♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] >> HEY, EVERYONE!

WELCOME TO "TV TAKEOVER," BROUGHT TO YOU BY REWIRE AND TWIN CITIES PBS, LIVE FROM OUR BRAND-NEW STREET SPACE.

I'M YOUR HOST, ADIA MORRIS.

TAKING OVER YOUR TV TONIGHT IS THE AMAZING CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

[ Cheers and applause ] THEY'RE THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST YOUTH PERFORMING CIRCUS ARTS SCHOOL, AND TONIGHT THEY'LL BE EXPLORING THE ART OF HAPPINESS, USING PERFORMANCES, VIDEO, AND STORIES FROM UNDER THE BIG TOP.

TONIGHT'S SHOW IS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR TWO REASONS.

FIRST, BECAUSE IT FALLS ON WORLD CIRCUS DAY, AND SECOND, BECAUSE ALL OF THE MUSIC YOU'LL HEAR TONIGHT IS THANKS TO THE AMAZING CLOUD CULT!

[ Cheers and applause ] YOU, YOU AT HOME CAN BE PART OF ACTION BY USING THE HASHTAG #TVTAKEOVER ON TWITTER, AND YOU COULD SEE YOUR TWEETS AND PHOTOS SHOW UP ON SCREEN THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE, JUST TEXT KOIRK TO 7863 -- LET'S KICK THINGS OFF ON THE STATIC TRAPEZE!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] >> WORLD -- WORLD CIRCUS DAY WAS FOUNDED BY THE WORLD CIRCUS FEDERATION, AND PART OF THEIR MISSION IS PROMOTING THE ART OF HAPPINESS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE EXPLORING IT HERE TONIGHT.

CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE WATCHING ALL OF THESE ACTS IS REALLY AMAZING, IWANT TO TAKE CLASSES NOW.

BUT LET'S HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS WHY CIRCUS BRINGS THEM JOY.

WE'LL ALSO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF CIRCUS THROUGH SOME FUN FACTS GIVEN TO US BY THE FOUNDERS OF CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL UNIQUE.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE I GET TO MOVE MY BODY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> I GET TO DO ALL OF THESE AMAZING AERIAL AND BALANCE ACTS THAT CHALLENGE ME PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.

>> NOT ONLY DO I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO REALLY UNIQUE THINGS, WHERE I'M LITERALLY LIKE FLYING ON A TRAPEZE WHICH IS A VERY EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

LITERALLY, WE HOLD EACH OTHER UP AND IT'S GREAT.

>> CIRCUMSTANCE CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE I GET TO BE HIGH OFF THE GROUND AND I GET TO DO THINGS I USUALLY DON'T GET TO DO.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE YOU GET TO HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND DO FUN STUFF.

>> IT'S A REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE, THAT I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE WITH ME IN LIFE AND IT'S HELP ME BECOME WHO I AM TODAY.

>> WHILE WE'RE DOING ALL THIS UNIQUE AND AMAZING STUFF, WHICH I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I GET THE CHANCE TO DO SOME OF THIS STUFF, I'VE MET SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS HERE, IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS EVERYONE.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE IT JUST DOES.

>> I LOVE IT.

I LOVE WORKING WITH CIRCUS.

AND PERFORMING.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE WHEN I PEW I GET TO SEE EVERYONE'S FACES LIGHT UP.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE I LITERALLY GET TO HANG OUT.

>> CIRCUS MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE CIRCUS IS LIFE.

>> HI, I'M DAN BUTLER.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND COFOUNDER HERE AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS AND I'M ELIZABETH.

>> SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HERE IS OUR SCHOOL'S PERFORMANCES WHICH EXEMPLIFY THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN CIRCUS.

WE RESPECT AND TEACH TRADITIONAL ROOTS OF THE ART FORM HERE, BUT WE ALSO ENSOY JOY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES.

IN THIS WAY WE ARE A BLEND OF OLD AND NEW.

>> MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCUS WORLD ARE UNAWARE OF THE MANY DIFFERENCES.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.

>> TRADITIONAL CIRCUS PERFORMANCE HAD ITS HEYDAY IN THE MID19TH AND 20TH CENTURY.

INTRODUCED A RANGE OF ANIMAL, ACROBATIC, AERIAL, BALANCE, OBJECT MANIPULATION AND EVEN STUNT ACTS THAT PERFORMED DISCREET CORE GRAPHED ROUTINES.

>> AS A PERFORMING ART DEVELOPED IN THE LAST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

THEATER AND STYLIZED MOVEMENT OR DANCE.

IT IS OFTEN PERFORMED AS A MULTILAYERED COHESIVE PIECE OF WORK.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] >> THE ART OF HAND BALANCING HAS BEEN A PART OF CIRCUS ACTS FOR AGES.

