♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> HEY, EVERYONE!

WELCOME TO "TV TAKEOVER,"

BROUGHT TO YOU BY REWIRE AND

TWIN CITIES PBS, LIVE FROM OUR

BRAND-NEW STREET SPACE.

I'M YOUR HOST, ADIA MORRIS.

TAKING OVER YOUR TV TONIGHT IS

THE AMAZING CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

[ Cheers and applause ]

THEY'RE THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST

YOUTH PERFORMING CIRCUS ARTS

SCHOOL, AND TONIGHT THEY'LL BE

EXPLORING THE ART OF

HAPPINESS, USING PERFORMANCES,

VIDEO, AND STORIES FROM UNDER

THE BIG TOP.

TONIGHT'S SHOW IS EXTRA

SPECIAL FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST, BECAUSE IT FALLS ON

WORLD CIRCUS DAY, AND SECOND,

BECAUSE ALL OF THE MUSIC

YOU'LL HEAR TONIGHT IS THANKS

TO THE AMAZING CLOUD CULT!

[ Cheers and applause ]

YOU, YOU AT HOME

CAN BE PART OF ACTION BY USING

THE HASHTAG #TVTAKEOVER ON

TWITTER, AND YOU COULD SEE

YOUR TWEETS AND PHOTOS SHOW UP

ON SCREEN THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO RECEIVE A

SPECIAL MESSAGE, JUST TEXT

KOIRK TO 7863 --

LET'S KICK THINGS OFF ON THE

STATIC TRAPEZE!

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> WORLD --

WORLD CIRCUS DAY WAS FOUNDED

BY THE WORLD CIRCUS

FEDERATION, AND PART OF THEIR

MISSION IS PROMOTING THE ART

OF HAPPINESS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE EXPLORING IT

HERE TONIGHT.

CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE

WATCHING ALL OF THESE ACTS IS

REALLY AMAZING, IWANT TO TAKE

CLASSES NOW.

BUT LET'S HEAR FROM THE

STUDENTS AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS

WHY CIRCUS BRINGS THEM JOY.

WE'LL ALSO LEARN A LITTLE BIT

MORE ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF

CIRCUS THROUGH SOME FUN FACTS

GIVEN TO US BY THE FOUNDERS OF

CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL

UNIQUE.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE I GET TO MOVE MY BODY

IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> I GET TO DO ALL OF THESE

AMAZING AERIAL AND BALANCE

ACTS THAT CHALLENGE ME

PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND

EMOTIONALLY.

>> NOT ONLY DO I GET THE

OPPORTUNITY TO DO REALLY

UNIQUE THINGS, WHERE I'M

LITERALLY LIKE FLYING ON A

TRAPEZE WHICH IS A VERY

EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE, BUT

IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT

COMMUNITY AND I LOVE THE FACT

THAT WE ALL SUPPORT EACH

OTHER.

LITERALLY, WE HOLD EACH OTHER

UP AND IT'S GREAT.

>> CIRCUMSTANCE CIRCUS MAKES

ME HAPPY BECAUSE I GET TO BE

HIGH OFF THE GROUND AND I GET

TO DO THINGS I USUALLY DON'T

GET TO DO.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE YOU GET TO HANG OUT

WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND DO FUN

STUFF.

>> IT'S A REALLY COOL

EXPERIENCE, THAT I'M

DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE WITH

ME IN LIFE AND IT'S HELP ME

BECOME WHO I AM TODAY.

>> WHILE WE'RE DOING ALL THIS

UNIQUE AND AMAZING STUFF,

WHICH I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I

GET THE CHANCE TO DO SOME OF

THIS STUFF, I'VE MET SOME OF

MY BEST FRIENDS HERE, IT'S

JUST AMAZING HOW MUCH THE

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS EVERYONE.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE IT JUST DOES.

>> I LOVE IT.

I LOVE WORKING WITH CIRCUS.

AND PERFORMING.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE WHEN I PEW I GET TO

SEE EVERYONE'S FACES LIGHT UP.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE I LITERALLY GET TO

HANG OUT.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY

BECAUSE CIRCUS IS LIFE.

>> HI, I'M DAN BUTLER.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND

COFOUNDER HERE AT CIRCUS

JUVENTAS AND I'M ELIZABETH.

>> SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY

PROUD OF HERE IS OUR SCHOOL'S

PERFORMANCES WHICH EXEMPLIFY

THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN

CIRCUS.

WE RESPECT AND TEACH

TRADITIONAL ROOTS OF THE ART

FORM HERE, BUT WE ALSO ENSOY

JOY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES.

IN THIS WAY WE ARE A BLEND OF

OLD AND NEW.

>> MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE

CIRCUS WORLD ARE UNAWARE OF

THE MANY DIFFERENCES.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GIVE YOU

SOME EXAMPLES.

>> TRADITIONAL CIRCUS

PERFORMANCE HAD ITS HEYDAY IN

THE MID19TH AND 20TH CENTURY.

INTRODUCED A RANGE OF ANIMAL,

ACROBATIC, AERIAL, BALANCE,

OBJECT MANIPULATION AND EVEN

STUNT ACTS THAT PERFORMED

DISCREET CORE GRAPHED

ROUTINES.

>> AS A PERFORMING ART

DEVELOPED IN THE LAST HALF OF

THE 20TH CENTURY.

THEATER AND STYLIZED MOVEMENT

OR DANCE.

