All-American Youth Circus Pays Homage to 75 Years of Tradition

Somersaults, tumbling, unicycling, wire walks, and Cirque du Soliel-style aerial hoops: it'll all be there and more, accompanied by dazzling lights and an electrifying soundtrack, when the All American Youth Circus hits Redlands this year in a grand style that pays homage to the program's historical legacy. Celebrating its milestone 75th anniversary this year, the Great Y Circus will bring residents both near and far to the Redlands YMCA next month to witness 40 gravity-defying acts executed by 360 performers ranging both in age from 3 to 65 and also in skill level. Tanner Greenhalgh has been leading the program as its director for the last three years, and started performing with the Great Y Circus at nine years old. "This really is a place for all performers," he said. "We have a two and a half hour show that showcases what everyone has been working so hard on all these months." Performers practice four days a week from September through April in preparation for nine performances held the first three weekends of May, and it's as much a family affair as it is a social event, Greenhalgh explained. "It's so much fun to see, especially the younger ones, develop circus skills and develop socially," he said. "With the amount of people we have participating, we have true bonding. We call ourselves a 'circus family.' Everyone gets along." The Redlands YMCA also hosts a seven-week summer circus that teaches interested circus performers how to ride a unicycle, tumble, juggle and more, and often times that's how a lot of the performers join the Great Y Circus, said Greenhalgh. Additionally, members participate in community outreach events called "road shows," performing at schools, churches and even birthday parties to help promote the program, which brings in audiences near and far for the May shows. "Our audiences come from all over, so this is a program that's way bigger than just Redlands," said Greenhalgh. "The audiences are able to see what we've worked on and they can see the camaraderie and the trust between performers." This year the circus will pay homage to its roots, showcasing the program's legacy and the traditions it's formed through the last 75 years. "This year our show is called A Circus Legacy. We're re-living the past and bringing past acts to life, telling the story of the circus from 1929 to the present," said Greenhalgh. "We really have a sense of community. This is a second home for a lot of our performers. This is my 15th season. It's been my life for over half of my life; we're allowing people in the community to be a part of something bigger and something spectacular." This year's show will incorporate original costumes used in past shows, but will also bring a touch of modernity to it, incorporating media outlets to provide visuals of the circus dating back to the 1930s as well as old physical circus relics. Greenhaulgh finished, "Redlands loves Redlands history, and it will be so much fun to re-live that and it will be such an important show." Performances run on the following weekend days: Fridays, May 1, 8 and 15 at 7 p.m.; Saturdays, May 2, 9 and 16 at 5 p.m.; and Sundays, May 3, 10 and 17 at 3 p.m. in the Redlands YMCA Coble gym. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-12, with kids under 3 free, and may be purchased at the YMCA lobby, 500 East Citrus Avenue, or by calling the ticket hotline at 909-798-9622 extension 205.