Interviews
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Con (Sullivan) Colleano (the wire walker) and Winnie Colleano (trapeze)
were brother and sister. They were two of the 9 siblings who were all in the
Colleano Family Circus, and then later on to American Vaudeville and then
the Ringling Bros. Circus, among other circuses.
The siblings were Con (really Cornelius), Winnifred (Winnie), Bonar,
Maurice, Katherine (Kate), May, Coral, Joyce and Babe. I don't know Babe's
real name. She's always been known to me as Aunt Babe.
Con ended up marrying a woman named Winnifred, which is where
confusion often happens. Con and Winnie (known in the family as "Big
Winnie") did not have children. In fact, many of the original group did not have
children. Bonar was the father of Bonar (Jr.) Colleano, a well-known movie
actor in Great Britain. Bonar Jr. tragically died in a car accident when in his
30's. His son Mark Colleano is also an actor, who as a child acted in movies
with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Mark is my cousin.
My grandmother was Katherine (Kate). She was known as the strong one,
who often performed tricks of strength, like balancing a ten foot ladder on the
bottom of her feet, while her sisters climbed to the top and did acrobatics.
My mother is one of Kate's five children. My mother's name is also Katherine,
but she goes by the nickname Kitty. My mother was in the "Juggling
Colleano's' circus act. She and her brothers toured with Ringling as well.
Their specialty was the Indian clubs. My mother was also an acrobat. They
spent considerable time traveling and performing on famous American
television programs in the 50's, such as Ed Sullivan and Sid Caesar.
were brother and sister. They were two of the 9 siblings who were all in the
Colleano Family Circus, and then later on to American Vaudeville and then
the Ringling Bros. Circus, among other circuses.
The siblings were Con (really Cornelius), Winnifred (Winnie), Bonar,
Maurice, Katherine (Kate), May, Coral, Joyce and Babe. I don't know Babe's
real name. She's always been known to me as Aunt Babe.
Con ended up marrying a woman named Winnifred, which is where
confusion often happens. Con and Winnie (known in the family as "Big
Winnie") did not have children. In fact, many of the original group did not have
children. Bonar was the father of Bonar (Jr.) Colleano, a well-known movie
actor in Great Britain. Bonar Jr. tragically died in a car accident when in his
30's. His son Mark Colleano is also an actor, who as a child acted in movies
with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Mark is my cousin.
My grandmother was Katherine (Kate). She was known as the strong one,
who often performed tricks of strength, like balancing a ten foot ladder on the
bottom of her feet, while her sisters climbed to the top and did acrobatics.
My mother is one of Kate's five children. My mother's name is also Katherine,
but she goes by the nickname Kitty. My mother was in the "Juggling
Colleano's' circus act. She and her brothers toured with Ringling as well.
Their specialty was the Indian clubs. My mother was also an acrobat. They
spent considerable time traveling and performing on famous American
television programs in the 50's, such as Ed Sullivan and Sid Caesar.
Great Nephew of Con Colleano, Jack Stehlin explains who
is who, and the confusion between the two Winnies
is who, and the confusion between the two Winnies
| Above: Jack Stehin |
| Above: Con Colleano |
Leigh Marning, on Cirque, her future, and gymnastics
What year did you start with Cirque, and what act did you perform??
Feb 1994 with the show "KA" at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
I performed Contortion. I was a crab.
Did you audition or did they scout you?
I auditioned for the first time at Five Dock in Sydney June 1999, and
succeeded at being put on their "talented artist" books.
I met up with one of the Cirque talent scouts Florence Pot at the 2000
Olympics prior to going to watch my team mate and friend Danielle Leray
compete. Florence mentioned that it would be helpful for me if I got some
circus training. I thought where on earth would I find a circus venue and
trainer? I was coaching at the time and saw auditions for NICA (National
Institute of Circus Arts) in the Flick Flack magazine. I'd missed the Sydney
auditions already and so I said to myself that if I had enough frequent flyer
points to go to Melbourne I would. And as a result I spent the next three years
going to university at NICA. In my third year I auditioned for Cirque again and
I was offered a contract.
