Philanthropy | The Greatest Show of Leadership: Shari Ashman, Chair of Circus Arts Conservatory

By Lisa Codianne Fowler | Photo by Nancy Guth | October 2022

“Women Rule” may be the rule during the Circus Arts Conservatory’s 25th Anniversary Year! Shari Ashman is the new Board Chair at the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC), the organization’s first female board leader in its 25-year history. CAC Founder and President, Pedro Reis, already shared executive leadership with his wife and CAC Co-Founder and Vice President, Dolly Jacobs-Reis, and Executive Vice President and COO, Jennifer Mitchell.  Shari taking the volunteer helm cements the gender advantage.

When Shari Ashman and her husband, Stephen, moved to Sarasota, they were not familiar with the circus. They were not, as she says, “circus people.” But then it happened. A friend invited them to the Circus Gala, and Shari fell in love. 

Today, she still shakes her head at accepting the first female chair role in CAC’s 25-year history. “I’ve been asked to sit on several boards and I’ve always said no, as it’s just not my thing, but when I saw these kids walking on stilts, being clowns and not being afraid, I knew I wanted to know more about the circus and to get involved.

“So, I did some research on the CAC and Sailor Circus in particular.  I realized that not everyone understands that while only a handful of these kids are training to go into the circus, every one of them is learning life skills—self-confidence, teamwork, discipline, time management—whether or not they want to become a circus professional.”

She continues, “Sailor Circus was created in 1949 as a high school gymnastic program.  To me, choosing to participate in Circus isn’t any different than a young man who chooses to play football in school.  Not many guys are going to play football their whole life, but they do play football in school because it’s a sport and they enjoy it. Sailor Circus gives the individual a “sport” that they can do that helps build their mind and body and so much more. Sailor Circus performers are outstanding athletes and future leaders in whatever career they pursue.”

The Circus Capital

In the 1920s, John Ringling’s decision to relocate his Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Sarasota set in motion economic, social, educational changes in the region that established Sarasota as the nation’s Circus Capital. In 1997, the Circus Arts Conservatory was founded by circus veterans Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs-Reis to advance the legacy of Circus in Sarasota via a commitment to performance, training, and outreach. Originally known as The National Circus School of Performing Arts, the nonprofit charitable organization soon became known by its signature program, Circus Sarasota. Since 2012 as The Circus Arts Conservatory, the growing nonprofit has incorporated Sailor Circus and Sailor Circus Academy, along with an array of programs and collaborative ventures that advance its mission, reflect its values, and change lives through outreach services.  

First in the nation

Shari loves to talk about the programs that CAC has started and is ongoing, several of these are the first such in Florida, the nation and likely in the circus world!

Science Circus Machine – Newton’s Laws of Motion

According to Shari, utilizing the engineering and artistic achievements of the circus arts, the Circus Arts Conservatory has developed a curriculum that demonstrates the math, science, engineering, art, and team problem-solving required to produce a contraption-based circus performance. In classrooms, curriculum and supplies are provided to the 5th grade teachers and a performance of an ARENA SIZED Circus Machine is the culmination of the program. This is the first such program certified by the Florida Department of Education.

Annually, The Marvelous, Miraculous, Circus Machine has provided this interactive experience for thousands of 5th grade students in 35 Sarasota and Manatee County elementary schools since 2014. After taking the classes during the school year, 5th graders have shown measurable increased Florida Standards Assessment science scores.

Circus Arts Magnet Program

This is a collaborative venture with the University of South Florida—first in the nation Circus Arts Magnet Program, at Sarasota High School and Booker Middle School. 

It’s the only program in this country where a middle school or high school student can participate in circus arts activities during the school day while receiving academic credits toward graduation. The magnet school program has been built on the well-established CAC Sailor Circus Academy Performance Program and the Arts Integrated Science in the Classroom Program.

In the 2022/2023 school year, Sarasota High School will be in its 4th year, with 20 students and Booker Middle School will be in the 3rd year with 40 students.  The Circus after school program will have 150 students during the 2022/2023 school year.

Sailor Circus

Through rigorous interdisciplinary performing arts and psychomotor skills programs, students learn circus arts in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. The program teaches important life skills such as determination, courage, strength development, flexibility, coordination, self-confidence, teamwork, and discipline. 

Sailor Circus has grown into a spectacular circus school that is one of the top in the USA, serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade. This program not only prepares students to enter the circus world but also prepares them for any future career they might choose.

Shaping the future

“I want to be part of the future. Because what the CAC has done up until now is amazing.  We may joke about the new gender dynamics, but I know and will always keep in mind that Pedro, Dolly, Jennifer and I are a team. Pedro puts on a spectacular winter season of Circus shows.  And the team of coaches and the kids put on ‘The Greatest Little Show on Earth’. That’s how I really got involved in just loving watching these kids and what they learn.”  

Shari says, it gives you a reason to want to belong and to want to help. “That’s how they convinced me to become chair because I would like to be part of what the future is going to be.”

Retirement redefined  

Although Shari’s impressive background includes ownership of multiple businesses and working at several universities, she so-called “retired” about 18 years ago. She and her husband grew up in Miami but embraced home in both the Berkshires and Sarasota. “I love Sarasota, the people, and the arts. So, I’m in a good place. I just need to be able to help and to work.”

What does she do in her spare time? Well, she has five kids, nine grandkids and three great grandkids! Besides regular family time, there are a lot of birthdays to keep up with. Beyond that, she just finished getting all their tickets for Sarasota for the next season, a time-consuming task to ensure their schedules are coordinated, avoiding conflicts with the ballet, the orchestra, the Asolo, and the circus, just to name a few. Besides her new role as Chair of CAC, she certainly has a busy retirement, compared to many.