00;00;00;02 - 00;00;16;14

Dolly Jacobs

To be able to fly and soar above this choir and the orchestra, them looking up at me and me looking down at them. It's very, very moving. And I know it was moving for the audience, but also for the artists that are performing to it.

00;00;21;26 - 00;01;07;23

Malaika Hollist

Hi. Welcome to Season two of the Arts Axis Florida podcast. I'm your host Malaika Hollist. Each episode we amplify the voices of the diverse art nonprofit organizations in our community, conversations, community and connection is right here on the Arts Axis Florida podcast. Support for Arts Axis Florida comes from Community Foundation Tampa Bay. Championing philanthropy, encouraging and connecting givers to bring lasting good investing in education and economic mobility.

00;01;08;15 - 00;01;15;00

Malaika Hollist

Learn more at C F Tampa Bay dot org. That's C F Tampa Bay dot org.

00;01;19;26 - 00;01;52;16

Malaika Hollist

On today's episode, we speak with Joseph Caulkins, artistic director and maestro of the Key Chorale Orchestra and Dolly Jacobs, founder and vice president of Circus Arts Conservatory. On their upcoming unique show, Cirque de Voix: Circus of the Voices, it combines live singing and music and professional circus artists it's one brilliant show you don't want to miss. In this episode, we not only discuss this beautiful collaboration, but their organizations and their continued efforts to provide education and outreach to the community through art.

00;01;52;28 - 00;02;06;22

Malaika Hollist

We hope you enjoy this episode. Dolly and Joseph thank you so much for joining us today on this Florida podcast. Would you mind introducing yourselves to our audience? Joseph, you can go first.

00;02;07;19 - 00;02;31;14

Joseph Caulkins

Sure. My name is Joseph Caulkins and I'm the artistic director of Key Chorale, which is the Suncoast Premier Symphonic Chorus, and I've been the artistic director there for 15 years, and we are one of those organizations a lot like Circus Arts Conservatory, where we were created really to showcase incredible art and performing. But yet I think our heart and passion is with education and community outreach.

00;02;31;14 - 00;02;39;14

Joseph Caulkins

And I think you'll find out that both of our organizations really have a heart for that. But yet our bread and butter is putting together amazing performances in Dolly.

00;02;40;07 - 00;03;12;22

Dolly Jacobs

Hi, I'm Dolly Jacobs, the co-founder and vice president of the Circus Arts Conservatory and circus has been my life. I was born and raised here in Sarasota, but my father was a very famous clown with Ringling for over 60 years, and I didn't follow in his footsteps, but I did take to the air and just happy to be able to continue my history and the legacy of circus to our community where I grew up.

00;03;13;24 - 00;03;34;17

Malaika Hollist

Awesome. We're really excited to have members from Key Chorale and the Circus Arts Conservatory here with us today. So, Joseph, the Key CHorale's vision statement is, it's a Suncoast community that engages and enriches by the power of music and outreach. Why do you think this combination of outreach and music is so important?

00;03;34;23 - 00;04;07;19

Joseph Caulkins

Well, I think it goes to our mission statement, which is that we're dedicated to transforming lives through innovative programming, artistic excellence, education, educational outreach and service to the community. And I think years ago we were really focused on the performance aspect of what we what we do. And a number of years ago, we kind of turned that paradigm on its head and said, what if instead of the performances being the most important thing we do, what if those performances were the celebration of the music and mission that we deliver each and every week?

00;04;07;29 - 00;04;36;02

Joseph Caulkins

And so we really started focusing on what can we do in the community, what can we do with education that's really going to use music as a tool to really change lives, to make a difference in our community. And so we do that for through a variety of ways, through the community are our two biggest outreach choirs, our one is called the Off Key Chorale, and that is for those living with Parkinson's and their caregivers, and that is in collaboration with and in partnership with the Neuro Challenge Foundation.

00;04;36;12 - 00;05;02;12

Joseph Caulkins

And we've been doing that choir for I think since 2012. And it's amazing how much being able to sing and knowing how to sing well, whether you're a singer or not, helps those of those living with Parkinson's. So it's a really powerful program. And kind of alongside of that we said, you know what, if we could do a choir that's like this, it could have a real enrichment for people dealing with Alzheimer's, dementia and memory care.

