For a Brooklyn Circus School, a Real Estate High-Wire Act
On a recent Friday night inside The Muse Brooklyn, a circus-arts studio housed in a mammoth warehouse in Bushwick, aspiring…
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North America
Six Benefits of Cross Training for Circus Artists & Students
As circus arts become more popular, people of all ages and backgrounds are exploring circus arts for recreation, for fitness,…
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Breaking Down the Wall Between Generations in Réversible by The 7 Fingers
There were three walls visible on the stage at Krannert Center for Performing Arts when Réversible began–connected in a straight…
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Drinking Deep from the Well of Juggling History with Thom Wall–A Book Review & Giveaway
After finishing my second read through of Thom Wall’s Juggling From Antiquity to the Middle Ages—the forgotten history of throwing…
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Video of the 2017 Nik Wallenda Accident Emerges
SARASOTA — A previously unknown video of the 2017 Circus Sarasota rehearsal that resulted in the collapse of Nik Wallenda’s…
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Alessandro Sciarroni Juggles Time at the ICA
This short review in the Boston Globe is an indicator of the growing trend of circus as a contemporary art…
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Petition Calls for Cancellation of Michael Jackson Show on Vegas Strip
The allegations against Michael Jackson in HBO’s new documentary “Leaving Neverland” are serious. In the two-part film which premiered on…
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Never Alone: Dualities of Circus Tradition and Innovation
“This is for you,” said director Bence Vági, handing me a printed paperback book whose cover showed blurred black and…
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When Angels Fall –French Devised Performance with Circus at Its Core Inspiring US Audiences
For the month of February in 2019, a new production from France called When Angels Fall by Cie L’Oubliée’s founder…
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Cirque’s ‘One Night’ Show Headed for Network TV
Liberace brought Las Vegas into the living rooms of families across the country in the late-1970s with his CBS-TV specials…
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New Mexico GOP Clown Bill Asking Money for ‘Circus Arts’
SANTA FE – A Democratic proposal that seeks to allocate $100,000 for “circus arts” education in New Mexico is drawing ridicule from…
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Concordia ‘Circademic’ Joe Culpepper is Developing New Ways to Practice and Experience Magic
Joe Culpepper first felt the magnetic pull of magic at 14, when the boy who would become his best friend…
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Bill Would Encourage Settlements in Circus Lawsuits
House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi introduced a bill that would protect defendants who settle in the Ringling Bros. case…
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Saying No in a Culture of Yes: Artists Building a Code of Ethics in the #MeToo Era
As circus arts have increased in practice and popularity, many conversations within the circus community about representation, accessibility, and communication…
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Steal From an Artist with an Agent: Advice from APAP Pros on Artist Representation
The Association of Performing Arts Professionals conference, affectionately known as APAP, annually floods the midtown Hilton for a weekend in…
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Cruising Along with The 7 Fingers in a New Direction
In February of 2020, The 7 Fingers will officially be moving in to a new market, cruise ship entertainment. Along with…
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A Mix Of Circus And Dance, ‘When Angels Fall’ Imagines A Dystopia That Pits Humanity Against Technology
In a dystopian future that doesn’t appear as far-fetched as it should, a looming, manipulative entity watches over a machine-run…
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Peter Bufano Awarded Newbury Comics Fellowship for the Study of Circus Music
Bufano, an assistant professor in Berklee’s Film Scoring Department, will document technology’s impact on circus music. Peter Bufano, assistant professor in…
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3 AM Theatre– The Time to Dream About (& Plan) Circus
3AM Theatre is one of the new breed of small circus companies like Cirque Us and Acrobatic Conundrum that is…
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How Circus Training Helps Me Deal With My Anxiety Disorder
I hovered 30 feet off the ground, trying not to look down, a long loop of fabric my only support….
