I started my crazy career at just 4 years old, I taught myself to tumble on the grass, our trampoline, did tricks on our monkey bars, was a swimmer and a diver, I climbed on anything that hung vertically, and contorted in the living room. At 14 I began competing seriously in swimming and gymnastics, garnering Most Valued Player awards three years in a row in gymnastics, and serving as the captain and team leader, State competitions. Gymnastics became everything to me, and when I saw my first Olympic games, I made a promise to myself that I would one day be known as the best in the world at something, and that I would share my passion with the world.  I have never forgotten that and never will. 

But I wanted something much more than gymnastics. I knew inside I had more to offer; something was craving to get out. When a wonderful lady named Cathy Sutherland from my gymnastics center spotted my abilities, strength and flexibility, she told me that I should be a circus artist. My heart was drawn to it, and that’s when I found SANCA. It was fall 2007 and I was 18. SANCA immediately placed me in the intensive program where I trained in aerial rope, and trained in tissu, acro, static trapeze, and other circus disciplines.

After training and coaching youth classes for a year, I got accepted into the professional program at the Circus Center in San Francisco, where I trained in aerial rope, swinging trapeze, contortion, acrobatics, and ballet. I also began teaching at the Circus Center and worked for a high level performance company named Trapeze World, where I performed regularly in aerial rope, tissu, contortion, acro, and swinging trapeze. I am also now one of the main artists featured in a book that is being written about professional circus artists.

In August I finished some of my last shows in San Francisco and just a few days later, left for Montreal. I was accepted into the DEE program at Ecole Nationale de Cirque. I am now preparing for upcoming presentations and also for the 2010 Olympic games.  I will be performing in the opening and closing ceremonies for the next Olympics in Vancouver, BC.

SANCA started all this. Yes I train very, very hard and work like crazy, but without SANCA, this story....my life...would not be possible. SANCA made me believe that my dreams could become realties. That if I want something, nothing is impossible. SANCA made me believe in magic.

That is beautiful.

Visit Lauren at www.youtube.com/herleyl4.