Circus Flora, St. Louis’ own one-ring circus, is in town for the rest of the week. The performance is styled after old, East European circuses with aerialist, equestrians, acrobats, and trained animals. (I never knew you could train a house cat to do anything, but these show cats are tightrope walkers and hoop jumpers!)
One animal favorite, Flora, is no longer with the circus. In 2000, the elephant and circus namesake, retired from stage life to an elephant sanctuary. But the show goes on as lively and entertaining as ever.
At an auction, my daughter-in-law, Lisa, had won a walk on the tightrope with the Flying Wallendas, the world famous family of aerialists known for their daredevil stunts without a safety net. The event took place after the show on Saturday afternoon and the photos are in the slideshow below. I think having done yoga exercises gave her a “leg up,” so to speak, because she looked comfortable and balanced, though she said it was really “hot” near the ceiling of the tent and the balance bar “very heavy.” For the crossing, she was secured in a harness attached to guide wires.
Lisa Takes a Walk on the High Wire
Don’t miss Summer on the Street—the name of this year’s show. If you were ever a kid, you’ll marvel at this whimisical performance.