Ringling Bros. might be gone, but the circus spirit isn't dead

Ringling Bros. might be gone, but the circus spirit isn't dead

(Photo courtesy Samantha Nielsen)


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DRAPER — The 146-year legacy of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to an end Sunday as performers, crew and audience members joined in an emotional rendition of "Auld Lang Syne” at its final show, performed just outside of New York City.

It was the end of an era.

Or was it?

While the Greatest Show on Earth is over, the performing arts behind it aren't necessarily dead, says Samantha Nielsen, director of Aerobatics Performing Arts, which is a circus gymnastics training center based in Draper.

“I’ve noticed in the last five years there’s more and more schools opening up that are offering circus arts,” she said. “A lot of places are starting to bring in traditional circus acts without the general public realizing circus is kind of infiltrating daily activities like gymnastics and dance now.”

Aerobatics Performing Arts has been up and running for nearly two years and has about 100 students, she said. It was started by Nielsen and her husband, Lance, who were both acrobats. Lance Nielsen worked for Chimelong International Circus and Franco Dragone Entertainment and the two traveled the world before settling down to raise a family.

Their students learn aerial silk, trapeze, trampoline, juggling, contortion and how to balance on their hands, among other skills.

Among these skills, aerial silk — or acrobatics performed on fabric ropes — has become a popular way for many to exercise.

Aerial Arts of Utah, based in Salt Lake City, combines some circus elements with a modern dance touch, according to co-owner Annie Kocher­hans. It opened in 2010 and also serves about 100 students.

“It’s taking modern dance into the air, so it’s more Cirque du Soleil-ish compared to Ringling Bros. — although I know (Ringling) brought in a lot of aerialists to their show in the later years, too," Kochenhans said.

A trapeze workout held at Aerial Arts of Utah in Salt Lake City (Photo: Aerial Arts of Utah).
A trapeze workout held at Aerial Arts of Utah in Salt Lake City (Photo: Aerial Arts of Utah).

She said that it has become a popular fitness class because it gives a good workout that is also unique.

“When you spend an hour or an hour and a half doing it, you don’t even feel like you’ve been working out. You feel like you’ve been having fun,” she said.

There are a growing number of classes dedicated to teaching children, Samantha Nielsen said. Aerobatics Performing Arts is a member of the American Circus Educators Association based in Ithaca, New York.

The association aims to promote self-esteem, help people stay fit and teach self-discipline, according to the association's website. It also provides a network for those interested in related careers. About 10,000 children nationwide participate in circus-related camps.


“A lot of places are starting to bring in traditional circus acts without the general public realizing circus is kind of infiltrating daily activities like gymnastics and dance now.” — Samantha Nielsen, director of Aerobatics Performing Arts

Samantha Nielsen said the classes teach skills similar to those taught in team sports: physical development, teamwork, discipline and accountability.

“It’s just another outlet,” she said. “It’s very similar to any other activity. It just hasn’t been until more recently — the last couple of years — that parents have started realizing their kid can (participate), because before it wasn’t as accessible to the general public.”

While a career with Ringling Bros. is out, other circus shows are still around, such as the Big Top Circus Spectacular at the Utah State Fair. It's also not outside the realm of possibility that a new show could emerge that would entertain a new generation of circusgoers, Samantha Nielsen said.

“There’s actually a lot of shows and a lot of kids these days realizing they can learn these things,” she said. “There’s this new generation of circus artists and who knows what they will go on to do? Maybe they’ll create (the next) show that goes on for 146 years or something.”

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