Our Mission: Circus Day Foundation teaches the art of life through circus education. We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Through the teaching and performance of circus arts, we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time. We also help make circus an accessible and lively performing art form for the whole St. Louis metro area. Circus Day Foundation is an organization focused on Social Circus programs. We use circus arts to inspire individuals and connect communities. We are the only organization in St. Louis active and dedicated to circus arts year 'round. Circus Day has received local and national recognition for its work using circus arts to build bridges between communities. Learning circus skills improves one’s strength, coordination and flexibility. Learning circus builds character in the individual participants as they develop life skills like goal setting, persistence and focus. Learning circus with others teaches trust, responsibility and teamwork. When the others are from different backgrounds, everyone’s sense of community is expanded. Circus Day Foundation acknowledges Jeane Vogel, our official photographer.		News from the Circus Day Foundation Not Too Late and Not Too Early We still have a few openings for our Circus in the City Summer Performance Camps. This is the performing arts camp where students actually get to perform every day. While you are learning new circus skills, you'll also be honing your performance proficiency. Because we are located inside the incredible City Museum, our students have the unrivalled opportunity of performing in front of live audiences. Our Summer Performance Camps are offered in two week sessions starting on June 26 and running through August 18. The basic camp introduces students to trapeze, tumbling, juggling, clowning and other circus arts. Before and after care are available. You can run away and join the circus and still be home in time for dinner! Sign up now for our Fall classes which start immediately after Labor Day. Reserve your spot by calling 314-436-7676. Online registration forms are available at www.circusday.org. (See schedule on page 6) Ianna Spirit Riders For several months, five of our students have been learning the difficult art of bareback riding and voltige from Jennifer Buck of Therapeutic Horsemanship. Lemond Carmickel, Rosie Eastman, Elliana Hentoff-Killian, Claire Kuciejczyk-Kernan and Renaldo “Junior” Williams form this intrepid quintet. They chose their name to honor Ian, a horse originally bought for the very first Arches troupe to ride in 1992 who is now making his return to the circus ring. Jennifer’s horse, Lance, is their other trusty steed. The Ianna Spirit Riders do handstands, partner acrobatics and other feats of skill and daring on horseback. Their training has been funded by Circus Flora. The Ianna Spirit Riders will make their debut at Circus Flora’s appearance at the Spoleto Festival. We are the only youth circus troupe that we know of to have this remarkable opportunity to learn bareback riding and to perform it with a real circus. THANK YOU, CIRCUS FLORA!

314-436-7676 Circus Day Foundation www.circusday.org

Letter from the Artistic/Executive Director

The week of March 6, the students from our Winter circus class session at City Museum presented their final shows. Two beginning classes, one intermediate class, our aerialists, tumblers, jugglers and clowns classes all demonstrated their remarkable accomplishments. The beginners perfected real tricks. The intermediate class showed how advanced they had become. The tumblers performed intricate moves in complex patterns. Marvelous manual manipulations were mastered by our jugglers. And the clowns were really funny. Everyone enjoyed dressing in circus finery and showing their new-won talents. All the shows amazed, amused and astonished the audience.

The most moving of all the shows may well have been the one presented by the Aerial Artistry class. This class has the greatest age range--- from 7 to 52 years old! The range of theme and choreography was equally broad, from innocent to sensual. Even though we have the lowest ceiling of any circus school in the world (literally), this class performed acts on single trapeze, double trapeze, lyra, silks and cloud swing. What was most evident was the joy the performers took in flight. The looks on the faces of the granddaughters of our eldest student were priceless! Can you imagine your grandmother flying upside-down in a sparkly velvet costume?!

In addition to the 60 students enrolled in our classes at City Museum, we have taught circus arts to more than 1,200 people through our outreach programs. Nearly 100,000 people have seen our flying children perform at City Museum or in one of our many performances throughout St. Louis and in other parts of the country.

As a child, I always loved Peter Pan. Now, here I am in Neverland (City Museum) and I run a circus (I WON’T grow-up). The best part is that I get to sprinkle the fairy dust on people so that they can fly! You can do this too. Please consider becoming a sponsor or a donor. (See page 5.) Our mission statement says it all: We help children defy gravity, soar with confidence and leap over social barriers, all at the same time. It is a wonderful feeling to have the opportunity to spread the joy, power and magic of the circus with so many! Join us!!

