Rockin’ Around the Big Top : OK, so it’s not Woodstock, and the animals might steal the show. But N/Motion will perform for more than 11 million people.

Even at age 3, Jonn Ross liked music. “The Man on the Flying Trapeze” was one of his favorite songs. Maybe he was prescient.

Now, at age 18, the Malibu resident is starring with Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus as one of three singer-dancers in the rock ‘n’ roll band N/Motion. A rock band? In the circus ?

“It’s an experiment,” explains Ross, of the decision by Kenneth Feld, Ringling president and show producer, to create a rock group especially for the company. “They wanted something new, something for the ‘90s, that would give the show a modern look in addition to the great traditions of Ringling.”

Ross and colleagues Shawn Doughty and Andy Smithey were chosen last year after a series of nationwide auditions. They are backed by a live band and sport costumes designed by Bill Whitten, the man responsible for Michael Jackson’s white glove as well as concert threads for Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Neil Diamond.

Playing in the circus may not be what most rock ‘n’ roll musicians aspire to, but no garage band even comes close to the kind of exposure that N/Motion gets. The trio, who made their circus debut last December, have a two-year contract, which will amount to about 1,100 performances with an audience of more than 11 million people. It’s “a dream come true,” Ross says.

Ross began taking piano lessons at age 6, and later added singing lessons.

As a seventh-grader at Crossroads School, he sang with the high school choir, and throughout his years at Crossroads and Santa Monica High, he participated in local musical activities and shows.

He began acting professionally at age 8, in an episode of the television series “Quincy.” Two years later, he was named the 1985 Junior Male Vocalist on “Star Search.” Nowadays, Ross is adjusting to a somewhat less conventional performing arena.

“There are a lot of things going on about you,” he said of the traditional three rings. “You have to find ways to stand out among a hundred others. We have high-energy costumes, and we are in the center ring.”

All that activity has yet to prove distracting, he says: “I’ve never let anything hurt my concentration. I concentrate on what I have to do--sing, dance and give a good performance.

“The one thing I can say about the circus, though, is that you never know what’s going to happen. Something is bound to--it’s the law of nature here. We’ve had our float (on which N/Motion performs) break down, where we’ve had to kick it open. Fortunately, there hasn’t been anything dangerous.”

The band opens the show with an a cappella rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” then gets things moving with “This Is the Beat,” one of four songs written by Jeff Barry, whose previous efforts include “Leader of the Pack” and “I Honestly Love You.”

A number called “Karan” precedes the elephant act, and “Real Dream” is a prelude to a troupe of Mongolian performers. The group closes the show with “Last Chance to Dance.” The whole idea is sort of a music video come to life, and indeed, N/Motion does have a video, as well as an album, both released in January.

“People seem to like the idea of a band” in the circus, Ross says. “We go up at intermission to a fan-club booth, and meet people and sign autographs. We get grandparents who come up, but mostly we get teen-agers.”

Ross envisions leaving the big top after his N/Motion stint is over to try his luck in other performing fields. For now, though, he is enjoying the distinction and challenge of participating in a new venture, even if it does mean singing the same music up to 11 times a week.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the same,” he says. “There’s a thrill in going out there and performing for an audience that has never seen you before. I have to give them a good show.”

The only downside to life in the circus, Ross says, is that “you’re not really among your friends and family.”

Never having been away from home this long before, Ross says he is happy to be back in Los Angeles. The circus will be at the Los Angeles Sports Arena through Sunday. “I never thought the day would come when we’d be here. To hear the announcer say, ‘Live in Los Angeles’ on opening night was great.”