For more than 90 years, the Gamma Phi Circus has dazzled central Illinois families with acrobats, tightrope walkers, trapezists, bicycle tricksters, jugglers and more. The circus returns with an all-new show called “Dance On!” running Friday and Saturday at CEFCU Arena.
Coordinating the massive undertaking each year is artistic director Ivan Stoinev, who creates the routines and puts the original show together. Gamma Phi is the oldest of the two remaining collegiate circuses—the other is at Florida State University. Stoinev originally came to the United States from Bulgaria as part of a teeterboard act with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
“I started in show business in 1978,” he said. “I did four years with them then went back home, toured in Europe, Kuwait, came back here again in ’88, did another four years with Ringling Bros., then I did a Japan tour.”
This is just the middle of Stoinev’s staggering list of tour stops and sit downs throughout his performance career, which also included stints with the Big Apple Circus. He was the first Bulgarian to perform in Mexico, where he met his wife Maritza Atayde. Atayde is a fourth-generation circus performer and currently serves as aerial coach for Gamma Phi.
“My entire life has been circus,” he said.
Stoinev’s son Christian attended ISU because of Gamma Phi. Christian Stoinev is now a professional performer, mainly with an acrobatic routine with a chihuahua named Scooby—an act that placed top 12 in “America’s Got Talent” Season 9.
“I started knowing about the program and the circus history in town,” Stoinev said. “I really fell in love with it and that’s what brought me here.”
In some countries, circus is revered as a high art, on the same level as opera and ballet. Stoinev said despite the United States’ long history of circus, it hasn’t always been given the respect it deserves—but that’s changing and circus is making a comeback.
“I can see that the young generation has started treating it as art,” he said. “We have 120 students, which is our biggest number.”
After a six-year hiatus, a revamped, animal-free Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s is due to kick off an 18-country tour in September. And Stoinev said shows like Cirque du Soleil have kept spectators interested in the field.
“The audience and the people in the United States have started to understand more about circus arts,” he said.
Gamma Phi is a registered student organization, meaning students cannot major in circus; rather, students studying math, computer science, engineering, education, or a whole host of other disciplines, spend their free time in the gym with Gamma Phi. Stoinev said many students choose ISU expressly for Gamma Phi.
“They get out of college with a second profession,” he said. “It’s a huge benefit for the students. There is no cost for them at all.”
Indeed, Gamma Phi alumni have gone on to professional careers in show business and as circus performers in some of the world's best shows. But even those who don’t gain valuable life skills.
“Our students are the hardest working students here on campus,” Stoinev said. “They learn to work with people, they learn to trust people. They go through a lot of tears and pain, but then come out so strong and prepared for real life.”
The 2023 Gamma Phi Circus presents “Dance On!” Friday and Saturday at CEFCU Arena, 232 W. College Ave. Tickets are $13-$30 at gammaphicircus.illinoisstate.edu.
