Circus Harmony!
|
|
To keep up with the latest news on where to catch the flyng children,
special offers and awesome opportunities,
we hope you:
|
|
OUR MISSION
Circus Harmony teaches the art of life through circus education. We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Through the teaching and performing of circus arts, we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time. |
|
OUR SPONSORS
We are very grateful for the support of the City Museum, Regional Arts Commission, Missouri Arts Council, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, Boeing Employee Community Fund, Wells Fargo Advisors, Edward Jones, Cardinals Care, Arts & Education Council of St. Louis, Greater St. Louis Community Foundation, DCA Family Foundation, REA Charitable Foundaton,
Lubin Green Foundation,Staenberg Family Foundation, Kranzberg Family Foundation, Saigh Foundation, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, Build-A-Bear Foundation, Macy's Foundation, Bommarito Automotive Group, Big Shark Bicycle Works, Goudurix, Cirque Du Soleil, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey, American Youth Circus Organization, Brentwood Minuteman Press, Stahl & Ponder, Circus Fans of America, Circus4Youth and people like you!
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FLYING CHILDREN:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
