I have been teaching circus arts in St. Louis for over 26 years. My flying children have spread their wings and flown around the world. Some have built nests and have children of their own. Sometimes they land at home for a bit.
Sidney ‘Iking’ Bateman and Melvin Diggs were here during a short break between Argentina and Romania while on their world tour with 7 Fingers’ wonderful Cuisine and Confessions show.
Out of the blue, I got this lovely email from Argentina:
“You don´t know me but that doesn´t matter… I was touched by Circus Harmony many many years ago and tonight, in the least expected of all possible places I was sent back in time while watching two of your former students, Melvin Diggs and Iking Bateman performing in Buenos Aires. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I recognized their moves, because that’s how I recognized them, it was like “I saw someone doing that before, but who was it…” I had to go back about 8 years (maybe more) when I saw them a few times at the City Museum and with Circus Flora in St. Louis… Whenever someone asks me how was it to live in St. Louis for so long, Circus Harmony is one of the things I think about. And I reply something like “it’s a strange city with amazing people and amazing places, anything can happen at any time, great things and bad things” These kids and your hard work are part of what makes St. Louis GREAT… if you have the chance please tell them that there is an Argentinean family that saw them growing and that we are really happy for them because what they achieved and their performance is simply AMAZING.”
Iking choreographed most of the act that the St. Louis Arches performed on Circus Flora, this year. If you missed their act on Circus Flora, here’s a link: St. Louis Arches on Circus Flora June 27, 2015
Their influence and inspiration are spreading…like ripples in a pond, like wings taking flight, like I never could have imagined!
Check out our summer news post to follow the flying children around St. Louis, America and the world!