In Las Vegas this past Halloween weekend, one of the most celebrated variety arts shows in the US quietly re-opened on the strip at Ceasars Palace, offering up their…
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At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed we all experienced a collective creative block. Restrictions and social distancing not only physically stopped performers, but also made it difficult…
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Circus bodies, as a topic, is enormously complex. The angles from which one could approach the subject are limitless. Circus bodies, as performing bodies, are important producers of culture….
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CircusTalk would like to wish a very happy 11th World Circus Day to our wonderful circus community! The holiday was created to celebrate the circus arts internationally and to…
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The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the circus industry. With the shutdown of in-person entertainment and many circus studios, the future for many circus artists is up in the air….
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Prior to this year, there was no space specifically dedicated to circus films. Circus filmmakers struggled to be recognized for their work, because they did not have their own…
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In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility that artists and scholars have is becoming increasingly urgent. What is the role of circus…
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Aging Circus Bodies is part of a new series called Circus Bodies. The introductory article speaks to the importance of performing circus bodies as meaning makers and culture creators….
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk, is pleased to present an interview with Stacy Clark on Audio Explorations with the Editor. PRO members, we hear you….
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The last Human on Earth (is a circus artist)– Sensing the World through Circus Arts In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility…
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What happens when the trapezes stop swinging, popcorn stops popping, and acrobats, jugglers and clowns have no audience to delight and entertain? One year ago, in the spring of…
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Dima Shine Founder of Shine Alternative Fitness Studio in Las Vegas is this weeks guest on the Live Like An Acrobat Podcast hosted by Shenea Stiletto. Dima Shine is…
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I often get asked if I am a “certified circus rigger”. This question typically comes from individuals and programs looking for small-scale rigging. When I say small scale, I…
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Working in circus can be thrilling, energising and full of moments of joy and excitement. It can also be challenging, competitive and even demoralising. Working in the gig economy…
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We are very excited to see how the circus job market is slowly awakening, as well as how companies have started planning and auditioning again. Here are a few…
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What an odd year for everyone in every corner of the world. In Taiwan, the art centers were closed for about three months before June 7th. After that, theatres…
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There has to be a reason the Royal Albert Hall still looks this good after 150 years. Constant investment to not only maintain the Grade I listed building, but…
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Summer Camps are still hiring. This week we had two posts looking for trapeze instructors in the US. Driftwood Day Camp in New York is searching for fun, professional,…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Wake Up Call for Inclusion series. In this panel discussion about LGBTQIA’s presence in the worldwide circus sector, we explore questions as they…
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In Center Ring Presents the cast of The Crown. The much anticipated short film, featuring an all star ensemble of circus artists and women. In this episode the cast…
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2020–it’s been a year! Whatever role you play in the performing arts world, your work has likely been heavily impacted by the events of this year. We know because…
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COSMIC is the ongoing project of FEDEC[1], in collaboration with the FFEC[2], and it is quite ambitious and innovative. It aims to introduce professional circus schools to the use…
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The Pivot is an interview series created to highlight those in our industry who have learned to pivot and find a new way forward during the unique challenges caused…
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Recently, Cirque Eloize took on an international circus contract, one of the few in existence during the height of a world pandemic, in order to take part in an…
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The circus building in the heart of Budapest celebrates its 50th anniversary. The pandemic and COVID restrictions haven’t stopped the Hungarian circus community from commemorating this iconic building. Its…
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Time and time again, as hopeful circus students begin their search for which circus schools to apply and audition for, they run into the question of “How am I…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk, is pleased to present a series called Circus in Process with Casus Circus. In this series, we will follow the…
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The crowd keeps on cheering and clapping for the tamer stealing an extra bow as lions and tigers exit one by one. Without missing a beat, stagehands immediately start…
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Since the pandemic began, the entertainment industry has been thrown into chaos. Every performer on the planet has been forced out of their shows, their livelihoods, and in most…
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In 2020, the practice of networking was elevated in the performing arts world, as countless creators turned towards the digital realm for solace, connection and industry building–not to mention…
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Australia has a unique role in the circus world where both traditional and contemporary circus flourish, and the international touring circuit is strong. Australia also hosts large Fringe festivals…
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Abstract To examine how Circus broadly approaches equity and inclusion in North America, a survey was generated and distributed online. Respondents answered questions across categories of comfort, diversity, bias,…
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In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility that artists and scholars have is becoming increasingly urgent. What is the role of circus…
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Mid-September, Mid-Pandemic I wish I could say we gathered in a dusky church basement or on a sprung floor of a circus studio. But we met where most people…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk, is pleased to present a series called Circus in Process with Casus Circus. In this six-part series, we will follow…
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The Pivot is an interview series created to highlight those in our industry who have learned to pivot and find a new way forward during the unique challenges caused…