IT IS OFTEN PERFORMED AS A

MULTILAYERED COHESIVE PIECE OF

WORK.

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> THE ART OF HAND BALANCING

HAS BEEN A PART OF CIRCUS ACTS

FOR AGES.

IT FEATURES PERFORMERS

SHOWCASING AMAZING FEATS OF

STRENGTH AND BALANCE COMBINED

TO DEFY GRAVITY.

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> ♪ AND WHEN THE ANGELS

COME ♪

♪ THEY'LL CUT YOU

DOWN THE MIDDLE ♪

♪ TO SEE IF YOU'RE

STILL THERE ♪

♪ TO SEE IF YOU'RE

STILL THERE ♪

♪ AND UNDERNEATH YOUR RIBS ♪

♪ THEY'LL FIND A HEART-SHAPED

LOCKET ♪

♪ AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH ♪

♪ OF YOU IN DADDY'S ARMS ♪

♪ AND THEN THEY'LL SEW YOU

CLOSED ♪

♪ AND GIVE YOU BACK TO THE

WATER ♪

♪ FROM WHERE WE'RE ALL BORN ♪

♪ AND YOU'LL FEED THE GHOSTS ♪

♪ AND YOU'LL FEED THE LIVING ♪

♪ YOU'LL BE A STRANGER ♪

♪ AND YOU'LL BE A FRIEND ♪

♪ YOU'LL BE THE LEPER ♪

♪ AND YOU'LL BE THE HEALER ♪

♪ YOU'LL BE THE HERO ♪

♪ AND THE TRAGEDY ♪

♪ AND WHEN THEY SEW YOU

CLOSED ♪

♪ THEY'LL GIVE YOU BACK TO THE

WATER ♪

♪ FROM WHERE WE'RE ALL BORN ♪

♪ AND WHEN THEY BURN YOUR

BODY ♪

♪ ALL THAT'S LEFT IS SAND

CRYSTALS ♪

♪ TWO TINY HANDFULS ♪

♪ ALL THE REST IS WATER,

WATER, WATER, WATER ♪

♪ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ♪

♪ IS YOU WERE BORN OF WATER ♪

♪ YOU ARE MADE OF WATER ♪

♪ YOU ARE LIVING WATER, WATER,

WATER, WATER ♪

♪ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ♪

♪ IS YOU WERE BORN OF WATER ♪

♪ YOU ARE MADE OF WATER ♪

♪ YOU ARE LIVING WATER, WATER,

WATER, WATER ♪

♪ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ♪

♪ IS YOU WERE BORN OF WATER ♪

♪ YOU ARE MADE OF WATER ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> OH, SORRY!

WOW!

[ Laughter ]

WOW!

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I WAS -- MY HEART WAS POUNDING

THE ENTIRE TIME.

WE ASKED THREE STUDENTS AT

CIRCUS JUVENTAS TO GIVE US A

PEEK INSIDE THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THEY USED THEIR PHONES TO

CAPTURE VIDEO OF HOW THEY

BALANCE, SOMETIMES LITERALLY,

THE DEMANDS OF SCHOOL, HOME,

AND CIRCUS LIFE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT MADDY'S

STORY NOW.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GETTING ON THE LIGHT

RAIL.

HERE WE GO.

SO WE'RE COMING TO CIRCUS NOW.

I JUST CAME FROM REHEARSALS AT

MY HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M IN THE WINTER PLAY.

WE HAVE A FULL DAY TODAY.

SO IT'LL BE EXCITING.

HERE WE GO.

ON TIME.

YEAH.

COOL.

HERE CIRCUS.

WHOO!

[ VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS ]

>> OKAY, AND THAT IS GOOD.

THAT IS A GOOD BACK LEVER.

>> I'M WORKING ON MY MATH

HOMEWORK RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT

CIRCUS HAS TAUGHT ME IS HOW TO

MANAGE MY TIME.

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE HAVING A

JOB.

IT'S AN AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY.

USUALLY I'M AT CIRCUS FROM

3:00 TO 9:15 AT NIGHT, SO I'VE

LEARNED TO MANAGE MY TIME

EXTREMELY WELL.

EFFICIENT STUDYING HABITS.

AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO GET MY

HOMEWORK DONE.

>> AH!

THIS IS MY ARMPIT AFTER

TRAPEZE.

A LOT OF TIMES AT CIRCUS,

AFTER REALLY HARD CORE TRICKS,

WE GET BURNS AND SCRAPES AND

BRUISES, SO IT'S NOT THAT

UNUSUAL, BUT THIS IS A NICE

ONE.

>> YEAH, IT IS A NICE ONE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT

CIRCUS HAS REALLY HELPED ME

REALIZE AND I'M VERY

PASSIONATE ABOUT IS

PERFORMING.

I ACTUALLY USED TO BE SCARED

OF GOING ON STAGE, AND NOW I

LOVE IT.

IT'S LIKE A DRUG, PERFORMING.

IT'S SO AMAZING.

>> SMILE!

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF

CIRCUS ACTS NOW, AND TO THE

UNTRAINED EYE, IT COULD LOOK

FAIRLY DANGEROUS.

BUT THOSE ON THE INSIDE KNOW

THAT SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE

PRIORITY, WHETHER YOU'RE

FLYING THROUGH THE AIR OR

SPINNING AT TOP SPEEDS.

>> A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, WHEN

THEY FINE CIRCUS JUVENTAS,

THEY TALK ABOUT IT LIKE

THEY'RE COMING HOME.