IT FEATURES PERFORMERS SHOWCASING AMAZING FEATS OF STRENGTH AND BALANCE COMBINED TO DEFY GRAVITY.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] >> ♪ AND WHEN THE ANGELS COME ♪ ♪ THEY'LL CUT YOU DOWN THE MIDDLE ♪ ♪ TO SEE IF YOU'RE STILL THERE ♪ ♪ TO SEE IF YOU'RE STILL THERE ♪ ♪ AND UNDERNEATH YOUR RIBS ♪ ♪ THEY'LL FIND A HEART-SHAPED LOCKET ♪ ♪ AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH ♪ ♪ OF YOU IN DADDY'S ARMS ♪ ♪ AND THEN THEY'LL SEW YOU CLOSED ♪ ♪ AND GIVE YOU BACK TO THE WATER ♪ ♪ FROM WHERE WE'RE ALL BORN ♪ ♪ FROM WHERE WE'RE ALL BORN ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL FEED THE GHOSTS ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL FEED THE LIVING ♪ ♪ YOU'LL BE A STRANGER ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL BE A FRIEND ♪ ♪ YOU'LL BE THE LEPER ♪ ♪ AND YOU'LL BE THE HEALER ♪ ♪ YOU'LL BE THE HERO ♪ ♪ AND THE TRAGEDY ♪ ♪ AND WHEN THEY SEW YOU CLOSED ♪ ♪ THEY'LL GIVE YOU BACK TO THE WATER ♪ ♪ FROM WHERE WE'RE ALL BORN ♪ ♪ FROM WHERE WE'RE ALL BORN ♪ ♪ AND WHEN THEY BURN YOUR BODY ♪ ♪ ALL THAT'S LEFT IS SAND CRYSTALS ♪ ♪ TWO TINY HANDFULS ♪ ♪ ALL THE REST IS WATER, WATER, WATER, WATER ♪ ♪ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ♪ ♪ IS YOU WERE BORN OF WATER ♪ ♪ YOU ARE MADE OF WATER ♪ ♪ YOU ARE LIVING WATER, WATER, WATER, WATER ♪ ♪ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ♪ ♪ IS YOU WERE BORN OF WATER ♪ ♪ YOU ARE MADE OF WATER ♪ ♪ YOU ARE LIVING WATER, WATER, WATER, WATER ♪ ♪ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ♪ ♪ IS YOU WERE BORN OF WATER ♪ ♪ YOU ARE MADE OF WATER ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] >> OH, SORRY!

WOW!

[ Laughter ] WOW!

WOW!

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I WAS -- MY HEART WAS POUNDING THE ENTIRE TIME.

WE ASKED THREE STUDENTS AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS TO GIVE US A PEEK INSIDE THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THEY USED THEIR PHONES TO CAPTURE VIDEO OF HOW THEY BALANCE, SOMETIMES LITERALLY, THE DEMANDS OF SCHOOL, HOME, AND CIRCUS LIFE.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT MADDY'S STORY NOW.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GETTING ON THE LIGHT RAIL.

HERE WE GO.

SO WE'RE COMING TO CIRCUS NOW.

I JUST CAME FROM REHEARSALS AT MY HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M IN THE WINTER PLAY.

WE HAVE A FULL DAY TODAY.

SO IT'LL BE EXCITING.

HERE WE GO.

ON TIME.

YEAH.

COOL.

HERE CIRCUS.

WHOO!

[ VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS ] >> OKAY, AND THAT IS GOOD.

THAT IS A GOOD BACK LEVER.

>> I'M WORKING ON MY MATH HOMEWORK RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT CIRCUS HAS TAUGHT ME IS HOW TO MANAGE MY TIME.

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE HAVING A JOB.

IT'S AN AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY.

USUALLY I'M AT CIRCUS FROM 3:00 TO 9:15 AT NIGHT, SO I'VE LEARNED TO MANAGE MY TIME EXTREMELY WELL.

EFFICIENT STUDYING HABITS.

AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO GET MY HOMEWORK DONE.

>> AH!

THIS IS MY ARMPIT AFTER TRAPEZE.

A LOT OF TIMES AT CIRCUS, AFTER REALLY HARD CORE TRICKS, WE GET BURNS AND SCRAPES AND BRUISES, SO IT'S NOT THAT UNUSUAL, BUT THIS IS A NICE ONE.

>> YEAH, IT IS A NICE ONE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CIRCUS HAS REALLY HELPED ME REALIZE AND I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS PERFORMING.

I ACTUALLY USED TO BE SCARED OF GOING ON STAGE, AND NOW I LOVE IT.

IT'S LIKE A DRUG, PERFORMING.

IT'S SO AMAZING.

>> SMILE!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF CIRCUS ACTS NOW, AND TO THE UNTRAINED EYE, IT COULD LOOK FAIRLY DANGEROUS.

BUT THOSE ON THE INSIDE KNOW THAT SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, WHETHER YOU'RE FLYING THROUGH THE AIR OR SPINNING AT TOP SPEEDS.

>> A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, WHEN THEY FINE CIRCUS JUVENTAS, THEY TALK ABOUT IT LIKE THEY'RE COMING HOME.

I AM REA NANON FITS RAD YATS AND I'M THE ARTISTIC INTRODUCTION COORDINATOR THE COINING.

IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT SPACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE INHABITED AND THEY'RE REALLY UNIQUE PEOPLE AND INDIVIDUALS.

