Children Get a Free Peek Inside Cirque Tent

Cirque du Soleil put on a free show for College Park Elementary School on Thursday at the Orange County Fairgrounds, entertaining about 700 children, teachers and parents with its unique blend of acrobatics, dance, juggling and comedy.

The students, from kindergartners to sixth-graders, hooted and cheered as performers rolled red balls from their backs to their foreheads, juggled using dumbbells and rope, danced to futuristic music and invited them onto the revolving stage to imitate monkeys, dogs and other creatures.

“It was cool because they had to practice a lot for us, and it was nice of them to give us popcorn for free,” said Maria Perdona, 12, a fifth-grader.

The excited children walked from their campus on Notre Dame Road to the circus tent on Fairview Road, with teachers and police officers helping them cross busy streets on an unusually hot afternoon. Even the air-conditioned tent couldn’t cool the enthusiasm.

“I love it, I’ve seen it four times,” said fifth-grader Michael Wales, 11. “I am in gymnastics and [this] is really great.”

Cirque du Soleil does at least one free performance for children in every North American city on its tour, spokesman Lance Taylor said. Thursday’s show, Taylor said, was unrelated to noise complaints from some residents who live in the College Park neighborhood across from the fairgrounds. The school has no dispute with the circus.

“The people have been so warm and friendly and so willing to share,” said Kathy Sanchez, principal of College Park Elementary. “It’s exciting to see how much they love their work.”

Sanchez said she jumped at the show’s offer. “We really value the arts and value dreams and telling children they can do anything they want.”

During the performance, Cirque dancer Karl Baumann asked how many children would like to join the circus. Nearly every child’s hand shot up.

“We have a future,” he responded.