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In an age when most circuses are folding up their tents, a new circus is emerging to fill the gulf in the United States. Omnium Circus is getting its…
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MONTREAL, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020 Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group closes previously announced Purchase Agreement with its secured lenders and emerges from CCAA/Chapter 15 protection. Cirque’s President and CEO,…
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For the National Circus School (ENC), as well as all circus schools around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic represents an exceptional challenge, one for which there are no preconfigured…
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Mette Klouman wanted to be an actress, but she ended up being a publisher for a while instead… until the day she felt a need for a change and…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series. In this episode, documentarian and director Joel Gershon, and social circus director Jessica Hentoff discuss the impetus…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk, is pleased to present a new series called Circus in Process with Casus Circus. We will follow the progress of…
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Cirque du Cambodia is a documentary film that follows the circus education and emerging careers of two circus artists (Dina Sok and Sopha Nem) from teen years to adulthood,…
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Following up with part one of my series, Mapping Contortion in Japan, I continue exploring the history of contortion and body flexibility in Japan. I decided to interview Tomomi…
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Bruno Costa, co-director of Bùssola and co-organizer of LEME Contemporary Circus Festival in Ílhavo, Portugal, has reached out to CircusTalk to announce the open call for an exciting new…
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In this short series titled Circus Immersion, Martin Frennette explores the ins and outs of a circus discipline through the eyes of its practitioners, starting with juggling. Juggling. One…
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In Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, plans to develop a new circus center are underway and the organizers are reaching out to the world circus community to share their vision…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk, is pleased to present a new series called Circus in Process with Casus Circus. In this six-part series, we will…
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Women have always had a place in the circus, but it would not be until 1896 that the “New Woman” would join the ranks of her male contemporaries under…
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It is difficult to sum up a whole art form in 500 words, let alone 5, but by streamlining our concepts, it can lead to some surprising insights about…
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This episode of CircusTalk’s Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series is brought to you in collaboration with CARAVAN, the International Social Circus Network. In The Growing Role of Social…
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Antonella Casella, an Australian circus advocate, producer, director, dramaturg and performer, has recently announced that she is stepping down from her position at Circus Oz as Senior Artistic Associate…
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The 33rd Edition of the Festival CIRCa will take place this October in Auch, France. Over a series of 10 days there will be 27 shows, 70 representations, and…
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Cirkaskina’s first 2020 young ambassadors’ committee was organized the weekend of September 25th, in collaboration with the St. John’s International CircusFest by Cirque Hors Piste. This unique virtual committee…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series. In this episode, titled American Circus–The Now & The Future, moderators Jospeh Pinzon and Mark Lonergan, both…
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In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility that artists and scholars have is becoming increasingly urgent. What is the role of circus…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series. In this episode, titled A Historical Look at the American and European Traditional Circus–A Comparison, we hear…
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I first met Rob Torres in 1998 in my home in Portland Maine. Avner (the Eccentric) Eisenberg had brought Rob to perform that year at PHYZGIG , an annual…
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The MLA International Bibliography (MLAIB) may not be the first resource that comes to mind for circus scholars doing and sharing their research. This essential humanities research tool is…
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In our visual world, one of the best ways to promote your talents and yourself is through photography. Used properly, strong images can tell a story of you as…
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Having explored early traces of contortionism throughout Japan’s entertainment history in Part One of this series, I will now discuss contemporary developments, as well as the establishment of the…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Circus and Changing Realities 2020 series. In this episode titled Abuse and Assault in Circus–Normalizing the Conversation we feature a diverse group of…
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Two women connected through their life’s work with circus, Sosina Wogayehu and Jasmine Straga, have recently responded to Circostrada‘s report from 2018 titled, Ethiopia, An Insight into African Circus…
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In the wake of job losses and setbacks for the circus sector due to the coronavirus pandemic, Projet Lumière has emerged to shine some light on the lives of…
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The question that comes to mind is, how have you been surviving? This is not a hyperbole as the world literally negotiates a deadly virus. It is not a…
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Canada, and Quebec in particular, plays an important role in the circus world. Montréal is home to circus institutions such as En Piste, and the National Circus school (Ecole…
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In Thom Wall’s new book Juggling–What It Is And How To Do It –a not so brief introduction to the world’s most underrated pastime, it is possible to get…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk is pleased to present a podcast series titled Monkey See, Monkey Discuss created by Ruby Burgess and Rosie Kelly. Rosie…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s ongoing panel series Circus and Changing Realities 2020. This episode was a live Zoom event on August 4th, titled A Wake Up Call…
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Content warning: emotional, physical, sexual abuse and harassment. The creators of Victims_Voices in Quebec must have sensed the change in the winds of social justice when they created an…
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Escuela Nacional de Circo de Puerto Rico (ENCPR) (The National Circus of Puerto Rico) is a non-profit entity that was founded in 2010 with the dream to build a…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk, is pleased to present an interview with Zinzi Oegema as we launch our new podcast series, Audio Explorations with the…
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As a child, I was what some would call a tomboy, clad in baggy hand-me-downs while leaping from trees onto trampolines and rubbing my palms bloody on monkey bars….
