Sunday circus draws about 1,900

There were death-defying stunts, daring acrobats and even a few performing alligators as the Show Me Center became a temporary big top on Sunday for Piccadilly Circus.

Around 1,900 people attended two shows featuring performers from around the world -- Argentina, Russia, Israel, France, Germany, Canada, Mexico and Morocco.

A man and woman known as the Wind Troupe balanced high above the Show Me Center floor on a trapeze hanging from a motorcycle driven along a cable by another performer.

Gasps of alarm, followed by loud applause, came from the crowd as the driver stood on his head, balancing on the motorcycle's handlebars, and drove backward along the cable.

"You don't see that every day," said 12-year-old Jenny Huo of Cape Girardeau. "I really thought the motorcycle guy was cool."

For two hours at each performance, audience members were entertained by more than 100 performers and animals, including dancing miniature ponies, dogs pushing each other in a baby carriage and a performer sticking his head into a large alligator's mouth.

But it was the man riding his magical bicycle that caught the attention of 5-year-old Hayley Palmer.

"I can't do that with my bike," Palmer whispered, staring wide-eyed as the performer sat on the handlebars backwards and pedaled around the ring.

"Neither can I," said Charlotte Palmer of Villa Ridge, Ill., who drove 40 miles with her two grandchildren, Hayley and 9-year-old Jordan Palmer, to watch the circus.

"I've really enjoyed it," Charlotte Palmer said. "This is Hayley's first circus, and I thought it would be fun if we all came."

The Wheel of Destiny, a large structure featuring a spinning wheel made from metal mesh, captured the attention of 6-year-old Jacob Rutledge of Sikeston, Mo.

"The wheel was so cool," Rutledge said. "I really like the way the guy walked around it while it was spinning, especially when he was blindfolded. But the entire thing was neat."

cclark@semissourian.com

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