| A number of Circus Arts Conservatory representatives and fans traveled to West Springfield, Massachusetts in July to attend the 2015 Worldwide Circus Summit. Sailor Circus graduate Khera Lorraine Smith joined with staff members Karen Bell and Robin Eurich for the historic, five-day event. Also in attendance were CAC volunteers Pete and Shirley Adams, Board Vice Chairman Jack Dean, event organizer Brian Liddicoat, photographer Rick Perdue, and many more performers, friends and fans.
More than 50 circus-related organizations joined together at the Big E Fairgrounds to participate in conventions, seminars, meetings and activities. The huge gathering was hosted by the Circus Fans Association of America and based on the theme “Celebrating the Circus … Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!”
In performance during the event were Karen Bell and Robin Eurich. They joined with an impressive lineup of circus artists for a unique presentation of “The Summit All-Star Circus.” Aerialist Khera Smith also had a chance to perform when she was featured in a showcase of young artists sponsored by the American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO).
The 2015 Summit offered circus-related seminars, panel discussions, social events, exhibitions, live performances, a recreated sideshow, auctions of circus memorabilia, a circus film festival and a general celebration of circus life and circus people. According to Bell, discussions often centered around the future of circus arts and the quality of training for upcoming performers.
As noted on the Worldwide Circus Summit 2015 website, the annual gathering provides “a unique and wonderful opportunity for a wide variety of circus-related organizations to join together at a world-class location…and share their love for the circus.” |
As a recent graduate of Sailor Circus Academy,17-year-old Bailey Sloan has experienced many circus disciplines. Most recently, she led the Circus Sarasota ensemble as the dazzling ringmistress for the 2015 Summer Circus Spectacular. Sloan begins a new, academic chapter this fall when she will enter college life as a freshman at Florida State University.
