Age: 45

Hometown: Minneapolis

Job: Circus performer and trainer: Circus Juventas (head coach), Circus Manduhai (founder).

Circus salary range: roughly $50,000 to $100,000 (for experienced performers).

Education and circus background: I entered Mongolian circus college when I was 16. In America nobody has a four-year circus college, but in Asia it's a big thing. The first two years I learned all the basic circus things, then I picked a profession: aerial and trapeze. I am very small; I had six really strong partners, I would stand on their hands and they would throw me up in the air. I would do somersaults in the air and then they would catch me in their hands, or on their head or their shoulders. I traveled with the Mongolian state circus all over Asia and Europe. Then the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to Mongolia and picked my act. That's why I ended up in the United States. I lived on the circus train. The first two or three years was OK. Every time I get up it's a new city, a new state, it's fun! But after five years I stopped.

How did you end up in Minnesota? Trying to settle down. I worked a very small one-ring circus in [upstate] New York. That's where I met my husband. He's from Minnesota, so of course he wants me to come over here. In a newspaper he saw Circus Juventas building this circus building [in St. Paul]. He said, "they're looking for new professionals!" I called and they said, "Can you come work for us tomorrow?" They're really happy to have a professional. Eight years I've been working here.

When did you first get excited about the circus? For two years I was a gymnast in Mongolia ... we don't have such things like babysitting, so we just grow up together, watching each other. My mom told me to stop taking gymnastics because I have to take care of my sisters and brothers and cook. So I dropped [gymnastics] and I babysat. But I never stopped. I was teaching my sisters and brothers.

How did you get in to the circus? My dad saw a newspaper ad saying they would be auditioning 16-year-olds for circus school. I was really strong and tiny. For me, the audition was really easy. Out of 550 boys and girls they picked only two girls and six boys. When I was 16 I left my home in a small village and went to college in the capital and stayed with my aunt.

What's the best part of your job? I love my job, especially the performing. It makes me young and it makes me happy. Also, when I'm watching [my students] backstage. It's amazing to watch them. ... Kids can do amazing things, close to professional.

Tell me about your "Mission Manduhai." This summer I'm taking a troupe to Mongolia to perform for the countryside people, the herders. They never experience any circus entertainment, or any entertainment because the live way far [out]. This show is free. This is a good opportunity to raise awareness of domestic abuse. We are working together with the organization [in Mongolia] called National Center Against Violence. This is my longtime dream. Plus, I'm a survivor of domestic abuse [when she was young]. I kept that in my chest for a long time. I've wanted to do this for many years ... now, nothing's going to stop me. (More information about Chimgee's trip and fundraiser on the Web at www.circusmanduhai.com.)

HILARY BRUECK