Jessica Hentoff

Circus Around Town

The St. Louis Arches, Casa Volando Circus (our homeschool troupe), The Circus Siblings and many of our other talented troupers have appeared around St. Louis and beyond this year. Some of the venues they entertained at were:

• Edward Jones Dome for the Angel Tree project

• America's Center as part of Charter's Hooked On Health exposition

• St. Charles’ Family Arena for A.G. Edwards

• The World's Fair Pavilion in Forest Park for Vector Health Fair

• Forest Park for KETC Channel 9’s Arthur's Picnic in the Park

• Laumeier Sculpture Park for its Art Fair

• St. Louis Science Center for its Circus Night

• World Changer's Church in Atlanta, Georgia

• American Youth Circus Festival in San Francisco, Ca.

• PAKT Community Center in Kinloch for its summer camp partners

• SW Illinois College for its Kids' Series

• New Hope Baptist Church for its after-school program

• Saul Mirowitz Day School Reform Jewish Academy for its Tikkun Olam project

• Cardinal Care Winter Warm-up in the Millennium Hotel

• Remmington Traditional School in the Hazelwood School District

• Mason Elementary School in the St. Louis Public School District

• Horton Watkins High School in Ladue for its Arts in the Limelight

• Central Reform Congregation for its Purim celebration

• Jewish Community Center West for its Purim Festival

To book an inspirational youth circus performer – or a whole troupe -- for your next special event, call 314-645-4445! We do birthday parties, weddings, school assemblies, company picnics and much more. We’d love to come and make YOUR day a Circus Day!

Jeane Vogel Photography

314-436-7676 Circus Day Foundation www.circusday.org

We Left Our Hearts in San Francisco

Thanks to many of you, we DID make it to San Francisco for the American Youth Circus Festival at the end of August, 2005. Circus Day Foundation brought 16 youth circus performers who presented four acts in the gala shows that featured talented young people from all over the country. We also were represented by our artistic/executive director and three of our teachers, all of whom led workshops at the Festival. Two more of our teachers attended the Festival along with four parents of performers, one uncle and one mentor. The Festival was 4 days of non-stop rehearsals, workshops, shows and circus schmoozing.

The St. Louis Arches, accompanied by the San Francisco Taiko group Eden Aoba (who we found online), were chosen to open the Festival Gala Show on Friday night. The roars of appreciation from the crowd almost drowned out the Taikos. People were complimenting the Arches on their performance throughout the rest of the Festival and complimenting us on the use of the live Taiko drummers and on our whole Circus Harmony concept. The Arches' tumbling, which was at its inspired best, blew everyone away. And thank you, Arches, for rising to the occasion by taking your performance to the next level!

Patrick's solo diabolo act was excellent and spot on. Rosie's Spanish web was one of only two solo aerial acts performing at the Festival. You would not have known this was the first time she worked so high in the air. Despite having sprained her ankle the day before, she was absolutely exquisite. Elliana and Claire--- the Elliaire Duet-- totally overcame rigging issues and presented their double-lyra act to rave reviews. People were especially impressed with their elegant and classical style. Rianna--- our student who came just to take classes and watch the shows--- got a chance to perform in group acts. Good thing she brought a costume!

Our students distinguished themselves in many of the workshops and were sought after to work with by teachers and other students. All the Circus Day participants made new friends and many renewed old friendships. The keynote speaker, Judy Finelli, honored our director, Jessica Hentoff, and our program in her keynote address. No one got lost or fell off a cable car. The Arches even figured out in the hotel room that you can iron a pop tart to heat it up and it won't even melt the frosting. We are all really looking forward to the next AYCO Festival in 2007!

Circus at the Inn

Circus at the Inn — the Holiday Inn that is. For 4 Saturdays in February and March, the Holiday Inn at Six Flags in Eureka offered a special circus package that included a night’s lodging plus circus food, crafts, clowns, balloons, carnival games, juggling lessons, stilt walkers and a show by the fabulous, flying St. Louis Arches! The Circus Saturdays were so popular that they are likely to become an annual winter event. See you next winter at the Holiday Inn for a Spectacular Circus Saturday!

Clowning and Magic!

As they said on News Channel 5: “This is the class where you can do everything your parents told you not to do!” Our clowning class, offered for the first time last winter, was a tremendous success. There was water-spitting, pratfalls and (whipped cream) pies-in-the-face everywhere. This class is geared toward aspiring clowns ages 10 through adult. For the Spring session, we have added a class in Magic. If you've wanted to make something or someone disappears, this is the class for you! So, step right up to transform yourself into the Class Clown!

314-436-7676 Circus Day Foundation www.circusday.org

Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus

Last November, our hometown heroes really did run away and join the circus. After seeing the St. Louis Arches perform at the American Youth Circus Festival in San Francisco, Ringling’s talent scout, Tim Holst, asked the Arches to appear during the Three-Ring Adventure portion of the Ringling show. On opening night at St. Louis’ Savvis Center, the Arches performed with the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

The crowd went wild! Many people in the audience recognized the Arches from seeing them at City Museum. After the performance, the Arches stayed and watched the show as guests of the circus. They also got a backstage tour from 13-year-old Ahmbra Zerbini, the daughter of Ringling’s star aerialist/horse trainer. Who knows? Someday, one of our young stars may become a feature act with Ringling Brothers!

Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four, with Arches Iking Bateman, Lemond Carmickel, Nathan Sykes and Matthew Viverito, were winners of the 2005 St. Louis Juggling Competition in New Town!

They juggled rings, clubs and knives in a variety of solo, duo, trio and quartet combinations that included their signature two-high club passing trick. The Fantastic Four's fast-paced combination of juggling and acrobatics thoroughly impressed the judges and wowed the crowd.

Kellin Wins a Groundhog!

Our own Kellin Quinn was one of the three winners at the Annual Groundhog Day Juggling Festival and Competition in Atlanta, Georgia! Kellin was in competition with many of the best jugglers in the United States--- not just kids but actual, performing jugglers. Kellin performed his Kooky Cook act which features him juggling pots, a fork, a ladle, apples, whisks, potatoes, eggs and more. The act starts with him unicycling in with a pizza on a giant spatula and ends with him juggling knives on a giant orange globe (with a Sunkist label). The Groundhog Day Festival is one of the most prestigious juggling competitions in the United States. There is no prize money involved but you do get a golden groundhog statue and bragging rights. At 9 years old, this really is a remarkable achievement and a testament to his skill, focus and poise in front of an audience.

A Word from Our Sponsor….YOU

Would you or your company like to make a positive difference in the life of a child? You can! We are looking for individuals, groups and companies who would like to sponsor a child to run away and join the circus.

Although our class tuition rates are low compared to other gymnastics and arts facilities, some extremely talented children cannot afford to pay. We have never turned away anyone because they couldn’t pay. Please support our scholarship fund by sponsoring a child. A tax-deductible gift of $500 will give a beginning student a full school year of weekly circus classes -- and a costume! Your $1,100 gift will give some lucky future star two months of full-day circus summer camp performing experience!

We now offer companies the opportunity to sponsor one of our circus troupes or a series of youth circus shows. Tax-deductible sponsorships range from $10,000 to $50,000. This is a wonderful way for your marketing dollars to help local children from diverse backgrounds and put your company name in front of half a million people who see our shows at City Museum and other venues around the region.

Please print, fill out and return this form or call us at 314-436-7676 to set up your special sponsorship. Or fill out our online Sponsor Form at www.circusday.org/Member.html.

314-436-7676 Circus Day Foundation www.circusday.org

You Can Register Now For Fall Classes!

314.436.7676 www.circusday.org

Monday Open Aerial Studio 7:00-8:00 pm (Must be concurrently enrolled in an Intermediate level or above aerial class.) Wednesday Homeschool Circus Class 1:00-2:30 pm Yoga 7:30-9:00pm Friday Aerial Artistry 4:30-6:00pm Clown Class (Ages 13-adult) 5:00-6:30 pm Magic Class (Ages 13-adult) 6:30- 8:00 pm < Saturday Yoga 8:30-10:00am Beginner Circus Arts 10:30am-12:00pm Totally Tumbling 12:30-2:00pm Intermediate Circus Arts 2:00-3:30pm Sunday Beginner Circus Arts 11:30am-1:00pm Open Juggling Studio 1:00-2:00pm Family Juggling Class 2:00-3:30pm Clown Class (Ages 12 and under) 3:30-5:00 Magic Class (Ages 8-12) 5:00-6:30

Fall Session: Sept 18 - Dec 10 (no class weekends of Oct 7 and Nov 25) Winter Session: Jan 8 - March 18 Spring Session: March 19 - May 27 (no class weekend of Apr 7) Pricing $15 per class/$150 per 10 week session: Must register and pay for FULL session in advance. $10.00 per Open Studio Hour: Permission of instructor required. Must reserve space in advance. This is not a class, but open, supervised practice time. $50.00 per Hour: Private Lessons. Time TBD. Winter Class Session Photos (to the left) American Youth Circus Festival Photos (above)

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314-436-7676 Circus Day Foundation www.circusday.org

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Tumbling Times

Page 7

April 2006

Circus Harmony

Circus Harmony: Fortissimo was a tremendous success last fall. Thirty youth circus performers and fifty musicians put on an amazing two-and-a-half-hour show that held audience members spellbound.

Our musical partners for Circus Harmony: Fortissimo included Farshid Soltanshahi, St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, Xiaoyu Yan, the St. Louis Community Circus Band and Sandy Weltman and the Hebrew Hillbillies. Guest choreographers included Monica Newsam, Michael Hagerstrom, Richard Kennison, Elizabeth Pezzo, Peter Schroeder, Donald Hughes and Sariya Saabye.

