Performers for Circus Hollywood, currently at the New York State Fair, said they hope to continue doing shows until their bodies don’t let them anymore.
“This is our every day, our every day in the circus,” said Carlos Sanchez, a 42-year-old acrobat. “And we love it.”
But what keeps him feeling spontaneous and ready to impress?
“When the people like and applaud and enjoy. You know, they give you that energy that they like it,” Sanchez said. “The act that makes us feel good. You know, it’s the energy and the attention.”
Entertainment goes back generations for both Sanchez and ringmistress Crystal Coronas’ bloodlines.
“I’ve been doing it all my life. I was born and raised into the business,” Coronas said. “I am fifth generation on my father’s side and eighth generation on my mother’s side.”
Every day throughout the 13-day duration of the New York State Fair, Coronas’ staff of about 25 circus performers will host three shows, good for a little fewer than 40 in less than two weeks.
“To be honest, it doesn’t feel like just an awesome job anymore,” Coronas said. “It’s a lifestyle for us.”
“It’s why we live for,” Sanchez said. “It’s why we live for. We can’t leave it. We can’t quit. It’s our life. It is life. Period.”
In addition to acrobats, the performance includes clowns, motorcyclists, aerial gymnasts, unicyclists and more.
Circus acts run about an hour each, and you can catch them at the Expo Center of the fair at 12:30, 3:30 or 6:30 p.m. daily.