As a recent graduate

Sloan is a 2015 graduate of Sarasota High School with eight years of Sailor Circus training to her credit. Her circus arts experience extends well beyond “Ringmistress” to include the Spanish web, trapeze, cradle, high wire and more. According to Sloan, the influence of circus life will continue as she attends college for the next four years.

Her major will be creative writing, and she plans to write professionally after graduation. Sloan’s ultimate goal is to travel with a professional circus company and write about life on the road and the unique people who perform under the big top.

The Circus Arts Conservatory staff extends heartfelt gratitude to Bailey Sloan for her dedication and commitment to the legacy of circus arts. We offer our best wishes as she enters a new academic chapter in life.

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.”