Phare: The Cambodian Circus meets Sailor Circus Academy

Phare: The Cambodian Circus was started in 1994 just after the fall of the brutal Khmer Rouge. And for over 20 years, Phare has been teaching wayward children the tools, tricks and craft of circus performance. One of Phare's troupes is in Sarasota for this year's Ringling International Arts Festival (Oct. 15-18) to perform its Cambodian nightclub circus show "Khmer Metal." The circus performers, who have been studying and training since they were young, stopped by America's oldest youth circus school: Sailor Circus Academy. The visiting circus professionals gave tips and lessons to curious potential Sarasota circus professionals and played around under the metal big top.