Zweir, of Holyoke, earned a spot with Circus Smirkus, an international traveling youth circus based in Vermont, where he’s honing his skills as an acrobat and tumbler.
Cameron Zweir, of Holyoke, a student at Holyoke Catholic High School, is spending the summer touring with Circus Smirkus as an acrobat. By DAN COOPER
Special to The Republican
HOLYOKE - While some high school students spend their summer vacations playing sports or working at a new job, 15-year old Holyoke Catholic High School sophomore Cameron Zweir is taking a different approach.
He’s joining the circus.
Zweir, of Holyoke, earned a spot with Circus Smirkus, an international traveling youth circus based in Vermont, where he’s honing his skills as an acrobat and tumbler.
Zweir is among 30 performers between the ages of 10 and 18 from nine different states and Mexico who made the final cut after completing a live audition.
“The first thing that had to be done was I had to submit a tape,” Zweir explained. “After that, I was sent a packet for the live audition in Greensboro, Vt.”
Zweir put together his own audition based on the theme of this year’s circus, “Anchors Away for Atlantis.”
“Putting together the live audition was the hardest part of the process for me,” Zweir explained. “I had to pick my own music and then showcased my skills.”
Although he was nervous, Zweir felt he had a chance to make the final cut.
“I felt like I had a chance to make the cut,” he said. “There were not that many acrobats who auditioned.”
Zweir said he first got into gymnastics thanks to his parents.
“My parents put me into gymnastics because I was climbing everywhere,” Zweir explained. “I did it for nine years.”
He heard about Circus Smirkus last year when his family attended a show based on “The Wizard of Oz,” which also happened to be a production the Holyoke Catholic Performing Arts Club was preparing to stage.
“Then my parents told me that I could audition (for Circus Smirkus), and I started putting the video package together,” he added.
Zweir completed a three-week training program during the month of June and is now performing with the Circus Smirkus shows.
By summer’s end, he’ll have performed in nearly 70 shows, and he’s especially looking forward to a performance set for July 29 and 30 at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton.
Zweir added that he won’t just be performing in the circus; “I have to help set up and break down as well,” he said.
If this summer’s experience proves as enjoyable as he imagines, Zweir will be able to audition to perform again until he turns 18. “I hope to re-audition next year if I enjoy my time this summer,” he said.
For more information about Circus Smirkus, visit smirkus.org.