This summer, while your average teenager might be happy with the odd babysitting gig, one 14-year-old has found a more unconventional way to earn some much-needed pocket money — flying through the air as an aerial acrobat.
Isabella Gerbola made her big top debut last year as one of Ireland’s youngest circus acrobats.
From a young age she had been limbering up with splits and backflips while dreaming of performing with her family’s business, Circus Gerbola.
Now, since she got her summer holidays, her days have been spent performing up and down the country — wowing audiences young and old.
The act, she says, has been a long time in the making. According to her circus colleagues, Isabella has spent years gathering inspiration for her signature aerial moves.
Many of them joke that Isabella was born to be a star. The third-year student of Athboy Community School in Meath hit the headlines shortly after she was born in a 4X4 while en route to the Coombe Hospital.
Her father, Mikey Gerbola, pulled over after taking a wrong turn in Blanchardstown in the early hours of New Year’s Day, 2011. However, he ended up having to deliver the baby himself after things moved much faster than expected.
Isabella continues to astound her father Mikey and mum Tara to this day as her star in the circus world is continuing to rise. The teen admits she doesn’t want her summer holidays to end.
“When I’m at school all I really want to do is go home to the circus,” she told the Irish Examiner.
“I was born into the circus so I’d like to stay in it. One day this circus will be passed on to my brothers and I. It’s where I always want to be.”
Isabella says she loves the buzz she gets from the audience when swooping through the air.
“I don’t know what I love most about the aerial act. It’s great to have good feedback from the audience. If a show is full then you tend to get a lot more clapping.
When it’s emptier on the other hand, people don’t tend to interact as much.
“It’s always nice to hear that someone loved the show and enjoyed your act.”
Isabella enjoys the freedom of the circus ring and of being a performer.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a different person in the ring but it does allow me to express myself more. The only time I get stage fright is when I’m adding a trick or something new to my act. I’m always really hoping that I’ll get it right.”
She said the best thing about circus is the opportunity it gives her to travel.
“It might get boring without the travelling. I really love moving around because you get to see so many places that you wouldn’t normally see. For me that’s the best part.
“I remember during covid I really missed that part of it. Every place we go has something different.
“There’s a lovely beach in Achill and I enjoy the amusements in Tramore.
“I’ve met so many people from all over the world through circus who have become lifelong friends.”
Isabella, who has two older brothers named Blake and Michael, said many important life events have been celebrated in the ring.
“Halloween parties, Christmas parties, engagement parties, and baby showers have all been celebrated in the ring. We set out tables and everybody brings food. It’s really nice to see the ring all lit up with lights.”
Circus Gerbola’s general manager David Fitzgerald praised Isabella adding: “No matter how many times you practice beforehand, performing in front of a huge crowd is a frightening thing.
“From the time she was watching the show from her buggy, Isabella has grown up with some of the biggest circus stars in the world and performed under her family’s big top.
“It’s great to see Isabella fulfilling her destiny.”
