Alyson Mattei, 16, of Highland, Calif. performs during the Circus Smirkus 2014 Big Top Tour: Anchors Away For Atlantis in Sandwich, Mass., on July 23, 2014. Circus Smirkus is an award-winning international youth circus based in Vermont. The troupe performs 66 shows in five states with the performers ages ranging from 10 to 18.