CircusTeens is CircEsteem’s youth employment program created in 2004. It provides opportunities for older students to become more involved with CircEsteem. It is an opportunity for them to gain work experience and save money for college while doing something they love. The CircusTeens are paid to mentor younger students, teach circus skills, perform and assist at HomeWork & CircusWork, Summer and Winter Camp, and on Saturdays with the Chicago Youth Circus.
In order to be a CircusTeen, students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average, demonstrate a level of maturity and responsibility, be able to show mastery of specific circus skills, have a passion for performing and model positive behavior and leadership skills.
Ali was born in Chicago and joined CircEsteem in 2002. Her favorite circus skills are lyra, trapeze, silks, tight wire, acrobatics and Gym Wheel. She has attended two AYCO (American Youth Circus Organization) festivals, traveled to Germany, performed all over Illinois, been on a two-week tour and performed for over 100,000 people around the world. [...]
Edith Keme was born in Togo. Her family moved to Chicago in 2001 and she joined CircEsteem in 2003. Through CircEsteem Edith has traveled around the country and internationally. In 2009, Edith went to the World Gym Wheel Championships in Switzerland. She was accompanied by her teammates and coach Wolfgang Bientzle. Wolfgang is an 8-time [...]
Jack Gomberg was born in Chicago and joined CircEsteem at the age of five. For over a decade, CircEsteem has been like a second home to Jack. His favorite circus skills are tumbling, aerials, and the Gym Wheel. CircEsteem has provided Jack with tremendous opportunities such as performing on television shows America’s Got Talent and Nickelodeon’s Figure it Out, [...]
Kenia joined CircEsteem in 2009. Although she has recently joined she has quickly become friends with everyone, traveled with CircEsteem on tour and to the American Youth Circus festival. Her favorite skills are juggling, acrobatics, poi, trapeze and clowning. Kenia loves CircEsteem because she can be herself, learn and work on circus skills and be [...]
Maria Clement joined CircEsteem in the winter of 2002, a year after she moved to America from Egypt. Being new in the country, CircEsteem made her feel welcome. Maria believes that home is where the heart is, and CircEsteem is my family. Maria embraces the diversity of people and circus skills that CircEsteem produces.
Philip was born in Germany and moved to the United States at a young age. He joined CircEsteem in 2007 after being inspired by attending a two-week camp with Circus Smirkus. Philip is now a CircusTeen and was a counselor at CircEsteem’s summer camp in 2009. Outside of circus, Philip does stage crew and hopes [...]
Sara was born in Chicago and joined CircEsteem in 2005. Her favorite circus skills are trapeze, tumbling and juggling. She has attended AYCO, traveled many places, including Germany, and gone on tour with CircEsteem. Sara loves performing and improving her skills with CircEsteem. Her favorite part of CircEsteem is getting to travel because it gets [...]
Willem joined CircEsteem in the Fall of 2006. He learned to juggle in the Spring of 2006 “because he was really bored.” In 2008, he spent time training at Circus Smirkus in Vermont learning all sorts of awesomeness. His favorite skills are juggling, diabolo and gym wheel. He hopes some day to juggle professionally.