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Eric McGill is a Canadian swinging trapeze artist based in the United Kingdom. In 2010, he graduated from the National Circus School (ENC)in Montreal. With his swinging trapeze and…
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Like many people, I like being in control. I’m also very afraid of heights. I was not a child who thrived on risk — I once cried in gym…
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This panel is part of CircusTalk’s Wake Up Call for Inclusion series. In this episode, titled Geopolitical Context of Institutional Barriers and Individual Biases in the Performing Arts is…
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The staff and board of directors of the John and Mable Ringling Museum were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jean Rockwell Jacobs. Mrs. Jacobs was born…
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The International Jugglers Association’s Festival (founded in 1947) celebrated its festival as many other circus festivals this year did–online. This multi-platform juggling event was open to the public with…
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I started producing contemporary circus in 2004 in Sapporo when I was working for the Hokkaido Shimbun Press (in Japan, there is a section for events production in all…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk is pleased to present a podcast series titled Monkey See, Monkey Discuss created by Ruby Burgess and Rosie Kelly. Rosie…
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During this crazy time each person is affected in a different way. Many aspects of daily life have changed and circus schools and performance troupes are no exception. By…
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On July 8th, 3:30 pm EST, a team from Concordia, spearheaded by Dr. Louis Patrick Leroux (of the Montreal Working Group on Circus Research) will launch The World Circus…
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In times of climate catastrophe, refugee crises and Covid-19, the question of the responsibility that artists and scholars have is becoming increasingly urgent. What is the role of circus…
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As a circus artist based in the Netherlands, these are some of the observations I’ve made during this self-quarantine. They’re not statistically backed up, nor observed through an academic…
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Who was your pandemic circus self? Many of us found that our love for circus training had to change during the pandemic, and we became different versions of our…
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Transcribing my conversation with Deb Wilks (Executive Director) and Kate Malone (Executive Producer) of Cluster Arts was like time travel. We spoke in mid-March. The company was celebrating its…
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Normally the seasonal premieres of the Swiss circuses are as much a part of spring as the first flowers and buds on the trees. But this year everything is…
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Welcome to Circus and Changing Realities 2020. In this episode titled What’s Up with Circus Festivals? , moderator Jenni Taylor Swain expands upon our May panel Presenters Looking Forward…
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The Circus Ring of Fame Foundation began in 1988 and has since inducted 140 circus artists from around the world. The Ring of Fame graces a central park located…
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Circus Voices, a podcast brought to you by CircusTalk is pleased to present a podcast series titled Monkey See, Monkey Discuss created by Ruby Burgess and Rosie Kelly. Rosie…
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These artists will talk about their work, their inspiration, and why queer representation is so important. -Sarah Ward http://www.yanaalana.com/ -Missa Blue https://ceremonialcabaret.com/ -Beau James https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/backstage/first-nations/natives-go-wild-playbill.html (Keep scrolling down to…
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It’s an uncertain time for all of us in the circus community, not the least of all the graduating students of 2020. Many are still unsure of when their…
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At The School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA), where I am the Director of Social Circus, we seek to improve the quality of life for the people…
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Welcome to Circus and Changing Realities 2020. In this episode titled Somatic Solutions in Times of Stress, we have gathered professionals in physiotherapy and performing arts medicine to discuss…
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From self-quarantining to social distancing, feeling “stuck” is a unanimous condition we’re experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the cases of these circus troupes and performers, COVID-19 has…
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Congratulations graduate! You graduated from circus school and are ready to embark on a career in circus. Perhaps you will form a small company with fellow graduates like many…
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Welcome to Circus and Changing Realities 2020. In this episode titled The Evolving Field of Circus Media through the Eyes of INCAM Members, we discuss the evolving role of…
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I remember sitting in a patch of sun after I had finished teaching for the morning. I spoke with Jed Wheeler, Executive Director for Arts and Cultural Programming at…
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A survey of 561 circus artists and companies across Canada reveals the great precariousness of the circus community, which is experiencing the most serious crisis in its history, according…
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Circus animals are banned in countless countries across the globe, but in others, circus fans are adamant that circus is not circus without animals. These two articles take a…
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