I THINK KIDS LOVE TO FIND A UNIQUE PLACE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

THAT'S KIND OF PERFORMANCE ASPECT THAT WE GIVE THEM.

KIDS LOVE TO MAKE THEIR BODIES DO THINGS THAT ARE UNUSUAL.

THEY LOVE TO STRETCH THEIR BOUNDARIES.

AND I THINK POSITIVE RISK TAKING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO HERE.

I THINK A MISPERCEPTION IS THAT IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

AND THE VERY EARLIEST STAGES OF ANY ACT, REALLY, THEIR SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE, SO BEFORE THEY EVEN TAUGHT TO TRAIN OR PERFORM IN IT, THEY'RE TAUGHT THE BASICS SO NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT.

AWESOME.

ALL RIGHT.

READY TO GO.

>> THEY START OUT AS TODDLERS.

AND THEY JUST KIND OF TRY A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE VERY BEGINNING LEVELS.

THEN THEY MIGHT DECIDE THAT THEY WANT TO GO INTO AERIAL ACTS.

SO THEY START OUT ON THE SIDE BY SIDE TRAPEZE WHICH NEVER GETS MORE THAN FIVE OR SIX, SEVEN FEET OFF THE GROUND.

SO I KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF SPEED AND HEIGHT AND TRICK DIFFICULTY.

THOSE THINGS ALL INCREASE AS TIME GOES ON, AS THEY GO UP THROUGH THE LEVELS OF ANY GIVEN ACT.

>> YOU'RE HANGING.

YOU ARE FLIPPING.

YOU'RE DOING MORE ACROBATIC TRICKS.

YOU MIGHT WEAR A SAFETY SAFETY BET, BUT YOU'RE INCREDIBLY HIGH UP.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE SWINGING TRAPEZE THAT'S LITERALLY SWINGING BATH AND FORTH.

THE TRICKS ARE MONUMENTAL.

THE FLYING TRAPEZE IS KIND OF KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AERIAL ACTS AND THAT'S WHERE THE DANGER REALLY COULD COME IN, BUT YOU'VE TAKEN ALL OF THOSE ACTS, YOU'VE GONE THROUGH ALL OF THAT TRAINING BEFORE YOU'VE GOT TO THAT POINT SO YOU'RE VERY SAFE AND VERY CONFIDENT BY THE TIME YOU GET THERE.

THE CONFIDENCE THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT THEY CAN DO IT, KNOWING THAT IF THEY FALL, RETHEY DIDN'T QUITE GET A TRICK, THEY'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT BACK UP WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACE AND CONTINUE WITH THE ROUTINE AND THEIR TEAMMATES ARE GOING TO CHEER THEM ON.

IT'S REALLY INEXPIRING.

INSPIRING.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> I'M HERE WITH RACHEL BUTLER, A COACH AND FORMER STUDENT AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

SHE'S GOING TO TEACH ME A TRICK ON THE TRAPEZE THAT I HOPE IS GOOD FOR BEGINNERS.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> OKAY, SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS PUT YOUR HANDS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE BAR.

WRAP YOUR THUMBS AROUND.

YOU'RE GOING TO SQUAT ALL THE WAY DOWN.

YOUR ARMS ARE STRAIGHT.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO KICK ONE LEG UP AT A TIME AND YOU'RE GOING TO HOOK YOUR KNEES ON THE BAR.

I AM GOING TO HELP YOU.

GOOD.

OKAY.

STEP ONE.

ALL RIGHT, FROM HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO REACH UP AND GRAB THE ROPE AND PULL YOURSELF ALL THE WAY UP.

PERFECT.

OKAY.

NOW YOU GOT TO DO THE CIRCUS STYLE.

OKAY?

SO YOU'RE GOING TO STRAIGHTEN ONE LEG AND YOU'RE GOING TO BEND ONE LEG.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND YOUR ARM IN STYLE AND SMILE.

YEAH!

CHASE PERFECT.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO A TRICK.

YOU'RE GOING TO TURN YOUR BODY AND YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND BOTH LEGS IN THAT DIRECT DIRECT.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PUT BOTH HANDS ONTO THIS ROPE RIGHT HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO LEAN ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL YOUR ARMS ARE STRAIGHT.

YEAH!

NICE!

ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SIT BACK UP.

GOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO SLIDE BACK DOWN TO YOUR KNEES.

YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR HANDS BACK ONTO THE BAR.

YEP.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO BRING YOUR LEGS DOWN.

YEAH!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> NICE!

>> OOH!

WOW!

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, LIFE IN THE AIR CERTAINLY LOOKS DIFFERENT FROM LIFE ON THE GROUND.

CIRCUS JUVENTAS DECIDED TO STRAP A CAMERA ONTO SOME OF THEIR PERFORMERS TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SOAR ABOVE THE CROWD.

>> HERE IT IS.

>> OH, YOU'RE ON?

OKAY, THEN!

♪♪ ♪♪ >> THIS PART IS VERY -- IT'S KIND OF SCARY.

BUT JUST HAVE FUN!

♪♪ ♪♪ >> WELCOME TO TPT TAKEOVER!

