The Art of the Circus: High Flying Fun at Circus Arts Conservatory

By Lisa Codianne Fowler | June 2022

Who doesn’t love the circus? This centuries-old art form provides wholesome entertainment that the entire family can enjoy. 

What many of us are unaware of, though, is that the circus performers are not just clowns! The artists are serious students that have studied and embraced a deep understanding of the principles of science, engineering, art, math, technology, communication, and theater. 

Lofty Lessons

The programs at the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) in Sarasota, Florida uniquely instill valuable life lessons through these circus arts. According to CAC Executive Vice President/COO Jennifer Mitchell, the vast studies of the disciplines described above are highlighted by the Circus Science Machine program, which serves more than 35 elementary schools in Sarasota, and two magnet programs founded by the CAC. The Florida Department of Education defines magnet programs as offering a specialized high-level curriculum outside the school’s normal attendance boundaries to elementary, middle, or high school students.

Mitchell explains, “We have one at Booker Middle School, which is part of their Visual Performing Arts Magnet Program, where they have dance, musical theater, and other artistic disciplines. The circus is one of them. These are both the only kind of programs like it in the country. 

We also have a program collaboration with Sarasota High School where students, instead of taking their electives, choose a theater program to audition for to be part of a circus arts performing program. They learn many of the principles of engineering, teamwork, science, history, artistic expression, and creativity. And then, of course, they ultimately gain poise and self-confidence through performance. It’s the only program in the country where high school students are actually earning credit hours doing this. It’s not just an after-school program—they’re electing and being accepted for your program in a way that it will be endorsing their high school diploma and their learning history for graduation.”

The Greatest Team on Earth

Mitchell shares that all the education programs and youth training programs include both staff and volunteer coaches of professional, world-class caliber. They’ve all been experienced circus artists or performers in some capacity throughout their lifetime. 

“Some of them are now bankers, or teachers, or in other professions, and they coach here. We have a full-time group of staff, and educators, and coaches that are on staff 24/7. The team really works with our students. And it’s people like our head coach Miguel Vargas, who is a fifth-generation circus performer himself and has worked more than a decade with Cirque du Soleil.” 

There are several other Cirque du Soleil performers and trainers who come in and out of the Circus Arts Conservatory. Not only do the CAC founders have international reputations for being at the top of the field, but the CAC is in Sarasota, which is considered the Circus Capital of the World. It offers a very high level of training and is one of the only circus schools in the country that is connected to a professional circus.

The World is Changing

Mention “circus” and people often think of entertainment, Ringling, or history. But as Mitchell says, the industry is changing. Like anything, it’s evolving. What used to be an art form that was predominantly passed down from family member to family member, has since grown to greater and more significant dimensions. Now you can learn through circus programs like the Sailor Circus Academy or the programs offered at Circus Arts Conservatory. 

Mitchell explains that the Sailor Circus was one of only four circus schools in the country in the 80s. There are now over 300. You can find circus activities in gymnastics studios, on America’s Got Talent, you may even see others doing them as a prime form of fitness in their homes. It’s emerging as a trendy, eclectic, and interesting meld of artistic creativity and athleticism. 

“People recognize the value of the arts, but they haven’t always acquainted the circus with the performing arts field. So that’s been one of our focuses over the last 25 years, the mission of our founders and founding staff,” Mitchell says. “To be sure that we elevated everyone’s experience with the circus arts. I think we’ve done that. We just hit the surface of how the world is changing and how fast the opportunities are emerging to get engaged in Sarasota. People oftentimes don’t think beyond what we offer in terms of performance.”

Future Leaders

As a leader of the circus artists in the world, the CAC is positioned to create future leaders, no matter their field. For example, Mitchell explains, “If you look at Little League, only a small percentage of those kids go on to the bigger leagues. Similarly, we also have a small percentage that go on to the fields within entertainment at the circus arts. But the real leaders are the kids that are future arts patrons.” 

Many of the kids participate in Circus Arts in Health Care, another branch of the CAC, which brings smiles to those in healthcare facilities. Students of the Sailor Circus (absent pandemic) visit in the summertime and do a small tour of nursing homes with a show. Many people in these facilities and homes have rich memories of the circus. Clowns, artists, and programs like balloon twisting are meant to bring back memories, but also to help elicit laughter and stimulate good energy. 

Mitchell knows that these kids are also future volunteers. She’s seen them going into the industry and working for companies while using the skills that they learn in the circus arts. Teamwork, good communication, trust, and real inclusivity are innate to this pure art form. 

“I think that’s going to be the skillset that the kids who come out of the circus are really going to impact on the world. I never underestimate that, because I think that’s what gives us hope for the future. We can see that people are gaining life skills so that we can continue to perpetuate goodness in humankind.” 

There are many ways to get involved with The Circus Arts Conservatory, whether it is donating, volunteering, or partnering. Visit circusarts.org to learn more.