Former Raiderette Joins the Circus…No, really.
Possibly this is old news, but it’s the first I’ve heard of it. The article below is about Alex Ramon, the Ringmaster for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show “Zing Zang Zoom.” Halfway through the article, they introduce his sister Leah, a former Raiderette who spends a lot of time these days flying high on the trapeze. The excerpt below is only the portion about Leah. You read the entire article here. And don’t forget to check out Leah’s website right here.
Alex Ramon’s career goes ‘Zing Zang Zoom’
Janny Hu, Staff Writer
The San Francisco Chronicle
August 12, 2009
…Bay Area residents might remember him as Alex Gonzalez, the teenager whose magic tricks charmed them at restaurants, libraries and parties. But the boy magician is all grown up now – at 24 – and he returns this week as the headliner for the Greatest Show on Earth.
Ramon, who uses his middle name as his stage name, is the second-youngest ringmaster in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s 139-year history, and the first magician ever to be featured in their circus…
His older sister, Leah Cristiana, is also in on the act. A former Raiderette, Leah – who, like her brother, goes by her middle name – graduated with a degree in dance from San Francisco State before learning trapeze at the city’s Circus Center. She has a solo turn in the preshow and is later featured as a dancer.
“It’s funny,” says Leah, 26. “You think seeing him up there – I mean, he’s the star of the show – there would be some sibling rivalry. But there’s no sense of that. We’re truly excited for each other.”
Adds Alex: “I was away on tour for three years, and when I came back and saw her, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ ”
Both are quick to credit their mother as their biggest fan, and Molly Gonzalez couldn’t be prouder that her kids ran off and joined the circus. She’s seen the show at least 30 times in person, and every time, she shines a special laser light so that Alex and Leah know exactly where she’s sitting.
“I still can’t believe it,” she says about their success…
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