Running Away to the Circus
Many circus books tell us why their authors have run away to the circus; few address whether they should have….
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Europe
Circus Voices at the Edinburgh Fringe 2018: A Platform for Cultivating Future Circus Critics
First time at the FRINGE! It had been a long-standing desire of mine to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, either…
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Funambulist Dream
Wire walker Andrea Loreni has been a subject on CircusTalk before when Giulia Schiavone wrote an article sharing her synopsis of…
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The Otherness of Czech Contemporary Circus
Czech contemporary circus is in many ways a unique phenomenon. Having been born of the will of theatre actors and…
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Beware of the Tigers. Two Festival Makers Take the Stand
Summer is approaching and with it high season for the circus festivals. Circus programmers spend the entire year putting together…
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Tragic Circus Performer Named as Appeal is Launched to Get Him Home to His Family
Iosif Totoi, 21– passed away at Russells International Circus– named on Wednesday and his family are raising funds to bring…
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Women in Spanish Circus Take a Step Forward on Gender Issues
Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí. Last June, the first Women in Circus State Meeting was held…
Read more >Las Cirqueras Españolas dan un Paso al Frente en Cuestiones de Género
To read this article in English, click here. El pasado mes de junio se celebró en Sevilla (España) el I…
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Autumn Season At Jacksons Lane Gives Prominence To Female Voices
This autumn Jacksons Lane puts female artists at the forefront. In an industry still fraught with gender imbalance, this season…
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Rigas Cirks-A New Center for Contemporary Circus
Rigas Cirks visited CPH Stage: Q&A with Māra Pāvula At this year’s CPH Stage, DCI in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania…
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Devastated Performers Discover Body of Colleague in Big Tent As Rehearsals Were About to Begin at Russell’s International Circus
Workers at a popular circus have been left devastated after finding the body of their colleague as they arrived to…
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Berlin Circus Festivals’ 4th Edition Offered Variety & Space for Reflection
A festival, a hangout, a space created for the whole spectrum of what circus is and might be. Musing on…
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Letní Letná–An International Festival of New Circus & Theatre–Czech It Out!
It would be impossible to ignore the setting of the Letní Letná festival and how it contributes to its charm….
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Circus and Its Others II: A Burgeoning Academic Movement Supporting Thoughtful Inquiry into Circus Arts
The first ‘Encounters with Circus and Its Others’ (CAIO) conference took place in Montreal in 2016 alongside the Montréal Complètement…
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On Clowning and Mindfulness–Meditating with Wide Open Eyes, Part One
In this two part article by Pete Turner (aka Peanut the Clown), Turner asks himself some essential questions, exploring the connections he…
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Dance and Contemporary Circus Merge in New Master’s Course
A new MA in dance and contemporary circus has been launched, billed as the first course of its kind in…
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Out There Festival in Great Yarmouth Is Back to Celebrate 250 Years of Circus
Great Yarmouth’s annual international feast of all things circus and street arts is integrated into the Circus250 event series this…
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At This Circus Festival, the Highflying Meets the Highbrow
PRAGUE – This city has a well-documented taste for the surreal. It is, after all, the home of Franz Kafka…
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NoFit State Announces Professional Development Programme and New Fund for Welsh Circus Artists
Wales-based NoFit State Circus is setting up a professional development programme to support the nation’s circus practitioners. The contemporary circus…
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Braw Circus Festival Proves Scotland Has World Class Circus Talent
New festival dedicated to contemporary circus in Scotland flies into Glasgow Braw Circus Festival, a festival dedicated to contemporary circus…
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Obituary: Rosa Bouglione, the undisputed queen of the circus
When Rosa Bouglione was married inside a lion’s cage, the pastor, despite his best efforts, was made to stay outside….
