While things may be winding down for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, there remain countless job prospects for performers trained in the circus arts, according to Jennifer Mitchell, managing director of The Circus Arts Conservatory. While hearts were heavy on the news of the biggest brand in the big top business calling it quits, Mitchell says there is no reason to despair for the art itself. “This is simply a new evolution in the circus, and we’ve seen it over the past couple decades,” she says.

The Conservatory through its various summer and after-school programs sees hundreds of students every year interested in learning a variety of crafts from acrobatics to high-wire. Right now, 105 students are enrolled in the after-school Sailor Circus, which runs eight months in the year, and about 700 students are expected to enroll in summer camp. Of course, most of these students desire a circus experience or activity, not necessarily a career, but the skills learned can be used in a variety of live performance work, be it on the road, at these parks or a growing number of other options. Only about 10 percent of graduates of the conservancy go into the circus industry itself.

And even in that industry, Mitchell notes that Ringling Bros., while a major name, hasn’t been the biggest employer in circus for years. Canada-based Cirque de Soleil carries that title; the European-style troupe has a permanent show in Orlando on the Walt Disney World Resort.

Mitchell also notes that while the closing of the Ringling Bros. circus, which means the loss of 400 jobs including about 60 based at the Palmetto headquarters for owner Feld Entertainment, will be felt in the local job market, the circus has only been completely headquartered on the Gulf Coast relatively recently. The region’s history includes tremendous ties to the circus because John Ringling, one of the founders of the Ringling Bros. Circus, moved the winter headquarters to Sarasota in 1927 and then to Venice in 1959, but shifted operations north to Tampa in 1990. Only when Feld Entertainment consolidated much of its operations onto an expansive campus in Palmetto in 2012 did the year-round headquarters for the circus come to this area.

Ringling’s proximity didn’t lead the conservatory to open. Formed as the National Circus School of Performing Arts in 1997 and then becoming Circus Sarasota, the organization in 2013 took the name The Circus Arts Conservatory. Sailor Circus operated as an entity of the Police Athletic League for decades before it was purchased by the conservatory five years ago. “Since taking over Sailor Circus we’ve seen the programming blossom and grow,” she says. “We’ve seen a change in the audience to where it’s less about spectating and observing and more about engaging and doing." 

Photo courtesy of the Circus Arts Conservatory.

All hail Davines, the queen of all things hair—and Apartment 12 for selling this rarity. Davines, a brand founded in Parma, Italy revolving around authentic and emotionally connected products, is literally turning heads with the award-winning OI line. Formulated with Roucou Oil and Provitamin B5, the OI products give major shine and softness while detangling any type of hair. The All In One Milk, a multivitamin leave-in treatment, supports hair growth and protects strands from UV and cell damage. Stay shiny, protected and frizz-free with this crowd-pleaser. 

Apartment 12, 1636 Main St., Sarasota, 941-954-7670.

Beach chic is all about making the most of your look. You can turn up the volume on your waterside style by accessorizing with bracelets, such as those from Bourbon & Bowties, or adding a complimentary beach bag or hat. This Carmen Marc Valvo bandeau one piece is a stunning work of art on its own, or paired with a great beach pant for a sunset meal. The collection also features a two-piece suit with a crop top that is right in line with 2017 high-fashion trends. For a sophisticated twist, throw on a delicate cover-up such as this one from Elif by Jordan Taylor and bring it from beach to bar. It’s all about finding your resort style and completing the look with the perfect accessories. 

Swim Mart, 1960 Stickney Point Rd., Sarasota, 941-927-8445.

Jane Goodwin, a member of the School Board of Sarasota County since 2010, has been appointed by the Florida School Boards Association to serve a two-year term on the board of the Florida School Music Association. The FSMA is a not-for-profit that coordinates and oversees recognized interscholastic music activities in the state. Membership in FSMA is required for schools that wish to participate in state-recognized interscholastic music activities, which include music performance assessments for large ensembles and for solo-ensemble events. 

Florida School Music Association

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County has partnered with My College Resource and Sarasota County Schools to host the first area College Admissions Planning Seminar (CAPS) at Sarasota High School this year. The CAPS event was a pilot program designed to assist students and parents understand the college admissions process, and representatives from 20 colleges shared valuable information with over 250 Sarasota High School students and their parents during the event which included a keynote address, small group sessions and an intimate college fair. Participating colleges include Alleghany College, Bucknell University, Emory University, Kalamazoo College, Princeton University, Swarthmore College, University of Chicago and University of Florida, among others. 

Education Foundation of Sarasota County