I AM REA NANON FITS RAD YATS

AND I'M THE ARTISTIC

INTRODUCTION COORDINATOR THE

COINING.

IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT SPACE

FOR THEM TO BE ABLE INHABITED

AND THEY'RE REALLY UNIQUE

PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS.

I THINK KIDS LOVE TO FIND A

UNIQUE PLACE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

THAT'S KIND OF PERFORMANCE

ASPECT THAT WE GIVE THEM.

KIDS LOVE TO MAKE THEIR BODIES

DO THINGS THAT ARE UNUSUAL.

THEY LOVE TO STRETCH THEIR

BOUNDARIES.

AND I THINK POSITIVE RISK

TAKING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT

ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO HERE.

I THINK A MISPERCEPTION IS

THAT IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

AND THE VERY EARLIEST STAGES

OF ANY ACT, REALLY, THEIR

SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE, SO

BEFORE THEY EVEN TAUGHT TO

TRAIN OR PERFORM IN IT,

THEY'RE TAUGHT THE BASICS SO

NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT.

AWESOME.

ALL RIGHT.

READY TO GO.

>> THEY START OUT AS TODDLERS.

AND THEY JUST KIND OF TRY A

LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE VERY

BEGINNING LEVELS.

THEN THEY MIGHT DECIDE THAT

THEY WANT TO GO INTO AERIAL

ACTS.

SO THEY START OUT ON THE SIDE

BY SIDE TRAPEZE WHICH NEVER

GETS MORE THAN FIVE OR SIX,

SEVEN FEET OFF THE GROUND.

SO I KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT IN

TERMS OF SPEED AND HEIGHT AND

TRICK DIFFICULTY.

THOSE THINGS ALL INCREASE AS

TIME GOES ON, AS THEY GO UP

THROUGH THE LEVELS OF ANY

GIVEN ACT.

>> YOU'RE HANGING.

YOU ARE FLIPPING.

YOU'RE DOING MORE ACROBATIC

TRICKS.

YOU MIGHT WEAR A SAFETY SAFETY

BET, BUT YOU'RE INCREDIBLY

HIGH UP.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE

SWINGING TRAPEZE THAT'S

LITERALLY SWINGING BATH AND

FORTH.

THE TRICKS ARE MONUMENTAL.

THE FLYING TRAPEZE IS KIND OF

KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST

CHALLENGING AERIAL ACTS AND

THAT'S WHERE THE DANGER REALLY

COULD COME IN, BUT YOU'VE

TAKEN ALL OF THOSE ACTS,

YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF

THAT TRAINING BEFORE YOU'VE

GOT TO THAT POINT SO YOU'RE

VERY SAFE AND VERY CONFIDENT

BY THE TIME YOU GET THERE.

THE CONFIDENCE THAT COMES FROM

KNOWING THAT THEY CAN DO IT,

KNOWING THAT IF THEY FALL,

RETHEY DIDN'T QUITE GET A

TRICK, THEY'RE GOING TO GET

RIGHT BACK UP WITH A SMILE ON

THEIR FACE AND CONTINUE WITH

THE ROUTINE AND THEIR

TEAMMATES ARE GOING TO CHEER

THEM ON.

IT'S REALLY INEXPIRING.

INSPIRING.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> I'M HERE WITH RACHEL

BUTLER, A COACH AND FORMER

STUDENT AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

SHE'S GOING TO TEACH ME A

TRICK ON THE TRAPEZE THAT I

HOPE IS GOOD FOR BEGINNERS.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> OKAY, SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING

TO DO IS PUT YOUR HANDS ON

EITHER SIDE OF THE BAR.

WRAP YOUR THUMBS AROUND.

YOU'RE GOING TO SQUAT ALL THE

WAY DOWN.

YOUR ARMS ARE STRAIGHT.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO KICK ONE

LEG UP AT A TIME AND YOU'RE

GOING TO HOOK YOUR KNEES ON

THE BAR.

I AM GOING TO HELP YOU.

GOOD.

OKAY.

STEP ONE.

ALL RIGHT, FROM HERE, YOU'RE

GOING TO REACH UP AND GRAB THE

ROPE AND PULL YOURSELF ALL THE

WAY UP.

PERFECT.

OKAY.

NOW YOU GOT TO DO THE CIRCUS

STYLE.

OKAY?

SO YOU'RE GOING TO STRAIGHTEN

ONE LEG AND YOU'RE GOING TO

BEND ONE LEG.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND

YOUR ARM IN STYLE AND SMILE.

YEAH!

CHASE PERFECT.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO A

TRICK.

YOU'RE GOING TO TURN YOUR BODY

AND YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND

BOTH LEGS IN THAT DIRECT DIRECT.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT BOTH

HANDS ONTO THIS ROPE RIGHT

HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEAN

ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL YOUR

ARMS ARE STRAIGHT.

YEAH!

NICE!

ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SIT BACK

UP.

GOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO SLIDE BACK DOWN

TO YOUR KNEES.

YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR HANDS

BACK ONTO THE BAR.

YEP.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO BRING YOUR

LEGS DOWN.

YEAH!

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> NICE!

>> OOH!

WOW!

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL,

LIFE IN THE AIR CERTAINLY

LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM LIFE ON

THE GROUND.

CIRCUS JUVENTAS DECIDED TO

STRAP A CAMERA ONTO SOME OF

THEIR PERFORMERS TO GIVE US AN

IDEA OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SOAR

ABOVE THE CROWD.

