Circus treats kids adopted from China to special show - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Circus treats kids adopted from China to show

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The circus is in town through Sunday at the Huntington Center in Toledo.

This year the circus is themed Dragons.  To celebrate the diversity in the Toledo community in this Chinese year of the dragon, one acrobat troupe gave a group of adopted kids quite a surprise.

On Friday morning the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus treated 50 Toledo-area kids adopted from China to behind-the-scenes access and a private performance.

8-year-old Daniel Perkins of Perrysburg enjoys learning Tai Chi.

"I had fun," says Perkins who calls the Kung Fu Warriors his favorite part of the show.

"I think all adopted children need to have a sense of their identity and their culture and their homeland from where they came and China is just so rich in culture and beauty," says Teri Perkin's, Daniel's mom.

The dancers from the Greater Toledo Chinese Association were the highlight of the day for Kelly Strauss' two adopted girls.

"They're very much Americanized, but I think it's important that we do keep their background, where they came from," says Kelly Strauss, mom from Wauseon.

The Houghtalings of Curtice say this is an extra special day for their 4-year-old daughter Ava.

"We adopted her actually two years ago yesterday," says Sarah Houghtaling, Ava's mom.

"It was awesome. We loved every minute of it," says John Houghtaling, Ava's dad.

The Ringmaster is proud to call the circus not only the Greatest Show on Earth but the most diverse show in show business.

"Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey is all about community," says Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson.  "That's really why we've been so endearing and enduring for 142 years, why people continue to come out wherever we are. We're open to all cultures."

 

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