[ Cheers and applause ] >> REMEMBER TEXT CIRCUS TO 863-866-4773 FOR A SPECIAL MESSAGE.

I CAN'T SAY IT.

LATER ON IN THE SHOW.

THAT'S 863-866-4773.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LOOK INSIDE THE LIFE OF A CIRCUS JUVENTAS STUDENT FOR YOU.

THIS TIME IT'S NICK, A HIGH-LEVEL PERFORMER WHO'S BEEN WITH THE SCHOOL SINCE HE WAS VERY YOUNG.

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CIRCUS FUN FACT FROM CO-FOUNDERS DAN AND BETTY.

♪♪ >> I USUALLY BALANCE CIRCUS WITH SCHOOL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES BY, UM, GETTING MY HOMEWORK DONE IN BREAKS AT CIRCUS.

I TRY TO GET ALL MY STUFF DONE AS SOON AS I GET HOME JUST SO THAT I'M NOT STAYING UP SUPER LATE.

I USUALLY DO DIVING BEFORE CIRCUS, SO THAT I'M NOT GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM.

OR I'M HOPEFULLY NOT MISSING TOO MUCH OF EITHER.

♪♪ >> CIRCUS REALLY BRINGS OUT A WHOLE ANOTHER SIDE OF ME.

I THINK I'M VERY COMFORTABLE THERE.

I'M VERY OPEN.

I TEND TO GET VERY CREATIVE THERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A NEW SHOW, JUST WITH CHOREOGRAPHY AND CHARACTER WORK AND DIFFERENT TRICKS WE CAN TRY.

I THINK IT BRINGS CREATIVITY, IT'S MY OUTLET.

IT'S MY SAFE PLACE.

IT'S JUST WHERE I FEEL COMFORTABLE.

>> AN EXAMPLE OF A TRADITIONAL CIRCUS ARTIST WAS LILLIAN LEADS ALE WHO WAS DISCOVERED AS A TEENAGE PERFORMER BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF RING LING BROTHERS IN 1912.

SHE WOULD DANGLE BY A ROPE WITH ONE HAND AND PROPEL HERSELF SKY WARD WITH TREMENDOUS STRENGTH AS THE RING MASTER AND MANY TIMES THE AUDIENCE WOULD COUNT TO OVER 100 REVOLUTIONS.

>> ALL: THREE, FOUR, FIVE, >> AN EXAMPLE OF A CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS PERFORMER IS DANIEL SEER.

HE'S A GRADUATE OF THE INSTALL CIRCUS SCHOOL IN MONTREAL.

DANIEL IS AN INVENTOR OF THE SEER WHEEL, A LARGE RING LIKE APPARATUS THAT -- HE'S A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER INSTRUCTOR OF THE SEER WHEEL AND EVEN DEVELOPED CIRCUMSTANCE DESO WILL A'S ROUTINE FOR COTOE.

CORTEO.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> WHO HASN'T DREAMED OF KNOWING HOW TO JUGGLE?

I'M JOINED BY ZACC FRICKE, LEAD SINGER IN THE LIMMS, THAT'S RIGHT?

YEAH.

UNICYCLE COACH AT CIRCUS JUVENTAS, AND JUGGLER, AND HE'S GOING TO TEACH US ALL THE ART OF JUGGLING.

>> YEAH!

SO AT CIRCUS, WE LIKE TO START REALLY SIMPLE.

SO WE ALWAYS START WITH ONE OBJECT.

WE START WITH SCARFS, BECAUSE THEY'RE EASY TO FLOW AND EASY -- THROW AND EASY TO CATCH.

OPEN UP YOUR SCARF LIKE THIS AND THEN PINCH IT IN THE MIDDLE LIKE THAT.

YOU PROBABLY WANT TO STAND UP TO TRY THIS.

IT'S EASIER TO THROW AND CATCH WHILE YOU'RE STANDING.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WITH JUST ONE, JUST THROW IT UP AND PINCH IT BACK.

THROW IT UP AND PINCH IT BACK.

THERE YOU GO.

NOW TRY TO THROW IT AND PINCH IT WITH THE OTHER HAND.

BACK AND FORTH.

SIDE TO SIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING IT?

IT'S PRETTY BASIC.

PRETTY SIMPLE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PICK UP YOUR OTHER SCARF.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE IN EACH HAND, ALL RIGHT?

YOU GUYS GOT IT?

YOU GUYS HAVE TWO DIFFERENT COLORS, THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT SOON, BUT FOR NOW, LET'S JUST GO THIS ONE UP, AND THEN THIS ONE.

THIS ONE, THIS ONE.

RIGHT.

LEFT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING THAT?

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT UP.

SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO CHRIS CROSS, CATCH CATCH.

OH, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU GO ONE, TWO, CATCH CATCH.

YOU GUYS GETTING IT?

ONE, TWO, CATCH, CATCH.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING THAT.

SO NOW I WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THESE COLORS.

YOU'RE GOING TO THROW THE SAME COLOR EVERY TIME FIRST.

YELLOW, GREEN, CATCH, CATCH.

YELLOW, GREEN, CATCH, CATCH.

AH!

