User:Dgiovag/sandbox/Gamma Phi Circus

Gamma Phi Circus Illinois State University has the Country's oldest collegiate Circus. It brings students interested in the art of circus performance to ISU from all over. It showcases many various circus talents and trains many people that move on in their careers to become in specialty or circus shows.

As a student at ISU or a member of the community knowing that the circus is around is very common. They get very good support from the community as well as their classmates. They are looked to as athletes and practice frequently throughout the week training for their exibition and spring shows.

History

The Gamma Phi Circus originated in 1926 by a man named Clifford Thorton. The beginnings were just to have pyramids and tumbling for the halftime shows of Football and Basketball games. It was a tumbling outlet for men. Its core values were dedicated to physical fitness with gymnastics and tumbling as the core value. Three years after Thorton began the tumbling he acquired the name from the University and Gamma Phi Circus began.

In 1938 history was made as women were able to perform in the circus, adding diversity and a wider span of performances.

Just last year Gamma Phi was proud to celebrate their 85th anniversary and through the years they have added more than just tumbling and ladies to their acts. Gamma Phi has performances ranging from tumbling to trapeze acts that will put you at the edge of your seat.

Acts

Gamma Phi also happens to be the oldest colliegate circus in the nation. Therefore, it is no surprise that most important part of the circus is the 32 acts that they include in the show, having this many acts makes it possible for Gamma Phi to have a wide range of different people be involved. Some of the acts include, Acro Sport, Arieal Hoop, Cloud Swings, Fire eaters, Flying trapeze, Juggling, stilts, Tight wire, and more! According to Gamma Phi,"These acts represent decades of practice and perfection of technique and are among the best preformed the World over".

Traditions

The Gamma Phi Circus does not only perform for their annual exhibition and show, they also have a "Road Show". They traditionally support alumni and are self funded by the money that they make from their shows that they put on at Illinois State.

Locations

Practices and open gyms take place at the Horton field house.

Every April there is a show in the Redbird Arena, as well as a winter show in the Bone Student Center.

Modern Alumni

The legacies of the performers from the Gamma Phi Circus never ceases to dissappear. As well as an extracirricular or athletic performance group people who once participated continue to entertain people through groups like Circ de Soliel to NBA shows and not limited to the circus Alum who create their own circus shows.

A recent popular Alum Christian Stoinev, a 22 year old hand balancer, and a fifth generation circus performer can be seen on Americas got talent. He is was trying to further his circus career by trying to get a Las Vegas headline. However, recently he has been eliminated off the show.