00;05;03;09 - 00;05;21;19

Joseph Caulkins

So we have a choir that we started a few years ago right before the pandemic called Where Are My Keys? Chorale, which they made, which I think is a good name because I know I'm always wondering where my keys are and I know they are as well, but it's just it's a way of taking music and really making a difference.

00;05;21;19 - 00;05;46;29

Joseph Caulkins

And so at least Alzheimer dementia and memory loss, it's it's one of those areas where music is one of the last areas of the mind that's affected. So, you know, we can go in and deliver a program that's really fun and engaging for them, but we're able to bring a lot of joy to them, which is really good in that it's just an enriching experience for both those afflicted with Alzheimer dementia, but also their care partners.

00;05;46;29 - 00;06;03;02

Malaika Hollist

Well, I love that. So Dolly, the Cirque de Voix: Circus of the Voices is filled with professional circus artists, but also at the Circus Arts Conservatory, you as well are more than just a circus. You do a lot of outreach. Do you mind telling us about that?

00;06;03;22 - 00;06;34;20

Dolly Jacobs

Happy to. Our outreach programs are first and foremost the Salem Circus, which has been in existence for over 72 years. And it really passes on the art of circus to the youth and our community. And it teaches them not only the art of circus and performing, but it also gives them life lessons of working together and trusting and self-discipline and confidence and the list goes on and on.

00;06;35;25 - 00;07;00;20

Dolly Jacobs

Very proud of that program. And I actually myself was part of it as a young child. We also have our outreach programs, which go into the last year in limited or humorous therapy, goes into the nursing homes, not right at the moment because of the situation but normally goes into nursing homes and retirement centers and with the art of circus enhances the lives.

00;07;01;00 - 00;07;26;16

Dolly Jacobs

And then our educational program, which I'm really proud of, we have a magnet program that is the only in the nation that you can receive credits for circus training and we work together with Sarasota High School for that, and we're very proud of it. We also have the circus machine, which is the Rube Goldberg idea and it uses all fifth graders from Sarasota and Manatee County.

00;07;27;00 - 00;07;56;16

Dolly Jacobs

Over 3000 kids get involved and put together this apparatuses that knock over and go up a rope and there's actually circus and children the the kids in our sailor's circus program are part of it. So they're up on the high wire or they're juggling fifth graders make this happen. And so then at the end of it they have a big program and they're all in the audience and get to see it come to life.

00;07;56;16 - 00;08;18;07

Malaika Hollist

Awesome. Thank you. And thank you both for sharing. You have so much going on at both of the organizations that there's so much for people to get involved in. So I wanted to talk about your upcoming event, Cirque de la Circus of the Voices this is a unique show combining live singing and music by the orchestra and circus artists.

00;08;18;19 - 00;08;25;01

Malaika Hollist

To the both of you, could you let us know how this partnership began and would you describe this event to us?

00;08;25;12 - 00;08;52;04

Joseph Caulkins

So the great joy was working with Peter Race, who is the co-founder of the Circus Art Conservatory, and also the CEO of the Circus Arts Conservatory. And we've done this show Circuit of Law for more than a decade, and we're starting our next decade with this show. But it was interesting we had a close friend who was our executive director, Richard Storm, who knew both Pedro and myself, and he kept on bugging me and he said, you know, we need to do something with the circus.

00;08;52;04 - 00;09;11;03

Joseph Caulkins

And I, I thought to him, I thought to myself, that's the really dumbest idea I've ever heard in my life. I said, why? Why would a choir want to do something with a circus? I said, It doesn't make any sense. So I, I did my best to keep putting off the meeting forever and ever and ever. And finally it was to the point where I had to take the meeting.

00;09;11;03 - 00;09;27;15

Joseph Caulkins

So I remember going over to the old offices, and Richard introduced me to Pedro, and I don't I didn't really know why we were there. I don't know if Pedro did either. But, you know, what's really amazing about Richard is Richard knew if you put these two guys in a room long enough, something amazing is going to happen.

