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Director brings pop star showmanship to circus

 
Gemma Kirby practices being a human cannonball at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ rehearsal hall at Feld Entertainment Studios in Ellenton.
Gemma Kirby practices being a human cannonball at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ rehearsal hall at Feld Entertainment Studios in Ellenton.
Published Dec. 30, 2014

ELLENTON

A man who helped produce elaborate stage spectacles for the likes of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Flo Rida might seem out of place trying to get Mongolian strong men to move in syncopation to an upbeat EDM song.

Here's a hint: Getting guys who juggle weighted balls to pop about like they're in a Broadway chorus line requires more than snapping your finger and exclaiming, "5, 6, 7, 8 — here we go."

But not only does director Michael Schwandt tackle this daunting task for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus' new Circus Xtreme show, debuting Thursday at Amalie Arena, he pursued the challenge.

After spending years adding illustrious pop star names like Kelly Rowland, David Guetta and Tinie Tempah to his resume, Schwandt saw "The Greatest Show on Earth" as the greatest place for his considerable talents.

"I actually sought them out," Schwandt explained recently at the Feld Entertainment Studios. "I told my agent to get in touch with Feld because I thought it would be a great platform to try something new."

After his first interview with Alana and Nicole Feld, the show producers and executive vice presidents for Feld, Schwandt thought he had blown his chances.

To the contrary, the Felds not only appreciated his star-studded experience, but recognized his potential to help energize the circus because he worked as a director for the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. His ability to take women from various states and, in the case of Miss Universe, countries and get them to perform as a unit made him a natural.

"He was able to make that happen," Nicole Feld said. "He was able to get the most of the (contestants), and that appealed to us."

Experience helps. In addition to choreographing shows for top stars, Schwandt, 35, also has directed halftime shows and closing ceremonies featuring hundreds of dan­cers. He also got Betty White to bust a move for a British music video, taught first lady Michelle Obama a few steps for her "Let's Move" campaign and worked with aerialists in Las Vegas.

A recent rehearsal revealed the deft touches and glittery showmanship Schwandt, a University of Texas graduate, brings to this year's circus. Gemma Querida Kirby stars as the daredevil who gets shot more than 100 feet out of the cannon, but the circus' shortest act gets extended with a preblast synchronized number in which Kirby keeps pace with a team of well-trained dancers.

"She's doing great," Schwandt said of Kirby. "With the choreography, we're trying to make it feel more like an artist's performance."

The moves combine strength and grace, and they're almost certain to appeal to any preteen who toils at the local studio and watches Dance Moms on a regular basis.

"He's creating the young, hip feel we want," Alana Feld said. "He has so much experience working with that style of music, that style of show."

The broad appeal sought by the Felds is caught in that snapshot: Cautious parents appreciate the daring stunt, young kids get enthralled by the showmanship.

Overall, the 2015 version show seeks to combine traditional acts with extreme sports to make it a family-friendly outing. Clowns, animal acts and high-wire feats will be featured, as always, but the younger set will likely be more enthralled with the BMX bike stunts, trampoline acrobats and the free runners.

With Schwandt at the helm, you won't once look at the performers and ask, "So you think you can dance?" He will have them ready to maximize their rhythmic movements — even Gantig, Otgonjargal and Gankhuyag, Mongolians more accustomed to spinning barbells like batons.

"They're so willing to try it," Schwandt said. "They don't want to be any less a part of the product than the other performers.

"They're always wearing a big smile in rehearsal even though they're trying something they've never done before. That's the spirit of coming together and creating magic. They will end up doing other things in their career, but the moves we create for them and all the performers will be something they live with forever."

Contact Ernest Hooper at ehooper@tampabay.com. Follow him @hoop4you.