Circus Joseph Ashton performer’s career choice no longer up in the air

Taylor is a circus performer from Washington State and her parents were also circus performers.

Her mother Betsy Henderson is a childhood friend of the Ashtons’ daughter Bekki, who is now a mother too.

Bekki’s daughter Dante (15) will appear with the Flying Ashtons in the Circus Joseph Ashton’s Midland shows this month with Taylor.

“Her mother and I met when I was 11 and we have been friends ever since, which we kept up through snail mail,” Bekki said.

“It is lovely to see these generations of offspring appearing on the high wire and flying trapeze while the circus is travelling to different locations.”

For Taylor, her transition from American circus to Australian circus has been very different.

“We only performed in the summer in Washington and travelled the state, not the country,” Taylor said.

“Here the distances are so vast and we perform all year around, which is amazing and every day you are busy.”

Taylor is eight months into her year in Australia.

She is no stranger to the flying trapeze, balancing and performing with her dad, David Henderson, since she was three.

“I was part of the Wentachee Circus in the US,” she said.

“We performed on weekends and we practised indoors at school gymnasiums in the cold weather.”

Taylor said the milder weather in Australia lended itself to the all-year circus cycle.

“I want to join the circus for my career, I think now. I wasn’t sure before my gap year, but Im pretty sure now I would love the life for my profession,” she said.

Bekki said it was not all make-up, glamour and costumes.

“They have to clean the toilets and feed the animals, and help with box office and all the other jobs that being in the circus requires,” she said.

Taylor’s parents met in the second grade and were childhood sweethearts.

“They performed for Valentine’s Circus in the US before they had kids,” Taylor said.

“I have learned a lot of new stuff with the circus here.”

Bekki said the circus was all about collaboration and co-operation and getting youth involved.

“Taylor is a prime example,” she said.

“I went to the US as an 11 year old and made a friend for life and I hope that Dante and Taylor will do the same thing.”

For tickets phone the circus hotline on 0411 302 095.