Circus coming to town
The city that moves by night will be spending a few days in Columbia County.
The 118th edition of the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus will be presented at the show grounds at the intersection of Wrightsboro and South Belair roads Friday through Sunday as part of the circus's annual eight-month, 115-city tour spanning 10,000 miles.
Seven shows will be performed in three days - 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday; 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
The circus is the largest still performed under a big-top tent. The gigantic vinyl arena is raised in under five hours and is complete with theatrical lighting, rigging for aerial performers, ring curbs, stages and truckloads of positioned props.
Highlighting the three-ring circus is 22-year-old Clayton Rosaire, a ninth-generation animal handler. He has been working with large cats since he was 17, making him the youngest tiger trainer at that time in the world.
Overhead acts also are popular at the circus. The Garcia family will perform hazardous acrobatics on a single high wire. The act includes stacking two-men high on the wire and dangerous stunts on balanced bicycles and chairs.
A trapeze display will be performed by the Russian Air Force, a trapeze troupe from Moscow. They will fly from one trapeze to another over the circus's three rings in daring overhead displays. The Ladies of Kazakstan will by suspended by their hair, spinning and twisting, as they perform solo on the trapeze or with ribbons.
One of the most popular balancing acts is by the Dotsenko troupe, who perform ensemble acrobatics, tossing each other high in the air, and strenuous acts of balance and strength.
What circus would be complete without animals? This circus features painted ponies trained and orchestrated by Gloria Bale, cat and dog acts by Valery Tsoraev and the amazing physical feats of Adam Hill's trained elephants.
Completing the circus lineup is Eli Pamoukov. He will be shot from a cannon and an entire staff of clowns will perform.
Tickets are on sale at the three Family Y locations: 3570 Wheeler Road, 3532 Wheeler Road and 2340 Milledgeville Road. They also are available at www.tickets.com or by calling (888) 796-5672.
In advance, reserved seating, in a chair, costs $14 for adults ages 13-61 and $9 for children and senior citizens. VIP ringside seats cost $20. Show day prices are $2 more per ticket. General admission, for the bleachers, cost $14 for adults and $9 for children and seniors at the gate and are available at the gate with other show day tickets.
Visitors can witness the huge tent being raised from 7 to 10 a.m. opening day. Tina the elephant, and her trainer, will put on an elephant education and pachyderm proficiency demonstration at 9:15 a.m. A tour of the Circus Village will reveal a behind-the-scenes view of life among the acrobats, aerial daredevils and animals trainers and all the animals.