Clowns, elephants and wolves filled the Klukwan School gymnasium during their circus show on March 19.

Students ages 4-13 years old performed choreographed routines for their families and community members before enjoying sushi made by one of the circus performers, Felix Benassi. Thirteen students performed, led by Klukwan teacher Tiffany DeWitt. The idea to do this circus came from student Freyja Bailey, who said she dresses up as a wolf every day. She wanted to dress up as a wolf and wolf trainer with her friend Jannessa McCall for Halloween. She said DeWitt heard this plan and thought it would work as a circus routine as well. Bailey said “all of it” was her favorite part of the show.

DeWitt and Bailey put out a bucket for donations to help send Bailey to Native Youth Olympics from April 10-13.

The circus had performances ranging from acrobatics and dance routines to a balance beam routine. “It really has upstarted attendance at school by having them excited to come,” DeWitt said. After the performance, sushi, made with fish from the Chilkat River that the students helped to process, was served, a total of 73 rolls. DeWitt said that sushi is always a big hit in Klukwan.