History of Circus Sarasota

Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs

FOUNDERS & DIRECTORS...
Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs have combined their expertise and passion for the circus by creating Circus Sarasota. Their mission is to provide a circus that represents the circus arts at the highest level and that is linked to the community through performance, education and integrated arts programming. They have helped bring the magic of circus to more than 200,000 people.

Their goals include creating a permanent, professional circus school where students will be encouraged to achieve professionalism and excellence in the circus arts while embracing all performing arts.

PEDRO REIS
Founder & CEO
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Pedro Reis began his circus training at the age of 12 at a local YMCA. He developed his skills on the flying trapeze and later helped develop the first circus school in South Africa.
Pedro has toured Europe and the USA extensively and is the winner of several circus competitions. He made his American debut with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1984. One of his proudest moments is becoming an American citizen.

Dolly Jacobs
Founder & Associate Director
One of the great American circus artists of all time, Dolly Jacobs started her career as an aerialist in 1976, at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, following in the footsteps of her father, clown Lou Jacobs. For eight seasons, Dolly thrilled audiences with the Roman Rings that made her the undisputed Queen of the Air.

In 1984 Dolly joined The Big Apple Circus, where she starred again in 1985, 1987 and 1988. She has also toured extensively throughout the world. In 1994 Dolly and Circus Sarasota Co-Founder, Pedro Reis, created and toured their aerial pas de deux, On Wings of Love.

Dolly Jacobs is one of the very few circus artists who has been invited twice to participate in the International Circus Festival of Monaco - each time winning the Dame du Cirque (Lady of the Circus) award and in 1988, the coveted Silver Clown award. In January 1997, Dolly was inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armand's Circle and in January 1998 the Ringling Circus Museum Hall of Fame.

Spurred on by the quotation, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” Pedro Reis, a twenty-five year veteran circus performer, and his wife, Dolly Jacobs, an acclaimed world-premier aerialist and daughter of the legendary clown Lou Jacobs, created Circus Sarasota. They combined their years of experience and passion for the art of Circus, drew on talent from around the globe and created a one-ring, five-star European-style circus with, frankly, few equals in all of North America. Circus Sarasota intersperses high drama and glamour with traditional circus acts to create a sophisticated and inspirational showcase of exciting family entertainment.

Founded in Sarasota, Florida in 1997, Circus Sarasota is committed to broadening the artistic contribution of circus, while raising the level and perception of the American Circus to that of the other fine arts. Circus Sarasota is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 performing arts educational organization.

Known as the "Circus Capital of the World," Sarasota, Florida now claims its own one-ring, five star international circus. The presence of Circus Sarasota as a Living institution and its artists as individual citizens has contributed substantially to the cultural richness and diversity, which is now synonymous with the Sarasota, Florida area.

Circus Sarasota continues and expands this legacy by providing programs at the highest level through education, human service and the performing arts.

Circus Sarasota performs its mission by...
1. Enriching: Improving the quality of life for individuals in institutionalized settings.
2. Educating: Engaging and encouraging students of all ages.
3. Entertaining: Presenting quality circus performances as an affordable family event.

HISTORY...
SARASOTA "Circus Capital of the World"

John Ringling first visited Sarasota in 1909, when this quiet farming and fishing village had a population of just over 800. Realizing the real estate potential of the area, he bought numerous large parcels of land, including St. Armands, Bird Key, the south end of Longboat Key and 66,000 acres along the Myakka River.

In the late 1920's, John was offered 156 acres of land if he would move his circus winter quarters to Sarasota. He recognized the many advantages of relocating, so in November, 1927, the circus train rolled into town as it would do for the next 33 years. Many other circuses followed the Ringlings, and Circus became an integral part of the social and economic life of Sarasota, giving our area its unique identity.

Winter Quarters In 1950, Cecil B. DeMille directed The Greatest Show on Earth, a motion picture starring Charlton Heston, James Stewart and Betty Hutton. Much of the film was shot in Sarasota. Many local residents were used as extras, and circus artists advised and helped the stars with their stunts and appeared in the film. Its world premier was at what is now the Sarasota Opera House.
Today, the grand Ringling Winter Quarters is gone. While the area remains home base for many circuses and home to thousands of active and retired circus families, few Circus attractions are open to the public.

After an absence of many years, Sarasota once again has its own resident circus. Founded in 1997, Circus Sarasota is committed to continuing the legacy and broadening the artistic contribution of circus. Circus Sarasota presents exciting professional family entertainment in winter performances under the big-top and special events and classes throughout the year.