When someone mentions circus, many people automatically think of clowns and animals doing tricks. For senior Naya Tadavarthy, who has been involved with Circus Juventas since she was two, that’s something that she’s often encountered. She performs on the trapeze and she has found that also comes with some misconceptions.  

“When I tell people I do trapeze they think of the swinging one, which is way too scary for me,” Tadavarthy said. 

Instead, Tadavarthy does static trapeze which is “super hard to explain, and sometimes I end up having to draw a diagram.” 

Static trapeze is described on the Circus Juventas website as “a solo, single-point trapeze where you incorporate static and dynamic moves in the ropes and on the bar.”

Tadavarthy finds that even after more than 15 years of involvement, circus is never the same.

“It’s a great way to challenge myself and keep myself athletic in a really creative way,” she said. 

Throughout the years, Circus Juventas has also taught Tadavarthy the importance of trust.

“Even if you don’t know someone super well, you definitely have to trust them and learn to work with them because you might drop them. I have dropped people but you’ve got to trust them to do the trick correctly and to hold you 15 feet in the air,” Tadavarthy said. 

One of the more difficult aspects for anyone who does circus is that it’s a very strenuous activity.

“The things you are doing are definitely not super comfortable; it can hurt and you will be sore the next day,” Tadavarthy said. 

But because she’s involved in other activities, in addition to having a job, Tadavarthy keeps her circus schedule light–by most circus schedules.

“Most people are there more often than me…I only go to three classes a week,” she said. 

Nonetheless, Tadavarthy still enjoys circus even though she’s not under the big top every day.

“It’s just kind of like a strange hobby–like it’s a super fun hobby–and it’s something unique that there’s not an opportunity for kids to do most places around the country.”