For sophomore Oscar Benninga, engaging audiences is second nature. A dedicated dancer and circus performer, Benninga spent his summer on the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour. 

Circus Smirkus, an international nonprofit organization based in Vermont, has given youths the chance to learn and perform for nearly 40 years. Each summer, its performers travel across New England for a two-month Big Top Tour.

Benninga, who first started dance lessons at three years old, discovered circus performing unexpectedly.

“I was visiting family, and the dance teacher at the studio was out that day. They asked if I wanted to try an aerial silks class instead,” Benninga said. “I really loved it. When we got back home, I told my mom, ‘Hey, I want to do more circus.’”

Since that day, Benninga joined Circus Smirkus’s three-week summer camp encouraged by his coach. A year later, Benninga auditioned for the Big Top Tour.

“The audition process starts with an audition video. You send it in, and they watch it, and if they like it, if you pass the first test, then you go on to do a live audition,” Benninga said. “There were a lot of spots open, but it was still very difficult and I had to do a lot of training to get there.”

In the first three weeks, troupers are training and building the show. On tour, there are three types of days: jump days, where the troupe drives and sets up the tent; show days, which are usually two shows a day; and rare off days.

While the tour is filled with excitement, challenges inevitably arise. With all performers interacting and living together, sickness often spreads quickly in the tight-knit Big Top Tour.

“When one person gets sick, everyone is sick,” Benninga said. “It seems awful, but it is a suffering-together kind of moment.”

Despite the obstacles, Benninga said performing makes the experience worth it.

“Seeing everyone smile when I came on stage was a gem,” Benninga said. “Performing is really what makes it magical, but there are also the people around me … that makes it truly special.”

His time with Circus Smirkus has not only helped him find community and passion but also  confidence, both on stage and off.

“My confidence has definitely grown a lot since I first went on tour,” Benninga said. “If you want to do something that you’re not confident in, try it, see how it goes, and if it doesn’t work, that’s when you say no. But always try to reach out and extend your experiences.” 

With one summer of tour under his belt, Benninga hopes to continue his passion for performance: “It’s an experience like no other.”