The Vero Beach Recreation Department celebrated high-flyin’ fun during the 50th annual Aerial Antics Circus, held at the Gonzalez-Lobo Activities Center at Saint Edward’s School.
Everything was golden during the three-night showcase, a blast from the past that was filled with showstopping performances resurrected from Aerial Antics performances over the past five decades.
It was a banner year for the Aerial Antics Circus, a milestone marking 50 years of dedicated nurturing to bring forth the talents of Indian River County children and young adults through gymnastics, dance and performance arts.
Over the years, this non-competitive arts initiative has become a major cornerstone of the community, one integral to the lives of generations of local families.
“It all began at the Performing Arts Center, which is now the Vero Beach Heritage Center, in 1974,” said Jim O’Connell, director of the Vero Beach Recreation Department, crediting the initiative as the vision and dream of then recreation programs manager Peggy Willis.
“Peggy brought this amazing idea for a children’s show to life,” he added.
The year-round program takes place at the Centerstage Acrobatic Complex in Leisure Square, with classes that are available for children of all ages, culminating in summer and winter performances.
The August Aerial Antics Circus is a culmination of the children’s work during the nine-week summer camp, with the performers showcasing acrobatics, dance and gymnastics skills. As they work on their skills, participants also build confidence and learn the value of teamwork, discipline and creativity.
This year’s performance paid homage to the program’s rich history by incorporating favorite routines in a nostalgic look at the past 50 years. The sense of reminiscence was palpable as the performers brought to life some of the most beloved acts from the program’s history, which also featured a musical retrospective through the ages.
The performers demonstrated their skills through choreographed dance, tumbling and aerobatics on the aerial hoops and silks. In a nod to local life, the Junior Entertainers knocked it out of the park with a bow to the Dodgers, and no performance would be very Vero without Camp Aerial students taking a ‘dip’ in the ocean. The performers never disappoint, and here they twirled, spun and dropped in a seeming freefall from above.
The entire production was an original creation of the Recreation Department team, who designed all the backdrops and props, costumes and choreography, introducing the students performing to everything from “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Bandstand” to “Chapel of Love.”
On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Recreation Department will host the 64th annual Halloween Parade and Costume Contest. Gathering first at the Vero Beach Women’s Club, the parade will travel down 14th Avenue, ending at the Community Center.
For more information, visit covb.org.
Photos by Kerry Firth
