42 IDAHO FALLS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2019
Many people attribute good
friends or religion for surviving through
rough times. It was the circus that saved
Aric Nelson.
The young teenager made friends with
gang members and drug dealers while
growing up in San Bernardino, CA. Nelson
didn't want that lifestyle and the circus was
his way out.
"I had good parents, but the circus is
what gave me the direction to stay off of the
streets," Nelson said. "So it's my responsibil-
ity — but more of my pleasure — to try and
provide people with the same thing [the
circus] gave to me."
Nelson had this in mind when he started
Stasia Acrobatics, an amateur circus acro-
batic troupe designed to introduce the
circus world to a new generation, in 2012.
Today, the troupe has performed in over
280 shows.
The acrobats from his troupe come from
all walks of life. Some are elementary
school students, while some are in college.
The team includes a plumber, a software
engineer, a barista supervisor, a techni-
cian, a caregiver, a mother and a former
marine. Ages range anywhere from seven
to 27- years-old.
These acrobats do many of the same acts
you would see in a circus. From a three-
CHRIS SHEETZ PHOTOS
