Run Away to the Circus
October 13, 2009
As a child I never felt the desire to run away and join the circus. Does that make me weird?
I did however dream about running away to see where the elephants and tigers come from, to see how trapeze artists learn their daring, to see where the circus had been and to where it was going.
So when I had the opportunity to write about the family who owns Ringling Brothers’ Barnum & Bailey Circus, I jumped on a plane as quickly as I could and flew to Washington, DC. Vienna Virginia is the home of Feld Family Entertainment, the folks who own the circus, as well as Disney On Ice and a whole bunch of other things.
The result was the cover story recently in American Profile magazine.
And just about the same time, I had the opportunity to visit a real circus school in St. Louis. You can learn to swing on the trapeze and juggle and walk a high wire. Darn this titanium rod in my neck. It prevented me from doing the trapeze thing, but it was so much fun cheering on my friends Amy, Lisa and Melanie
I was able to walk along for a while on the high wire, which was only 4 inches above the ground, and I balanced myself on one of those big balls for a few minutes – with the help of about 20 spotters. And I was able to write about it, which is always a blast. You wanna learn more - click here.
So the next time you are tempted to run away and join the circus, perhaps head to St. Louis first to develop some skills and then get on out to Virginia to check in with the Feld Family.
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1.
Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell | October 13, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Congrats on the cover storfor Profile Magazine, Diana. That’s wonderful.
I think the matter of the way circus animals are handled is an issue with the circuses and I think the animals should be left out of the mix, allowing humans who choose to perform to show off their talents.
2.
Diana Lambdin Meyer | October 13, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Kerri, That was certainly an issue I considered as I worked on this story. I was impressed to learn about the Asian Elephant Conservation Center in Florida that the Feld family has built. I hope to go there some day and see what it’s all about.
3.
Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell | October 14, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I would like to learn more about that too, Diana! Thanks for pointing that out.
I’ve read so much about the natural behavior and life of elephants that to me, it isn’t about if circus animals are treated humanely at the circus (although I hope they all are), it’s an issue of using animals, making them do things that are so unnatural, against their will, for our amusement.
I do hope all circuses eventually evolve to not using animals. I like the clowns and the trapeze artists anyway!
4.
Sandy | October 14, 2009 at 4:44 am
Diana,
You have been having fun as usual. Do I sound jealous? Yes, I am. I’m on the computer all day long and you’re out galavanting. Grin.