Living a circus-filled life

Vargas is living a childhood dream as part of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus coming to Wichita June 3-6. 

by Jessica Lindsey

Sixth-generation circus performer Ivan Vargas was born into the circus but with his passion and excitement has made it his own personal dream job.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus travels around the
country, and even oversees, bringing families together with
it's 140-year tradition of top-quality performances.

Imagine now, instead of visiting the circus every couple of years, what would it be like to be literally born into the circus. To live each day in that high-energy environment, around some of the most talented people in the business.

That's just what it feels like to be Ivan Vargas.

The lights, the costumes, the talented performers, the animals, the excitement of the crowd, they all come together to make Ringling Brother's Circus an unmatched experience.

Children squeal with excitement on the edge of their seats while many adults are filled with memories of the exact same feeling from their younger days when the circus came to town.

Ivan, 19, is a sixth-generation circus performer. Ivan's parents, Alejandro and Lolis, have been traveling with Ringling Bros. for 21 years. Alejandro is a former trapeze artist and now serves as Animal Care Superintendent while Lolis, also a former member of the Flying Vargas trapeze troupe, is a costume designer.

Ivan is a part of the famous Clown Alley which makes it's appearance in Wichita during Ringling Bros. visit June 3-6 at Intrust Bank Arena.

“I’m what they call a sponge”

Ivan and his family are a part of the Ringling Bros. Red Tour, Zing Zang Zoom. On its 139th edition, the Red Tour travels on a mile-long train that the performers, animals and crew call home for about 22 months of the two-year tour.

Between tours, Ivan lives in Tampa, Flor. where he doesn’t take much of a break. Soon after one tour ends, it’s time to begin rehearsing for the all-new performance.

This is Ivan’s second year being a clown in Clown Alley. It’s a role that he takes very seriously.

“I incorporated a lot of myself into the clowning,” said Ivan. “You don’t hide yourself in clowning, it’s an extension of yourself.” For Ivan this translates into a break-dancing, tumbling, hip-hop loving clown.

“This is completely different, being a clown,” said Ivan. “It took a lot out of me to become this type of performer. I get to be involved with the people even more, we all get to interact with the people during the preshow, but being a clown I get to play with the people during the show. I like that part of it.”

Over the years traveling with the circus, first as just a child and now as a performer, Ivan has learned more than he can express.
“I’ve been here so long that I’ve learned from so many different people,” said Ivan. “I’m what they call a sponge.”

Ivan has tried out the trapeze, has been an acrobat and more.

“There are many things I’ve done, so many already, you name it and I’ve probably tried it,” he said. “I just take it one tour at a time, seeing what the next tour has in store for me.”

Feeling the rush

When Ivan was younger, his parents gave him the choice of joining the team and traveling with the circus, or living a so-called normal life in Tampa, Flor.

“I told them without hesitation that I want to stay in the circus,” recalled Ivan. “I love the performing aspect, it’s an amazing feeling really. I wanted to follow in my family’s footsteps.”

When Ivan was barely a teenager he began performing in the show. He had been training as an acrobat since he was a little kid, but about six years ago Ivan tumbled his way into the spotlight in The Greatest Show on Earth.

“I was nervous before my first performance, I admit,” recalled Ivan. “Even though I’d seen the show many times, I was nervous. But then you’re out there and people are cheering for what you did, that adrenaline just takes over.”

He hadn’t doubted it before, but after feeling the rush of the performance, Ivan was even more certain that the circus is where he belonged.
“The circus is just something so different,” said Ivan. “It’s a part of me. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I want to be.”

Ivan said he is fortunate to still be able to work closely with his parents and he credits the circus with giving him the opportunity to see places and experience things that he never would have otherwise done.

“Because of Ringling I’ve been to England, France, Brazil, so many different places,” said Ivan. “I remember being a kid in Madison Square Garden and watching my parents perform in front of all those people. Now I’ve performed there twice, it’s really an awesome feeling.”