The Big Top

South Windsor, CT  2015

The entire circus performance was held within this big top tent, which comfortably seats about 700.  Each performance lasts about 2 hours, with a 10 minute intermission and there were two performances for each of the two days that Circus Smirkus was in South Windsor.  Within 20 minutes after the final performance, the troupers were all involved in taking down the bleachers, riggings, circus ring, tent, etc, and getting it all ready to be loaded onto trucks for their next destination.  This year's tour will take them to 15 cities in New England over a course of 7 weeks where they will perform 66 times.  

Performers

Ariana

Sarah

Jugglers

I've always admired jugglers, and wished that was a skill I could master.  It's hard enough juggling rubber balls, much less pins like this.  It also must be difficult juggling all these pins with each other in a group this size.  Nothing compares, however, to the gentleman below who can juggle with the performers below while on stilts which easily lifted him to over 25 feet above the ground.

South Windsor, CT  2015

Chandelier

South Windsor, CT  2015

No circus is complete without some stilt-walkers.  I found it very clever how the performers transitioned from one scene to the next.  In this case the scene was a fancy restaurant, with the patrons pulled from the audience to sit at the tables below the chandelier.  Those on stilts helped the set up the chandelier.  It was a very pretty scene.

Showtime

South Windsor, CT  2015

Once the show starts, there is no stop in the action.  Each year the creative team at Circus Smirkus creates, scripts, choreographs, writes music and produces a 2 hour circus show around a certain theme.  This year's show was entitled "Bon Appetit", so there were many "chefs" performing.  I was able to take pictures, as long as I didn't use a flash.  As you can imagine, it was very difficult to get proper exposure, white balance, etc with the constantly changing lights.  I hope to have captured some of the excitement of the performance with these photos.  

Sarah

South Windsor, CT  2015

This is Sarah, one of the performers with Circus Smirkus.  Not only do the kids perform, but they work before the show and during intermission selling popcorn, magic wands, ice cream and other circus goodies.  At no time did I ever see any of the performers not smiling.  They truly enjoy performing.

Circus Performers

South Windsor, CT  2015

Circus Smirkus was founded in 1987 by Rob Mermin in Greensboro, VT.  It is an award winning, international youth circus which serves as a training ground for young men and women wishing to pursue a career in the circus.  The organization runs a circus residency program and a summer circus camp program.  On top of all that, they go on tour every year throughout New England in what is known as their "Big Top Tour".  This year, the traveling troupe of performers will perform 66 times over a 7 week period.  All the performers,  except one, are between the ages of 10 and 18.  Many have done many tours with Smirkus.  Some go on the professional circuses like Ringling Bros and Cirque du Soleil.  Before each show, all the performers are out mingling with the audience giving everyone a chance to get into the act.  

Circus Smirkus

South Windsor, CT

Please pardon the brief interruption in blog posts over this past weekend.  I was tied up with a number of things, including being heavily involved in presenting Circus Smirkus to the community of  South Windsor.  My chief role was ticket chairman, so on the days of the show, I spent most of my time right inside that ticket booth.  I was able to get out to take a few shots, which I'll be sharing this week, if time permits.  In addition, I'll tell you a little more about Circus Smirkus.  The short story is, they put on a great circus performance, and the performers all range in age from 10-18. These kids are fantastic performers.