>> HERE IT IS.

>> OH, YOU'RE ON?

OKAY, THEN!

♪♪

>> THIS PART IS VERY -- IT'S

KIND OF SCARY.

BUT JUST HAVE FUN!

♪♪

>> WELCOME TO TPT TAKEOVER!

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> REMEMBER TEXT CIRCUS TO

863-866-4773 FOR A SPECIAL

MESSAGE.

I CAN'T SAY IT.

LATER ON IN THE SHOW.

THAT'S 863-866-4773.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LOOK INSIDE

THE LIFE OF A CIRCUS JUVENTAS

STUDENT FOR YOU.

THIS TIME IT'S NICK, A

HIGH-LEVEL PERFORMER WHO'S

BEEN WITH THE SCHOOL SINCE HE

WAS VERY YOUNG.

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CIRCUS

FUN FACT FROM CO-FOUNDERS DAN

AND BETTY.

♪♪

>> I USUALLY BALANCE CIRCUS

WITH SCHOOL AND OTHER

ACTIVITIES BY, UM, GETTING MY

HOMEWORK DONE IN BREAKS AT

CIRCUS.

I TRY TO GET ALL MY STUFF DONE

AS SOON AS I GET HOME JUST SO

THAT I'M NOT STAYING UP SUPER

LATE.

I USUALLY DO DIVING BEFORE

CIRCUS, SO THAT I'M NOT GOING

BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM.

OR I'M HOPEFULLY NOT MISSING

TOO MUCH OF EITHER.

♪♪

>> CIRCUS REALLY BRINGS OUT A

WHOLE ANOTHER SIDE OF ME.

I THINK I'M VERY COMFORTABLE

THERE.

I'M VERY OPEN.

I TEND TO GET VERY CREATIVE

THERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE

PROCESS OF MAKING A NEW SHOW,

JUST WITH CHOREOGRAPHY AND

CHARACTER WORK AND DIFFERENT

TRICKS WE CAN TRY.

I THINK IT BRINGS CREATIVITY,

IT'S MY OUTLET.

IT'S MY SAFE PLACE.

IT'S JUST WHERE I FEEL

COMFORTABLE.

>> AN EXAMPLE OF A TRADITIONAL

CIRCUS ARTIST WAS LILLIAN

LEADS ALE WHO WAS DISCOVERED

AS A TEENAGE PERFORMER BY A

REPRESENTATIVE OF RING LING

BROTHERS IN 1912.

SHE WOULD DANGLE BY A ROPE

WITH ONE HAND AND PROPEL

HERSELF SKY WARD WITH

TREMENDOUS STRENGTH AS THE

RING MASTER AND MANY TIMES THE

AUDIENCE WOULD COUNT TO OVER

100 REVOLUTIONS.

>> ALL: THREE, FOUR, FIVE,

>> AN EXAMPLE OF A

CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS PERFORMER

IS DANIEL SEER.

HE'S A GRADUATE OF THE INSTALL

CIRCUS SCHOOL IN MONTREAL.

DANIEL IS AN INVENTOR OF THE

SEER WHEEL, A LARGE RING LIKE

APPARATUS THAT -- HE'S A

HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER INSTRUCTOR

OF THE SEER WHEEL AND EVEN

DEVELOPED CIRCUMSTANCE DESO

WILL A'S ROUTINE FOR COTOE.

CORTEO.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> WHO HASN'T DREAMED OF

KNOWING HOW TO JUGGLE?

I'M JOINED BY ZACC FRICKE,

LEAD SINGER IN THE LIMMS,

THAT'S RIGHT?

YEAH.

UNICYCLE COACH AT CIRCUS

JUVENTAS, AND JUGGLER, AND

HE'S GOING TO TEACH US ALL THE

ART OF JUGGLING.

>> YEAH!

SO AT CIRCUS, WE LIKE TO START

REALLY SIMPLE.

SO WE ALWAYS START WITH ONE

OBJECT.

WE START WITH SCARFS, BECAUSE

THEY'RE EASY TO FLOW AND

EASY -- THROW AND EASY TO

CATCH.

OPEN UP YOUR SCARF LIKE THIS

AND THEN PINCH IT IN THE

MIDDLE LIKE THAT.

YOU PROBABLY WANT TO STAND UP

TO TRY THIS.

IT'S EASIER TO THROW AND CATCH

WHILE YOU'RE STANDING.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WITH JUST ONE,

JUST THROW IT UP AND PINCH IT

BACK.

THROW IT UP AND PINCH IT BACK.

THERE YOU GO.

NOW TRY TO THROW IT AND PINCH

IT WITH THE OTHER HAND.

BACK AND FORTH.

SIDE TO SIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE

GETTING IT?

IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

PRETTY SIMPLE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU'RE GOING TO

PICK UP YOUR OTHER SCARF.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE IN

EACH HAND, ALL RIGHT?

YOU GUYS GOT IT?

YOU GUYS HAVE TWO DIFFERENT

COLORS, THAT'S GOING TO BE

IMPORTANT SOON, BUT FOR NOW,

LET'S JUST GO THIS ONE UP, AND

THEN THIS ONE.

THIS ONE, THIS ONE.

RIGHT.

LEFT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE

YOU'RE GETTING THAT?

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT UP.

SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO

CHRIS CROSS, CATCH CATCH.

OH, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU

GO ONE, TWO, CATCH CATCH.

