Henderson twins performing in the Las Vegas Circus Spectacular

Fraternal twins Kellie and Sydney Eastwood didn't have to run away to join the circus.

Their parents drove them there.

Kellie, a dancer, and gymnast Sydney are freshmen at Green Valley High School. This weekend the 14-year-old sisters are performing at the Las Vegas Circus Spectacular at Orleans Arena.

And while the girls' performance is for the Springfield, Mo.-based circus' opening weekend only, show business is in their blood -- and in the blood of a relative who owns the circus.

Alexandra Carden is a cousin of their father, Wally Eastwood, who hosts "V the Ultimate Variety Show" inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. She and her husband, George, own and run the operation, billed as North America's Original Three-Ring Circus. George Carden's family has been in the business for five generations.

The twins' mother, Heidi, is a stay-at-home mom these days, but she and Wally met while both performed in the stage spectacular "Jubilee" in 1988.

They married a few years later.

Heidi Eastwood, 43, later went on to star as an acrobat in the classic Las Vegas revue "Les Folies Bergere," a job she kept for about 10 years. She retired from performing when she became pregnant with the twins.

Wally Eastwood was born into a family of trapeze artists, but his fear of heights persuaded him to take on a less risky form of entertainment.

"He became a juggler," his wife said.

"And a comedian," chimed in Kellie. "He likes to make people laugh."

The girls inherited a drive to perform, and they've each picked an act their mother did before they were born.

Sydney is an accomplished gymnast at the GYMCATS training facility in Henderson, where she has been a member for nine years.

Kellie is a competitive dancer at the Shine dance studio in Henderson.

Both girls hope their passions lead to careers.

Sydney's goal is to earn a gymnastics scholarship and to run her own training facility someday. Kellie will strive for an academic scholarship, but she sees dancing in her future.

As for the circus?

"It's exciting," Kellie said.

"It is," agreed Sydney, her eyes taking in the stands from the floor at Orleans Arena. "We've never performed in front of this many people before."

With two nights already under their belts, the sisters will be busy today and Sunday with show times for both days at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Contact Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@review journal.com or 702-224-5512.