VERO BEACH — Tonight is the last chance to catch a performance of Vero Beach’s annual Aerial Antics Circus at the Waxlax Gymnasium at St. Edward’s School.
The gym has been transformed into a tropical jungle for the past few days as an array of jungle animals dazzled audiences of thrilled parents, grandparents and friends.
The final performance will take to the stage at 7 p.m. Tickets are a suggested $5 donation for adults, $4 for children and seniors.
More than 70 performers, ages 3 to 23 had a chance to show off the moves they’ve learned in after school classes throughout the school year, as well as in summer day camp.
A beloved Vero Beach tradition, the Aerial Antics was started 37 years ago by Peg Wilkes, who recruited student performers to come back to work as staff members on the shows. It is a program that shows that organized fun doesn’t have to be boring.
“We have a lot of kids who start at the bottom in the beginning classes and work up through the years. There are invitation classes as they progress that they might be invited to join,” explained Julie Norman, a dance instructor with the recreation department, and one of the directors of the show.
Carly and Kris Hasenauer were watching proudly, as their 3-year-old daughter, Kares, made her debut as an elephant with the Acrotots.
“They’re our Aerial Antics love story,” said Norman.
The Hasenauers met when they were partners in their early teens. Their moms, also present for their granddaughter’s big moment, knew it would work out from the beginning.
“We showed Kares the video of mommy’s first show, when she was 3, before we came tonight,” said Kris Hasenauer. The last time the couple performed together, Carly Hasenauer was pregnant with Kares and didn’t know it.
Performers gyrate, tumble, and dance for more than an hour, twisting and turning with perfect timing and teamwork. With nothing more than some ropes, scaffolding, mats, bars, and giant foam doughnuts, each age group displays Cirque du Soleil style moves to jungle themed music.
Tiny tumblers show teamwork and flexibility, as well as incredible arm strength, and, in the case of the trapeze artists, confidence that their spotters would catch them.
The shoulder dislocating moves at times made it hurt to watch.
“I don’t think so,” said one grandmother in the crowd, as performers bent and twisted, stretching muscles most of us forgot we had.
Recreation Director Rob Slezak was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and reminded the audience that donations are happily and gratefully accepted especially for great programs like this.