♪♪
[ 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 ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ 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!
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.
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 ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ STILL CAN'T FIND IT ♪
♪ THE FUEL IS NEARLY SPENT ♪
♪ CHECK THE MAPS AGAIN ♪
♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪
♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪
♪ AND NOW THE CREW IS COLD
AND DRUNK ON CHEMICALS ♪
♪ CAN'T BELIEVE IN IT ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ 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 ♪
♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪
♪ I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID ♪
♪ I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID ♪
♪ I LOVE YOU MORE THAN THIS ♪
♪ I LOVE YOU MORE THAN THIS ♪
♪ THEN LIGHTS, THEY FILL
THE AIR ♪
♪ OR WERE THEY ALWAYS THERE? ♪
♪ I FINALLY SEE IT ♪
♪ 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.