Six summers ago, the circus arena of French Woods Festival of Performing Arts seemed to be the only dry spot on the campsite located in upstate New York. Almost every camper was rushing with their colorful tights, leotards and rain boots to get under the canopy and audition for the circus. With hundreds of campers scrambling around the scene to show off their athletic abilities, one girl in particular caught the eye of the circus directors while flying through the air.

Digital media sophomore Samantha Stoloff has been attending the French Woods Festival of Performing Arts summer camp for six years and has been participating in the largest child circus event there since 2010, where she got put into the Single Trapeze act.

“It was [a big deal] because typically on your first try, you get an act like juggling, tumbling, rola bola or globe, and those aren’t the acts that you want to be in because the younger kids usually get put into those,” Stoloff said. “I had plenty of friends that were still getting into these acts this year, so it was a very big accomplishment to be put into single trapeze in my first audition.”

Since Stoloff has started working on the trapeze, she has shown her spirit and passion toward the sport by spending every summer committed to her circus acts.

“At camp she shows [that] she is dedicated because she walks around in her circus

clothing and gets so excited when the cast list for circus is posted,” theatre sophomore and French Woods camper Amanda Shore said. “She talks about [circus] all the time.”

The emotional and physical characteristics necessary to succeed as a circus performer include upper body strength, core strength, flexibility, stamina, confidence and fearlessness as described by Stoloff.

“There have been a few times when I’ve been afraid of falling and hurting myself,” Stoloff said. “As a result, I end up falling anyways but I’m being caught by lines or a spotter. It helps me learn from my mistakes.”

Despite the initial fear of falling while being so high in the air, Stoloff admits that once she is up in the air she never wants to come down.

“When you first start, you don’t know what you’re getting into. I love learning new routines and being with a group of people that are so supportive that will help you learn new tricks and routines,” Stoloff said, “I’m also a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so I love being able to swing through the air and learn to trust myself and others with my life.”

Due to a lack of local circus programs, Stoloff only participates in the circus during her nine weeks at camp. However, she spends plenty of time throughout the year to prepare for auditions.

“Typically I’ll go to the gym daily and do 30 minutes of cardio and an hour of strength training,” Stoloff said.

Even though she trains all school year for the upcoming circus seasons, Stoloff is still physically unprepared for the strength and endurance needed for trapeze.

“In the beginning, you’re very sore because you’re using muscles that you haven’t used in a long time,” Stoloff said. “After the weeks go by, the soreness disappears because muscle is forming and adjusts to the physical activity.”

Although Stoloff must possess much physical and mental strength in order to perform circus acts, theatre sophomore and bunkmate Olivia DeiCicchi discusses the physical conditions that circus participants experience while at the camp.

“All [Stoloff] talks about is how much she loves the circus,” DeiCicchi said, “She comes back [after rehearsal] with bruises and you would think she’d be in pain but she says it’s a ‘good kind’ of pain and how ‘rewarding’ it is.”

Although Stoloff does not see herself ever pursuing this sport as a career in the future, circus has become her number one priority and something she has become very dedicated and devoted to as an athlete.

“There is so much support from everyone throughout the circus community at camp,” Stoloff said. “Circus is a difficult sport that requires you to be strong and willing in order to succeed in the circus show. You have to be committed too; otherwise you’ll fall behind just like in any other sport out there.”