Additional Information
There is no set educational path to becoming a circus performer.
There are, however, several circus schools in North America where you can
learn traditional circus routines like the trapeze. "Often, you just have
to go out and do it," says performer Mary Evanoff. "Put a show together and
do it."
Many circus performers also undergo an apprenticeship that can last several
years, or they learn an act on their own, often by trial and error.
Just ask Thom Britain. He and the five members of his group are currently
working on some new fire-breathing techniques. One almost backfired during
rehearsals.
"What we were trying to do was to blow fireballs as they are spinning,"
Britain says. "It looked great, and it worked fine. We were very careful."
But part of the oil used to ignite the torches dripped on his hair, and
the top of it lit up.
"It scared me to death," he says. "No big deal, though. I put it out. I
really didn't have to get a haircut...but it could have been damaging to me."