Gamma Phi Circus
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Gamma Phi Circus, sponsored by Illinois State University, is the oldest collegiate circus in the United States[1]. It began as the Gamma Phi fraternity, founded in 1929 by ISU gymnastics instructor Clifford "Pop" Horton[2]. The fraternity's first circus performance took place in 1931. Gamma Phi Circus is a performing arts fraternal organization and is no longer affiliated with social fraternities or sororities and is a Registered Student Organization. Membership is available by audition to all full-time ISU students, faculty, and staff, and students can receive one semester of credit for participation. Illinois State University and Florida State University are the only two four-year universities that have full-fledged circuses.
History of the Gamma Phi Circus
The Gamma Phi Circus was founded in 1926 by Dr. Clifford Horton, who was a gymnastics instructor for Illinois State University. The Gamma Phi fraternity was founded in 1929 and held the first Gamma Phi Circus performance in 1931 on the Illinois State University campus. The Bloomington-Normal community has had strong ties to circuses since the 1880s, and was home to the Flying Wards and the Conciellos, both trapeze acts. In 1938, female members began to perform with the all-male circus, with women formally elected into the organization in 1940.
Circus alumni have gone on to perform in a variety of venues including the Shrine Circuses, the Circus Kingdom, Roberts Brothers Circus, Kelly Brothers Circus, the Great American Circus, and the Circus Alleluia. They have also performed at Disney World, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, Great America, and at Club Med Resorts. Members and alumni have also competed several times internationally in the Rhoenradturnen (Wheel Gymnastics) World Championships.
Financial Aspects
The Gamma Phi Circus is an entirely self-financed organization supported by revenue from the home performances. “Home Shows” performed at Illinois State University draw visitors to the university. Gamma Phi also offers free exhibitions that publicize the show and the University. Local businesses and corporations help with the cost of the show by sponsoring certain acts and purchasing advertisement space in the program. The circus rents space from the university at full cost, buys or makes the costumes, and does maintenance and buys equipment for the rehearsal areas. Advertising is through TV, radio, newspapers, and brochures.
Circus Participants
Circus members are full-time students, faculty, or staff members at the University. Applicants must audition for two separate acts, and are judged on their potential, skill, and development. Successful applicants then work with the circus for a full school year and attend all practices. Practices are held at the Horton Fieldhouse on the ISU campus. Student participants are not paid and generally receive no academic credit for performing.
Shows
Gamma Phi performs both Home Shows as well as Exhibitions and Road shows. Every April their Home Show at Redbird Arena usually consists of twenty or more acts and typically draws an audience of over 16,000 fans. Twenty to thirty road shows and exhibitions are also performed each year for schools, businesses, and charities. The Gamma Phi road show performances are approximately two hours long, and are performed in advance of the main Home Show. They perform double-duty as both a full circus performance and a preview and tune-up for the main show. Exhibitions are usually forty-five minutes in length and will normally consist of floor acts only including acrosport, globes, unicycles, gymwheel, chair balancing and juggling and are typically performed for school assemblies and open houses.
Circus Acts
Gamma Phi Circus gives performances that include Acrosport, Aerial Silks, Spanish Webs, Juggling, Gymwheel, Multiple Trap, Swinging Trap, Skating, Russian Bar, Unicycles, Russian Swing, mini-Teeterboard, High-Cradle, Teeterboard, and Vaulting/Tumbling. Each years performance also includes specialty acts such as Trap/Cradle, Hand Balancing, Perch-Pole, or Lira Hoop. In the recent past Women's rings and swinging ladders have not been in show. Gamma Phi also has clowns.