St. Louis kids learn the circus arts

(First in a series)

Elliana Hentoff-Killian

Thirteen-year-old Elliana Hentoff-Killian made her first appearance in a circus act when she was two-weeks old. Ten-year-old Alexandra Gabliani has been taking circus art classes for less than a year.

But, both were among 20 kids who performed last month in the "Circus Harmony: Fortissimo" at the City Museum. Their two performances were accompanied by a variety of ethnic music, most of it loud.

Alexandra Gabliani

The kids showed a variety of circus art skills. There was tumbling, juggling, pyramid bike riding and rope and pole aerial work. There also were unique skills such as "diablo," (a Chinese yoyo) and "rolling globes" where kids do stunts while atop huge balls.

Of course, a circus performance wouldn't be complete without some magic.

Keaton Hentoff-Killian

Ten-year-old Keaton Hentoff-Killian has one act where he makes his sister disappear. When asked how he does that, he said, "I can't tell you that." A true magician never tells how he does a trick.

Founder Jessica Hentoff ends each 10-week schedule of classes with a public circus performance, featuring her students. The fall classes ended early in November.

Winter classes begin again on Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, and end on Sunday, March 12. If you'd be interested in learning various circus arts skills, call (314) 436-7676.

Lemond Carmickle

Twelve-year-old Lemond Carmickle began his tumbling at age 7 at COCA classes. In last month's Circus Day Foundation performance, he showed a variety of skills.

He did tumbling, juggling, partner acrobatics and pyramid bike-riding, along with showing off the "diablo." He hopes his training leads to a career as a circus performer.

Lemond said his favorite part of the circus arts scene "is going out of town to perform."

Kellin Hentoff-Killian

Keaton Hentoff-Killian and his 9-year-old brother, Kellin, also want to be circus performers when they grow up. Asked if they think they can make a living, both say they can. They point out they already get paid when their troupe puts on public performances.

The two boys and sister, Elliana, said their mother puts their pay into bank accounts.

Meiling Robin

Ten-year-old Meiling Robin is another of the kid circus performers. The Webster Groves girl said she started with gymnastics when she was four. She's been taking circus arts classes since she was seven.

She said her favorite time is "when we're doing all the new stuff in the performances."

Most of the kids have suffered some injuries. But, most of them said their most serious injuries didn't happen during their circus arts work.

Meiling said she's had a broken nose and a broken arm. The broken nose came during circus practice. But, she said, "I broken my arm fooling around with my sister."

Elliana said she's broken two toes, one while playing football and the other in a fall down a flight of steps.

Brother Keaton said his only serious injury was a fall from a pogo stick that took out two front teeth. But, his adult teeth already have filled the gap.

Elliana's circus performance when she was two weeks old came when her mother, Jessica, was with Circus Flora. Mrs. Hentoff had Elliana stand up in her hand while she was doing her circus act.

Jessica's interest in the circus started when she was growing up in New York. Her parents weren't exactly thrilled. And she admits she wasn't very athletic as a kid.

But, she took circus classes and was hooked for life.

That led her to become a member of Circus Flora, which is located in St. Louis.

In the winter, the Circus Flora performers give various educational programs for kids. She and two others started the St. Louis Arches, a touring group of kids. Then, five years ago, she started the non-profit Circus Day Foundation.

The Foundation's first activity involved Circus Salaam Shalom (those words mean peace and Arabic and Hebrew, respectively.) The circus features 10 Muslim and 10 Jewish kids.

Then, the group expanded into the Patchwork Circus. That's because they added kids from several other races as well as from urban and suburban areas.

(This profile is the first in a series of YSL.com articles about interesting after-school activities for St. Louis area kids. The Circus Day Foundation is one of more than 120 agencies with after-school activities that are featured in a new website for kids called Happenings4Youth. To see if the website might have something for you, click on to www.happenings4youth.org.)