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The POEMA FAMILY , 2008 Guest Performers with Circus Flora  Submitted by Elliana Hentoff-Killian on   7/28/2008 Last Modified . This year, Circus Flora welcomed the Poema Family to come and perform under the big top tent.  Circus Flora is a one-ring, European-style circus.  Every year there is a different story to weave the acts together.  The 2008 edition was based loosely on the story of Robin Hood.  In the story, there were many sub plots about good vs. evil, and this is where the Poemas came in. Performers outside the Circus Flora big top discuss ways to help out the Poema Family who have been thrown out of their home by the "evil Sheriff of Nottingham"...or, could they be discussing an after show trip to McDonalds? In the show, the evil Sheriff of Nottingham throws the Knight (who is played by Adrian Poema) and his family (played by his wife, Nellie Hanneford-Poema) and their three children; Catherine (11), Mariana (9), and Adrian Jr. (6) out of their house and onto the streets.    Left: Author Elliana Hentoff-Killian with Mariana and Catherine Poema. Right: Adrian Poema Jr. also known as "Gordo". Who could throw this fine family out of their home! They also have a little boy, Tommy who is almost 2 and is not yet performing in the ring.  Backstage, on the other hand, is his playground and he will keep whoever is watching him on their toes!     2 year old Tommy Poema getting some help from his sister Catherine. Back to the story:  The evil sheriff throws the family out onto the streets which is where Robin Hood, played by Alex Wallenda comes to find and save them.  When the sheriff is defeated, the knight and his family are overjoyed and demonstrate this by performing their foot juggling act. The Poema Family perform their "Foot Juggling" act under the Circus Flora big top Photo provided courtesy of Scott Raffe. Foot-Juggling is an act that takes years and years to master.  It is a very difficult act because if the flyer is not with the catcher, the flyer might fall.  The act performed by the Poemas was extremely fun to watch.  I say this because I knoe this for a fact, I watched the act over and over again, it never got old.  In the act, Adrian Jr. comes in first dressed like a buisness man, then like a South American dancer, and finally as part of the act.     Adrian Poema Jr. as a buisness CEO, then as a South American dancer. Adrian Sr. has been a foot juggler all his life.  His first time performing was when he was 6.  He was a flyer back then with his father being the base or catcher as some may call it.  After he became too big to be a flyer he started performing a handstand act in which he did the difficult one finger stand.  His wife Nellie has no less amazing talents than her husband. Adrian Poema Sr. with Tommy.  Photo courtesy of Scott Raffe Nellie grew up in the circus as well.  There are records of her family performing as early as 1778.  By 1807 they had their own show which is still running today!  The show is called the Royal Hanneford Circus. Nellie's mother, Kay Hanneford, passed away in 1976, so Nellie was raised by heraunt and uncle, Tommy and Struppi Hannerford   The late Tommie Hanneford, Nellie's abopted father, was the owner and producer of the show until he passed away in 2005.  His wife, Struppi, Nellie's adopted mother, is now running the show. Nellie's mother, Kay Frances Hanneford was one of the great lady Bareback riders of all time.  She passed away in 1976. L - R:  Nellie, Struppi, and Tommy Hanneford on the Royal Hanneford Circus. Nellie started performing at age 2. As she got older she did a number of acts including a few aerial acts.  Nellie is best known for her horse acts, though now she focuses more on her children and their performances.  Nellie and Adrian met on the Hanneford Circus and were married in 1995.  A few years later their oldest daughter Catherine was born. Nellie Hanneford Poema, then and now. Cathy, for short, is now 11 and does a double front tuck sommersault in the act.  Their second oldest child is Mariana, who is 9 years old.  Then there is Adrian Jr., but most people call him "Gordo", which was his nickname when he was a baby.  It stuck and now that's what almost everybody calls him.   Last, but not least is the youngest member of the family, Tommy, also called "Flaco"  He is almost 2 and is a handful.  Sometimes during the act, I would watch him and he never stopped moving or so it seemed.  He always wanted to be climbing on something or running or watching the show.   Catherine, Mariana, & Tommy Poema with 2 of the St. Louis Arches, Anthony Stiles and Keaton Hentoff-Killian. Before theact, the Poemas would warm up, and not just by strretching.  They would bring their foot juggling table out and practice their tricks over and over again.  They were always very serious while they were practicing.  Adrian Sr. would sit up from the chair each time and tell them what they should fix or what they were doing right.         The Poema family in a pre show warm up / practice session. After the show was a whole different story.  After they were done saying goodby to all the people who that had come to the show, they would go into their trailer and change.  Circus Flora was set up in a parking lot which was good because all the kids would ride bikes.  The Poema kids were no exception.  You would see them riding back and fourth and playing tag with all the other kids on the lot.  You would have no idea that just about an hour ago they had been doing flips on their father's feet! On the "Laptop" computer checking out CircuSpace.  Adina Poema (cousin) Mariana Poema and Keaton Hentoff-Killian. I can't really put into words how nice and caring Cathy was, or how Mariana would always give you a hug "just because".   Or how sweet Gordo was and how much Flaco could make you laugh.   How Nellie could tell a story with such feeling that it was like you were there, or how Adrian would help you out no matter what.  I can only tell you how much fun they were and how happy I was to get to know them while they were here and how much I am looking forward to seeing them in the future. Mariana Poema and Elliana Hentoff - Killian Lemond Carmikel,  "Gordo" Poema and Li'l Donald Hughs. Tommy "Flaco" Poema and author Elliana Hentoff - Killian.  VIDEO CLIP OF THE POEMAS Sent in by Kate Auerbach of Plum TV, Nantucket, Massachusetts http://nantucket.plumtv.com/videos/flipping_out_straight_wharf Email This Resource   Copyright © 1999-2010 Circus Fans Association of America and Authors. For more information view our  Copyright Policy & Privacy Policy .

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