05/20/08

TITO GAONA

At the age of 3, Tito Gaona knew he wanted to perform in the circus. Born in Mexico as the fifth-generation of circus owners and performers, Tito spent his school vacations traveling with his father and watching him perform. At a young age, inspired by Tony Curtis in the 1956 film Trapeze, Tito knew he wanted to become a trapeze flyer. His performing debut on the flying trapeze was with the Tom Packs Circus in New Orleans at age seven, where he was billed as the “youngest trapeze flier in the world.”

With his family, Tito developed a trampoline acrobatics act, performing three times on The Ed Sullivan Show. With his sister, Chela and brother, Armando, the Gaona family took to the air as performing artists, doing flips and twists on the flying trapeze, under the guidance of their father, Victor Gaona, who also served as their catcher. They were joined over the years by a series of fourth partners, among them their brother, Ricardo and cousin Lalo.

At the age of 14, as a performer with the Clyde Beatty Circus, Tito first executed the most difficult of flying trapeze tricks, the triple somersault into a catcher’s hands. Tito became the first performer in history to do the triple somersault blindfolded, knowing by feel when to lock arms with the catcher. He invented the double-double, a double twist while doing a double somersault. Tito became respected as one of the greatest flyers and best all-around athletes in the American Circus. He appeared in Time, Newsweek, and filled 17 pages in the New York Times magazine, where he appeared on the cover. Tito was called “one of the most superbly talented and trained athletes in the world,” by Bruce Jenner, Olympian.

Tito, with charismatic style, grace and beauty, thrilled audiences for 17 years with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Big Apple Circus, and numerous top European circuses. Known as the First Family of the Air, Tito and The Flying Gaonas received the prestigious Golden Clown Award as top performers at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival, presented by the Royal Family of Monaco. Tito and his performing family were inducted as members of the Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armand’s Circle, in Sarasota, Florida. Their circus feats are inscribed on a bronze plaque at this historical site. Tito has frequently been acclaimed as the world’s greatest high-flying trapeze artist of our times.

Tito eventually turned that historical first triple somersault into more than one million somersaults during his career as a performing trapeze artist. Tito’s illustrious 40-year career as a flying trapeze performer is documented in his biography, Born to Fly.

In 2001, Tito Gaona was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the National Acrobatic Society as one of history’s leading acrobatic performers. Tito currently serves on the Board of this organization. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art honored Tito and his family as the Sarasota Circus Celebrity of 2003.

Following his last professional tour in Brazil in 1997, Tito retired from professional circus life. As the Owner and Founder of the Tito Gaona Flying Trapeze Academy and Tito Gaona’s Flying Fantasy Circus, Tito has directed his attention and considerable talents to teaching the flying trapeze and circus arts to his students at his schools in Florida and Massachusetts. In addition, Tito has introduced the flying trapeze and circus arts through workshops and summer camps to thousands of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school children, and college students.

Tito uniquely trains young teenage flyers to become trapeze catchers for other students and younger siblings. His program serves as a bond for families, as mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons, learn to fly on his unique tandem trapeze together. He also offers his flying trapeze classes and circus arts workshops to adult groups and corporations. Tito has taught the flying trapeze to students, ages 3 to 75. He teaches confidence and self-esteem on the trapeze and encourages his students to take risks and to experience something that they have never experienced before.

As the owner of a full European style circus tent, Tito has started to direct and produce Flying Fantasy Circus productions in collaboration with Girl Scout Councils and other organizations. It is Tito’s dream that thousands of children and adults will experience circus life through his unique, thrilling and exciting circus arts program for all ages.

“Why do people want to learn to fly?”

There are many reasons why our students choose trapeze classes, including developing an improved ability to concentrate and focus, getting in shape as they experience something truly unique, gaining strength and flexibility, leaving one’s problems behind while relaxing in the world of trapeze, building self confidence, finding community with other flyers, and experiencing the most incredible flying sensation of their dreams.  Come fly with us and live your dream.

Don’t just SEE the Circus…BE the Circus!

Sincerely Yours,

Tito Gaona