Chanute middle schoolers participate in Circus of the Kids - KOAM TV 7

The circus is in town in Chanute, Kansas.  Technically, you could say it's been there for a number of years.

And this circus involves kids, but not as spectators.

Around 100 Chanute Middle School students are preparing for their opportunity to join the fun.

The founder of Circus of the Kids, Bruce Pfeffer, has been going to schools and summer camps for the last 30 years teaching circus acts.

"I think that this is something that needs to be in schools around the country and to explain what you see here to somebody who has never been exposed to this, it's so cool," says Pfeffer.  "It's so far outside the box that it doesn't make any sense."

Physical Education teacher Dallas Masoner says when he was introduced to the program he quickly brought it to the school board's attention.  Since 2001, every three years the school has hosted the Circus of the Kids.

"It makes me feel good to see when those kids get the applause for the event that they did," says Masoner.  "Sometimes they get standing ovations at the end.  The smile on those kids faces, the confidence that they get, it's amazing."

For seventh grade student Trystan Pringle it's exciting to have the opportunity after seeing the show at an earlier age.

"I thought it was crazy and kind of cool but now I'm in it and I think it will be fun," Pringle says.

"It's a circus, it's really a circus and it's just got young people in it and they're local," says Pfeffer.  "These kids have worked so hard but the reaction is, parents will just sit in the audience and cry.  The community members are in disbelief coming to watch this.  Little kids absolutely watch it and want to come back time after time."

Seeing the gymnasium that has been transformed into the big top proves to be fun for the kids as they go through Royster Middle School.

The kids will perform May 4th through the 6th.  For more information visit http://www.circusofthekids.com/location.php