Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Presents DRAGONS 2012
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey searched far and wide, from
north to south and east to west, to bring audiences spellbinding acts,
including:
The Shaolin Warriors, from China,
execute intense and fearless Kung Fu martial arts dating back to the
5th Century. Trained at an early age to become masters of their
discipline, the Shaolin Warriors demonstrate powerful concentration and
skill by using rapid movements and the sheer strength of their own
bodies to twist eight foot long metal rods; break six foot long wooden
poles in one precise strike; or be lifted seven feet in the air on the
points of five handheld spears. Not even 48 steel blades rotating
within a metal ring of fire can unnerve the steady mind of a Shaolin
Warrior as he jumps through the razor-sharp blaze blindfolded!
The Riders of the Wind, a dozen
of the most deftly-balancing Cossack riders, charge into the ring on
their thoroughbred horses, displaying great strength and amazing
dexterity. The equestrian acrobat riders perform intricate maneuvers on
horseback, including a double-man pyramid that builds to a remarkable
Roman riding five-man high pyramid, all while the horses are galloping
at full speed!
The Globe of Steel features the Torres Family who will shatter all records by putting eight family
members on specialized motorcycles. Once locked inside a 16-foot steel
globe, all together they will orbit at an unprecedented 65 miles per
hour within inches of each other.
Hailing from Great Britain and appearing in the United States for the first time, Alexander Lacey, trainer and award winning presenter, along with his big cats including tigers and lions,
summons brazen bravado and valor in one mixed cat display. Lacey’s
fearless command of the big cats’ agility and strength demonstrates
unconditional respect between man and predator.
Featured in a dazzling aerial display, Viktoriya Medeiros and Widny Neves, the Hair Hang Heroines
ascend 35-feet in the air from just the strands of their long dark
hair. Relying on the pure strength of their hair, they juggle, flip and
even spiral down a silk chiffon!
The Flying Caceres, with their double decker high trapeze
designed specifically for Ringling Bros., will soar elegantly through
the air at The Greatest Show On Earth. They will present the wildly
difficult forward triple somersault and in the first worldwide attempt,
troupe leader George Caceres will undertake a full twisting double
bar-to-bar somersault.
A whimsical, heartwarming and awe inspiring display of showmanship brings an animal menagerie from 10 pounds to 10,000 pounds only found at Ringling Bros. Presents DRAGONS. Treasured Ringling Bros. Asian elephants, the largest herd of any circus in North America, are presented in an incredible spectacle of majestic wonder and strength. Andre McClain presents a charming display of mixed hoofstock including horses, ponies, mini-donkeys, and goats;Hans Klose with his ten high-energy rescue dogs
display their animal athleticism by high jumping, hurdling, back
flipping, walking on their hind legs and even diving from 16-feet up in
the air; and, Mayya and Andriy Panfilov amaze as their troupe of performing domestic felines scale
a “kitty low wire”, balance on top of balls, jump through hula hoops
and walk across parallel bars only using their front paws.
In a friendly tournament of Russian Bar Renegades and Teeterboard Titans,
two amazing acrobatic troupes attempt to outdo one another as they
vault from a 12-foot long, six inch wide Russian bar showcasing an
overwhelming series of flips, twists and somersaults sequences. These
athletes will astonish as they ramp it up by securing themselves to six
foot tall stilts before being launched from the teeterboard, executing
not a just single, not even a double but an unbelievable triple
somersault!
Roaring through the arena sky is the dueling double motorcycle high-wire!
Hearts will pound as two daredevil riders race their motorcycles on
specially designed high-wires suspended 30-feet over the audience.
Precariously poised from each bike are beautiful aerialists who feed
the flames of excitement with flips and spins all while on the moving
bikes!
“We are so excited and have been waiting for 2012, the Year of the
Dragon, to arrive so that we could create a Ringling Bros. and Barnum
& Bailey production of such magnitude that celebrates mystical
dragon lore with genuine circus feats,” says Producer Nicole Feld.
“Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents DRAGONS is truly a
once in a lifetime event where fantasy and real world legends literally
collide at The Greatest Show On Earth! ®, adds Producer Alana
Feld.
To create Ringling Bros. Presents DRAGONS producers Nicole Feld and
Alana Feld assembled a creative team who’s story-telling of the exotic
interwoven with circus action, humor and fun include:
Shanda Sawyer (Concept,
Director and Lyricist): Directed the 136th and 139th Editions of
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey; choreographed, directed and
consulted on a host of television specials, touring shows and music
videos, including Dancing with the Stars, The 69th Academy Awards®
show, “The Miss America Pageant”, as well as artists Beyonce and Miley
Cyrus. Sawyer was awarded the Gracie Allen Award for Best Reality Show
for the Oxygen’s comedy-reality show, Who Needs Hollywood?
Bradley Zweig (Writer): Wrote
Feld Entertainment’s production Disney’s Phineas and Ferb; The Best
LIVE Tour Ever! and Disney Live! Presents Mickey’s Music Festival;
veteran of children’s programming who has written for Disney Channel,
CW, Cartoon Network, Discovery Kids and Nickelodeon; served as writer
and producer on the Henson Digital Performance Studio television series
“Sid the Science Kid,” for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award.
Joe Stewart (Scenic
Designer): Production designer for Disney On Ice Toy Story 3, the
139th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey and scenic
designer for many television series, including Two and a Half Men, The
Big Bang Theory, Friends, the American Music Awards® show, and the
Ellen DeGeneres Show; has worked in television for 30 years and has won
three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Greg Poplyk (Costume Designer)
– Emmy® nominated costume designer who has designed for a variety of
national shows and performances across the United States including
Saving Aimee, Guys & Dolls, Yankee Doodle Dandy, My Fair Lady, Land
of Nod for The New York City Ballet, A Christmas Carol, Grease,
Carousel, and Show Boat.
Alex Reardon (Lighting
Designer): Lighting designer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey 138th, 139th and 140th Editions, Disney On Ice Presents Toy
Story 3, and Disney On Ice Let’s Celebrate!; designed concert lighting
for artists including the Dixie Chicks, LeAnn Rimes, Motley Crue and
Paul Simon; created lighting for the premieres of motion pictures The
Hulk and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
Ron Aniello (Song Composer) –
Multi-platinum and Grammy Nominated writer, producer, composer and
musician who has enjoyed a diverse career working with such artists as
Bruce Springsteen, Gavin DeGraw, Lifehouse, Patti Scialfa, Barenaked
Ladies, Jars of Clay, Bridgit Mendler, Guster, Sixpence None The Richer
and many others. In addition, Ron has composed scores for film and TV,
and two musicals for Broadway.
Michael Picton (Score
Composer): Award winner composer who also has composed the music
for the 137th and 140th Editions of Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey. Picton served as composer, orchestrator and music producer for
Le Reve at the Wynn Las Vegas; has composed for clients including VH1’s
I want to Work for Diddy, SyFy’s network series Flash Gordan, and the
PBS documentary POV. He was the Grand Prize recipient at the Turner
Classic Movies Young Film Composers competition and scored Turner
Classic Movie’s DVD release of the 1926 Greta Barbo silent movie epic,
The Temptress.
Kevin Wilson (Choreographer):
Accomplished choreographer and performer with a range of completed work
including the highly anticipated feature film Rock of Ages, as well as
Dreamgirls, Austin Powers: Goldmember, and Blades of Glory. Wilson’s
work has been seen in America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance,
Your Chance To Dance, 2010 Miss Universe pageant, and the 2011
Nickelodeon Awards.
For the national tour schedule and to find out more about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents DRAGONS, visit Ringling.com.
About Feld Entertainment: Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in
producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences
that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30
million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld
Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on
six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®,
Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!
