Sailor Circus Academy started in 1949 and is now a top circus training program. The venue is very…read morenice, the inside of the building really gives you a circus tent feeling. 3 times a year they have a show. The spring show we visited was called "Victorious " and it was super. Lights, music, 2 very good announcers made it a spectacular show. It was 2 hours of fun and excitement. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

I last went to the Sailor Circus about 50 years ago. It was great to get to go again. There are…read moreperformances only 3 days, Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and a matinee and evening performance on Saturday. The circus performers are kids! Their ages range from 6-18. It is truly amazing what these youngsters are capable of doing. Not only are they doing many of the typical acts one associates with the circus(tightrope walking, juggling, aerials, unicycle and bicycling feats, high flying on trapezes), but they are incredibly strong. Both the boys and the girls are able to swing from trapeze bars and hold on to other performers who spin and twirl high above the circus floor or catch a performer flying through the air. The boy who pedaled the bike was strong enough to carry 5 other performers who did handstands while in motion. It's a wonderful show put on by school children. Bright costumes and great music! The show is 2 1/2 hours, including a brief intermission.

Totally sucked it's not a circus and not a music concert the sound totally sucked for an orchestra…read moreperformance. The few acts were lame Total rip off for the amount of money they charge. No butter for the popcorn BYO

Circus performance at the tent next to the University Town Center Mall organize by the Circus Arts…read moreConservatory of Sarasota. The performance by the season artist who are the winner of many circus honorary. This circus include an orchestra, chorale, and the performer. The orchestra is awesome to attached to the circus. The chorale team also is very good. However the circus act did not impress me. The are momentum build up but not follow with wow factor act. I between the show, there are too many not interesting section or keep up the beat of the show. Lost my interest in many moment. Overall they have a good portable bathroom. They are good and clean. This cuscus has only two shows. It is good for the community and people to spent their time with family.

Saw a production of Purlie, performers were absolutely fantastic, facility is impeccable.read more

This is a really nice spot! Been there several times. Super intimate.... your high school…read moreauditorium is bigger!!! How I got over Gospel Review was great albeit way way way too loud! I should have said something as checking with others this is a common complaint! The actors/ singers are so talented and the theatre is so small they honestly don't need the microphones which make it over the top loud. Still love this place!!!

Will return. A town…read morewith 54,842 residents, their ballet company is quite exceptional. Although they perform at various sites, including their Opera House, this venue, next to Ringling Museum, is their main home. Many patrons do dress up for the occasion. This ballet company was founded in 1987 by dancer Jean Weidner-Goldstein (Your observer; Tribune). The current director Iain Webb (1959-) was once a dancer, started out with Royal Ballet (1931-) of UK. Tonight's performance P4 Quintessential has three individual segments: Rococo Variations | Choreography by Renato Paroni | Music by Tchaikovsky Brandenburgs | Choreography by Paul Taylor | Music by Bach World Premiere | Choreography by Gemma Bond | Music by Rachmaninov Modern ballet with classical music - a good combo. The Tchaikovsky piece is in light blue tutu; the second and the third are modern costume, skimpy skintight. I enjoyed the first two, especially the second one by Rachmaninov. Reportedly many come to see the third. Oh well, I'm not a Bach fan -:) Rachmaninov's music sounds tumultuous, struggles, pathos but this ballet interpretation is beautiful and well done. I also like their costume the best, simple clean line is aesthetically pleasing. All dancers are more or less of the same physique, with good skill. I don't really follow ballet but saw Misty Copeland once. No one in this ballet company is of Misty Copeland's fame but the dancers are very enjoyable to watch. Out of curiosity, I googled the following annual budget: $102m The New York City Ballet's (NYCB) 2024 $45m The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) where Copeland dances $9m Sarasota ... oh well - someone is doing well with less

The Sarasota Ballet is a treasure which delights with every fresh viewing. The venue is gorgeous…read moreand offers wonderful sight lines from a variety of seats. I am from out of state and always enjoy coming here when I am in town. Most recently I went to see the Mark Morris Dance Group show which included his works Pacific, Ten Suggestions, Candleflowerdance, and Going Away Party. All four pieces were exquisitely done and evocative in vastly different ways. The dancers were top notch. I especially was moved by Candleflowerdance. The performances here stay with you for a long time. I found the audience here to be respectful and quiet. That is always a pleasant occurence in public art spaces. Well recommended. Sarasota should be proud of their amazing arts offerings.

As snowbirds, we love to support and enjoy local theatre. The Manatee Players are exquisite in…read moretheir sets, execution and hospitality. The venue is very nice. Our first play, The Cemetary Club, was held in the smaller theatre. Only con was the proximity of the chairs to the foward row. My 5'10" friend had her knees jammed into a chair back for most of the show. Our second play, Bright Star, was in the Stone Hall portion of the venue. It was true theatre seating and elevated stage. These volunteers do a wonderful job of entertaining. Highly recommend.