YOU GUYS GETTING IT?

ONE, TWO, CATCH, CATCH.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE

GETTING THAT.

SO NOW I WANT YOU TO PAY

ATTENTION TO THESE COLORS.

YOU'RE GOING TO THROW THE SAME

COLOR EVERY TIME FIRST.

YELLOW, GREEN, CATCH, CATCH.

AH!

SO YOU'LL FIND THAT BECAUSE

THE WAY YOU LEARNED HOW TO

THROW, THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT

HAPPENS.

THIS IS A MISTAKE RIGHT HERE.

YOU'LL PASS UNDERNEATH.

SO YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL OF

THAT.

YOU WANT TO THROW, THROW,

CATCH, CATCH.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THAT'S GOOD.

NOW AFTER YOU DO THAT FOR A

WHILE, THEN YOU TRY TO PICK UP

THREE OBJECTS.

LIKE THIS.

AND USUALLY WE'LL MOVE TO

BALLS AND WE'LL JUGGLE BALLS

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO --

>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO

MUCH, ZACC.

GIVE THEM A ROUND APPLAUSE.

NOW LET'S SEE HOW IT'S REALLY

DONE WITH A PERFORMANCE FROM

CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

>> WOW!

OH, I CAN STILL FEEL IT.

WOW!

CIRCUS

CIRCUS JUVENTAS IS KNOWN FOR

ITS SPECTACULAR SHOWS.

PART OF WHAT MAKES THEM

AMAZING IS NOT ONLY THE YOUNG

AGE OF THE PERFORMERS BUT ALSO

THE ELABORATE SETS, LIGHTING,

AND COSTUMES.

ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR

BRINGING THE COSTUMES AND THE

CHARACTERS THAT WEAR THEM TO

LIFE IS KATHY STASZAK.

>> DO YOU THINK IF YOU WENT TO

DESIGNING NORMAL COSTUMES THAT

IT WOULD BE BORING IN

COMPARISON?

>> YES.

[ Laughter ]

[ SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING ]

>> MY NAME'S KATHY IS A ZACK

AND I MAKE COSTUMES FOR CIRCUS

JUVENTAS.

I GOT LURED INTO IT.

SOMEBODY HAD SEEN MY LEGGINGS

AT THE RENAISSANCE FAIR, AND

THEY WENT, OH, WE NEED SOME OF

THOSE.

AND THEN 11 YEARS LATER, I'M

DOING LIKE ALL DIFFERENT

THINGS.

THESE ARE REALLY CUTE LITTLE

COSTUMES.

NOW I DESIGN ABOUT 50

COSTUMES.

I LOVE THE CREATIVE PROCESS.

IT'S LIKE SOMETHING CLICKS ON.

I SEE THE CHARACTERS START TO

EMERGE.

I THINK I'VE ALWAYS LOVED

THEATER.

I MEAN, IT'S FASCINATING.

I TRIED ACTING.

IT WAS HORRIBLE.

I STARTED TO DO SOME

COSTUMING, AND I LIKED IT.

AND ALSO YOU GET TO HEAR ALL

THE BACKSTAGE STUFF GOING ON.

I LOVE WORKING WITH THESE

KIDS.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY GIFTED.

WE'VE WATCHED THEM BECOME

SELF-ASSURED INDIVIDUALS, AND

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK

IS AMAZING TO WATCH.

KIDS THAT START OUT AND

THEY'RE MAYBE KIND OF AWKWARD

ABOUT THEIR BODIES OR

WHATEVER, AND AFTER FOUR

YEARS, THEY'RE AN INCREDIBLY

DIFFERENT.

>> YOU GO REALLY FAST.

[ Laughter ]

I REALLY LOVE DOING IT.

IT'S FUN AND IT'S ALSO

NERVE-RACKING.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP

COMING BACK EVERY YEAR, SO I

MUST LIKE IT.

>> CLOWNS ARE SOME OF THE MOST

CLASSICAL CHARACTERS FOUND IN

THE TRADITIONAL CIRCUS.

THE BEHIGHT FACE CLOWN WITH

THE RED NOSE AND THE BIG SHOES

ARE THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE

TYPES, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE

1700S.

>> CLOWNS IN CONTEMPORARY

CIRCUS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE

EMOTIONAL.

THEY'RE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO

TRAIN IN OTHER CIRCUS ACTS

ARGUABLY MAKING THEM MORE

VERSE TILE PERFORMERS.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> COSTUMES HAVE THE POWER TO

TRANSPORT US TO THE

MYTHOLOGICAL LAIR OF POSEIDON,

ANCIENT CHINA, OR THE IMAGINED

REALMS OF OZ OR NEVERLAND.

GET READY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A

SHORT FASHION SHOW TO EXHIBIT

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CIRCUS

JUVENTAS' TALENTED TEAM OF

COSTUME DESIGNERS OVER THE

YEARS.

WE BEGIN WITH COSTUMES FROM

"ATLANTICUS," WHICH UNCOVERED

THE ANCIENT UNDERWATER REALM

OF POSEIDON.

DESIGNERS ENJOYED THE

CHALLENGE OF BRINGING DEEP SEA

CREATURES TO THE CIRCUS'S

LAND-LOCKED STAGE.

THE OCTOPUS COSTUME YOU SEE

HERE IS HAND-PAINTED AND

INCLUDES INDIVIDUALLY ATTACHED

SUCTION CUPS ON ITS TENTACLES.

