- February 12, 2026
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She might be small in stature, but her circus career looms large, and she also celebrated a large number on her birthday, Feb. 9.
Trapeze artist Norma Fox, known as "La Norma," celebrated her 100th birthday amid a large gathering at Showfolks of Sarasota, a nonprofit club for circus performers.
The event paid tribute to her career as an aerialist and trapeze artist that included performing with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus and around the country and world, as well as appearing in the film "The Greatest Show on Earth."
"It feels so tiny," Fox said of turning 100. "I don't believe it's happening. If it happens again, I'll be right there. I love this."
Attendees at the birthday celebration praised Fox's talent as an aerial artist as well as her warmth as a person.
Tino Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas said, "There were a few performers of the day who did trapeze, that were unique, and she had a unique style, presentation, and also dynamic tricks, but of course, personally, what stood out to me was her warmness towards me and the fact that she took me in as her son."
Fox, whose native country is Denmark, began with performances across Europe.
After she attended ballet school, she had planned to perform with a woman who needed a partner for a balancing act, but when balancing didn't work for her due to her size, she learned single trapeze instead.
"I was probably about 14 years old when I did my first swinging trapeze, and from there on, I was on my trapeze forever, everywhere," Fox said. "I went to Tokyo, I did Hawaii; that was one of my favorites. I managed to (visit) a beautiful, beautiful part of this gorgeous country. And then to find all the friends that like me, even better. "
Her career involved repeated performances 60 feet in the air with no safety net, including with the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1949-1951.
She also served as a stunt double for actress Betty Hutton in the 1952 Best Picture-winning film "The Greatest Show on Earth," in which Hutton held a starring role as a trapeze artist.
Other notable aspects of her career are traveling to Paris and performing under the Eiffel Tower in an event that was attended by the prime minister of France, and performing at the Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus in the early 1960s.
After her retirement in 1974, she began making circus ceramics while also passing on her circus skills to others.
Among those to learned from her is Vanessa Russo, who currently works as a theater choreographer and trained with Fox, starting in 1994, between the ages of 9 and 12, and then again during in her 20s.
She began with Roman rings before moving on to web and trapeze, and says Fox would create the rigging in her trees, mostly by herself.
"She was always very innovative, and she was always determined, and would just do everything herself," she said, noting that Fox make all of Russo's performing costumes for her.
She describes Fox as "very kind, very matter-of-fact, of 'Well, this is what you're gonna do. OK, now do it," while always making sure she felt comfortable.
"She always had the technique down-pat, and she knew exactly how to explain how to do each move so that you could feel comfortable doing it," she said.
Fox has also managed to form friendships across the seas.
Aase Thomassen says at the time she started working on her book "La Norma" in 2008, after meeting Fox's nephew, Fox was not widely known in her native country of Denmark, where Thomassen lives.
She says her book "La Norma," brought attention to her career. Its creation began when she traveled to the U.S. to interview Fox, and repeatedly returned to share what she had written, with Fox giving her blessing for the book to be published.
Thomassen says during that time, their relationship took on a new dynamic.
"She was a complete stranger. Now she was a closest friend," Thompson said.
She attended the celebration with her now-adult granddaughters, Josephine Thomassen and Caroline Thomassen, who had met Fox when they were young and then when they were somewhat older, calling the 12-hour trip "worth it."
Fox expressed gratitude for everyone who came out to celebrate.
"You want to look at a day like that, that it would probably never happen, but look at it. It's happening," she said.
She also had some advice to give to young performers.
"Be very happy and proud," she said. "If you find yourself with a feeling of wanting to dance, dance, my goodness, because it's all there for you, and whatever you can accomplish in this life here, show how much you have."