SO YOU'LL FIND THAT BECAUSE THE WAY YOU LEARNED HOW TO THROW, THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS.

THIS IS A MISTAKE RIGHT HERE.

YOU'LL PASS UNDERNEATH.

SO YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL OF THAT.

YOU WANT TO THROW, THROW, CATCH, CATCH.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THAT'S GOOD.

NOW AFTER YOU DO THAT FOR A WHILE, THEN YOU TRY TO PICK UP THREE OBJECTS.

LIKE THIS.

AND USUALLY WE'LL MOVE TO BALLS AND WE'LL JUGGLE BALLS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO -- >> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ZACC.

GIVE THEM A ROUND APPLAUSE.

NOW LET'S SEE HOW IT'S REALLY DONE WITH A PERFORMANCE FROM CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ >> WOW!

OH, I CAN STILL FEEL IT.

WOW!

CIRCUS CIRCUS JUVENTAS IS KNOWN FOR ITS SPECTACULAR SHOWS.

PART OF WHAT MAKES THEM AMAZING IS NOT ONLY THE YOUNG AGE OF THE PERFORMERS BUT ALSO THE ELABORATE SETS, LIGHTING, AND COSTUMES.

ONE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THE COSTUMES AND THE CHARACTERS THAT WEAR THEM TO LIFE IS KATHY STASZAK.

>> DO YOU THINK IF YOU WENT TO DESIGNING NORMAL COSTUMES THAT IT WOULD BE BORING IN COMPARISON?

>> YES.

[ Laughter ] [ SEWING MACHINE WHIRRING ] >> MY NAME'S KATHY IS A ZACK AND I MAKE COSTUMES FOR CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

I GOT LURED INTO IT.

SOMEBODY HAD SEEN MY LEGGINGS AT THE RENAISSANCE FAIR, AND THEY WENT, OH, WE NEED SOME OF THOSE.

AND THEN 11 YEARS LATER, I'M DOING LIKE ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.

THESE ARE REALLY CUTE LITTLE COSTUMES.

NOW I DESIGN ABOUT 50 COSTUMES.

I LOVE THE CREATIVE PROCESS.

IT'S LIKE SOMETHING CLICKS ON.

I SEE THE CHARACTERS START TO EMERGE.

I THINK I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THEATER.

I MEAN, IT'S FASCINATING.

I TRIED ACTING.

IT WAS HORRIBLE.

I STARTED TO DO SOME COSTUMING, AND I LIKED IT.

AND ALSO YOU GET TO HEAR ALL THE BACKSTAGE STUFF GOING ON.

I LOVE WORKING WITH THESE KIDS.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY GIFTED.

WE'VE WATCHED THEM BECOME SELF-ASSURED INDIVIDUALS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS AMAZING TO WATCH.

KIDS THAT START OUT AND THEY'RE MAYBE KIND OF AWKWARD ABOUT THEIR BODIES OR WHATEVER, AND AFTER FOUR YEARS, THEY'RE AN INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT.

>> YOU GO REALLY FAST.

[ Laughter ] I REALLY LOVE DOING IT.

IT'S FUN AND IT'S ALSO NERVE-RACKING.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP COMING BACK EVERY YEAR, SO I MUST LIKE IT.

>> CLOWNS ARE SOME OF THE MOST CLASSICAL CHARACTERS FOUND IN THE TRADITIONAL CIRCUS.

THE BEHIGHT FACE CLOWN WITH THE RED NOSE AND THE BIG SHOES ARE THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE TYPES, ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1700S.

>> CLOWNS IN CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE EMOTIONAL.

THEY'RE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO TRAIN IN OTHER CIRCUS ACTS ARGUABLY MAKING THEM MORE VERSE TILE PERFORMERS.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> COSTUMES HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSPORT US TO THE MYTHOLOGICAL LAIR OF POSEIDON, ANCIENT CHINA, OR THE IMAGINED REALMS OF OZ OR NEVERLAND.

GET READY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHORT FASHION SHOW TO EXHIBIT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CIRCUS JUVENTAS' TALENTED TEAM OF COSTUME DESIGNERS OVER THE YEARS.

WE BEGIN WITH COSTUMES FROM "ATLANTICUS," WHICH UNCOVERED THE ANCIENT UNDERWATER REALM OF POSEIDON.

DESIGNERS ENJOYED THE CHALLENGE OF BRINGING DEEP SEA CREATURES TO THE CIRCUS'S LAND-LOCKED STAGE.

THE OCTOPUS COSTUME YOU SEE HERE IS HAND-PAINTED AND INCLUDES INDIVIDUALLY ATTACHED SUCTION CUPS ON ITS TENTACLES.

THE CLAM BODY SUIT YOU SEE IS HELD TOGETHER WITH DOZENS OF APPLIQUED SEA CREATURE SHAPES.

IT IS A FABULOUS EXAMPLE OF A CIRCUS COSTUME BECAUSE IT VISUALLY ILLUSTRATES A CHARACTER WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR LOTS OF MOVEMENT WITH ITS CONSTRUCTION.