THE CLAM BODY SUIT YOU SEE IS

HELD TOGETHER WITH DOZENS OF

APPLIQUED SEA CREATURE SHAPES.

IT IS A FABULOUS EXAMPLE OF A

CIRCUS COSTUME BECAUSE IT

VISUALLY ILLUSTRATES A

CHARACTER WHILE STILL ALLOWING

FOR LOTS OF MOVEMENT WITH ITS

CONSTRUCTION.

POSSIBLY CIRCUS JUVENTAS'S

CREEPIEST SHOW TO DATE,

"RAVENS MANOR," WAS FULL OF

HAUNTED PERSONALITIES.

THE DEAD DOLL COSTUME

DISPLAYED HERE WAS AMPLIFIED

IN THE SHOW WITH RINGLET WIGS,

EXAGGERATED ROSY CHEEKS, AND

PERFORMERS THAT DIDN'T BLINK.

HER COMPANION, THE MANSION'S

HEAD HOUSEKEEPER, SPORTED THIS

WONDERFULLY TERRIFYING COAT,

COMPLETE WITH A COLLAR MADE OF

IRIDESCENT ROOSTER TAIL

FEATHERS.

IN 2010, CIRCUS JUVENTAS

EXPLORED ITS TRADITIONAL ROOTS

WITH A TRAIN-TRAVELING CIRCUS

SHOW SET IN THE 1920s CALLED

"SAWDUST."

WE HAVE HERE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE

OF THE MANY CLASSIC CIRCUS

DESIGNS THAT BROUGHT THE SHOW

TO LIFE.

ILEANA, QUEEN OF THE AIR, WAS

THE STAR TRAPEZE ARTIST ON THE

TOUR, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT

THAT HER COSTUME LET THE

AUDIENCE KNOW HER STATUS FROM

THE MOMENT SHE STEPPED ON

STAGE.

YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT SOME OF

THE SEQUINS ARE MISSING AROUND

THE WAIST.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF

THEM ARE STILL EMBEDDED IN THE

NECK OF THE ORIGINAL

PERFORMER'S PARTNER, AS SHE

FREQUENTLY SPUN AROUND HIS

HEAD IN ONE OF THEIR MOST

BREATHTAKING TRICKS.

CIRCUS JUVENTAS LIKES TO

"CIRQUIFY" THEIR COSTUMES,

WHICH IS A TERM THEIR

DESIGNERS HAVE COINED AND

REFERS TO CREATING GARMENTS

THAT INCLUDE BOTH THE UNIQUE

FUNCTIONALITY NECESSARY FOR

PERFORMING CIRCUS ACTS AND A

WHIMSICAL OR ABSTRACT TAKE ON

THE THEMATIC CONTENT OF THE

SHOW.

THEY DID JUST THAT WITH FRANK

BAUM'S "WIZARD OF OZ" JUST A

FEW YEARS BACK.

FOR THAT SHOW, THEIR LONG-TIME

LONG-DISTANCE DESIGNER FROM

NEW ORLEANS CAME UP WITH ONE

OF THE SHOW'S MOST INCREDIBLE

COSTUMES: THE FLYING MONKEY.

DUE TO THEIR SPECIFIC MOVEMENT

REQUIREMENTS, ALTERING THE

SILHOUETTE OF A CIRCUS

PERFORMER IS A CHALLENGE, BUT

SHE PULLED IT OFF BEAUTIFULLY.

AND JUST LAST SUMMER, THE

ANCIENT "ARABIAN NIGHTS" TALES

CAME TO LIFE UNDER THE BIG TOP

WHEN ALIA BABA AND HER THIEVES

JOINED FORCES WITH ALADDIN AND

THE GENIE TO CAPTURE HIS LAMP

AND AWARD HIM HIS FREEDOM.

ON DISPLAY ARE EXAMPLES OF A

SULTAN, A MEMBER OF THE

ROYALTY, AND THE IQBAL, A

MEMBER OF THE RABBLE-ROUSING

STREET RATS.

THANK YOU, PERFORMERS, FOR

PULLING DOUBLE DUTY AS MODELS

FOR OUR FASHION SHOW!

I THINK THE ACROBATS AND

AERIALISTS IN FRONT OF YOU

WILL AGREE THAT THE COSTUMES

ARE PART OF WHAT MAKES CIRCUS

THE ART OF HAPPINESS.

CREATING COSTUMES FOR A SHOW

IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

SO IS MAKING A TV SHOW!

CIRCUS JUVENTAS DECIDED TO

WORK WITH LAST WEEK'S "TV

TAKEOVER" PARTNER, INDEPENDENT

FILMMAKER PROJECT MINNESOTA,

TO CREATE A VIDEO ILLUSTRATING

THE IMPORTANCE OF THEATER IN

CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS

ENJOY THIS PIECE EDITED BY A

FORMER CIRCUS JUVENTAS

PERFORMER AND A PART OF IFP

MINNESOTA'S STUDENT PROGRAM.

