Sew & So goes to the circus as we sit down with Maritza Atayde The Assistant Director of the Gamma Phi Circus. Gamma Phi Circus is celebrating their 94th year as an organization at Illinois State University and is the oldest and longest running collegiate circus in the United States Gamma Phi Circus alumni can be found within such organizations as Cirque de Soleil, Disney Cruise Lines, Shrine Circuses, Circus Kingdom, and Kelly Bros. Our Guest Maritza Atayde is a 4th generation circus performer and owner who has performed with her family's circus Circo Atayde Hermanos, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Big Apple Circus, George Carden International Circus, as well as in musical theater. She has worked for Gamma Phi Circus since 2013 and was promoted to Assistant Director in 2020. Maritza oversees the creation of all costumes for the circus, choreography, and aerial arts.
(2:28) Maritza shares the beginnings of her sewing learnings and her journey of improvement. She takes us through her progression in costume creation and how she was affected by the events of 9/11. She even “almost” had an opportunity to meet Mikhail Baryshnikov.
(15:21) She grew up in a circus family and gives us a first-hand account of what it was like. She also shares some of the superstitions held by circus performers.
Also, circus “hand balancers” once looked down upon are now held in really high regard. She explains how this happened.
(18:13) At 13 she started performing with the circus as an aerialist. How do people learn to do this? She explains!
(20:38) Celebrating her 10th year with Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus, Maritza shares how she connected with them and became a part of this phenomenal institution.
(31:18) Maritza mentors student sewists in the costuming department for Gamma Phi. She tells us about the early stages of her involvement and how she grew this program and enhanced the sewist’s skills.
(34:30) There are many hidden secrets in circus costumes. The average person in the audience never sees or knows about there, but Maritza gives us the super scoop! You’ll be on the inside and never look at these costumes the same again!
(36:18) Special stories about behind the scenes? Hear them right here. (And that little Chihuahua – yep…that’s her in the background!)
(39:43) Over her 10-year tenure with Gamma Phi the student participation has more than doubled. She tells us about this.
(40:30) What’s her dream? Hear it here! She also talked about how some of her students have pursued their dreams.
(45:00) Want to reach out to Maritza? You can at Matayde@yahoo.com. And don’t forget how hard these kids work juggling all they do!
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