When Circus Chimera visits the city next week, you won't see tigers or elephants there. You'll see an extravaganza peopled by what circus Vice President Michael Gorman calls "a small traveling circus family" from around the world, that follows "green" principles and strives to mix traditional fun, fantasy and eye-popping thrills and chills.
"We're very much a family unit here," said Gorman by phone from Circus Chimera headquarters in Hugo, Okla. "The people with us are some of the finest performers in the world. We're trying to bring back circus as an art form."
 Circus Chimera showcases feats of human skill and daredeviltry. |
You'll also see acrobats, high-wire daredevils, clowns, contortionists, a smiling host and Alice in Wonderland.
What?
Yep. In keeping with its tradition of bringing something new to the big top, this year's Circus Chimera translates the traditional children's story for circus with an aerial Alice, a gymnastic Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, a daredevil Mad Hatter, a high-wire Cheshire Cat and a different kind of clown.
They hail from China, France, Russia, Peru, Kenya and soon, Gorman said, from young performers now being trained at the Pickle Family Circus and Circus Center of San Francisco.
Spiraling down through the Looking Glass alongside Russian and Chinese acrobats is "Alice", Russian gymnast and world-class contortionist Ekaterina Bazarova.
She meets Tweedle Dum, Tweedle Dee and China's New Dynasty Acrobats following their country's ancient circus tradition.
She also meets the Mad Hatter, dizzily enacted by Peru's Fridman Torales, on the precarious Rolla Bolla. Torales, who was born into the circus, wears a Cheshire Cat grin for a high-up "Walk of Death."
Further fun and thrills will be had with sad-faced, natty Moscow-trained clown Genia Naidenkine, with real-life sons Alexandre and Vilen Naidenkine as a mutant Jabberwock in a flying strap act.
There is visual sculpture in hoops by "Berengere," a world-class sculptor who creates another kind of sculpture in the circus under an assumed name. Smiling host Roy Ordaz is a 15-year circus veteran.
Circus Chimera has been in the business for eight years, and is visiting Half Moon Bay for the sixth year. Beginning in February, and using 44 vehicles including 18 semis or pickups and travel trailers, its tour will have passed through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma - totaling 100 towns a year.
It's a booming business, said Gorman. Revenues jumped up 15 percent this year, he said, adding the circus offers an "alternative to folks that are tired of the Internet and TV, and want live entertainment."
Since traffic snarls due to the Devil's Slide closure pose problems to a caravan, he said Circus Chimera will slip into town over Highway 92 in the wee hours Sunday night, July 23, for five shows July 24-26.
These shows will raise funds for the Cabrillo Unified School District.
"We're going to augment the grounds with this money," said CUSD Director of Maintenance Operations and Transportation Jim Tjogas, adding that the circus offers "a fun night out and a great alternative to the TV."
Keeping "green" is a moral obligation for the circus, Gorman said. "When we leave a lot, it's as clean if not cleaner than we found it. That's how Circus Chimera is doing its share to keep the world green."
With that in mind, the circus doesn't sell bottles, cans or Styrofoam, streamlines travel and changes generator filters weekly to keep the air clean.
"That makes business sense, and it also makes all the moral sense in the world," he said.
The circus takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 24, and 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26, in the big top set up on the grounds of Cunha Intermediate School in Half Moon Bay. Tickets are $7 in advance from the Cabrillo Unified School District office at 498 Kelly Ave. in Half Moon Bay, or $10 at the door.
For information, call (888) 663-7464.
•
AT A GLANCE
What: Circus Chimera
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 24; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26
Where: Cunha Intermediate School grounds
Cost: $7/advance at Cabrillo Unified School District office; $10 at the door
Information: (888) 663-7464
w