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Performers Make Way into Circus Ring of Fame
Four acts will be inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame on St. Armands Circle Jan. 13. They’ve walked the…
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The Body in Waiting
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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A Sequence of Blogs on Expertise and Ethics
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Beyond the Big Top
A short documentary by Amanda Levenson exploring how circus in North America has evolved in recent years. The United States…
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Circus Artists to the Rescue–A Letter from New Victory Theater’s Director of Artistic Programming
We often hear stories of circus people coming forward to save the day–and New Victory Theater has as a good…
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Simple Thoughts
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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The New Circus: Season 2 Episode 3: Alexis Udo-Udoma
In season two of her video series The New Circus, in which she explores the major players and influences upon…
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New Jersey Becomes First State to Ban Use of Wild, Exotic Animals in Circuses
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation Friday that made his state the first in the nation to ban…
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How Ecole National de Cirque Keeps That Competative Edge
As one of the foremost circus institutions in the world, École national de cirque (ENC) is gifted with many resources,…
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Gandini’s Smashed Delivers A Disquieting Minefield of Apples, Tea Sets and Gender Dynamics
I was blown away by Gandini Juggling’s production of Smashed this past Saturday. Apples become grenades and decimate the landscape….
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Coffee talk with Maddy and Stacey–Finding the Intersection Between Circus & Dance
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Inclusive Juggling with Craig Quat–Finding the Flow
Internationally known as an innovator in the theory and practice of inclusive juggling, Craig Quat grew up attending a social…
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Cirque du Soleil Performer Falls off BMX Bike During SF ‘Volta’ Performance
A Cirque du Soleil performer fell off his BMX bike during a stunt in the final part of the organization’s…
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The More We Learn, The Less I Know
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Cirque du Monde Grant Winners Announced for 2018!
It is that time of year again–when Cirque du Monde, the social outreach division of Cirque du Soleil, choses it’s…
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SF’s Treasure Island Has Something New — a Circus
Circus Bella has come a long way from its first performance, crashing an event in San Francisco’s Dolores Park to…
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APAP–60 Years of Serving the Arts– & The Growing Circus Connection
From January 4th thru the 8th in New York City, The Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) will open its doors…
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PASSAGERS – Why We Need to Keep on Going
An imaginary train station, a train that forms and deconstructs itself in front of the eyes of hundreds of spectators,…
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Cirque du Soleil Casting Call Gives Clues to New Disney World Show
A casting notice posted this month offers a few clues to the new Cirque du Soleil show scheduled for Walt…
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Soundtracking Circus Creations: A Checklist and a Case Study
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Creative Finance: Life’s a Circus for Montreal’s Shana Carroll
Montreal has long been a hub for creative innovators, entrepreneurs and artists. In this column, Brendan Kelly offers a snapshot…
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Cirque Éloize’s Stylish New Creation HOTEL
As part of our three-part series Circus Talk will run this year on the 25th anniversary of Cirque Éloize, we…
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Kicking Off CINARS with Circus!
From November 12th until the 17th, 2018, Canada’s biggest performing arts showcase CINARS will unfold in Montréal, churning out 190…
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What It Means When Circus Artists Take Part in Graduate Research Courses
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Big Apple Circus: Back on its Feet, but Fastened to Tradition
A familiar blue tent is cozied amidst the daunting buildings of Lincoln Center. The Big Apple Circus has returned to…
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Agent Of Happiness–Fanny Kerwich
Fanny Kerwich is a woman in motion. Her energy is electric, light, and ever flowing. Much like her directorial sense,…
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Meanwhile, Backstage…
From July 3rd to 13th 2018, over twenty thinker-doers from a dozen countries, all practitioners and scholars of contemporary circus and/or…
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Big Top Academy Stars Talk Circus
Big Top Academy is a new circus-themed show on Discovery Kids Network that premiered October 15th, 2018. Set in a…
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Cirque du Soleil’s Saudi Arabia Show ‘Difficult’ for Founder Guy Laliberte
MONTREAL — In the light of recent geopolitical tensions in Saudi Arabia, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte has expressed…
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Presenting Circus Across the Program Spectrum with Potluck Arts
In our new series called Meet the Presenter-Tag, we will explore the world of circus arts programming with different presenters…
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Everywhere and Nowhere: the New Wave of Site-Specific Circus
Typically, talking about site-specific circus means talking about a large outdoor space that’s converted (with, say, scaffolding or cranes or…
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American Circus Educators Come Together From Across the United States to EdCon 2018!