Are there ever times where you ever miss RG?
My inspiration for starting gymnastics was The Olympics and Nadia
Comaneci and her quest for perfection. I still don’t think I’ve recovered from
realising that my Olympic dream is still just that "A Dream".
Recently I have been considering going back into training for the 2008
Olympics. Rhythmic is a beautiful sport. I miss the art of Rhythmic
Gymnastics.
I dont miss the politics, the pain of striving for perfection and the mental
abuse.
The things I have given up for the love of my sport only myself and my family
truly knows. I held the flag for rhythmic gymnastics in my country for so many
years yet I never got to physically hold the flag for my country whilst
representing Australia overseas, not even at my last World Championships.
I feel deserved this at the very least out of respect for all my hard work, my
achievements, and commitment to my sport.
Would you recommend going to Cirque school to other retiring gymnasts?
Definitely. If you are a performer at heart it's a great way to do what you love.
Where are you working now?
I am working as a trainer with some very friendly people at Gosford
Gymnastics and The Brophy Circus School. I enjoy teaching very much but I
still have a strong desire to perform. Anyone need a hula hoopist at their next
function??? leighmarning@hotmail.com
What are your plans for your career future?
I am an artist in all senses of the word and I plan to make a career out of
doing what I love. I will continue to create and find new forms and ways to
express myself. Whether it is through gymnastics, circus, dance, painting,
writing, singing, acting, music or something new. Only time will unfold what
my destiny will be.
What year did you start with Cirque, and what act did you perform??
Feb 1994 with the show "KA" at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.
I performed Contortion. I was a crab.
Did you audition or did they scout you?
I auditioned for the first time at Five Dock in Sydney June 1999, and
succeeded at being put on their "talented artist" books.
I met up with one of the Cirque talent scouts Florence Pot at the 2000
Olympics prior to going to watch my team mate and friend Danielle Leray
compete. Florence mentioned that it would be helpful for me if I got some
circus training. I thought where on earth would I find a circus venue and
trainer? I was coaching at the time and saw auditions for NICA (National
Institute of Circus Arts) in the Flick Flack magazine. I'd missed the Sydney
auditions already and so I said to myself that if I had enough frequent flyer
points to go to Melbourne I would. And as a result I spent the next three years
going to university at NICA. In my third year I auditioned for Cirque again and
I was offered a contract.
Are there ever times where you ever miss RG?
My inspiration for starting gymnastics was The Olympics and Nadia
Comaneci and her quest for perfection. I still don’t think I’ve recovered from
realising that my Olympic dream is still just that "A Dream".
Recently I have been considering going back into training for the 2008
Olympics. Rhythmic is a beautiful sport. I miss the art of Rhythmic
Gymnastics.
I dont miss the politics, the pain of striving for perfection and the mental
abuse.
The things I have given up for the love of my sport only myself and my family
truly knows. I held the flag for rhythmic gymnastics in my country for so many
years yet I never got to physically hold the flag for my country whilst
representing Australia overseas, not even at my last World Championships.
I feel deserved this at the very least out of respect for all my hard work, my
achievements, and commitment to my sport.
Would you recommend going to Cirque school to other retiring gymnasts?
Definitely. If you are a performer at heart it's a great way to do what you love.
Where are you working now?
I am working as a trainer with some very friendly people at Gosford
Gymnastics and The Brophy Circus School. I enjoy teaching very much but I
still have a strong desire to perform. Anyone need a hula hoopist at their next
function??? leighmarning@hotmail.com
What are your plans for your career future?
I am an artist in all senses of the word and I plan to make a career out of
doing what I love. I will continue to create and find new forms and ways to
express myself. Whether it is through gymnastics, circus, dance, painting,
writing, singing, acting, music or something new. Only time will unfold what
my destiny will be.
