Sailor Circus performs preview of D.C. show

SARASOTA (FOX 13) - Sailor Circus students performed a special send-off show before heading to a big top in our nation's Capitol.

The Sailor Circus will perform in front of a crowd 1 million strong in Washington, D.C. at the 50th Anniversary of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. But Tuesday night, they gave Sarasota a sneak-peek at the show.

The festival appearance is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students, who say they are excited to enter the "circus playground" on the National Mall. 

The crowd may not have been as large at Tuesday's preview show in Sarasota, but it was no less magnificent - with heavy hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, and reserved seating for guests. Proceeds from ticket sales help Sailor Circus students with travel costs.  

The Sailor Circus is a production of the Circus Arts Conservatory - home to world-class performances, excellence in training the circus arts, and community-based education and humor therapy outreach programs. The organization was born from decades of circus history and it serves as a legacy to those that have set the standards for international circus artistry and athleticism. For more information visit www.CircusArts.org.