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Iberoamerican Circus Artists Seek Recognition, Then Prizes at FIRCO
Hello, Olá, Hola and welcome to the first year of the hopefully annual Festival Iberoamericano de Circo (FIRCO), an adjudicated showcase of…
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Notorious or Dangerous…or both?–A review of Notorious Strumpet & Dangerous Girl at Edinburgh Fringe
As the audience files into the Mainhall at Summerhall (venue #26 of the Edinburgh Fringe), we are greeted with a…
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Fira Tàrrega 2018–Street Art & Circus Collide
From September 6th until the 9th in 2018, the streets of Tàrrega in Spain will be taken over by street art…
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Worldwide Platform for Circus Arts Research is Online–Get Hooked on CARP
There is now a tool for circus researchers. It’s a place for them to communicate, exchange research studies and resources…
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Death of Rosa Bouglione, the Matriarch of the French Circus, at 107 Years of Age
Her destiny was linked for nearly 80 years to that of Cirque d’Hiver, which she bought in 1934 with her…
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Ex-Chief, Peter Gasser, Dies, Age 61
Following Circus Royal’s bankruptcy this past July 2018, Peter Gasser, beloved member of the Gasser Swiss circus dynasty, died unexpectedly…
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Letní Letná Opens with a Big Bang
The Letní Letná International Festival of Contemporary Circus and Theatre began Aug. 15 and runs until Sept. 2 at a…
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Buskers Are the Only Performers Making Money at the Edinburgh Fringe. Here’s How.
So. You’re trudging down the Royal Mile taking it all in. The World’s largest festival of the performing arts, and…
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Circus at the Fringe – 250 Years in the Making
In case you missed it, 2018 is being celebrated all over the world as the 250th birthday of circus. But…
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Some Thoughts on Circus Spaces and Community
I was almost thirty years old when I joined the circus school in my new city, Ghent, around the turn…
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The lessons of Bouglione. A Builder’s Manual for an (Inter)National Circus Imperium
To present one or several new productions each year, to be considered an institution in the circus landscape, to enjoy…
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Social Circus: Borders
In this series, CircusTalk will attempt to explore different aspects of the social circus world. In this article, the author…
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RoboPole–Circus of the Future
In Paris this past January, at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, a giant robot took center stage and…
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Open Letters to the Circus #3: Who Gets to Build the Future?
Dear circus artists, We need to talk. Not about your circus practice, though – not here, not this way. It’s…
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3rd Edition of Women in Circus Consortium Recap from Alby, Stockholm
In Alby, the southern suburbs of Stockholm, in a repurposed warehouse, there´s an annual meeting point for anyone with an…
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Extraordinary Bodies Circus Challenges Disability Stereotypes
The circus arts have a chequered history when it comes to disability. However, the world has come a long way…
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International Circus Festival “Young Stage” 2018 – Acts & Winners
Circus Talk recently sent Lea Toran Jenner to Young Stage in Basel, Switzerland where she got to see the competition,…
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New HOOG Festival to Showcase Contemporary Circus in Estonia
From June 8-10, 2018, international contemporary circus will find its newest frontier in the historic Estonian resort town of Haapsalu….
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A Story Without Words with The Exploded Circus
FEATURING a breath-taking mix of acrobatics, surprising aerial feats and masterful juggling, The Exploded Circus is coming to Leicester. It…
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Meet a Circus Grad–Noora Pasanen of CNAC
We are starting a new series called “Meet a Circus Grad” to give a voice to recently graduated or graduating…
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From Degas Muse to Modern Aerialist: Exhibition Charts Black Women in Circus
Miss La La was the star of the show when Edgar Degas painted her in 1879 hanging by her teeth…
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Embracing Technology with Lea Toran Jenner: A Circus Artist and a Youtuber
We are watching the world around us change as technology becomes more integrated into our lives. Why leave circus behind?…
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State of the Art Conference–A Radical Circus Conference at the Birthplace of Circus
Bright and early on Wednesday morning, April 18th, I made my way from London to Newcastle-Under-Lyme, a small town in…
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Barefoot Monkeys Strive for Poi-fection Through Inclusivity
This past Sunday, Apr. 15, the Barefoot Monkeys’ Spring Show performance dazzled with fire, props (the professional term is toys),…
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Solène Albores and Rodrigo Hernández, Dúo Cardio, Perch Balancers and Hand-to-Hand Artists
Solène Albores and Rodrigo Hernández perform as Dúo Cardio. Solène comes from just outside Paris, grew up in Mexico City…
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FEDEC Celebrates 20 Years of Circus Arts Training, Education, and Development
In April 2018, the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC), headquartered in Brussels, is celebrating 20 years of connecting…
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A Picture of Circus in Brussels, Part Two
Brussels is positioning itself to be one of the main circus centers of Europe, a distinction which is only enhanced…
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Announcing the Young Stage Circus Line Up for 2018
Circus takes over Basel in May! Young Stage, the international circus festival and competition in Switzerland that focuses on kick-starting…
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Circus250 – Museums and Galleries Celebrate 250 Years of the Modern Circus
This year hundreds of circus-related exhibitions and events are taking place in towns and cities throughout the UK as part…
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Breaking the Boundaries of Juggling and Acrobatics – Meet the LAZUZ Company!
