LEWISTON – Dancing horses, trained geese and two women whose bodies seem to be made of rubber make this year’s Kora Shrine Circus one of the best ever, according to Ringmaster Charley VanBuskirk.

The circus, a two-day extravaganza sponsored by the Kora Shrine Center in Lewiston, will be in town Tuesday and Wednesday for five shows.

Aside from the elephants, the band and VanBuskirk, the show is made up of entirely new acts.

“Almost everything is different this year,” VanBuskirk said.

According to VanBuskirk, the audience will be mesmerized by horse trainer Nellie Hanneford and her troop of white horses and black ponies.

The Arabian horses are called liberty horses, because they dance on stage without being tied to each other or anything else.

“It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” VanBuskirk said. “It’s a beautiful act.”

The horses will share the stage with about a dozen trained geese. Although geese aren’t known for their intelligence, these birds have been taught by their Russian trainer to run up and down ramps and pull strings to ring bells.

Other acts include a Russian clown named Alex, motorcycle thrill riders John and Rina Winn, a Siberian juggling duo and a pair of Mongolian contortionists.

“They take flexibility to a new level,” VanBuskirk said. “Some of the stuff they do, you just wouldn’t believe.”

The circus will be coming to Lewiston after a three-day stop in Portland. From here, it goes to Augusta. All profits go directly to the Kora Shrine Center, which raises money for Shriners children’s hospitals across the country.
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