Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Circus Chimera's unique and fascinating stunts were thrilling to people of all ages who attended the big top Tuesday evening.

The circus has several comedy acts, magic tricks and acrobatics that interacted with the audience.

The opening act was performer Walter Chimal, who provided a demonstration of balance mixing grace and acrobatic technique. He dangled and performed numerous stunts while hanging on to two long elegant white ribbons.

"The opening act was the best," said Alba Avella, a senior at Steamboat Springs High School. She said that as a dancer herself she was impressed with the performances.

The professionalism and quality of the acts was evident from the start of the show as attendants were helpful and polite showing people to their seats.

For some, events such as the balancing acts and trapeze were somewhat nerve racking.

Michelle Toothaker, a freshman at Steamboat Springs High School, said she thought the balancing acts looked painful.

One of those acts included a man balancing a pole on top of his head while another person stood on top of the pole. The act continued as another person placed a pole on the second-highest person and climbed to the top.

"It is very artistic similar to Cirque Du Soleil. My daughter is having a great time," said K.J. Fereese of Steamboat Springs.

She said her 7-year-old daughter enjoyed seeing the female acrobats dressed up in princess costumes.

The comedy acts were hilarious and suitable for a young audience. Several audience members were brought on stage for the comedy acts.

The front row around the circus ring also got their share of "playing" with the clowns, giving them high fives while getting bombarded with popcorn and toilet paper.

The familiar circus acts of disappearing and reappearing people and caged-in motorcycle riders also added excitement to the performance.

The trick of magically moving a coin from one hand to the other was mimicked using toilet paper.

Joe Nelson, 11, of Steamboat Springs was selected to come onstage and determine where the clown was hiding the pieces of toilet paper shown to him just seconds before. Nelson's innocence and attentiveness added to the act.

"It was exciting," Nelson said. He said he came to the circus with his friend and his friend's older sister.

He said he attended the circus last year and enjoyed it just as much this year.

There was a midway with activities for children to participate in before the circus began and also during intermission.

Children rode miniature ponies in a circle, similar to a carousel, except with real animals.

Before the circus, Nelson said he tried the Titanic a giant slide down a ship modeled after the Titanic. Overall, he said the circus was a lot of fun.

The circus is not only great entertainment for children of all ages, but it also benefits the community.

Portions of the ticket sales are used to benefit the Regional Affordable Living Foundation and Habitat for Humanity, both sponsored the event.

"It's a great community fund-raiser," said Kim Mitchell, director of communication and online marketing at the Chamber Resort Association.

"It's kind of an old-fashioned circus," she said.

Performances for the circus are at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. today. Tickets can be purchased at the event.