Before Donesha Buhr took home first place recently in the final round of the 4th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, she was already a winner in her mind. Her “trophy,” Buhr said, was a guaranteed spot to perform at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
“I’m still bursting with joy that I actually did it,” she said. “I’m still bursting with joy that the prize is so big.”
She won a $7,000 college scholarship underwritten by Ameren Missouri.
Her 1920s flapper-inspired hula hoop act also garnered this year’s “I” Award for the most imaginative, inspired and inventive act, winning a $1,500 cash prize underwritten by Terry and Sally Schnuck.
The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation presented the competition that began with nearly 200 contestants from 78 schools in the bi-state metropolitan area.
“What’s inspiring about my act would be that I’m an African-American girl doing hula hoops in the circus,” Buhr said.
She performs weekends at the City Museum with Circus Harmony’s St. Louis Arches, a youth circus performance troupe. The troupe can also be booked for special occasions like birthday parties and weddings.
Circus Harmony is a local non-profit social circus organization that expands circus education opportunities for St. Louis youth. Circus Harmony offers classes and workshops in a variety of circus arts for people ages five and up.
On a recent Saturday during an hour-long break before her second show, Buhr reminisced with giddiness about her Fox performance. She revealed that fellow St. Louis Arches juggler Kellin Quinn influenced her decision to try out for the competition. Quinn placed third in the final round of the 2012 competition.
“There are some tremendously talented young people in the St. Louis area,” said Jessica Hentoff, artistic and executive director of Circus Harmony (and Quinn’s mother). “It’s pretty extraordinary that both of our students placed so well.”
Hentoff formed the St. Louis Arches in 1989 with 10 inner-city children at Jefferson Elementary School in the St. Louis Public School (SLPS) system.
“I get to be like Peter Pan,” Hentoff said. “I sprinkle the magic dust on people, which is circus, and they get to fly.”
Buhr’s mother, Sharon, enrolled her in circus classes 10 years ago when the girl was nine years old. She began developing her act during her freshman year in high school with the help of Rosa Yagaantsetseg. Yagaantsetseg is a Mongolian hula hoop artists and strength and flexibility and hula hoop coach with Circus Harmony.
Buhr is now a senior at SLPS’ Fresh Start Academy, and plans to commit full time to the circus before heading off to college. When she resumes her studies, she will work toward a career in teaching or recreational therapy with hopes of working with younger children who have special needs.
Hentoff said Buhr, who works as a part-time student teacher with Circus Harmony, has a natural gift for teaching.
Buhr is gearing up for her first overseas trip and will travel to Israel with the St. Louis Arches for two weeks in July. In 2007, Circus Harmony began the Peace through Pyramids partnership between the St. Louis Arches and the Galilee Circus, an Israeli Jewish/Arab troupe. Hentoff said it is a costly trip, and the group is still raising funds.
“We have raised about $15,000,” Hentoff said, “but we really need about $30,000.”
She said it is an opportunity to demonstrate that race, religion, and socio-economic background do not matter in the circus, but rather what an individual brings to the ring.
“There’s going to be a really big culture shock seeing how they live versus how we live,” Buhr said, “and how circus is for them versus how circus is for us.”
Buhr said a lot can be gained by participating in the circus.
“I’m confident about myself as a person,” she said. “Ready to conquer anything that comes my way.”
Circus Harmony’s Flying Trapeze Center is now open at Union Station. Book your classes online at www.TrapezeSTL.com or call 314-504-4298. More information on Circus Harmony: www.circusharmony.org or 314-436-7676.
Follow this reporter on Twitter: @BridjesONeil.
