Author Archives: Circus Smirkus
Wire Walking with Philippe Petit
Editor’s note: This post was written by Soleyman Pierini, 1st year trouper. In 2012, when I moved to Canada from Italy, one of the first things I did was to watch a Cirque Du Soleil show. In Italy, the culture of circus isn’t very present, but as soon as the show was over I had chosen my next goal: to become a circus artist! I started training and eventually I went to ENC (École Nationale de Cirque de Montreal), and one day the school got a call from a casting agency. They needed a boy that was (or at least looked) from eight to…
Say Cheese!
Editor’s note: This story was written by Smirkus Camp Communications & Sales Associate Brady Rainville. Walking around camp with a camera in hand is a smile-filled experience. When one of the campers sees me peering at them with my lens, they start to showcase both their talent and their smiles. They briefly make eye-contact and pass along a message in just one quick glance. They are telling me to watch what they are about to do. With the camera on them, the spotlight is too. Knowing they now have mine, and more importantly, the camera’s attention, they look away from the lens…
Franciscan Children’s Hospital
For the third year, our troupe of thirty Smirkos visited Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts to perform a special show for the kids in treatment there. The troupe performs about 20 minutes of material and then had the opportunity to meet and greet with the kids in attendance. Bringing our show to the hospital allows a group of children to experience a Smirkus show that they would not typically be able to attend due to their healthcare needs. It is a powerful and heart-warming experience for the Smirkos and spectators alike. Click on the images below to see a larger photo:
Local gymnast takes talent to circus
Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the News Messenger in Christiansburg, VAon July 31, 2018 and was written by Marty Gordon. Hannah Grove was one of the performers in the Virginia Techniques Rock Star Gymnastics meet held this summer at the Christiansburg Recreation Center. But in the back of her mind, she was dreaming of being somewhere else. This summer she ran away to join the circus. “I started dreaming of running away with the circus when I was about six years old and saw my first Cirque (circus) show. It inspired me to start training basic circus things” Grove said. Her parents didn’t…
Theo comes home when Smirkus comes to town
Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Times Record in Brunswick, ME on August 3, 2018 and was written by Emily Cohen. Theo LeBlanc can juggle eight balls. Or seven rings. Or six clubs. In short, he’s talented. This summer the 15 -year-old from South Portland is showing off his skills — which also include clowning and acrobatics — in the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour, which comes to the Maine Coast Waldorf School in Freeport Aug. 6-7. Founded in 1987, Circus Smirkus is a non-profit and educational organization that hosts camps, school programs and the only professional touring youth circus in…
Fun With Choice Time
At Smirkus Camp, the morning routine is a series of rotations for the campers to go over general skills of the acrobatics, aerials, clowning, and juggling disciplines. This time is for the campers to get a basic understanding of what circus is. Campers move from one tent to the next with their group learning and practicing the different talents and acts together The afternoon routine looks much differently, however. In the afternoons for the first week of Session IV for example, campers are given the opportunity of choice time. These special blocks are for the campers to work even more…
Smirkos Eva Lou, Chase and Glenn
Local teens take on big adventure Editor’s note: This story first appeared on Wicked Local on July 30, 2018 and was written by Diane McLaughlin. Photos by Ruby Wallau Each year about 100 young people audition to perform in the annual Circus Smirkus summer tour, but only 30 get selected. After three years of receiving one of the coveted spots, Newton’s Chase Levy does not take the accomplishment for granted. “I’m much more driven to better myself during the summer because I’m surrounded by such amazing people, amazing artists, and our coaches are so great,” 17-year-old Levy said during Circus Smirkus’ recent stop in…
Circus Smirkus returning to Northampton
Editor’s note: This story first appeared on MassLive on July 25, 2018 and was written by Keith O’Connor She’s just 15 and about to enter her sophomore year of high school, and already Serafina Walker knows what she wants to be “when she grows up.” One of the stars of the Circus Smirkus 2018 Big Top Tour coming to the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton on July 31 and Aug. 1, Walker said she hopes to go to circus college in Europe or Canada after graduating from the Stoneleigh-Burnham School, then join a traveling circus. The Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour is the…
CAMP ROAD SHOW DATES
Did you know that our campers perform too? Smirkus Camp Road Show will have 7 FREE public performances. Come enjoy a display of circus skills including juggling, acrobatics, clowning, and more from our campers at Session IV and V! SMIRKUS CAMP JUNIOR ROAD SHOW: FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES Sunday July 29th 12:15 p.m. Lake Champlain Maritime Festival, Burlington, VT Tuesday July 31st 2 p.m. Powers Park, Lyndonville, VT Thursday August 2nd 10 a.m. Greensboro Free Library, Greensboro, VT SMIRKUS CAMP ROAD SHOW: FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES Saturday August 11th 12:15 p.m. & 3:15 p.m. Derby Line Day, Derby Line, VT Monday August 13th 9:30 a.m. Irasburg…
The Bay State Troupers
This year Circus Smirkus has troupers from Texas to Vermont to Washington to Canada, but our biggest crowd hails from from Massachusetts; home of the Boston Red Sox, Plymouth Rock, and six of our troupers. Learn a little bit about the kids getting to perform in their home state this week. Alexa Wang Alexa is a 2nd year trouper. This year, Alexa is playing “The Diva”, a singer extraordinaire that is desperate to make her big break, if only the mishaps and misadventures along the way would let her song be heard. Keep an eye out for her in other…