Saw "Newsies" at Manatee Players tonight (Friday). Best opening show since Les Miserable in my…read moreopinion. The cast defies adequate superlatives to communicate their amazing performance. The youthful cast permeates the audience with their energy and enthusiasm. Music is by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and book by Harvey Fierstein and the show is based on Disney's the Newsies. It takes place in the 1890's but the story seems very relevant to today's news. Rick Kerby has outdone himself with this production. His direction of dance numbers leave the audience exhilarated and clapping. Kudos to the entire production team but special note to the set designer Donna Buckalter. In the opening number the set moves like a Rubik's cube into cleaver formations. Each and every member of the cast is perfection. They work together like they have done it for years. Everyone should be mentioned but due to space I will laude the leads Austin Greshem as Jack Kelly, Alexander Zickafoose as Crutchie, Savannah Sinclair (Katherine Plummer) and all the newsies. Javisha Strong as Medda Larkin is literally show stopping in her number "That's Rich". The cast dance numbers are Broadway worthy. Simply breathe taking. The tap number at the opening of the second act had my heart beating faster than it should. The entire show reminded me why I love theater. This show is not to be missed if you are in the area. 5/5 stars.

This is an event space where we went to to see a dance recital. Although it is small it serves it's…read morepurpose. It was cozy and intimate. We arrived after everything started and sat where we could find a seat for 4 people together. Our seat was located in the front but we did not want to disturb the show. It turns out the people who belonged in these seats came after we did. The usher told us we had to move but we negotiated with the other people and they took our unused seats up front. It's a cute little place but when you walk in you don't know who works there and who doesn't. The ushers should have something in letting you know they are an usher.

So, last night we wrapped up our week of Theatre with an absolutely phenomenal presentation of…read more"Spring Awakening" at Rise Above! This was the senior year production, and I got to tell you... I was blown out of the water by what these kids brought to the stage! This production has everything! Talent, great voices, impeccable, choreography, and a love scene that would rival any Broadway production. to everyone involved with this... Kudos and thank you for a marvelous night in the theater. Wishing everyone of you much success in your journey ahead. simply brilliant!

Wow, what a great theatre we have here on the Island. This historic cute place is really worth a…read morevisit. Fabulous shows, great customer service from the box office and polite and accommodating ushers... The set was professional, costumes outstanding and the acting and direction was first class. Don't miss this fun evening out.

What an AMAZING theater right on Anna Maria Island! Grace and Glorie was the best play I have seen…read morein years! The acting was superb and the set was perfect. I will be back!

The great part for us, the audience, is our chance to see and experience performances from a world…read moreclass ballet school in our own back yard. The joy of live dance performances is both uplifting and energizing. The Sarasota Cuban Ballet (SBC) in the Cuban style, for me, is the next positive step in the evolution of the ballet genre: diverse, graceful, emotive and powerful! As a school to send your child.....So to qualify myself first because everyone's opinion, like flavors, is 1 of 3: sweet, savory or tart and all have their place which is why our world is such a wonderfully creative combination of flavors. I am an active dance dad. I have tried and thoroughly and personally love tap and ballet....noting that my lack of skills drops the grace/ability bar so low it is but a "mark" on the floor. I have been watching and supporting my daughter along her( to date 10 year ) dance journey. I have been learning and growing along the way in areas of technique, presentation, physical injury & recovery, mental/ psychological strength .....from a parent's perspective of course. My daughter has trained at several good and some fantastic studios...I have been witness to a small part of the behind the scenes issues and joys of this HUGELY creative & GINORMOUSLY physical art form.... She attended the Sarasota Cuban Ballet summer intensive on recommendation from another wonderful ballet conservatory and decided stay and continue her training towards becoming a professional ballerina. That said.... I make the first entry of my impression to date: This team of teachers knows how to train without over training, cares about their students and can provide a clear (and proven) path to a professional ballet company contract. Because a dancer typically discovers their passion for dance arts at a young age, parents typically take a more active role in their journey. As a parent still learning about this profession and seeing lots of haze and ambiguity in the path ahead there is a greater sense of calm that at least we have found a clearer path with a "knock-able" doors of opportunity. We all know there are no guarantees for a job: skill level, injuries, health and mental disposition are all obstacles of opportunity for every dancer wanting a professional career. Sarasota Cuban Ballet (SCB) impresses me to have the experience, empathy and teaching skills to give every dancer a real shot at their dream. Over the last decade of working with various studios, this is both rare and precious. Now, mind you, I am sure and am familiar with several other schools around the world and in this area who also excel in the same and for different dance genres. Kudos to them. I have learned that everyone is uniquely similar... we all excel or languish in different environments. There is no single school of any type that is a perfect fit for all or for all time. I believe in SCB we have found the three (3) "E's" we are seeking: Empathy, Excellence and Experience