Leslie Science Center hosts afternoon of fire juggling, rope walking and trapeze swinging

Posted on Sat, Jun 30, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.

Leslie Science Center hosts afternoon of fire juggling, rope walking and trapeze swinging

By Jeffrey Smith

Circus Artist Ben Sota balances a flaming torch on his nose during the fall scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall.
Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

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Circus Artist Ben Sota balances a flaming torch on his nose during the fall scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

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Circus Artist Ben Sota balances a flaming torch on his nose during the fall scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS06_fullsize.JPG
Circus Artists Ben Sota and Nettie Lane of the Zany Umbrella Circus perform during the winter scene Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS01_fullsize.JPG
Circus Artist Ben Sota of the Zany Umbrealla Circus performs with a yo-yo during the spring scene Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS02_fullsize.JPG
9-year-old Karolen Diss of Pittsfield volunteers to read during the spring scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS03_fullsize.JPG
8-year-old Elijah Klein smiles as he rolls around an 'egg' during the spring scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS04_fullsize.JPG
People watch from the shade on a hill during the summer scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS05_fullsize.JPG
Novi residents Heather Rindels and Len Krichko sit with their daughter, 5-year-old Lucy and watch during a fire juggling scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS07_fullsize.JPG
Circus Artist Nettie Lane performs from a trapeze during the fall scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS08_fullsize.JPG
People watch from the shade during the fall scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS09_fullsize.JPG
Ann Arbor resident Kim Stone lays with her son, 5-year-old Leo as they watch the fall scene of the Zany Umbrella Circus Saturday at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. The performance told stories of the seasons, beginning in winter and ending in fall. Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBRELLACIRCUS_JMS/cache/063012_ENT_ZANYUMBREALLACIRCUS_JMS10_fullsize.JPG

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The Pittsburgh based Zany Umbrella Circus visited the Leslie Science and Nature Center in Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon with an interactive outdoor performance featuring acrobatics, fire juggling, and slack rope walking.

Titled "Stories of the Season," the show celebrates the seasons starting in winter and ending in fall. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Leslie Science Center's environmental education programs.

The center is located at 1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor.