YOUNG CIRCUS PERFORMERS ENJOY SHARING FEATS OF DERRING-DO WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Teens talk about what life is like in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Fifteen-year-old Gery Kehaiova can do something few other teen-agers can: She can twirl 45 hoops around her neck, waist, arms and legs, all at the same time.

She does this almost every day, sometimes three times a day, as a performer in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

This year's edition of the circus, which performed at Market Square Arena for five days in September and October, included five performers under the age of 18.

For the young performers in the circus, it's a life of fun but also hard work. Children's Express talked to Gery and teeterboard performer Franco Vargas, 14, about their lives in the circus.

Gery and Franco have little spare time when the circus is performing. They have to fit in three hours of school as well as practice their act every day.

"In the morning we do school, (in) our free time we do sports, then we get ready for the show," Gery said.

Franco went to school for a year but prefers the life of a circus performer and being schooled in the main tent with his fellow performers.

Both kids said they do have time for fun on days when the circus has no performances. After all that hard work, they usually have free time on Mondays and Tuesdays when they can go to a mall, sightsee or see a movie.

Gery's and Franco's families also perform in the circus. The Kehaiova family is from Bulgaria and has 12 members; the Vargases are from Mexico and have 10.

Gery's mother also makes the costumes for her children.

Both families do intricate stunts on the teeterboard, which is like a giant seesaw. For example, one performer _ the "flyer" _ stands on one end of the teeterboard and another jumps on the other end, sending the flyer through the air.

Franco has been a flyer for the Franco Troupe since he was 6 years old. His specialty these days is a front-twisting somersault landing in a chair.

Neither Gery nor Franco is bothered by stage fright.

"We concentrate and try not to mess up," Gery said, adding that the most important thing is to smile _ "even when you are crying" _ to show the audience that you are having fun.

Gery said she always wanted to be in the circus, but it was hard to leave Bulgaria and leave friends, aunts and uncles behind.

Franco, too, grew up wanting to join his family in the circus. "Until I can't perform, it's what I want to do. It's what I was born to do."