R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press Nine-year-old Taylyn Buelteman of Stephenson catches a ball thrown by Ivan Arestov during a juggling act at the U.P. State Fair. What the professionals of Arestov’s Acrobatic Extravaganza didn’t know when choosing Buelteman as a volunteer is that she, too, is a gymnast.

ESCANABA –An acrobatic act in the Upper Peninsula for the very first time has multiple performances scheduled every day of the U.P. State Fair this week.

Arestov’s Acrobatic Extravaganza features a talented duo — Ivan Arestov and Maeve Beck. Based in Sarasota, Fla., they perform their circus act at fairs, on cruise ships, and in various theater shows year-round.

This week in Escanaba, when the time for a scheduled show draws close, the bleachers outside the blue-and-yellow tent on the midway outside the grandstand begin to fill. The speakers chirp an announcement that a performance will begin in 15 minutes. More audience members appear as another announcement increases anticipation and music begins to play.

When showtime hits, the two performers in vibrant, glittering circus suits start with brief introductions and simple juggling, and then the impressiveness of their stunts gradually builds during the family-friendly 25-minute show.

Host and owner Arestov welcomes the audience and introduces himself — he’s a second-generation circus performer from Toronto who began practicing alongside his parents at a very young age.

“My parents were both acrobats. They transitioned to illusion and magic acts later on in their life,” Arestov told the Daily Press after a show. “I learned from hand balancing originally, moving on to unicycles when I was seven years old, picking up juggling around eight years old, and started touring basically from there.”

He mentioned during the act itself, as he tapped juggling sticks back and forth and between his legs, that he began performing at age 13.

Beck, from Turners Falls, Mass., participated in gymnastics and dance as a kid, and then got into youth circus programs at the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) in Brattleboro, Vt. After attending NECCA, she went to The Sellam Circus School in Biddeford, Maine for three years and began touring afterwards.

Arestov and Beck met at SeaWorld in San Diego when they were both performing as elves in a Christmas show, doing juggling and balancing acts and the like.

“Eventually we wanted to join forces and create a show and be able to travel different places, like this one here,” Arestov said.

The pair has been traveling together as Arestov’s Acrobatic Extravaganza for about five years.

Before arriving in Escanaba, they were at the Huntingdon County Fair and the Schuylkill County Fair in Pennsylvania. After the U.P. State Fair concludes, Arestov and Beck will take their time to explore the beauty of the area before heading off to do shows in Toronto and at the Fonda Fair in New York State later in the month.

“It’s our very first time in the U.P.,” said Arestov. “It’s been really pretty… we’re excited. After we’re finished up with this fair, we’re gonna drive around for like, a week.”

He said that crossing the Mackinac Bridge was “gorgeous” — they crossed at sunset and were both wowed.

Before they take off, Arestov’s Acrobatic Extravaganza will continue to entertain fairgoers through Sunday. The act features daring sky-high handstands by Arestov atop a stack of chairs, body contortion and feats that demonstrate strength and balance by Beck, juggling by both, some corny jokes peppered in, and the opportunity for a young audience member to volunteer to help with a stunt.

Performances are set for 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday; 2:30, 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday; 1:30, 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. on Friday; 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 7:30 p.m on Saturday; and 2:00, 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The stars can be followed and tagged on social media as “Arestov’s Acrobatic Extravaganza” on Facebook and “arestovsae” on Instagram.

R. R. Branstrom
Maeve Beck demonstrates her flexibility during one of several daily acrobatic performances at the Upper Peninsula State Fair.