Story and photograph by Adam Williams
If you want to train to join the circus, travel no further than Washington Avenue.
At a recent weekly performance of the Casa Volando Circus, a youth troupe, Jessica Hentoff introduced herself to the crowd:
“Good afternoon. I’m Jessica the Circus Lady from everydaycircus, where we make every day a circus day, where we teach the art of life through circus education.”
Hentoff teaches circus arts in the Little Big Top on the third floor of the City Museum on 15th Street. She is the artistic and executive director of everydaycircus inc. and its nonprofit counterpart Circus Day Foundation, home to youth troupes and students of all abilities.
Many know of the St. Louis Arches, an advanced performing troupe with members ranging from 5 to 14 years of age that Hentoff began in 1989. Three years ago, she started a circus partnership uniting children of Muslim and Jewish backgrounds and formed Circus Salaam Shalom. That grew into the Patchwork Circus, which now boasts Jewish, Muslim, Christian, African-American, Filipino, Chinese, Hispanic, Caucasian, urban and suburban children, Hentoff says.
One of the newest developments of Circus Day is the weekend and evening classes for all youthful spirits, regardless how many candles adorn his or her birthday cake. No previous experience required.
In addition to increasing opportunities to take classes, Circus Day offers the only year-round circus school in St. Louis. The truly young and young-at-heart can try their hands at juggling, their feet at stilt walking, their smiles at clowning and more.
Hentoff describes circus arts not only as multicultural and multidisciplined, but multigenerational. “Age is very much not a barrier here,” she says. “There’s something for everyone.”
Circus Day works to build character and connect communities for people of all social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. “No matter who we are and where we are from, we can find a common place where our individual boundaries touch, overlap or, better yet, disappear,” Hentoff says. “Circus and life are both about cooperation and communication. They are about connecting with the world around us.”
Circus Day Foundation, 3340 Oxford, 314-436-7676, www.circusday.org
everydaycircus inc., 701 N. 15th, 314-645-4445, www.everdaycircus.net
