From April 29 to May 9, a diverse cast of Circus Juventas performers, including numerous St. Paul Academy and Summit school students performed amazing stunts such as swinging from trapezes, flipping from vaults, and dangling from ropes in the theater’s spring show. Students begin preparing the acts in the winter in various classes, months before the show. “The preparation can get annoying, because we work on the routines for months before the shows,” said junior Michelle Heilig. “Having said that, I hadn’t done my entire triple routine until the week before shows, so I suppose it’s necessary.”

Freshman Sam Stiffman and Heilig performed in the purple shows, freshman Naya Tadavarthy performed in the blue shows, and freshman Marlo Graham performed in all three: purple, blue, and yellow. The shows are sorted with one level of an act in each color show. “They used to do it by ability, with the best acts in Purple, but it’s grown so much that they can’t do that anymore,” said Heilig.

Despite the four students joining Circus Juventas at different ages, all have found their place in the program. Tadavarthy specializes in the triple trapeze, Stiffman does acrobatics, Heilig will perform static trapeze, a mostly unmoving aerial apparatus with multiple people on it, triple trapeze, silks, and hoops, and Graham will perform acts including triple trapeze, hoops, bungee trapeze, and dance.

Tadavarthy loves watching acts other than her own throughout the preparation process. “[The acts] are all so different, I’m still surprised at what they do after watching so many times,” Tadavarthy said.

Heilig’s favorite part of performing is seeing how the spectators react to the show. “My favorite part about the shows is watching the audience be amazed by what I’m doing. Usually performing terrifies me, but having a loud audience helps a lot,” Heilig said.

The most advanced performers, including Graham, will perform in a summer show from late July to mid-August. Tickets go on sale June 29, and can be purchased on the Circus Juventas website.