The Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus Academy to Celebrate 75 Years

December 3, 2024 | Sarasota

The Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus Academy is poised to mark a notable milestone as the nation’s longest-running youth circus training program celebrates its 75th year. Later this month, the Sailor Circus Academy will share its joy and prodigious talents during the 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee shows, which take place at the Sailor Circus Arena (2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota) with eight performances December 26-29, 2024.

During the Diamond Jubilee shows,  60 Red Troupe members – the most advanced Sailor Circus students – will flip, fly and soar to new heights in a performance that will pay tribute to the rich history of the Sailor Circus Academy and feature program alumni – including Circus Arts Conservatory co-founder Dolly Jacobs – as well as historical photos and videos showcasing program highlights through the years. There are 12 seniors, some of whom have participated for as many as eight or nine years, graduating from the program this year.

The show is broken into sections featuring various jewels and jewel tones, culminating in diamonds to represent the current year and future of the storied program. Acts audiences will enjoy include one new act, the chandelier, as well as the trampoline wall, high wire, cloudswing, slack rope, hammock, juggling, bike for five, web, lyra, hand balancing, acro dance, skating, unicycle and the traditional closing act, the flying trapeze.

The Sailor Circus Academy was founded in 1949 as an addition to Sarasota High School’s gymnastics program. In 1952, permission was secured from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus® to call the Sailor Circus “The Greatest ‘Little’ Show On Earth.” The program was featured in a 30-minute short – filmed by Warner Bros. Pictures – shown in theaters across the country in 1952 and, in 1964, three students appeared on the national TV show “The Original Amateur Hour.” In 1967, the Sailor Circus moved into its permanent home on Bahia Vista Street; the Arena was constructed in 1981, undergoing renovations in 2008 and then extensive improvements (including air conditioning, retractable stadium seating, enhanced performance flooring, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound) in 2018-2019, through a $4.5M capital campaign.

Over the years, students have been featured on shows such as “The Mike Douglas Show” and the “Today Show” with Barbara Walters, marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1976), and toured faraway places including Fairbanks, Alaska, Fukuoka, Japan, and Lima, Peru. The students were also featured during 50th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival – which the CAC co-presented and shined a spotlight on the rich legacy of the circus – on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

In 2013, with a rebrand by co-founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs that officially launched The Circus Arts Conservatory, the Sailor Circus Academy and Circus Sarasota as well as education and outreach programs were folded together under one “big tent.”

“For 75 years, thousands of Sailor Circus Academy students have continued the tradition of training hard, developing their skills, and pushing the envelope in the circus arts while becoming family to one another,” said CAC CEO and President Jennifer Mitchell, whose daughter, Emma, is a graduate of the program and now performs professionally as an aerial artist. “This year, we are excited to present a show where we will honor our proud Sailor Circus history and traditions and introduce new, innovative ways of sharing our artistry. We are very proud of our students and invite everyone to come see them shine in ‘The Greatest Little Show on Earth!'”

The Sailor Circus Academy, for children ages 8-18, teaches students more than 30 disciplines of circus arts as well as helps them to learn life management and collaborative skills, gain self-discipline, bolster confidence, and make a commitment to achievement.

Showtimes are Thursday-Saturday, December 26-28, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 29, at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $20-$40. Call the Box Office at 941-355-9805 or visit circusarts.org.