POSSIBLY CIRCUS JUVENTAS'S CREEPIEST SHOW TO DATE, "RAVENS MANOR," WAS FULL OF HAUNTED PERSONALITIES.

THE DEAD DOLL COSTUME DISPLAYED HERE WAS AMPLIFIED IN THE SHOW WITH RINGLET WIGS, EXAGGERATED ROSY CHEEKS, AND PERFORMERS THAT DIDN'T BLINK.

HER COMPANION, THE MANSION'S HEAD HOUSEKEEPER, SPORTED THIS WONDERFULLY TERRIFYING COAT, COMPLETE WITH A COLLAR MADE OF IRIDESCENT ROOSTER TAIL FEATHERS.

IN 2010, CIRCUS JUVENTAS EXPLORED ITS TRADITIONAL ROOTS WITH A TRAIN-TRAVELING CIRCUS SHOW SET IN THE 1920s CALLED "SAWDUST."

WE HAVE HERE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MANY CLASSIC CIRCUS DESIGNS THAT BROUGHT THE SHOW TO LIFE.

ILEANA, QUEEN OF THE AIR, WAS THE STAR TRAPEZE ARTIST ON THE TOUR, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT HER COSTUME LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW HER STATUS FROM THE MOMENT SHE STEPPED ON STAGE.

YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT SOME OF THE SEQUINS ARE MISSING AROUND THE WAIST.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THEM ARE STILL EMBEDDED IN THE NECK OF THE ORIGINAL PERFORMER'S PARTNER, AS SHE FREQUENTLY SPUN AROUND HIS HEAD IN ONE OF THEIR MOST BREATHTAKING TRICKS.

CIRCUS JUVENTAS LIKES TO "CIRQUIFY" THEIR COSTUMES, WHICH IS A TERM THEIR DESIGNERS HAVE COINED AND REFERS TO CREATING GARMENTS THAT INCLUDE BOTH THE UNIQUE FUNCTIONALITY NECESSARY FOR PERFORMING CIRCUS ACTS AND A WHIMSICAL OR ABSTRACT TAKE ON THE THEMATIC CONTENT OF THE SHOW.

THEY DID JUST THAT WITH FRANK BAUM'S "WIZARD OF OZ" JUST A FEW YEARS BACK.

FOR THAT SHOW, THEIR LONG-TIME LONG-DISTANCE DESIGNER FROM NEW ORLEANS CAME UP WITH ONE OF THE SHOW'S MOST INCREDIBLE COSTUMES: THE FLYING MONKEY.

DUE TO THEIR SPECIFIC MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS, ALTERING THE SILHOUETTE OF A CIRCUS PERFORMER IS A CHALLENGE, BUT SHE PULLED IT OFF BEAUTIFULLY.

AND JUST LAST SUMMER, THE ANCIENT "ARABIAN NIGHTS" TALES CAME TO LIFE UNDER THE BIG TOP WHEN ALIA BABA AND HER THIEVES JOINED FORCES WITH ALADDIN AND THE GENIE TO CAPTURE HIS LAMP AND AWARD HIM HIS FREEDOM.

ON DISPLAY ARE EXAMPLES OF A SULTAN, A MEMBER OF THE ROYALTY, AND THE IQBAL, A MEMBER OF THE RABBLE-ROUSING STREET RATS.

THANK YOU, PERFORMERS, FOR PULLING DOUBLE DUTY AS MODELS FOR OUR FASHION SHOW!

I THINK THE ACROBATS AND AERIALISTS IN FRONT OF YOU WILL AGREE THAT THE COSTUMES ARE PART OF WHAT MAKES CIRCUS THE ART OF HAPPINESS.

CREATING COSTUMES FOR A SHOW IS A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

SO IS MAKING A TV SHOW!

CIRCUS JUVENTAS DECIDED TO WORK WITH LAST WEEK'S "TV TAKEOVER" PARTNER, INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER PROJECT MINNESOTA, TO CREATE A VIDEO ILLUSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THEATER IN CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS ENJOY THIS PIECE EDITED BY A FORMER CIRCUS JUVENTAS PERFORMER AND A PART OF IFP MINNESOTA'S STUDENT PROGRAM.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> ♪ LAY IT ALL DOWN IN A CALM SAFE SPACE ♪ ♪ AND IF THE DREAM DOESN'T COME, JUST WAIT ♪ ♪ LAY IT ALL DOWN IN A CALM, SAFE SPACE ♪ ♪ AND IF THE DREAM DOESN'T COME, YOU JUST WAIT ♪ ♪ YOU JUST WAIT ♪ ♪♪ >> WE WERE MADE TO WALK THROUGH FIRE IN OUR DANCE SHOES ♪ ♪ WE WERE MADE TO SAIL UPON THE MEETERS ♪ ♪ WE WERE MADE TO LOVE THE HECK OUT OF OUR BONES ♪ ♪ GOD GAVE US WORDS, THEY WERE I LOVE YOU, PLEASE, AND THANK YOU ♪ ♪ GOD GAVE US THIRST AND IT'S A HUNGER FOR THE UNIVERSE ♪ ♪♪ ♪ OH, NO, NO, NO ♪ ♪ I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO ♪ ♪ SOMETIMES THIS LIFE'S A LONELY ROAD ♪ ♪ BUT YOU GOT TO FIND IT IT YOUR OWN ♪ ♪ SO BUILD A HAPPY SHIP, BECAUSE THIS LIVING IS A TRIP ♪ ♪ YOU GOT TO SING THE KIND OF SONG THAT YOU LIKE SINGING ♪ ♪ TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN ♪ ♪ TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN ♪ ♪♪ >> EVERY MORNING, I WAKE UP AT 2:00 AND -- AT 7:00 AND I GET OUT OF BED, AND THEN ME AND MY FAMILY LOOK AT THE NEWS.