Circus educators and professionals from around the United States gathered this past weekend, October 4th-7th, at the American Circus Educators…
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The Big Apple Circus–2018/2019 Season’s Wonder Women
The Big Apple Circus is about to begin its 41st season this October 2018 and they are kicking it off…
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Homeless Youth and Globe-Trotting Aerialists: The Circus Project Has a Big Tent
You no longer need to run away to join the Circus Project. After most of a decade spent walking budgetary…
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Devising Circus on the Fly: Lessons from the Plaid Lads
The Plaid Lads, a duo comprised of Sam Malcolm and Tony Steinbach, are darlings of the fringe world, having performed…
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PBS Mini-Series The Circus Delves in to US Circus History and Present
On Monday, October 8th, and Tuesday October 9th, PBS (The Public Broadcasting Service) is launching a new four hour mini…
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Orlando Ringmaster Enlivens PBS’ ‘Circus’
“The Circus,” a four-hour PBS documentary about the big top’s history, finds one of its most forceful witnesses in Orlando….
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UniverSoul Circus Marks 25 Years of Turning Everyone ‘Into a Kid Again’
In May 2017, after years of entertaining children of all ages, the curtain fell for the final time on the…
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The Greatest Showman Heading to Broadway
The Greatest Showman may not have been a massive critical success, but the musical has won over droves of fans…
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BWW Interview: Machine de Cirque Founder, Vincent Dubé, On Bringing Award-Winning Circus from Quebec to the New 42nd Street New Victory Theater This Fall!
Family fun will be reaching new heights this fall, as Machine de Cirque lands at the New 42nd Street New…
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Cirque du Soleil Swings into TV with Big Top Academy
Discovery Kids Latin America and Cirque du Soleil Images, the multimedia production division of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, have partnered…
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The Maroma of Mexico, Then & Now
My first approach to the Maroma was in 2008. I was member of Otro Circo and Circo Atayde Hnos invited us to a gathering with…
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Circus Ring of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees
Four acts will be inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame on Jan. 13. The Circus Ring of Fame has…
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Circus Press Release: Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria-The Return of an Icon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cirque du Soleil introduces the creative team behind Alegría – The Return of an Icon TICKETS ON…
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US Fringe Festivals Programming More Circus–Philadelphia Fringe Festival Leads the Way
As small to medium sized circus companies in the US become more prevalent, Fringe festivals around the United States are…
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5 Tips For Physical Creation
I recently finished The E-Myth Revisited, which proposed thinking of your small business as if you wanted to franchise it. Basically,…
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Teatro ZinZanni Cirque/Cabaret Show Planned in New Loop Space Next to Oriental
Chicago’s Theater District just got bigger. Located on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel at 32 West Randolph and…
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“What Scientists Have to Say About Juggling”–By Thom Wall-a Review
There is an art and science to juggling. Thom Wall demonstrates the art of juggling in his vaudeville juggling performances…
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The New Circus: Season 2 Episode 2: Scot Nery of Boobie Trap LA
In season two of her video series The New Circus, in which she explores the major players and influences upon…
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The 7 Fingers Opens Creation & Production Center– Not Business As Usual
Seven floors for seven fingers. Was that what sold The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts De La Main) co-founders on…
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Meet the Circus Festival: St. John’s International Circus Festival
Perched on the top eastern corner of the North American Continent, the lively town of St. John’s will host its…
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25 Moments from the Life of Cirque Éloize–Part 2
Cirque Éloize is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2018. That equals 25 years of shows and innovation in the circus…
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Meet a Circus Grad–Mizuki Shinagawa of ENC
In this series called “Meet a Circus Grad” we give a voice to recently graduated or graduating circus artists, to…
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Wallenda Family Lion Tamer, Tammy Wallenda Dies at 53 in Sarasota
The Wallenda family is known far and wide for their circus performances – from high-wire stunts to taming lions. Blake Wallenda confirmed…
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Mexico’s Changing Circus Landscape: Visit to Periplo International Circus Festival
The 6th Edition of the International Circus Movement’s Festival Periplo concluded recently with a splendid three-week circus celebration that attests…
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Where Do Women Exist?
