Experience circus in Lake Worth

Molly, of Boynton Beach, flies through the air while holding onto the trapeze.

Ever dream of running away to join the circus? With Circus Experience opening last month in Lake Worth, circus arts classes are now available in Palm Beach County.

Late Saturday afternoon, three women came to the Trapeze class. Molly, 22, was the most experienced, having tried the trapeze while vacationing at various Club Med locations in the Caribbean. Mande tried it once before and returned for another session. Maria, who heard about the trapeze class from Mande, was the newcomer.


Before climbing to the platform, they warmed up by doing basic stretches and donning safety belts.

Instructor Andres Leon (left) leads the women and fellow Circus Experience
staff through the warm-up routine.

The first test came when climbing the ladder to the platform. 

Marcus "Spider" Melo assists Maria as she reached
the platform.

The trapeze students had to wear belts that allowed two safety ropes to be attached. 

Instructor Peter Gold coached the women by calling out
instructions on how to move their bodies -- from hopping
off the platform to doing somersaults on the trapeze.

Soon, they were flying through the air -- easily.

Maria screamed before her first flight, but once on the ground she described
the experience as "intense." The rush she felt made her keep climbing
for more turns of the trapeze.

Coach Andres, who performed with Ringling Brothers Circus,  described the feeling from flying on the trapeze as "vitamins for the soul." He also had control of the safety ropes from the ground. And there was a long net underneath the trapeze where students and artists could land gracefully, then disembark to the ground.

Next, Andres and Spider demonstrated how to do a catch with a partner.

Mande did a perfect execution of this move.

Molly finished off the session by doing splits while on the trapeze.

The women, exhilarated by the experience, vowed to come back. 

At $55 per session, the Trapeze class is the most expensive one that Circus Experience offers. They also hold classes in Contortion, Aerial Silks and Fire Eating. They offer packages to reduce the per-class price and often host open houses where anyone can try the various arts for free. But they have an age restriction on Fire Eating, students have to be 13.

The circus arts school sits in an area of Lake Worth, two blocks south of downtown, where the city is trying to create an artist community. 

"Lake Worth really understood what we are trying to do," said Todd Fuchs, Circus Experience founder. "We are trying to empower the lives of other people."

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, when I walked:

Steps: 11,653
Miles: 5.8