00;09;27;29 - 00;09;49;09

Joseph Caulkins

And I think in about a half an hour, Pedro and I had come up with the idea, the concept, the name, and, you know, it was just two people that really hit it off. We were wonderful friends. And I think we have the unique he has a lot of musical skill. So that really helps when we start to decide about music and acts and all of those things.

00;09;49;09 - 00;10;05;09

Joseph Caulkins

And vice versa. So it's just a but it was really one of those things where I came kicking and screaming. And I remember one time Peter says, Joseph, how long has it been since you've been to the circus? And I said, I think I was seven. He said, You should really come to the circus and see what's going on.

00;10;05;20 - 00;10;31;24

Joseph Caulkins

And I remember that year I went to see Circus Sarasota, which is a performing professional performing art show, The Circus Arts Conservatory. And what I remembered is Nostalgia Circus was just not this I just remember being blown away by the the drama of it, the energy of it, the entertainment value, all of those things. And so kind of what I remembered as a child of the circus was nothing that I was witnessing then.

00;10;31;24 - 00;10;52;17

Joseph Caulkins

And then when I saw that, I went, I see how this can work, because now that I know kind of what's going on in the circus world now, I can see how you pair that with 100 voices and a 40 piece orchestra, how the energy and excitement can be really thrilling and that, you know, so it's just it's thankful to Richard Saum, who said, you know, I'm not going to take no for an answer.

00;10;52;17 - 00;10;57;23

Joseph Caulkins

We need to get you guys talking. And, and Peter and I have been scheming ever since.

00;10;58;24 - 00;11;30;18

Dolly Jacobs

It's just amazing to be able to, to work together with Carroll. And I'm fortunate enough to say that I too flew in front of the choir, and it was, I have to say in my career because I've been not anymore, but I have I've flown all over the world. And that's one of the highlights of my career. I have to say, to be able to fly and soar above this hundred choir and the orchestra them looking up at me and me looking down at them.

00;11;31;28 - 00;11;41;01

Dolly Jacobs

It's it's very, very moving. And I know it was moving for the audience, but also for the artists that are performing to it. It's just incredible.

00;11;41;26 - 00;12;07;05

Joseph Caulkins

Yeah, it's hard to it's hard to it's hard to really put a price tag on how amazing it is for the circus arts performers to be able to perform with live music. It just brings another element of their art form and their the drama to it. And it's the same with the, the instrumentalist and the singers being in that venue and seeing Dolly fly by us and being part of that experience elevates the music.

00;12;07;05 - 00;12;18;07

Joseph Caulkins

And I think it's big. You know, it's the fusion of these two art forms coming together. And what's great is, is it makes each of our art forms better because of the combination absolutely.

00;12;18;07 - 00;12;49;26

Dolly Jacobs

Absolutely. The pieces of music that Joe picks, too, are just spot on for for each act that performs. And for me as a as an aerialist, music is what brought my emotion out. And nothing can replace that that emotion that you have when you're flying. But the music that you perform to is brings every bit of talent and emotion out of you.

00;12;50;08 - 00;13;01;20

Dolly Jacobs

And and like I said, you know, the music that with them not only you know, the orchestra, but the voices was just incredible. Just incredible.

00;13;18;26 - 00;13;34;10

Malaika Hollist

I'm curious about your rehearsal process. You pick the music and you work with the orchestra. When do you get to work with the other circus artists? Do you guys have like a week where you practice together or I was just curious how that works.

00;13;35;00 - 00;13;56;10

Joseph Caulkins

Well, actually, I think the real the real matchmaking process happens, you know, probably a year in advance while Peter Race and I kind of decide, you know, what are the acts that we really want to feature? What are the disciplines in the circus arts we want to feature in the show? What are some of the music? And so generally when we meet Peter, it comes with a short list of some of his favorite performers.

00;13;56;19 - 00;14;21;08

Joseph Caulkins

I come with a short list of some of the music that I think would fit pretty well. And then we start the process of matchmaking. I'm just kind of saying well, you know, I see this act, this looks like it would fit well with this. And so, you know, there are times where an act is so fantastic and just so special that I go and I try to find music that matches it, and if I don't find it, you know, we'll arrange it or customize it to fit that act.

