The FSU Flying High Circus began in 1947 as an activity to combine men and women when the school became co-ed. Students are responsible for all lighting, costuming, rigging, and performing in this three-ring aerial extravaganza. Performers get a chance to try the Cloud Swing, the Spanish Web, the Chinese Pole, the Teeterboard, the Slack Line, and the Flying Trapeze.

The Flying High Circus consists of students from a variety of majors. There are as many math and science majors as theater majors.

“We have a lot of theater people and athletic people,” says Benny Brustad, FSU student and Slack Rope performer, “most of us are people who excel at school.”

The circus offers a lot of camaraderie and learning opportunities. After making it past two rounds of auditions, the selected students are put into one of the acts. Each act is responsible for their own choreography and rehearsal schedule.  Experienced performers help circus newcomers learn the skills required for their particular act.

“The circus is a good experience for learning how things work in the real world. Learning slack, I wasn’t really told what to do,” says Benny Brustad, “I jumped up on the rope and fell right off. I fell off that rope at least 63 times before I learned to stay on. Figuring it out for myself taught me perseverance.”

The opportunity to learn and teach new things is a big part of the circus experience. Brustad, who will be graduating with a math and teaching double major this spring, finds many similarities between circus life and the real world. He has learned teamwork and group management for reaching a common goal. The importance of self motivation is stressed.

“We all help out the new guy,” says Brustad, “but ultimately, you have to figure out what works best for you.”

For more information, please visit http://circus.fsu.edu