Take everything you think you know about the circus, and throw that out the window,” said Hank Ernest, a spokesperson for UniverSoul Circus.
He’s absolutely right – especially those who remember being shushed and/or reprimanded for being incapable of quelling our excitement while taking in the awe of the circus in its traditional form. Outbursts are not only encouraged, but they are often elicited at UniverSoul Circus. The experience is best described as a cross between the circus and a lively family reunion. The only thing missing is the potato salad as guests laugh, dance and engage with each other and the circus performers as one community under their soulful big top.
“Our show is about bridging generational and cultural gaps,” said UniverSoul Circus founder and CEO Cedric Walker. “As our world is getting smaller, families are looking for ways to spend time together and appealing to all ages is no easy feat.” They certainly make it look easy – and local audiences can see for themselves when the UniverSoul Circus family returns to St. Louis next week.
The tour includes on average only about 30 cities – and St. Louis has managed to stay in the mix probably because of the capacity crowds that come out year after year. They have expanded to two weeks at two locations for 2016. The UniverSoul Circus big top will be downtown near the Dome and at its regular Jamestown location. St. Louis has become only the third market in the annual national tour to expand with additional dates and two locations. The other two regions are New York City and Washington, D.C.
And as the organization nears 25 years of producing its unique interpretation of the circus experience that speaks to the black experience but welcomes all ethnicities with open arms – UniverSoul Circus has become an institution in its own right. They audaciously use the hashtag #bestcircusever, and few who attend would disagree with them. With each stop on their nationwide tour, they get about the business of proving that there’s no circus party like a UniverSoul Circus party. Their efforts aren’t lost on the audience – or the performers recruited from around the world to entertain the crowd. “When our show comes around, people are up dancing and singing and high-fiving performers,” Ernest said. “When performers get a load of that at our show, it’s infectious and they want to be a part of it. They tell their friends back home. We have circus schools from around the world who want to come be a part of our show because our audience makes them feel so good.” Their past and present talent roster spans more than 20 countries and five continents.
From 18 months to 80-plus years, the entire audience is given an unforgettable experience that they’ve grown to anticipate as UniverSoul’s roots in the region continue –and expand.
“UniverSoul’s blend of old-school soul and modern hip-hop sounds provides entertainment and a rich cultural experience that grandparents, parents and kids can enjoy,” Walker said.
UniverSoul Circus returns to St. Louis on August 24-28 at the Jamestown Mall location and across from the Dome (Formerly Edward Jones Dome) from August 31-September 5. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (800) 745-3000. For more information, visit www.unipversoulcircus.com.
