Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by Cosmo Photograpy

Los Gatan Robin Stevens (top) gets twisted up with Sharon Allen as part of their act in Cirque San Jose.

Fisher student performs in Cirque San Jose show

By Shari Kaplan

Los Gatos mountain resident Robin Stevens doesn't need to dream of running away with the circus. At age 11, she is already in one.

The Fisher Middle School sixth-grader began her association with Cirque San Jose--which is all of two years old--after attending Taylor's Acro-Gymnastics summer circus camp in 1992, thanks to the encouragement of her mother. She became a member of Taylor's performance group in 1994, so it was only natural that she join Cirque San Jose when it branched off from Taylor's group in the spring of 1995.

"I liked it; it was fun and interesting," Robin recalls of her first taste of acrobatics and gymnastics at age 7. After learning and perfecting what she calls the "simple stuff," which includes somersaults, handstands and cartwheels, she graduated to doing those same stunts on or over the hands and bodies of other people. She has also learned some moves such as back and front walkovers.

In Cirque San Jose's latest show, Spaced Out '97, Robin dons a bright, fluorescent costume and performs on the trapeze and rope as an acrobat and on the floor as a contortionist.

"I like to perform in front of people," Robin says, although she adds that she prefers smaller crowds to huge ones. The one thing about the Cirque that she's not totally comfortable with is the trapeze work, which involves swinging, jumping and catching. But that's because it's still new, she says.

"I like learning new things, [and] it's been fun working with circus professionals from all over the world," Robin adds, in reference to the acrobats and gymnasts whose credits include Cirque Du Soleil, the Moscow Circus and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Robin and the other Cirque performers practice three evenings a week, usually for 2 1/2 hours each time. She isn't sure what type of career path she will follow down the road, but for now she says she is having fun with the Cirque and plans to continue indefinitely--or at least until later years of school become a factor.

"I think I'd like to stay. It depends on how much homework I start to get," she says with a chuckle.

"Spaced Out '97," which takes place on Fridays and Saturdays through May 10, are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children. Performances are at 634 N. Eighth St. in San Jose. For information, call 295-2276.