If you are visiting Tampa Bay, take a day to drop down to Sarasota, long known as the “Circus Capital of the World.” It all started when John and Charles Ringling, two of the five original Ringling brothers turned a small traveling circus into an international entertainment empire and wielded incredible influence on the economy, culture, and character of a quaint village on beautiful Sarasota Bay that grew over time to be Sarasota Florida.
One of the benefactors of Sarasota's circus history, Circus Sarasota was founded in 1997 as a non-profit entity committed to raising the perception of the circus as an art form. Circus Sarasota strives to fulfill its mission to preserve the extraordinary heritage of circus arts through performances, education, training programs, and community outreach. Each year, Circus Sarasota offers two distinctly different circus performances.
The major Circus Sarasota production each year is the annual Sailor Circus presented in March and April in a one-ring, five-star, European-style big top. Sailor Circus is the oldest continuously running youth circus in America. Founded in 1949, Sailor Circus began as an extension to the Sarasota High School gymnastics program to teach basic circus skills. Initially only Sarasota High School students were allowed to participate, but its popularity became so great that admission was eventually opened to youngsters from the wider Sarasota area. Today, Sailor Circus is known as, “The Greatest ‘Little’ Show on Earth” with more than a million spectators attending performances.
Circus Sarasota also operates its “Laughter Unlimited” humor therapy program that delivers humor throughout the community in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult care centers through the efforts of talented professional clowns, entertainers, musicians and trained volunteers. The age-old “art of clowning” reaches beyond simple entertainment to improve the quality of life for those in need of emotional support. From one-on-one bedside visitations and conversations, to memory stimulation and physical activities, Laughter Unlimited enhances the lives of its participants, their family members as well as the dedicated staffs at these institutions.
Circus Sarasota, the Sailor Circus, and Laughter Unlimited along with the many other historical and cultural attractions of the Sarasota area like the Ringling Museum and Ca’d’Zan, mansion are just a few of the diverse activities that keep Sarasotans busy and entertained as both participants and volunteers. An seemingly endless array of cultural, educational and entertainment venues make Sarasota Florida one of the most desirable places for young families and those who are still young-at-heart to move to. If you are planning to visit Tampa Bay anytime soon, I’d be delighted to show you all the many facets of Tampa Bay from the urban lifestyle of living in downowtown Tampa or on Harbour Island, in the suburbs of Tampa in Hillsborough and Pasco County as well as the waterfront commnunities in Pinellas County including Clearwater, St Petersburg, Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. Visit my Tampa Bay Florida real estate website to learn more and then call me at 813.263.6806. I'd be delighted to hear from you and happy to answer all your questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment