As soon as the lights were dimmed in the packed Gonzalez-Lobo Activities Center at Saint Edward’s School, the stage glittered with megawatt star power as the City of Vero Beach Recreation Department’s Aerial Antics Youth Circus presented its 51st annual production, An Evening at the Grammys.
The audiences were treated to a spectacle of grace and gravity-defying talent during three spectacular shows by performers as young as 3 years old. The routines included acrobatics, dance and aerials, performed to routines choreographed to Grammy-winning hits that ran the gamut from “Hello Dolly” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” to “Purple Rain” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”
Combining dance with gymnastics, the performers transitioned from dancing ballads with graceful elegance to high-energy movements as they kicked up their heels, always matching their movements to the beats of the songs.
When the spotlight turned upward, the crowd gasped as young aerialists launched into dazzling routines on the trapeze, while still others spun gracefully on hoops or cascaded down ribbons of silk.
The Performing Arts Company & Troupe used a variety of tables, nets and a rocking scaffold to add another dimension to the acts, closing out the show in spectacular fashion with a finale featuring a medley of Taylor Swift songs.
Going far beyond gymnastics, the recreational and performing arts classes help children build confidence, discipline, and a sense of family. It’s one that was palpable on stage, where performers worked in harmony, whether spotting for teammates or serving as a base for a human pyramid.
Out in the audience, their families and friends cheered them on, including many who were past participants themselves.
The Aerial Antics Youth Circus is a performance-based, non-competitive program run by the city’s Recreation Department in the Centerstage Acrobatic Complex at Leisure Square. They offer movement, gymnastics, tumbling, and aerial acrobatics classes for various age groups and skill levels.
Fall Gymnastics and Aerial Antics registration is 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Leisure Square. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Recreation Department will host the 65th 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 Joshua Kodis
