On a field trip to City Museum when he was in 7th grade, Renaldo Junior Williams saw a performance of Circus Harmony. I so clearly remember him coming up to me from the audience at one of our shows. He shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said, “My name is Junior, and I want to do that.” And ‘do that’ he certainly has! For seven years, Renaldo, trained and performed with Circus Harmonys the St. Louis Arches.
(Photos of Renaldo and Alexandra at Circus Harmony in 2006 and 2007.)
While with the Arches, Renaldo presented acts in tumbling, partner acrobatics, aerial, juggling and equilibristics. He was also a choreographer with the troupe, creating some of their best Chinese hoop diving and adagio acrobatic routines. Renaldo was also part of the Ianna Sprit Riders bareback riding act, a partnership between Circus Harmony and Circus Flora. After completing high school and a year spent in university, Renaldo decided to continue his circus education and was our first student accepted to Ecole Nationale du Cirque in Montreal.
(Photo of Renaldo and Naomi)
He graduated in June 2013 and has already travelled to Dubai, Australia, Russia and France. This year, he and his partner, Naomi Pichon will be touring with the world famous circus company Les 7 Doigts de la Main. You can follow them at www.naomi-renaldo.com/
(Photo of Renaldo and Naomi)
Last week, Renaldo and Naomi competed at the prestigious Cirque de Demain (Circus of Tomorrow) in Paris where they won a silver medal! Here is the video of their award-winning performance.
(Photo from Cirque de Demain)
In an essay he wrote for a school assignment in 2007, Renaldo said. Circus has given me a feeling of uncanny camaraderie that no other social group has made me feel. Circus has also been a major inspiration on my life teaching me perseverance, team work, creativity, focus and responsibility. It is sickening for me to think about where I would be without circus and the extraordinary experiences that have come along with it. It has not changed my life but made me who I am. I ran away and joined the circus; anything is possible. Indeed, it is.
Jessica Hentoff
Bravo, Renaldo and Naomi!
(Circus Harmony students, staff and parents watching the live feed of the competition from Paris.)