Hudsons Circus brings its 10th anniversary show to Toowoomba
As a young gymnast, Alana Longford dreamt of performing in the circus but didn’t think it would happen until a family friend gave a push. That was 18 months ago, with the 15-year-old now ready to wow audiences at Hudsons Circus.
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While most teenagers are busy with part-time jobs and the perils of the high school social scene, Alan Longford spends her days flying high as a gravity-defying aerial acrobat.
The 15-year-old girl is living out her childhood dream as one of the dozens of performers in Hudsons Circus, which opened in Toowoomba Thursday night.
She specialises in the lyra, an act that involves twirling, twisting and contorting through a ring while suspended high above the crowd.
“I was doing gymnastics for 10 years and my parents were in the circus when they were younger,” Alana said.
“We were visiting some family friends who taught me some of the lyra for fun, but I developed a passion for it.
“I decided to come along to the circus for a few weeks, but that turned into months and now it has been more than a year.”
Alana works to a gruelling schedule with multiple rehearsals each day, followed by a performance each night.
She lives out a caravan and makes sure to keep up her schooling through Distance Education.
“It’s a lot but it is an adventure,” Alana said.
“You see new sights and each town is different. We have performed in snow, mud, beautiful green grass, gravel and concrete.
“When you are in the moment you don’t think about anything else, you don’t think about your daily life, and all you want to do is make people smile.
“It was always a dream and I never thought it would happen until it did.”
Audiences can see Alana and her fellow performers do their show nightly from June 22-July 9 with Hudsons Circus making camp in Queens Park.
The traditional circus includes aerial acts, performing camel, horse and dog, motorbike globe riders and clowns.
For details see hudsonscircus.com.au.
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