00;14;21;18 - 00;14;42;25

Joseph Caulkins

A lot of times we'll have a piece of music that works really well with the act, and then we send that to the circus artists and then they kind of reshape their act a little bit to fit the music. And I think I could probably explain to that process. But, you know, you're kind of given this set of music and then you have to take your act and figure out how does it work with this music?

00;14;43;12 - 00;15;12;05

Dolly Jacobs

Absolutely. That's what we did. And, you know, there's all the artists, you know, you have crescendos and certain you're usually your act. The music fits directly with your acts so that when there's a crescendo, you know, that's when you're doing a certain part of your act. And so that's exactly what we do. We we get a tape of the music and we're able to rehearse and perform to it.

00;15;12;13 - 00;15;17;17

Dolly Jacobs

So that it it fits perfectly. Joe, wasn't there a piece of music written for me?

00;15;18;06 - 00;15;47;28

Joseph Caulkins

There was. We had we commissioned a piece called "Arise" which is a good example of this. Arise was by All the Yellow. And when the Circus Artists Conservatory was invited to be part of the Smithsonian, Folklife Festival in 2017, we brought Cirque Du Bois along with that. And we wanted to write something really special for Dali because Dali was a newly any NEA Award Award winner, and we wanted to kind of feature her in something very unique.

00;15;47;28 - 00;16;11;15

Joseph Caulkins

And so we commissioned a composer to write this and you kind of say, OK, you know, an average act is around around 6 minutes for circus arts. This is kind of what we are looking for. And then we get the piece and you go, Hmm, that's not exactly what we were thinking, but that's where Dali and Pedro and really kind of looked at this piece and said, Well, how can we make this work with the music?

00;16;11;15 - 00;16;19;06

Joseph Caulkins

So I think Dali had quite a challenge, but it was one of the one of the great memories of of Cirque Du Bois history, if there is such a thing.

00;16;19;18 - 00;16;23;24

Dolly Jacobs

Absolutely. And there was also another one that I work to was walking on air.

00;16;24;08 - 00;16;25;07

Joseph Caulkins

Oh, beautiful.

00;16;25;18 - 00;16;26;25

Dolly Jacobs

Oh, just gorgeous.

00;16;27;23 - 00;16;46;05

Joseph Caulkins

And, you know, Dali does walk in the air better than anyone else. So apropos. And and so when the circus starts, you know, we all kind of work independently. And then we come together for two rehearsals to put on the show. So it's, you know, it's really the I like Cirque Du Bois, like a little bit to ballet.

00;16;46;13 - 00;17;11;16

Joseph Caulkins

I do a lot of ballet conducting. And the key with ballet conducting is making sure that the music is the same tempo that they've been used to, that you have a sensitivity to what they're doing, their act. So if you have to stretch and give breaths, you can do that. But it's you know, it's really important that when we come to those first rehearsals together with the orchestra chorus and artists, that what they're hearing is very similar to what they've been rehearsing.

00;17;11;16 - 00;17;35;17

Joseph Caulkins

So, you know, we only have a couple of times to pull that together. So it's a lot that happens in two rehearsals and kind of a it's a busy production week, but I think what really works well is that it like ballet, as Dolley was saying, you know, every little nuance of the music is represented by what the artist is doing, and that's where this integration of the music and the and the act that they're performing really becomes powerful.

00;17;36;13 - 00;17;50;22

Dolly Jacobs

There was a wonderful piece in the and the Cirque de La a couple of years. You've done it, Joe. If you remember when we had a clown act working and and all the choir put on noses and.

00;17;51;00 - 00;17;51;12

Joseph Caulkins

Right.

00;17;52;19 - 00;17;57;23

Dolly Jacobs

And that was part kind of part of the act. It was it was just really wonderful.

00;17;58;15 - 00;18;05;06

Joseph Caulkins

I might our choir is always thrilled that every year they get they get to run off and join the circus. And if you can put on a clown nose, even better.

00;18;07;22 - 00;18;11;17

Malaika Hollist

What do you hope it does for the community and outreach in your area?

00;18;12;03 - 00;18;51;29

Dolly Jacobs

Oh, if I might say, I just hope that it reaches more and more people throughout our area because it's when you see live performance and you see something that you've never seen before, I think it's enriching. It opens the horizon of what you know, what can be done. And just the collaboration people wouldn't expect that. Like Joe said, you wouldn't expect a circus with was choir and it and it it works perfectly and in the sky's the limit so I personally I hope that more and more people are able to see it and be moved by it.