♪♪

>> ♪ LAY IT ALL DOWN IN A CALM

SAFE SPACE ♪

♪ AND IF THE DREAM DOESN'T

COME, JUST WAIT ♪

♪ LAY IT ALL DOWN IN A CALM,

SAFE SPACE ♪

♪ AND IF THE DREAM DOESN'T

COME, YOU JUST WAIT ♪

♪ YOU JUST WAIT ♪

♪♪

>> WE WERE MADE TO WALK

THROUGH FIRE IN OUR DANCE

SHOES ♪

♪ WE WERE MADE TO SAIL UPON

THE MEETERS ♪

♪ WE WERE MADE TO LOVE THE

HECK OUT OF OUR BONES ♪

♪ GOD GAVE US WORDS, THEY WERE

I LOVE YOU, PLEASE, AND THANK

YOU ♪

♪ GOD GAVE US THIRST AND IT'S

A HUNGER FOR THE UNIVERSE ♪

♪♪

♪ OH, NO, NO, NO ♪

♪ I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO ♪

♪ SOMETIMES THIS LIFE'S A

LONELY ROAD ♪

♪ BUT YOU GOT TO FIND IT IT

YOUR OWN ♪

♪ SO BUILD A HAPPY SHIP,

BECAUSE THIS LIVING IS A

TRIP ♪

♪ YOU GOT TO SING THE KIND OF

SONG THAT YOU LIKE SINGING ♪

♪ TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN ♪

♪♪

>> EVERY MORNING, I WAKE UP AT

2:00 AND -- AT 7:00 AND I GET

OUT OF BED, AND THEN ME AND MY

FAMILY LOOK AT THE NEWS.

EVERY DAY.

[ Inaudible ]

RIGHT AFTER ALL MY PRACTICE, I

HAVE SCHOOL WORK TO DO.

MY FAVE THING ABOUT CIRCUS --

[ Inaudible ]

ALONG WITH CIRCUS, I HAVE SOME

OTHER ACTIVITIES, THOSE

ACTIVITIES ARE PLAYING PIANO

AND PLAYING -- AND I ALSO SING

IN A CHOIR AND I DO BALLROOM

DANCING.

[ Inaudible ]

I LOVE PLAYING THE TRICKS ON

THE EQUIPMENT AT CIRCUS.

♪♪

>> IT'S A BIG EVENT?

>> UH-HUH.

[ Laughter ]

♪♪

>> I LOVE CIRCUS BECAUSE IT

MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> HOW DO YOU EVEN INTRODUCE

OUR NEXT VIDEO?

IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE

CHIMGEE HALTARHUU HAS DONE IT

ALL.

SHE'S CIRCUS JUVENTAS' HEAD

COACH, A TABLE TENNIS MASTER,

LONG DISTANCE RUNNER.

SHE SPEAKS THREE LANGUAGES, IS

A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND

PERFORMS WITH HER OWN FAMILY

CIRCUS TROUPE.

EVERYONE, MEET CHIMGEE.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> PULL!

NICE.

AND BALANCE.

AND UP.

I STARTED WITH GYMNASTICS

FIRST WHEN I WAS EIGHT.

I JUST WENT TWO YEARS.

MY MOM SAID YOU HAVE TO STAY

HOME, WATCH YOUR SISTERS

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS

HAVE TO GO WORK, AND WOMEN IN

MONGOLIA, WE DON'T HAVE SUCH

THINGS LIKE BABY SITTERS SO I

QUIT AND I CONTINUED TO DO THE

GYMNASTICS AT MY HOME.

AND A HAND STAND.

ONE, TWO,

AND THEN MY DAD SAW A

NEWSPAPER ADD, YOU KNOW, IT

SAYS THEY HAVE AUDITIONS TO

GET INTO CIRCUS SCHOOL.

IT'S A SCHOOL THAT'S HARD TO

GET INTO.

OKAY, HANDS BEHIND AND ARCH.

WE DROVE SEVEN HOURS AND IT

WAS THREE DAYS AUDITION, AND

FOURTH DAY, SECOND, THIRD, AND

FINALLY NEXT SAID YES, YOU

MADE IT.

YEAH!

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED THE

CIRCUS.

MY NAME IS CHIMGEE HALTARHUU

AND I'M A CIRCUS JUVENTAS

COACH.

I GRADUATED CIRCUS COLLEGE, A

FOUR-YEAR CIRCUS COLLEGE IN

MONGOLIA.

WE STARTED 8:00 IN THE MORNING

AND THEN FINISH 6:00 P.M. ALL

DAY.

AND THEN AFTER THAT A

MONGOLIAN STATE CIRCUS,

THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND ASIA AND

ENDED UP IN THE UNITED STATES.

I CAME TO WORK FOR RING LING

BROTHERS FAMILY CIRCUS.

I'M UP IN THE AIR HERE.

>> IS THAT YOU?

>> YEP.

AND THEN AFTER THAT I WORK FOR

YANKEE DOODLE CIRCUS AND THEN

ENDED UP HERE CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

WITHOUT CIRCUS, I'M NOT GOING

TO SURVIVE.

CIRCUS IS MY LIFE.

THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR, 2010.

EVERY YEAR, I BRING MY

STUDENTS TO MONGOLIA TO TRAVEL

FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE AND DO

FREE SHOWS, AND THEN WE TALK

ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES.

I GREW UP SEEING THIS PROBLEM

AND I TASTE IT AND I KNOW THIS

PROBLEM, HOW HARD, SO WE GAVE

A YOUNG GENERATION MESSAGE

THAT ABUSE IS NOT RIGHT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS SLOWLY

SURELY IS CHANGING.

EVERY YEAR I'M GETTING

EXPERIENCE HELPING CHILDREN IN

MONGOLIA, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY

WITH THAT.

I LOVE TO PLAY TABLE TENNIS.

