Apolonia "Miss Loni" Van Voorden (April 14, 1926 - November 11, 2012) was a

Dutch American Dutch Americans ( nl, Nederlandse Amerikanen) are Americans of Dutch descent whose ancestors came from the Netherlands in the recent or distant past. Dutch settlement in the Americas started in 1613 with New Amsterdam, which was exchanged with ...

foot juggler who began her career at the age of 10 in her father's family circus in the Netherlands. Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1926,Miss Loni. Biography
IMDB
/ref> Van Voorden emigrated to the United States on March 28, 1950 and gave her first performance there with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, working in a display with juggler Francis Brunn."Miss Loni looks back on glamorous life as traveling foot juggler
July 18, 2008, Dispatch Argus QCOnline
/ref> After being introduced to Cecil B. Demille she was asked to be in his 1952 movie, The Greatest Show on Earth. Ten years later in 1962 she was cast as a circus performer in the movie Billy Rose's Jumbo. Ms. Van Voorden became a naturalized United States Citizen on July 9, 1963. In addition to performing with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Van Voorden's extensive career also saw her juggle with Circus Vargas, The Polack Brothers Circus, and Minsky's Follies. She regularly performed at various venues such as "... fairs, festivals, night clubs, and special events." For two years Ms. Van Voorden was also featured as a half-time act with the

Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters are an American exhibition basketball team. They combine athleticism, theater, and comedy in their style of play. Created in 1926 by Tommy Brookins in Chicago, Illinois, the team adopted the name ''Harlem'' because of i ...

. Ms. Van Voorden was voted the "Queen of the Circus" in 1961 by the International Circus Fans Association.

Filmography

External links

Miss Loni page at IMDB

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Voorden, Apolonia Van 1926 births 2012 deaths Jugglers Dutch circus performers American acrobatic gymnasts Dutch emigrants to the United States Female acrobatic gymnasts Entertainers from Amsterdam