EVERY DAY.

[ Inaudible ] RIGHT AFTER ALL MY PRACTICE, I HAVE SCHOOL WORK TO DO.

MY FAVE THING ABOUT CIRCUS -- [ Inaudible ] ALONG WITH CIRCUS, I HAVE SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES, THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE PLAYING PIANO AND PLAYING -- AND I ALSO SING IN A CHOIR AND I DO BALLROOM DANCING.

[ Inaudible ] I LOVE PLAYING THE TRICKS ON THE EQUIPMENT AT CIRCUS.

♪♪ >> IT'S A BIG EVENT?

>> UH-HUH.

[ Laughter ] ♪♪ >> I LOVE CIRCUS BECAUSE IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> HOW DO YOU EVEN INTRODUCE OUR NEXT VIDEO?

IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE CHIMGEE HALTARHUU HAS DONE IT ALL.

SHE'S CIRCUS JUVENTAS' HEAD COACH, A TABLE TENNIS MASTER, LONG DISTANCE RUNNER.

SHE SPEAKS THREE LANGUAGES, IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND PERFORMS WITH HER OWN FAMILY CIRCUS TROUPE.

EVERYONE, MEET CHIMGEE.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> PULL!

NICE.

AND BALANCE.

AND UP.

I STARTED WITH GYMNASTICS FIRST WHEN I WAS EIGHT.

I JUST WENT TWO YEARS.

MY MOM SAID YOU HAVE TO STAY HOME, WATCH YOUR SISTERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS HAVE TO GO WORK, AND WOMEN IN MONGOLIA, WE DON'T HAVE SUCH THINGS LIKE BABY SITTERS SO I QUIT AND I CONTINUED TO DO THE GYMNASTICS AT MY HOME.

AND A HAND STAND.

ONE, TWO, AND THEN MY DAD SAW A NEWSPAPER ADD, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS THEY HAVE AUDITIONS TO GET INTO CIRCUS SCHOOL.

IT'S A SCHOOL THAT'S HARD TO GET INTO.

OKAY, HANDS BEHIND AND ARCH.

WE DROVE SEVEN HOURS AND IT WAS THREE DAYS AUDITION, AND FOURTH DAY, SECOND, THIRD, AND FINALLY NEXT SAID YES, YOU MADE IT.

YEAH!

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED THE CIRCUS.

MY NAME IS CHIMGEE HALTARHUU AND I'M A CIRCUS JUVENTAS COACH.

I GRADUATED CIRCUS COLLEGE, A FOUR-YEAR CIRCUS COLLEGE IN MONGOLIA.

WE STARTED 8:00 IN THE MORNING AND THEN FINISH 6:00 P.M. ALL DAY.

AND THEN AFTER THAT A MONGOLIAN STATE CIRCUS, THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND ASIA AND ENDED UP IN THE UNITED STATES.

I CAME TO WORK FOR RING LING BROTHERS FAMILY CIRCUS.

I'M UP IN THE AIR HERE.

>> IS THAT YOU?

>> YEP.

AND THEN AFTER THAT I WORK FOR YANKEE DOODLE CIRCUS AND THEN ENDED UP HERE CIRCUS JUVENTAS.

WITHOUT CIRCUS, I'M NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

CIRCUS IS MY LIFE.

THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR, 2010.

EVERY YEAR, I BRING MY STUDENTS TO MONGOLIA TO TRAVEL FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE AND DO FREE SHOWS, AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES.

I GREW UP SEEING THIS PROBLEM AND I TASTE IT AND I KNOW THIS PROBLEM, HOW HARD, SO WE GAVE A YOUNG GENERATION MESSAGE THAT ABUSE IS NOT RIGHT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS SLOWLY SURELY IS CHANGING.

EVERY YEAR I'M GETTING EXPERIENCE HELPING CHILDREN IN MONGOLIA, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT.

I LOVE TO PLAY TABLE TENNIS.

OH, MY GOSH, THAT'S MY THING, YOU KNOW?

A LITTLE HARDER WHEN YOU GET OLDER, BUT, YOU KNOW, I NEVER GIVE UP.

I GET GOLD LAST YEAR, AT MINNESOTA SENIOR GAMES.

I ALREADY TOLD MY HUSBAND, I'M GOING TO DO HANDSTAND ON MY 70TH BIRTHDAY.

>> HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW?

>> OOH, SHOULD I TELL HER OR NOT?

82.

62.

