Gymnasts took to the mats and flew through the air in the Gonzalez Activities Center gymnasium at Saint Edward’s School, showing their skills at the 42nd Aerial Antics Camp’s Cirque de L’Amour show, presented by the City of Vero Beach Recreation’s Performing Arts Department.
The program is sponsored in part by Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, and is run by the Recreation Department at its Centerstage Acrobatic Complex at Leisure Square. Aerial Antics Circus is the culmination of countless hours the children and staff have put in before three performances in front of proud family and friends – appropriately the same weekend as the opening of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Performers ranged from tiny tots just learning how to tumble, to experienced gymnasts who take aerial and acrobatic classes all year. For some it may begin a lifelong love of gymnastics, but all come away with new friendships, added confidence and a healthier outlook on exercise as an enjoyable activity.
Recreation Department Director Rob Slezak says many participate from pre-K to graduation, their love for the program even luring them back as junior staff on their college summer breaks.
“We see all kinds of local kids come through the program, even guys like Mardy Fish and Jake Owen,” said Slezak. “The thing I love the most is seeing all the people smiling. Roughly 10,000 people have gone through this program and all you see are happy faces. That is what we are all about.”
Staffers often have come up through the ranks from childhood and consider campers and the department as family. Real-life sisters Patty Howard and Liz Matthews each began camp at 4 years old. Howard is now the assistant recreation director and Matthews is the performing arts instructor.
Circus de L’Amour is a bittersweet show for them as it will be the first time their father, a third-generation Vero Beach resident, will not be seated front and center alongside their mother Jennie. Dane Howard passed away in June, and in his memory friends and family made a $1,500 donation to the Recreation Department.
“Our father never missed a circus or Christmas show,” said Howard. “My sister and I performed in the Aerial Antics growing up and he was always there supporting us.”
“He was a big smile in the audience and he just loved seeing all the kids and Patty and I out there even when we became staff,” said Matthews.
“Even if you mess up out there, everyone is always supporting you,” said Leomary Llorente, 17.
“This really teaches you about family; we are all so close,” added Lauren Kendrick, 14, whose little sister Piper, 2, was hamming it up on the mats before the show. Asked if Piper was an Aerial Antics Circus gymnast in the making, Kendrick said yes – and that she would be there to watch her perform when it became her time.