History
Dan and Betty Butler met as teenagers at the Sailor Circus of Sarasota during the mid-1970s. Dan was a catcher on the flying trapeze, while Betty was an aerialist on the cloud swing. They began dating at age sixteen and both of them went on to perform at Florida State University's Flying High Circus. Dan became a successful real estate broker in Atlanta, but eventually faced bankruptcy and chemical dependency. The couple came to reside in Minnesota because Dan Butler was receiving alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation at Hazelden. After rehabilitation, Dan became a precious metals broker.
The Butlers founded Circus Juventas in 1994, citing a desire to give back to the community as one of the reasons for its creation. It was originally known as Circus of the Star, named for Minnesota's nickname, The North Star State. The newly opened Hillcrest Recreation Center in St. Paul, Minnesota provided the couple with inspiration for the circus program, and they asked the city if they could hold classes there. The Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department approved the program, and assumed liability for approximately fifty children who enrolled the first year. About thirty of those students stayed with the program and performed in their first show at the 1995 Highland Fest, an annual family-oriented festival. After this performance, interest in the program increased. By 1996, around thirty more students were enrolled, and by 1997, an additional twenty-five had joined the program. The circus was still based out of the Hillcrest Recreation Center's gym, and had to work around the schedule of the other regular activities in the facility. In 1997, the waitlist for the program was around 200 students.
In 1996, Circus Juventas began a capital campaign to build a permanent home in St. Paul. A long-term lease was secured from the City of St. Paul and initial designs for the 21,000 square foot (2,000 m²) big top were completed. With contributions from hundreds of families, supporters and area foundations, the campaign goal of US$2.1 million was reached and the big top was built in 2001.
Read more about this topic: Circus Juventas
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