Circus Harmony: Fortissimo was the zenith of our social circus endeavors this year. The circus performers and musicians ranged in age from 6 to more than 60. They were from across St. Louis and around the world. The show inspired individuals and connected communities through music and circus arts.

Circus Harmony: Glissando

Mark your calendars now for our next big production, Circus Harmony: Glissando, scheduled for Oct. 6, 7 and 8, 2006. Once again we will combine St. Louis’ most talented tumbling children with its most marvelous multicultural musicians. This show will feature the debut of the new Circus Harmony Band and a new act featuring acrobatic drummers!

Circus Harmony: Glissando---The CD

We are planning to produce our second Circus Harmony CD for release in September. It will feature original music from our new Circus Harmony Band. You can pre-order your copy and help fund the production of this musical masterpiece. CD order forms are available online at www.circusday.org/cd. The cost of the new CD is $15.

Circus Flora

Once again, our advanced youth circus performers, the St. Louis Arches, have been invited to perform with St. Louis’ own magical, one-ring theatrical circus, Circus Flora. This year, Flora has been invited to appear at the esteemed, international Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina over Memorial Day weekend. The Arches will be part of that performance! If you can’t make it to the Spoleto Festival, you can catch Circus Flora and the Arches in St. Louis from June 8 through June 25 at Grand Center. Come and cheer our hometown heroes. For ticket information, visit www.circusflora.org

RaffePhoto

Mullins Moves Over

We are thrilled to announce that we have stolen Jessica Mullins from our sister company, everydaycircus. Mullins (as we call her to avoid confusion with the other Jessica) has been the part-time Registrar for Circus Day Foundation and the full-time Office Manager for everydaycircus. As of February 14, 2006 Mullins has been named General Manager of Circus Day Foundation. Karen Schellin has taken over Mullins' former job with everydaycircus. Mullins started volunteering with everydaycircus as a service project for high school many years ago. After a brief hiatus, during which she gained invaluable management experience, she returned to the circus, her second home. Her rapport with our students, staff and parents added to her management abilities will help Circus Day become even more organized and efficient.

Is Your Company a Circus?

How many times have you said “this place is a circus!”? Well, we can make that statement a reality. A $1,000 donation will make it YOUR COMPANY DAY AT THE CIRCUS at City Museum. You will get a table, signs, press release and a day of sponsored shows and special announcements in the circus ring on the third floor of City Museum. Up to 100 guests will have access to City Museum and your employees will star in their own Participation Circus where some will jump through hoops (do they ever feel like they do that at work?), walk a wire (there’s a fine line everywhere), and make human pyramids (maybe the boss can be at the bottom, for once). In addition, there will be workshops in juggling (they do a lot of that on the job, anyway) and balloon sculpting (the right way to be twisted). Your Day at the Circus is also a great way to promote a special product or event. Call us at 314-436-7676 to make it true when you say “This place is a circus!”

Truckin’

Thanks to Circus Day Foundation Board President, Cyndy Rosenbloom, for arranging for us to get a truck from Sara Lee! We now have our own truck for transporting equipment so that the St. Louis Arches can easily come to perform for your next special event! We are also taking ideas for how to decorate the truck so when we show up, everyone will know the circus has arrived! At least at Circus Day, it’s really true that “nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee.”

314-436-7676 Circus Day Foundation www.circusday.org

Without Tumbling Times RaffePhoto

Will This Be Your Last Tumbling Times? We are trying to reduce our mailing costs so that we have more money for our programs. But we also want you to know about all the wonderful work that our supporters have made possible at the Circus Day Foundation. Please let us know if you would like to continue receiving our newsletters -- or if you would rather not. To continue your support, you can: Send us a donation of any size (sponsor form enclosed and also online at www.circusday.org). E-mail us at circusday@everydaycircus.net with newsletter in the subject line and your name and address. Call us at 314-436-7676 You can also help by giving us your email address so we can send you the newsletter electronically. We promise we won't give your email address to anyone else. Please let us know your preferences so we can be as efficient and effective as possible. Thank you!

With Tumbling Times Jeane Vogel Photography

Want to become a Circus Sponsor? You can sponsor a child, a show or a whole troupe! See page 5 Wish List: Costumes Unicycles and other Circus Props Large Plastic Containers with Lids Office Supplies: paper, pens, staples, stamps, CDs, reinforcements, etc. Digital Video Camera Video tapes for playing and recording Bookshelf 3-ring binders and paper Volunteer carpenters

Circus Day Foundation is grateful to: