Circus Smirkus
Circus Smirkus is a non-profit international youth circus founded in 1987 by Rob Mermin. It is based in Greensboro, Vermont.
Smirkus' performers and coaches have come from Canada, China, Colombia, United Kingdom, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, Zambia, ten Native American nations and 20 US states. At the International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in September 2000, Circus Smirkus was introduced as "the United Nations of the youth circus world."
Summer camp
Circus Smirkus has a summer camp that trains children in areas such as aerials, clowning/performance, acrobatics and juggling. Participants may also choose to train in other skills such as human pyramids, unicycling and stilt walking. Smirkus Camp opened its Summer 2015 season at new, permanent facilities—a 135-year-old farmhouse, two dormitories, circus tents for training, and Baylin's Balance Barn- on 35 acres (14 ha) in Greensboro, Vermont. The camp sessions offered throughout the season vary from one night overnight camps, one and two-week camps, and advanced camps, including Road Show, Intermediate Skills Intensive, Advanced Individual Acts, and Advanced Ensemble. Smirkus Camp also offers an all ages camp for friends and family at the end of the summer season.
From 1990 to 2010, the circus had more than 4,000 youths aged 10–18 in its summer camps.
Prior to 2016 when Smirkus Camp built its own home in Greensboro, Vermont, the camp moved around and used facilities at places like Bolton Valley Ski Resort, White Mountain School, Sterling College, Lyndon State College, and Burke Mountain Academy.
Awards and honors
- 1992: Vermont Arts Council's Award of Excellence
- 1994: Dove Foundation Award for Family Values
- 1994: Named "one of America's best circuses" by Family Fun Magazine
- 1997: The Bessie Award from Burlington City Arts
- 1998: People's Choice Award at "Circus Youth of Today" Festival in Sweden
- 2000: Dubbed "the United Nations of the youth circus world" by Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
- 2004: Smirkus founder Rob Mermin awarded the Lund Family Center's "It Takes a Village" Award
- 2004: Smirkus founder Rob Mermin awarded Vermont Arts Council's Citation of Merit "for distinguished service to the arts in Vermont"
- 2008: Smirkus founder Rob Mermin awarded the Vermont Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts
Collaborations
Notable alumni
- Dan Brown, stunt performer for films including Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Letters from Iwo Jima
- Jade Kindar-Martin, highwire walker, holds Guinness World Record for double skywalk across the River Thames in London
- Spencer Novich, eccentric contortionist, bronze medalist at the 2012 Festival Mondial Du Cirque De Demain,
- Molly Saudek, tightwire dancer, silver medalist at the 1998 Festival Mondial Du Cirque De Demain in Paris
- Jacob and Nathaniel Sharpe, diaboloists, performed at 2007 Festival Mondial Du Cirque De Demain in Paris
- John Stork, finalist on Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
- Taylor Wright-Sanson, unicyclist, equilibrist, 2008 winner of Canada's national unicycle competition, the Ottawa Unicycle Invasion
- Ariana Wunderle, tightwire walker, 2022 Guinness World Record for farthest distance walked on a wire in high heels