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Saturday, September 19, 2009

....7TH-GENERATION CIRCUS STAR POUNCES ON DRAMATIC ROLE OF `BIG CAT' TRAINER....

By Karen Boren Swedin\
Published: Monday, Jan. 28, 1991

She is known professionally as "Tamara," but her family forms a true blue-blood circus genealogy. Granddaughter of the world-famous Karl Wallenda, Tamara is a seventh-generation circus performer.

Wallenda and his family were the only high-wire act to regularly perform the dangerous seven-man-high pyramid. As one of Wallenda's seven grandchildren, Tamara learned the ropes of circus performance like another child would learn to ride a bicycle.But destiny decreed an arena other than high-wire for Tamara. Her other grandfather, "Doc" J.Y. Henderson, was veterinarian to Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus for over 40 years. Henderson taught his granddaughter to love wild animals. As she went on rounds to care for the circus animals, she became intrigued with the beautiful but deadly big cats.

When an opening came in her uncle John Jordan's circus, she created an act with five big cats - tigers and lions mixed in one act.

Now a regular part of the Jordan International Circus' annual tour of the United States, Tamara will bring her brood for performances in Salt Lake City on Feb. 1-3 and in Logan and Ogden.

The Globe of Death will also thrill Utah circusgoers. Featured for 10 years at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, the act is a giant sphere made of open mesh in which two motorcyclists race around and around, down and crossways at astonishing speed and angles. The "Sensational Jordans and their Globe of Death" will be performing at ring level, directly in front of the audience.

The circus brings two hours of other thrills on the high wire and trapeze, along with elephants and clowns galore.

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