This event is sold-out!

Kick off the summer season at Ringling WONDERground, a twist on the popular Ringling Underground. WONDERground will be hosted in the Museum of Art Courtyard as part of the Wonder Symposium at The Ringling, a three-day long event celebrating the intersection of human experience and the arts. The event will feature local, regional, and national musical acts, including Contemporary Artist Sarah Santiago, Florida-favorite NoFilter, and the drum line and dancers from the Brooklyn United Music and Arts Program. Local circus artist, Cirque Vertigo, and other entertainers will round out this evening’s events.

Through band and dance programs, Brooklyn United supports inner-city youth from ages four to twenty-five from New York City, Atlanta, and Orlando. The organization’s efforts provide them with academic support, character development, skills building, and performance opportunities, helping to build a strong foundation for future accomplishments. Brooklyn United has played on national television and at venues such as The MGM Grand Hotel Casino, the St. Jude’s Hospital Kids for Kids Family Day, and the Bon Appétit and Outdoor Voices Feast or Fashion Party.

“I wanted to try something a little different, something we would not normally be able to have as an entertainment factor here,” says Jessica Clark, The Ringling’s Events & Rental Coordinator. Inspired by Brooklyn United’s mission, she booked the group’s drum line and dancers, whose journey to Sarasota has been made possible by vendors So Staged and Café L'Europe, which have been instrumental providing them with lodging, meals, transportation, and fun activities. Symposium attendees will have the chance to see Brooklyn United perform during the WONDERground reception, while the public can experience their show during the main WONDERground event. The group is planning to join NoFilter’s drum set on the stage for a one-song collaboration. “A lot of the kids that are coming are going off to college, so this is that one last big bang,” she says. “To be able to provide that opportunity, that’s wonder for me.”

This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required; space is limited. Please enter directly through the Museum of Art Courtyard.

What to Expect / Accessibility Concerns

• High Noise Area
• Bright Lights
• Crowded Areas
• Flashing Lights
• Strobe Lights
• Uneven Terrain