International students Ana Victoria De Leon, Alan Parma, and Veronica Quintero Carrizo will perform in the FSU Flying High Circus during the 72nd Annual Home Show Series this spring. All shows are free for FSU students.

• Friday, April 5th | 7 PM
• Saturday, April 6th | 2 PM and 7 PM
• Friday, April 12th | 7 PM
• Saturday, April 13th | 7 PM
• Sunday, April 14th | 2 PM
• Friday, April 19th | 7 PM
• Saturday, April 20th | 2 PM and 7 PM 

"This is the first time I will perform in the FSU Flying High Circus, and I am very happy about it," said De Leon, FSU senior from Panama studying industrial engineering. "It’s been in this place where I have lost my shyness of speaking a foreign language and learned how to be more comfortable in the American culture. The most amazing thing about the circus, however, is its people. They made me feel welcome since day one, and now I can trust them as if they were my family."

This year De Leon will be performing in the skating and quartet adagios, which will involve 1-3 other performers.

"This is my third year at the circus," Parma said. "Also, this is my last year in the circus, since I may be graduating soon. It's a bittersweet moment: we say goodbye to great friends and an incredible organization, but we look forward to what is ahead of us. I will always remember my decision to join the FSU Flying High Circus as the most unexpected but yet the best decision I have ever made!"

Parma originally came to FSU as a Fulbright from UNICAMP, in Brazil, as a master's student in Portuguese Linguistics. As a Fulbright, he applied to the PhD program in Spanish Linguistics at FSU, and then returned to Brazil to finish his degree before moving back to Tallahassee to pursue his PhD.

Quintero, originally from Panama, is working on her bachelor’s degree in both communication and studio art. She continues as ringmaster after serving in the same role for the circus during the last academic year.

"I love the circus because it's like we are all a big wacky family who get to put on a show every once in a while," Quintero said. "My favorite thing so far has been the Halloween Shows where I got to be a green witch, and have this really creepy laugh. Auditioning has been one of the best decisions I made in my time at FSU."

FSU's Flying High Circus is one of only two collegiate circuses in the United States. A unique tradition on the campus of The Florida State University since 1947, the Circus is a year-round program in which FSU students can participate. Students interested in learning more about FSU’s circus can visit circus.fsu.edu.

Photo from Left: Veronica Quintero Carrizo and Alan Parma (Photo credit: Bob Howard & Kaitlin Simpson)

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