The Russian American Kids Circus at Bay Street

If the thought of another winter on the East End is starting to cause anxiety, there is one thing to do. Start looking for the things that will make this season different. Keep things interesting in your life. Don't allow the fizzling sensation of another summer season's end to bring down your energy levels. Because the fact is, there is always something new and exciting to experience out here. And one thing that's coming to town that's unlike any other is the Russian American Kids Circus.

Everybody loves when the circus comes to town, but the one that's coming to Bay Street on September 30 won't have any elephants standing on bouncy balls. It won't have any lions jumping through flaming hoops. This circus is more of a performance arts display, and it features children of unusual talent.

The Russian American Kids Circus brings children between the ages of six and 16 onto the stage to share amazing acts from unicycling to aerial acts. The troupe combines the magic of the circus with the refined artistry of more traditional theatrical venues. They consider themselves "a unity and synthesis of circus arts, theater, dance, music, and comedy that gives birth to an entirely new genre of entertainment experience."

You will be dazzled by the extraordinary talents of these children who soar through the air, juggle, balance and much more. Their complicated routines incorporate cutting-edge technology into the traditional venue of the circus. And these kids are studying under some of the most famous circus performers in the world. Working with professionals from the world famous Moscow Circus, the Russian American Kids Circus allows kids to perform in ways they never thought possible. And audiences are absolutely dazzled by what they see.

The Russian American Kids Circus was founded 12 years ago, in 1994. Alex Berenchtein, founder, is a veteran of the Moscow Circus who won four international competitions as an acrobat and a juggler. Back in Moscow, such talented circus performers are as well respected as Olympic athletes. And well they should be, considering the athleticism required for some of these acts. Even though circus school sounds like a thing of the past here in the United States, in Russia circus performance is still lauded as a fine performance art.

Along with his wife and mother-in-law, Mr. Berenchtein believed that the circus was an excellent venue for expression for children. So, the three opened The New Way Circus Center, Inc, in Brooklyn as a nonprofit academy. Children from all backgrounds were welcomed to work together in the ultimate teamwork experience: live performance. The New Way Circus Center has become a great success, bringing children new levels of confidence, physical fitness and interpersonal relationships. These children often start with no background in the circus, sometimes as young as four years old. But they quickly develop skills under the leadership of Berenchtein and two other Moscow circus veterans. The children become more and more advanced, until they became master performers. These students represent the best of the troupe, and they make up the Russian American Kids Circus on Stage. Members of the group have gone on to showcase their talents beyond the stage, appearing on such TV shows as "The Cosby Show" and MTV's "Oddville."

These kids are proof that "running away and joining the circus" can be more than just a dream and their talents are indisputable. They have sold out venues both nationally and internationally and have gotten rave reviews from The New York Times and The Washington Post. They've performed over 1500 shows in 34 states, Canada, and the British Virgin Islands, and now they are coming to Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor! It's a show that the whole family can enjoy. And for children to see other children honing their talents and enjoying such success is an inspiration.

The Russian American Kids Circus will be coming to Bay Street as part of their Kidstreet series on Sunday, September 30 at both 1 and 4 p.m. The show is accessible to audiences of all ages. Order tickets at the box office (631) 725-9500. To learn more about the Russian American Kids Circus, check out their web site, www.rakidscircus.org. Enjoy the show!

- Emily J Weitz

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