OH, MY GOSH, THAT'S MY THING,

YOU KNOW?

A LITTLE HARDER WHEN YOU GET

OLDER, BUT, YOU KNOW, I NEVER

GIVE UP.

I GET GOLD LAST YEAR, AT

MINNESOTA SENIOR GAMES.

I ALREADY TOLD MY HUSBAND, I'M

GOING TO DO HANDSTAND ON MY

70TH BIRTHDAY.

>> HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW?

>> OOH, SHOULD I TELL HER OR

NOT?

82.

62.

>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> OH, I REALLY PROUD OF --

THAT I CAME TO UNITED STATES

WITHOUT ANY LANGUAGE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY HI,

BYE, NOTHING.

VERY CHALLENGING.

AND I HAVE A GOOD JOB HERE AND

GREAT FRIENDS SURROUNDS ME.

WHAT ELSE I NEED, YOU KNOW?

YOU KNOW, LIKE CIRCUS, MAKES

ME HAPPY, SO WITHOUT IT, I

DON'T KNOW, I COULDN'T IMAGINE

WITHOUT CIRCUS, I DON'T KNOW.

JUST THE CIRCUS IS AMAZING.

SO I'M SO PROUD THAT I'M

LIVING, SURVIVING IN THIS

COUNTRY, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY

AND I'M HAPPY WOMAN IN THE

WORLD.

[ Laughter ]

>> ANIMAL ACTS USED TO BE A

KEY COMPONENT OF THE

TRADITIONAL THREE-RING

CIRCUSES.

HORSE RIDERS.

LION TAMERS.

ELEPHANT PARADES, EVEN BEARS

ON BICYCLES WERE ALWAYS A PART

OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL CIRCUS

TOUR.

PEOPLE WERE THRILLED BY THE

NOTION OF GETTING TO BE UP

CLOSE TO THESE EXOTIC ANIMALS.

>> CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS DOESN'T

UTILIZE ANIMAL ACTS.

THE COST OF TPTING THEM BECAME

PROHIBITIVE.

SO WHILE AT PERNS IN SOIRVEGS

ON OTHER CONTINENTS REMAINS

QUITE POPULAR, THE USE OF THE

ANIMAL ACTS IS ON THE DECLINE

HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

[ Cheers and applause ]

>> OUR LAST ACT OF THE NIGHT

IS LIKE A MINI CIRCUS JUVENTAS

SHOW.

IT FOCUSES ON THE THEME OF THE

OVERABUNDANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN

OUR LIVES AND FEATURES

THEATER, HOOPS, AND DANCE.

BEFORE WE GO, A BIG THANK YOU

TO CIRCUS JUVENTAS FOR TAKING

OVER TWIN CITIES PBS TONIGHT

-- YEAH!

[ Cheers and applause ]

AND CLOUD CULT FOR LETTING US

USE THEIR INCREDIBLE MUSIC.

NOW LET'S SEE THE FINAL ACT!

♪♪

>> ♪ A MILLION YEARS IT'S BEEN

SINCE THE SEARCH BEGAN ♪

♪ STILL CAN'T FIND IT ♪

♪ THE FUEL IS NEARLY SPENT ♪

♪ CHECK THE MAPS AGAIN ♪

♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪

♪ AND NOW THE CREW IS COLD

AND DRUNK ON CHEMICALS ♪

♪ CAN'T BELIEVE IN IT ♪

♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN

SAY ♪

♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN

SAY ♪

♪ WE'RE SO CLOSE TO IT ♪

♪ SO VERY CLOSE TO IT ♪

♪ WE STILL HAVE ENERGY IN US ♪

♪ WE FEEL OUR HEARTS BREAK

AS THE ENGINES FADE ♪

♪ STILL NEED TO FIND IT ♪

♪ SO WE TOOK THE WRITTEN WORDS

OF OUR PHILOSOPHERS ♪

♪ AND BUILT A FIRE FROM IT ♪

♪ LET'S GET THOSE ENGINES

LIT ♪

♪ WE TOOK THE CHURCH'S VEIL

AND BUILT A MIGHTY SAIL ♪

♪ TO CARRY FORTH THIS SHIP ♪

♪ BUT WE'RE STILL LOSING IT ♪

♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN

SAY ♪

♪ I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪

♪ WE'RE SO CLOSE TO IT ♪

♪ SO VERY CLOSE TO IT ♪

♪ WE STILL HAVE ENERGY IN US ♪

♪♪

♪ THE MISSION'S OVER NOW ♪

♪ AND MY BREATH IS

RUNNING OUT ♪

♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪

♪ I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID ♪

♪ I LOVE YOU MORE THAN THIS ♪

♪ THEN LIGHTS, THEY FILL

THE AIR ♪

♪ OR WERE THEY ALWAYS THERE? ♪

♪ I FINALLY SEE IT ♪

♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN

SAY ♪

♪ I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪

♪ YOU'RE ALWAYS CLOSE TO IT ♪

♪ SO VERY CLOSE TO IT ♪

♪ THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY

IN US ♪

♪ THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY

IN US ♪

♪ THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY

IN US ♪

Captioned by:

Paradigm Reporting & Captioning

www.paradigmreporting.com

♪♪

>> "TV TAKEOVER" IS SUPPORTED

IN PART BY THE ARTS AND

CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND AND THE

CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA AND BY A

GRANT THROUGH THE NATIONAL

ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED

BY THE LOWERTOWN FUTURE FUND.