It is 12.38am in downtown Montreal in Andrew’s Bar and the bartender is dutifully stoned and charmingly ignoring the paying…
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First Social Circus Festival in the USA–Hosted by CircEsteem
The first ever United States hosted social circus festival took place early this August at CircEsteem. Since 2001 their mission…
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The Flawless Irina Naumenko, The Hand Balancer
In circus, talent isn’t hoarded, but shared. Long before the advent of circus schools, which continue to grow exponentially, there…
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Birds- Bees and Aerial Pregnancies
I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT ON A FRIDAY EVENING… My husband and I had just embarked on the “make…
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San Francisco Style Circus from Pickle Family to Bella
In front of the blue, red, and gold circus ring looms the iconic North Beach church, a bright white beacon…
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Entering a New Realm in Circus–An Interview with Gypsy Snider
In this video, Lea Toran Jenner visits with Gypsy Snider, one of the co-founders and co-artistic directors of 7 Fingers, at…
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Another Big Magical Honor for Criss Angel, Who’s Ready for the Next Chapter of His Career
Criss Angel is one of the most recognizable and awarded illusionists in the world. His Las Vegas Strip show “Criss…
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‘Under the Big Top’ Part 1: Circus Heirs Adapt to Life Without Elephants
News 12’s Tara Rosenblum spent one week “Under the Big Top” with the heirs to America’s oldest circus before the…
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Is Australia the Next Circus Superpower?
The mayor of Montréal opened the 2018 Montréal Completement Cirque Festival with a speech that lauded the city as “la capitale mondiale…
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Circus in Montréal; Highlights of The International Market of Contemporary Circus-2018
CircusTalk was recently in Montréal–the circus hub of North America, reporting on the 9th annual Montréal Complètement Cirque Festival (MCC)….
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Present: Suzi Winson
It is no coincidence that the subject of my first blog interview is the inimitable Suzi Winson. She is the…
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Meet the Circus Festival: Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival
In our new series titled Meet the Festival, we will explore some of the many festivals of the circus world….
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St. Louis Arches Leave for First-Ever Collaborative Circus Project in Puerto Rico
On Tuesday, July 3, the St. Louis Arches teen circus troupe left early in morning from Lambert St. Louis International…
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Circus Historians to Gather July 18-21 in Baraboo for Convention
Adding to a jam-packed week of festivities tied to the Big Top Parade, the Circus Historical Society will hold its…
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Meet the Circus School —Circus Juventas Prepares to Go Pro
In our new series titled Meet the Circus School, we will explore some of the many circus schools around the…
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The Role Queer Circus Plays
“Hey!” I hear from behind me. I turn around. A queer person is running down the stairs from the spoken-word…
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Circus World Unicyclist Featured on ABC’s “The Gong Show”
Unicyclist Wesley Williams received an abundance of praise following his Saturday performance at Circus World. The 20-year-old circus veteran jumped…
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Cirque du Soleil Sets Sights on Kids’ Market With Paw Patrol
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group’s chief executive officer says he’ll be a hero with his grandchildren after he acquired VStar Entertainment Group,…
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Les 7 Doigts Leads the Montréal Cirque Festival with a Family Affair
Nine years in, the annual Montréal Cirque Festival — otherwise known as Montréal Complètement Cirque — is now attracting close to…
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Show Must Go On for Montréal Complètement Cirque, Despite Heat Wave
Montreal is in the throes of a heat wave, but the show must go on for the sweaty performers at Montréal…
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Experiential Learning in Contemporary Circus–A Seminar in Montreal
Each year as the Montréal Complètement Cirque (MCC) festival approaches, graduate students from around the world begin to gather in…
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RIP–Rob Torres, International Man of Mirth
I saw him perform at the New York Clown Festival, with Big Apple a couple of times, and a few…
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After the Big Top: CarlosAlexis Cruz on the Evolution of Modern Circus
The classic circus, featuring performing animals in three rings under the big top, has passed away. What’s taken its place?…
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The Risk of Circus Studies: Mapping the Current Landscape in US Higher Education
It was spring semester at Muhlenberg College. My Aerial 2 class and I were discussing how television was a detrimental…
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Circus Performers Killed in Hammond Train Crash Remembered 100 Years Later
For more than 100 years, the remains of 56 performers and roustabouts of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus lay at the Woodlawn…
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