Illinois State senior Jasmine Yu will soon walk across the tightwire for the final time, as her Gamma Phi Circus career comes to a close at this month’s Spring Shows.
This is Yu’s fourth and final year with the historic Gamma Phi troupe, where the trained dancer has grown into a leader and a star. But for Yu and her dedicated Gamma Phi teammates, what they learn throughout years of training stays with them long after Spring Shows end.
While some circus alums do go on to professional performance careers, most put their degrees to use soon after graduation. Yu wants to teach elementary school, and she says Gamma Phi has taught her how to work as a team with all different types of people.
“It’s definitely a privilege,” Yu said. “I’m very grateful and very fortunate to be able to be part of something like this.”
You can see more of Yu’s story, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at a recent Gamma Phi practice, in the video above.
And you can see Yu perform in Gamma Phi’s Spring Shows on April 11–12, 2014, at Redbird Arena. Tickets are available at the Braden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, on Ticketmaster.com, by phone at (800) 745-3000, or at the door of Redbird Arena on show days.
Ryan Denham can be reached at rmdenha@IllinoisState.edu.
