Circus Juventas facts for kids
Circus Juventas's logo
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| Formation | October 1994 |
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| Founders |
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| Type | Nonprofit corporation |
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Region
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Minneapolis–Saint Paul |
| Services | Circus arts |
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Formerly called
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Circus of the Star |
Circus Juventas (formerly Circus of the Star) is a special youth circus school. It is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Young people from ages 3 to 21 can learn amazing circus skills here. The school was started in 1994 by Dan and Betty Butler. It serves young people all over the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.
Circus Juventas creates shows similar to those by Cirque du Soleil. Their first show was in 1995 at Saint Paul's Highland Fest. More and more students joined the school. So, they decided to build a permanent circus building. This "big top" opened in 2001 in Saint Paul's Highland Park neighborhood.
Since 2001, Circus Juventas has put on big summer shows every year. These shows feature their most advanced students. Each show has a unique theme. Starting in 2020, they also added yearly holiday shows in December. These shows are very popular and get good reviews. People praise the students' skill and bravery. Circus Juventas students have performed and competed in many places. As of 2014, it was the largest youth circus school in North America.
Contents
History of Circus Juventas
The founders of Circus Juventas, Dan and Betty Butler, loved the circus. They met as teenagers in the 1970s at the Sailor Circus in Sarasota. Dan was a catcher on the flying trapeze. Betty was an aerialist, performing high in the air. They got married in 1980.
After moving to Minnesota, Betty wondered if they could start a circus program there. This idea came to them in 1994. They wanted to give back to the community.
In October 1994, the Butlers started Circus Juventas as a nonprofit group. It was first called Circus of the Star. This name came from Minnesota's nickname, "The North Star State." They asked the city if they could hold classes at the new Hillcrest Recreation Center in Saint Paul. The city said yes!
About 50 children joined the first year. Around 30 of them performed in their first show in 1995. This was at the Highland Fest. After that show, more and more kids wanted to join. By 1997, there was a waiting list of about 200 students! The circus was growing fast.
The Butlers realized they needed a bigger space. They planned to build a large facility with 1,500 seats. They started raising money in 1998. Their goal was to collect $1.1 million for the new building. By 1999, they had raised $1 million. Some money came from Saint Paul's STAR program. An anonymous businessperson also donated a lot.
By April 2000, they had raised all the money needed. They found the perfect spot for the school on Montreal Avenue. Construction on the new building started on August 25, 2000. It took about a year to finish. During this time, the school changed its name to Circus Juventas. This name comes from Juventas, an ancient Roman goddess of youth.
The school relies a lot on parent volunteers. These volunteers help with everything. They assist with setting up equipment, office work, building sets, and selling snacks. Betty Butler said that 90 percent of the work for the shows is done by parents.
By 2013, over 800 students were enrolled. The school also offers circus fitness classes for adults. Circus Juventas is a member of big circus organizations. It is known as the largest youth performing arts circus school in North America.
Circus Facilities
Circus Juventas's main building, called the big top, is in the Highland Park neighborhood. It is 40 feet (12 meters) tall. The building has 21,000 square feet (1,950 square meters) of space. It has an aluminum frame and a strong, flame-resistant roof.
The lobby of the building is 1,000 square feet (93 square meters). It was designed to make visitors feel like they are entering a magical circus world. The design even won an award! The original seating could hold 1,200 audience members.
Bleacher Safety
On August 16, 2009, a set of bleachers had an issue during a show. New, safer bleachers with molded plastic seats were installed the next March. This made sure everyone was safe.
Future Plans
In 2014, the Butlers announced plans to make their big top facility even bigger. They wanted to add 10,000 square feet (930 square meters). This new space would have a dance studio, a costume shop, offices, and a gym. They hoped to raise $4 million for this expansion.
However, the city's Parks and Recreation Department said the planned spot was not suitable for such a large building. So, the Butlers started thinking about building a new, even bigger facility. This new building might be up to 50,000 square feet (4,645 square meters). It would likely cost $10 million. For now, the school is making a smaller expansion to its current Highland Park location. They have a lease there for at least 17 more years.
Amazing Performances
Circus Juventas usually puts on three shows each year. There's a spring show for newer students. A late-summer show features the more advanced performers. And since 2020, there's a December holiday show.
In the beginning, shows focused on individual acts. But by 1997, they started telling stories. Their shows became like the narrative-style performances of Cirque du Soleil. The school also hosts an annual gala in the fall. Circus Juventas shows never use animal acts.
Big Top Summer Shows
Each summer show has a unique and exciting theme!
- 2001: Mythos, based on Greek mythology.
- 2002: Cirque Napoleon, about the history of circus.
- 2003: Taroq, a quest story set in Morocco.
- 2004: Swash, a pirate adventure looking for treasure.
- 2005: Dyrnwych, a mix of fairy tales with witches and forest spirits.
- 2006: Pazzanni, a retelling of Cinderella inspired by Venetian carnivals.
- 2007: Atlanticus, set deep under the ocean with Poseidon.
- 2008: RavensManor, a haunted house-themed show.
- 2009: Yulong: The Jade Dragon, based on Chinese legends.
- 2010: Sawdust, celebrating old American circuses.
- 2011: Grimm—Happily Ever After!, retelling Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
- 2012: Showdown, a Wild West show with famous historical figures.
- 2013: Oz, based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
- 2014: Neverland, inspired by Peter Pan.
- 2015: 1001 Nights, a retelling of Scheherazade's stories.
- 2016: Wonderland, an adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
- 2017: Nordrsaga, a hero's journey based on Norse mythology.
- 2018: Steam, a steampunk time travel story.
- 2019: Twisted, where fairy tale characters rewrite their own stories.
- 2020: No show, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021: Galaxium, a space adventure on a fictional planet.
- 2022: Confetti, celebrating important moments in circus history.
- 2023: Excalibur, retelling Arthurian legend.
Big Top Holiday Shows
- 2020: A Hygge Holiday, narrated by Kevin Kling.
- 2021: Blizzard!, about three mischievous elves at the North Pole.
- 2022: Solstice, where woodland characters try to save winter.
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Performers balancing atop globes
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A handbalancing act from Sawdust
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A student on aerial silks
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Youths performing triple trapeze
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Circus students walking the tightrope
Other Performances
Circus Juventas students perform in many places beyond their big top. They have appeared at local events like the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. They have also performed at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Students have shown their skills at the Mall of America, Minnesota Children's Museum, and other public spaces.
Students have also been part of other shows. These include a 2004 Minnesota Fringe Festival production. They performed with the Minnesota Orchestra in 2005. In 2008, they were in a play called Madeline and the Gypsies.
Circus Juventas performers have even traveled outside the United States. They have competed at festivals in Latina, Italy, and Norrköping, Sweden. In Sweden, their triple trapeze team won a gold medal! In 2015, a spinning cube team tied for first place at a festival in Darmstadt, Germany. Students also performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C..
Circus Music
Much of the music for the summer shows came from Peter Ostroushko. He was a local mandolin player. He was famous for his work on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Peter got involved with the circus after his daughter joined.
In 2005, the Butlers asked Peter to play a Celtic song for their show Dyrnwych. He loved the idea! He had always dreamed of joining a circus. He played the song at all 18 performances of Dyrnwych. The next year, he wrote original music for the 2006 show, Pazzanni. His band grew to five members. Peter continued to create music for many more shows, including Atlanticus, RavensManor, Sawdust, Grimm, and Showdown. You can find his music from the first four shows he played for on an album called Peter Joins the Circus.
