Touring Family Debuts Youngest Daughter at Fair

By Sydney Wilmer (Contact)

Thursday, July 31, 2008

It has been a memorable debut for Madison Hansen, who is getting used to the spotlight during the Loudoun County Fair's circus this week. She vouches, too, that her act - a summersault on the trampoline and a few jumps - doesn't even make her nervous.

"My favorite part is the summersault," she assures her parents.

Most notable, though, is Hansen's age. She is only 2 and the youngest in the circus. This is her third week of performing.

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Hansen's Spectacular

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Hansen's Spectacular Circus at the Loudoun County Fair this week has a new performer debuting. Madison Hansen, 2, right, is performing with her older sister Olivia Hansen, 4, left, on the trampoline this week. (Sydney Wilmer)

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Michelle Alicia Hansen, the main attraction in the Fair's circus, grew up on the road with her family. Hansen began performing at age 9 with her family. Today, she performs her two daughters and her husband, Shane. (Sydney Wilmer)

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Alecia Hansen with Hansen's Spectacular, a circus thrill show, wows the crowd with her act during Monday night's performance. The circus will take place each night of the fair. (Katherine Frey)

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Shane Hansen, from Sarasota, Fla., grew up in the entertainment business. In the circus, he juggles and does acrobatics on the trampoline with his two daughters Olivia and Madison. (Sydney Wilmer)

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Olivia Hansen, 4, with Hansen's Spectacular, a circus thrill show, jumps through a hoop on the trampoline as part of her act with the family circus. (Katherine Frey)

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Shane Hansen of Hansen's Spectacular, a circus thrill show, does a twisting flip high above the trampoline. (Katherine Frey)

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Madison and her older sister Olivia, 4, are part of their parents' show, Hansen's Spectacular, which is playing all week at the Fair. On Wednesday, which was senior day, the girls wowed audiences twice, with performances at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The self-contained, four-act circus is run, operated and cast by and from members of the Hansen family. Shane, their father juggles and does acrobatic jumps on the trampoline. Michelle Alicia, their mother, is the star of the show, performing 30-feet above ground, doing flips on a trapeze.

"This was the greatest thing I've ever seen," Chloe Arana, 9, said. "I liked all of it." The Hamilton resident said she wouldn't mind spending some time learning how to jump, either.

The Hansen's live in an RV behind their portable stage. "We stay on the road nine months out of the year," Michelle Alicia Hansen said. Olivia and Madison will both be home-schooled, explained their parents.

Hansen's Spectacular, with special attractions Olivia and Madison, will perform three more times at the Loudoun County Fair, at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and one last time at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

Tagged: entertainment, loudoun county fair

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