00;18;53;14 - 00;19;17;04

Joseph Caulkins

And I think coming out of this dealing with this pandemic, you know it's been several years since we've been able to present the show and it is a it's a huge endeavor. But I think it's just it's just this fusion is so dynamic. It's so powerful. And I think after having so many months of people being away from live performance, this is kind of like the creme de la creme of live performance.

00;19;17;04 - 00;19;38;09

Joseph Caulkins

It's so exciting. It's engaging, it's thrilling, it's entertaining. And I think, you know, being able to do that and see the show after so many months of of of kind of isolation, I think we're ready for this kind of a show. And we're calling it the next decade of Wonder. And, you know, we're looking forward to the next decade.

00;19;38;09 - 00;19;57;26

Joseph Caulkins

And we know that the show, you know, if you've seen it once or you've seen it every single time, every show is different. But the that what really makes the show amazing is the energy and the drama and the power of the combination that really lifts our audience. And I think it's going to put a smile on their face and put them on the edge of their seat for the entire show.

00;19;58;06 - 00;19;59;07

Joseph Caulkins

So on with the show.

00;19;59;24 - 00;20;19;27

Malaika Hollist

You can see Cirque de Voix March 18th through the 20th. Thank you to Dolly and Joseph again for being guests on the Arts Axis Florida podcast. But before we go, I want to share something really exciting that also happened during our interview our sound engineer, Scott Wachtler, ended up having a surprising connection to Dolly's father. Listen here.

00;20;20;06 - 00;20;23;28

Scott Wachtler

Dolly, I have a quick question for you. You said your father was a famous clown.

00;20;24;16 - 00;20;24;27

Dolly Jacobs

Yes.

00;20;25;04 - 00;20;26;07

Scott Wachtler

Was your dad's name Lou?

00;20;26;25 - 00;20;27;10

Dolly Jacobs

Yes.

00;20;27;16 - 00;20;31;07

Scott Wachtler

OK, so I have a I have a memory of meeting your dad once.

00;20;31;23 - 00;20;32;26

Dolly Jacobs

This is it, right? Yeah.

00;20;33;04 - 00;20;44;07

Scott Wachtler

So my my mother worked for Madison Square Garden when I was young, and she used to get us tickets to the circus every year. And I don't know if you remember, but they used to have a thing where they picked kids out of the crowd.

00;20;44;23 - 00;20;45;18

Dolly Jacobs

Absolutely.

00;20;45;18 - 00;20;51;29

Scott Wachtler

Yep. And I got to be one of those kids once. And your dad was there with the little dog I think he had. Is that right, knucklehead?

00;20;51;29 - 00;20;52;07

Dolly Jacobs

Knuclehead, yeah.

00;20;53;20 - 00;20;58;20

Scott Wachtler

And I got an autographed picture with them and got to shake his hand and all that kind of stuff. It was a big moment in my life as a kid.

00;20;59;22 - 00;21;04;09

Dolly Jacobs

What a small world. You know, he was on the show for over 60 years,

00;21;04;09 - 00;21;04;17

Scott Wachtler

Really?

00;21;04;17 - 00;21;16;22

Dolly Jacobs

And I was there myself for 14 years. I'm so glad that you remember him. You know, as years go by, you know, it's hard to to keep an image alive. And I'm so glad that you have that wonderful memory.

00;21;17;24 - 00;21;40;23

Malaika Hollist

We hope you enjoyed listening to this episode of the Arts Axis Florida podcast. You can find more information on today's guests in the show notes. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram by searching Arts Axis Florida or go to our Web site, Arts Axis Florida dot org to get access to the arts. That's Arts A X I S F L DOT ORG

00;21;40;23 - 00;22;01;08

Malaika Hollist

Our show is a product of WUSF Public Media and made possible by our sponsors Community Foundation Tampa Bay and Gobioff oundation. A special thanks to our editor Scott Wachtler and many more who make this show possible. Copyright 2022 WUSF Public Media.

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