Bello Nock clowns his way to Circus Sarasota

bilde, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. From Don Covington There’s nothing like a publicity stunt to call attention to your organization, and Circus Sarasota staged a colorful one at Selby Five Points Park Tuesday morning. Comic daredevil Bello Nock, who grew up in Sarasota and has spent many years touring with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus,, will be the headliner for the 11th annual edition of the one-ring show under the big top. It will be called "Bello Comes Home." But Circus Sarasota founders Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs didn’t just have Bello take the stage and thank people. They made it an event. As he was being introduced to a couple of hundred people, a white stretch limousine pulled up and Nock comically struggled out of the car, with his foot high red hair standing straight above his head. He clowned around for the audience before removing his coat and over-shoes to climb a 92-foot sway pole erected in the park, and then did some handstands on a ring atop the pole. After he shimmied back down, he took the stage, signed his contract and then hoisted Mayor Lou Ann Palmer (a former circus performer herself) onto his shoulders as she presented him the key to the city. Nock has built a large following in his many years with Ringling and other circuses and shows. He’s a seventh-generation circus daredevil, who garnered extra attention for his performances when he began adding a comedy twist to his routines. After touring the world, Nock said he’s excited to perform for a hometown crowd for the first time (unless you count the way he performed in classes at Tuttle Elementary and Sarasota Junior High years ago). He described Circus Sarasota as one of the top five circus in terms of respect and entertainment value. “I don’t know if you guys really know what you have here,” he said. He will be the featured star in a show that will include Dolly Jacobs and her flying partner Yuri Rjkov, David Rosaire and his Perky Pekes, the quick change act of Vladimir and Olga Smirnov, the equestrian act of Caroline Williams, as well as jugglers, foot jugglers and contortionists. Circus Sarasota will be presented Jan. 30-Feb. 22 in the big top across from Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Tickets are available at circussarasota.org. 355-9805. The show will also be presented in Fort Myers May 6-29.