Sailor Circus prepares for a whimsical holiday spectacle

The Circus Arts Conservatory's Sailor Circus Academy is getting ready to amaze the Sarasota community with red noses and whimsical acts for the Sailor Circus Holiday Special.

Sailor Circus Academy students hustled into costumes, climbed onto silks and contorted their bodies to look as if they were made of elastic as they rehearsed the show that will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 28-30 and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31.

“Circus is a lot different from other sports. It’s a team, you have to trust these people with your life. Everyone is a team and we all get along. We really are a big family. We’ve all grown up together,” said Sarasota High School Junior Scotti Horowitz. She will serve as one of the ringmasters at this year's Sailor Circus Holiday Special.

Sailor Circus Holiday Special draws inspiration from well known holiday television shows and movies. A mega LED screen will resemble a huge vintage television, creating the feeling of watching a live TV special. A clip from a holiday show or movie will show before transitioning into the next performance.

"You'll see the clips come on and then the circus interpretation of the clip."
said creative production manager and coach Bernadette Gannon."Expect magic, beautiful talent, amazement, laughter and for your spirit to be lifted."

“It’s going to be a really good show. Everyone is either in elementary, middle and high school,” said Sarasota High School Sophomore Caleb Overholt. “There’s a wide range of skill levels. We get to work with all different people and we all know each other.”

Overholt is performing in many acts, but says that high wire is one act that makes him the most nervous. He says this because he has to work together with his partners. “If they mess up then it makes you mess up. We have to really trust each other.” 

Circus Arts Conservatory creative director Jared Walker believes audiences will be enthralled by this year’s holiday offering.

"This is a wonderful show for families to enjoy together – it's the perfect way to get the community into the holiday spirit!" Walker said in a press release. “Audiences will appreciate the glorious sets and lighting and beautiful new costumes as well as, of course, the incredible talent and skill of our students.”

Kayla Hayes is a seventh grader at Rowlett Middle Academy and says that her speciality is a little bit of everything. Hayes will be in several acts and is excited to show the audience her skills. “Sometimes we make mistakes, but it’s about how you worked hard on it and how long it took to progress on what we did. And we want the audience to feel special in our facility.”