History
A Circus about family, beauty,
magic and inspiration!
magic and inspiration!
The Beginning
Photo by Scott Raffe
Circus Flora was founded in 1985 by Ivor David Balding, Sheila and Sam Jewell and Alexandre Sacha Pavlata with the dual mission of entertainment and education. In 1986, the first Circus Flora production premiered at the internationally acclaimed Spoleto Festival, an annual celebration of the performing and visual arts in Charleston, S.C.Circus Flora was established as a theater company, specializing in an ensemble, one-ring circus - performed in a big top tent - that would be accessible and affordable for all. This performing arts organization set out to acquaint audiences with the joy and power of the classic, European-style circus. It was named after Flora, the orphaned baby African elephant Balding had rescued two years earlier when ivory poachers in Africa killed her mother.
Circus Flora made St. Louis its home in 1987 with the help of Vince Schoemehl, the mayor of St. Louis at that time, and Richard Gaddes, then president of Grand Center, St. Louis’ creative and cultural district. Since then, the Circus Arts Foundation of Missouri (CAFM) has been the parent non-profit organization under which Circus Flora operates.
A Star is Born
Photo by Durb Curlee
Circus Flora was a hit from the beginning. Audiences loved watching the antics of Flora and the various other animals while admiring the exceptional talents of the legendary circus artists. Circus Flora integrates theater techniques with classic circus skills. The ensemble company mixes the best of world-class, family-based circus knowledge, passed down from generation to generation, with actors, dancers, musicians and animals, as well as performers from the new circus street and vaudeville movements. Original, live music and a story line frame the acts, bringing animals and people together in a celebration of life. The artistry, magic and charm of Circus Flora’s performances have made it part of the vanguard of the “new circus” movement in North America.For 15 years, Flora the elephant was a beloved star of the Circus. In 2000, she retired from stage life, and is now a resident of the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn.
On The Road
Photo by Dorothy Carpenter
Through the years, more than 14 different productions of Circus Flora have toured the country. In 1997, Circus Flora’s big top tent was the first ever to be erected at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; and in 2002, the tent was raised at The Lincoln Center Festival in New York City. It has made an unprecedented six appearances at the Spoleto Festival. Other notable locations the red and white big top tent has set its stakes include: Nantucket Atheneum; the Children’s Museum of Houston; Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, N.Y.; Habitat for Humanity, The Virginia Waterfront Festival, Norfolk, Va.; the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Mich.; Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Arizona State University in Tempe; Saratoga Performing Arts Center; and Artpark in upstate N.Y. A Performance Home
Photo by Harald Boerstler
2006 marks the fifth year Circus Flora has called Grand Center home. The perfect complement to the other live theater, musical and performing arts venues in the district, Circus Flora continues to flourish as one of St. Louis’ truly distinctive attractions. With a permanent home in Grand Center, Circus Flora can be found performing there every June - adjacent to Powell Symphony Hall at Grand Boulevard and Samuel Shepard Drive.Community Outreach
In addition to producing and touring shows, the non-profit organization has developed a summer circus camp as part of its educational outreach program in St. Louis. Created for under-served children, “Community Circus Camps Under the Big Top” introduces basic circus skills, such as tumbling, acrobatics and juggling - at no charge to its participants. The camp is conducted in the Circus Flora tent during the two weeks of the performance run. Click here to go to our Community Programs page.Mission
CAFM’s mission is to broaden and deepen the appreciation of the performing arts in the greater St. Louis community by producing and presenting innovative performances and educational programs through the use of classic circus skills.Over the years, Circus Flora has grown and changed, but the vision of Circus Flora has remained true. Circus Flora is about family, beauty, magic and inspiration. This is a circus with a soul.