Dan Butler
Dan started his career under the big top of Sailor Circus in Sarasota, Florida and trained with world-renowned flyer Faye Alexander, Willie Edelston of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Gustino Loyal of the Loyal-Repinski Troupe. He also performed with the Florida State University Circus. Alongside his wife, Betty, Dan founded the organization in 1994. In 1997, Dan secured CJ as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and was instrumental in the fundraising for and building, designing, and construction of the new 21,000 sq ft big top Circus Juventas now calls home. He had taken the helm as the organization’s executive director, facilitating all business operations and assisting in fundraising, while still retaining a coaching role with CJ students. Dan masterfully guided our ship to become the largest youth circus program in North America and now enjoys retirement in Sarasota Florida where his career first started.