LAZUZ is an Israeli/ French/Swedish contemporary circus company created by Ron Beeri & Itamar Glucksmann.Through their personal approach, Itamar and…
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Why UK Circus Artists Are Lining Up to Train at Belgium’s Ecole Superieure des Arts du Cirque
n April 19, circus artists from around the world will reunite at their old school in Belgium to mark the…
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NoFit State Invites You to a Circus (un)Convention in Newcastle-under-Lyme
The State of Play: The (un)Convention, 13 – 16 April Circus250 provides an ideal context and framework for us as…
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Du Cirque 100 % Femmes à la Grainerie
La Grainerie in France is currently programming a series of shows called Creatrices created by women. This article discusses the…
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A Picture of Circus in Brussels – Part One
Brussels is positioning itself to be one of the main circus centers of Europe, a distinction which is only enhanced…
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Circus250: Celebrating Circus History & Embracing Circus Present
Dea Birkett’s love of circus goes way back. But it was when she received a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to…
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One Elephant Killed, Two Injured After Road Accident in Southeast Spain
Animals with bloodied faces wandered along the A-30 Albacete highway, which was closed for over two hours due to incident…
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250 Years of Circus: The Death Defying Feats of Early Handbalancers
Handstands may sound like a ridiculously niche skill but they are actually a staple of many circus disciplines. My handbalancing…
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250 Years of British Circus Posters!
When I was about 11, a shopkeeper gave me an out-of-date circus poster of a growling lion’s head to stick…
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Exciting Circus Line-Up Announced for CircusFest 2018
Founded in 2009, CircusFest is London’s biennial international festival of contemporary circus taking place at the Roundhouse as well as…
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Acrobat Dies Three Weeks After Falling as He Performed a Circus Stunt With His Twin Brother in Russia
An acrobat has died in Russia three weeks after he fell as he performed a daring circus aerial stunt with his…
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The Application is Open to FIRCO–the First Iberoamerican Circus Festival
There is a new festival coming to the circus world, and it is actively seeking competitors for the event, due…
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How Was Circus Culture Accepted in to the National Inventory of Living Heritage in Finland?
Finland is the third country in Europe, where circus has been accepted in to the National Inventory of the UNESCO…
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NoFit State Comes to Newcastle for Circus Celebration
NoFit State is an award winning Circus now in Newcastle which was founded in 1986 by five friends and is…
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Year-Long Celebration of Circus in Brussels
As part of focusCIRCUS.brussels, this entire year from March 2018 to March 2019 will be devoted to celebrate circus arts…
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10 Incredible Irish Circus Duos
In 2018, Ireland is celebrating 250 years of Circus! While we’re all reflecting on Circus in the last centuries, we…
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Wild Animals to be Banned From Circuses in England by 2020, Says Government
The use of wild animals by travelling circuses will be banned from 2020, the Government has pledged, following a long-running campaign by animal welfare…
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National Circus of Pyongyang of North Korea and the Jinan Acrobatic Troupe of China Win Circus Festival Awards
Two troupes–the National Circus of Pyongyang of North Korea and the Jinan Acrobatic Troupe of China have won the three…
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Keeping Circus Fresh with Fresh Circus #4
People are taking the time not just to do circus, but to talk about circus academically as the industry forges…
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Philip Astley and the First Circuses; A Very British Institution
Here is a challenge for you – stop anyone in the street and ask them if they know what a…
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The Astronauts Won at the International Circus Festival of Albacete
The awards of the 11th edition of the International Circus Festival of Albacete were presented at a gala performance held…
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Circus Festival Moves from Figueres, Spain to Girona
It was almost exactly a year ago that we reported about the uncertain future of one of Europe’s most prominent…
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Circus of Tomorrow?
Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris is one of the world’s most famous circus festivals, about to celebrate…
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Circus Line-Up Announced for Underbelly 2018
Underbelly Festival is back for its tenth year on the Southbank with a big line-up, including headline shows from four…
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La Grainerie–Accompanying the Circus Artist & Creating a Safety Net
La Grainerie is a much admired institution in Toulouse, France that works in conjunction with the wider circus community to…
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250 Years of Circus: the Truth Behind the Cyr Wheel
This year marks 250 years since the start of modern circus. It was in 1768 that Philip Astley began his…
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7th Festival New Generation 2018: Awards for Young Stars
New Generation is the Circus competition for young Artists. The Festival New Generation is the one and only competition for Young…
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50 Years of Circus Photography – In Pictures
The year 2018 is the 25oth anniversary of the creation of the circus, and Peter Lavery has been photographing behind…
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Calixte de Nigremont, Master of Ceremonies
The word ‘unique’ is misused and overused these days but it is the only fitting description for the wonderful Calixte…
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After Claims of Animal Cruelty, Can the Circus Survive?
At the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, an unlikely figure is leading the charge to transform the circus for…
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Sasha Harrington and Andrew Adams, Straps Artists, Cirque de Demain
Americans Sasha Harrington and Andrew Adams have quite a story to tell. Sasha grew up in southern California, near Los…
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A Madcap Journey of Clowns and Crypto-Currency–Making The Pitts Circus Movie
At first glance, Ken Fanning is perhaps an unlikely film director for a mockumentary about an Australian circus family. Busy…
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Circus History Talk 250 : Dominique Jando Pays Tribute to the 250th Anniversary of Circus with a New Book
Circus Talk is happy to announce a new yearlong series titled Circus History Talk 250, where we will explore the…
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Monte Carlo 2018: Tribute to Animals in the Circus
The winners of the Gold Clown at the 42nd International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo have been announced on Sunday…
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When Circus Dreams Come True: The Career of Viktor Franyo
Viktor Franyo is a guy whose face you may have seen before, either behind the clever makeup of his character…
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The Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of Circus
What: 42nd International Monte-Carlo Circus Festival Where: Monte-Carlo, Monaco When: January 18-28, 2018 The Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo,…
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Roll Up, Roll Up, for the Greatest Showman on Earth: How Philip Astley Created the Modern Circus
Circuses are big news again this month, whether it’s the glitz and glitter of The Greatest Showman, the Hugh Jackman-led…
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Paris Does Circus Big–The Making of Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain
Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain is now in its 39th year of keeping up a tradition of competition and…
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Laszlo Simet, High-Wire Walker, Wheel of Death, Motorbike on the Wire and Semaphore Artist
2018 may mark 250 years of circus but there is another significant milestone to note. Veteran multi-award-winning Hungarian high-wire artist…
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Fossetts Outrage That Irish Ban on Wild Animals Just for Circuses
Fossetts’ owners have slammed a Government move to limit the outlawing of the use of wild animals to circuses. Minister…
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Maria Folguera leads Spain’s Prominent Circus Hall, Circo Price
Circo Price, Madrid’s internationally acclaimed permanent circus and theater hall, has a new Director. As part of a competitive application…
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Budapest International Circus Festival–Invested in Tradition & Exploring New Connections
The bi-annual Budapest International Circus Festival, in its 12th Edition, will be held between the 8th and 14th of January,…
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Magical World of Circus TV Series in Europe
ARTE.TV, the premier European arts channel, is hosting the Magical World of Circus for its European viewers this winter season….
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Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain Offers Club PRO for the Circus Professionals
Founded just four years ago to accommodate the growing needs of the circus industry, Club PRO is a membership for…
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Cirque Musica Combines Acrobatics with Live Music Played by an Orchestra, to Tell a Holiday Story about How Belief Can Change Perceptions
There’s no denying symphony orchestras are struggling, no more than the old-fashioned circus that included animal performers. For proof, look…
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Exhibition Upside Down–A Traveling Circus Exhibit to Augment Your Festival
Thanks to Zirkus|Wissenschaft , a new traveling exhibit is available for loan to circus events such as festivals and conferences….
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December Round Up
Here they are, from near and far, the festivals, tre bizarre! Each month we bring you the most pertinent information…
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6 Steps to Apply to Young Stage Festival and Competition
Have you heard of Young Stage? It’s an international circus festival and competition in Basel, Switzerland that focuses on kick-starting…
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Tiger Killed After Escaping Circus and Roaming Streets of Paris
Police in Paris say a tiger escaped from a circus in the city and roamed the streets of the French…
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No More Animals At Circus Roncalli in 2018
Circus Roncalli, which was founded in Vienna in 1976, has decided to phase out the use of horses in their…
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