>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

>> OH, I REALLY PROUD OF -- THAT I CAME TO UNITED STATES WITHOUT ANY LANGUAGE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY HI, BYE, NOTHING.

VERY CHALLENGING.

AND I HAVE A GOOD JOB HERE AND GREAT FRIENDS SURROUNDS ME.

WHAT ELSE I NEED, YOU KNOW?

YOU KNOW, LIKE CIRCUS, MAKES ME HAPPY, SO WITHOUT IT, I DON'T KNOW, I COULDN'T IMAGINE WITHOUT CIRCUS, I DON'T KNOW.

JUST THE CIRCUS IS AMAZING.

SO I'M SO PROUD THAT I'M LIVING, SURVIVING IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY AND I'M HAPPY WOMAN IN THE WORLD.

[ Laughter ] >> ANIMAL ACTS USED TO BE A KEY COMPONENT OF THE TRADITIONAL THREE-RING CIRCUSES.

HORSE RIDERS.

LION TAMERS.

ELEPHANT PARADES, EVEN BEARS ON BICYCLES WERE ALWAYS A PART OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL CIRCUS TOUR.

PEOPLE WERE THRILLED BY THE NOTION OF GETTING TO BE UP CLOSE TO THESE EXOTIC ANIMALS.

>> CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS DOESN'T UTILIZE ANIMAL ACTS.

THE COST OF TPTING THEM BECAME PROHIBITIVE.

SO WHILE AT PERNS IN SOIRVEGS ON OTHER CONTINENTS REMAINS QUITE POPULAR, THE USE OF THE ANIMAL ACTS IS ON THE DECLINE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> OUR LAST ACT OF THE NIGHT IS LIKE A MINI CIRCUS JUVENTAS SHOW.

IT FOCUSES ON THE THEME OF THE OVERABUNDANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN OUR LIVES AND FEATURES THEATER, HOOPS, AND DANCE.

BEFORE WE GO, A BIG THANK YOU TO CIRCUS JUVENTAS FOR TAKING OVER TWIN CITIES PBS TONIGHT -- YEAH!

[ Cheers and applause ] AND CLOUD CULT FOR LETTING US USE THEIR INCREDIBLE MUSIC.

NOW LET'S SEE THE FINAL ACT!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ♪ A MILLION YEARS IT'S BEEN SINCE THE SEARCH BEGAN ♪ ♪ STILL CAN'T FIND IT ♪ ♪ STILL CAN'T FIND IT ♪ ♪ THE FUEL IS NEARLY SPENT ♪ ♪ CHECK THE MAPS AGAIN ♪ ♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪ ♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪ ♪ AND NOW THE CREW IS COLD AND DRUNK ON CHEMICALS ♪ ♪ CAN'T BELIEVE IN IT ♪ ♪ CAN'T BELIEVE IN IT ♪ ♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪ ♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪ ♪ WE'RE SO CLOSE TO IT ♪ ♪ SO VERY CLOSE TO IT ♪ ♪ WE STILL HAVE ENERGY IN US ♪ ♪ WE FEEL OUR HEARTS BREAK AS THE ENGINES FADE ♪ ♪ STILL NEED TO FIND IT ♪ ♪ STILL NEED TO FIND IT ♪ ♪ SO WE TOOK THE WRITTEN WORDS OF OUR PHILOSOPHERS ♪ ♪ AND BUILT A FIRE FROM IT ♪ ♪ LET'S GET THOSE ENGINES LIT ♪ ♪ WE TOOK THE CHURCH'S VEIL AND BUILT A MIGHTY SAIL ♪ ♪ TO CARRY FORTH THIS SHIP ♪ ♪ BUT WE'RE STILL LOSING IT ♪ ♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪ ♪ I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪ ♪ WE'RE SO CLOSE TO IT ♪ ♪ SO VERY CLOSE TO IT ♪ ♪ WE STILL HAVE ENERGY IN US ♪ ♪♪ ♪ THE MISSION'S OVER NOW ♪ ♪ AND MY BREATH IS RUNNING OUT ♪ ♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪ ♪ CAN'T LET GO OF IT ♪ ♪ I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID ♪ ♪ I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID ♪ ♪ I LOVE YOU MORE THAN THIS ♪ ♪ I LOVE YOU MORE THAN THIS ♪ ♪ THEN LIGHTS, THEY FILL THE AIR ♪ ♪ OR WERE THEY ALWAYS THERE?

♪ ♪ I FINALLY SEE IT ♪ ♪ I FINALLY SEE IT ♪ ♪ AND I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪ ♪ I HEARD THE CAPTAIN SAY ♪ ♪ YOU'RE ALWAYS CLOSE TO IT ♪ ♪ SO VERY CLOSE TO IT ♪ ♪ THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY IN US ♪ ♪ THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY IN US ♪ ♪ THERE'S SO MUCH ENERGY IN US ♪ Captioned by: Paradigm Reporting & Captioning www.paradigmreporting.com ♪♪ >> "TV TAKEOVER" IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY THE ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND AND THE CITIZENS OF MINNESOTA AND BY A GRANT THROUGH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE LOWERTOWN FUTURE FUND.