5 Things I learned at Montreal’s Circus Market
Jacksons Lane’s Adrian Berry made the trek across the pond from his usual programming and artistic director position at Jacksons Lane…
Read more >
News and Events
Circus Performer Seriously Injured After 36 Foot Fall in Front of Horrified Audience
Spectators at a circus show in Australia were left stunned when a performer fell from a trapeze and was left…
Read more >
How to Do It All at The 42nd European Juggling Convention–Quick Talk with Jan Randall
The European Juggling Convention (EJC) is one of the most revered annual juggling events in the world. Now in its…
Read more >
Cirque du Soleil App Was an Insecure High-Wire Act for Show-Goers, Researcher Says
A mobile app that was designed to enhance the experience of watching a touring Cirque du Soleil show left audience…
Read more >
Meet the 59-Year-Old Acrobat Flipping Stereotypes in Casting Off
At only 17 years old, Debra Batton was told she was too old to be a gymnast, so she quit….
Read more >
Jacksons Lane Redevelopment to Benefit ‘Artists and Audiences’
An arts centre has received funding from the National Lottery to support its 2020 redevelopment project. Jacksons Lane in Highgate,…
Read more >
Circus Tigers Turn on Trainer, Maul Him to Death Despite Frantic Attempts to Intervene
Italian police are investigating after one of the country’s most famous tamers was killed by four tigers he was training….
Read more >
Bosch Dreams as Montreal Awakens to Complètement Cirque Festival
The 10th edition of the Montréal Complètement Cirque festival is sure to fill the city with a dazzling display of…
Read more >
Concordia Pulls Back the Curtain on the Creative Process of Contemporary Circus July 2-12
Home to Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School, TOHU and more, Montreal is at the heart of Quebec’s billion-dollar…
Read more >
Artist in Circus Krone Falls During the Performance
On Sunday night there was an accident at Circus Krone. Right at the beginning of the performance, a Russian duo…
Read more >
Sarasota’s Bello Nock to Perform Televised High-wire Act Over Active Volcano
Shortly before Nik Wallenda attempts a high-wire walk over Times Square for an ABC special, which airs Sunday, another Sarasota…
Read more >
Wallenda Hirewire Walk Inspires a Look at Sarasota’s Circus Heritage
Nik and Lijana’s Wallenda’s June 23 highwire walk over Times Square in New York City shines the spotlight on Sarasota,…
Read more >
It’s Official: Ruth Wikler is TOHU’s New Circus Arts Programming Director
This just in– good news from the Montréal circus venue TOHU announcing that the Deputy Director of Programming position has…
Read more >
Arts Sector Contributed $763.6 Billion to U.S. Economy—More Than Agriculture or Transportation, New Data Shows
The arts and cultural sector contributed over $763.6 billion to the American economy in 2015—more than the agriculture, transportation, or…
Read more >
Vietnamese Contemporary Circus Makes it to Sydney Opera House
Using bamboo as the main equipment and highlighting its role in Vietnamese culture, the show at the Sydney Opera House…
Read more >
Big Apple Circus Cancels Arena Tour Amid Low Ticket Sales, Internal Email Shows
The Big Apple Circus, which finished a month-long run in Oaks on Sunday, has called off its arena tour, which…
Read more >
Questions for Circus Research: Exploration of Contemporary Circus in Quebec and Beyond with Louis Patrick Leroux
For our second article in the Adventures in Circus Research series, we hear from Dr. Louis Patrick Leroux, a pioneer of circus…
Read more >
Montreal’s Circus Festival Returns to the Quartier des Spectacles from July 4 to 14
Some of Montreal’s streets are about to turn into an open-air circus ring. From July 4 to 14, The Montreal…
Read more >
Roma Circus Struggles to Pitch Its Tent Amid the Rise of the French Far Right
Every winter for the last 25 years, Roma circus company Cirque Romanes has set up its big red tent in…
Read more >
Hull’s Freedom Festival Expands Its Circus Programming This Year
HULL’s international Freedom Festival, on the east coast of England, returns for its 12th year in 2019 with extended programming…
Read more >
Stunning Never Before Seen Pics of the American Circus in Its 1940s Heyday
A SERIES of stunning unseen pictures capture the American circus and actors during its 1940s heyday. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum…
Read more >
‘There Are No Words’: Circus promoters Abused, Shackled and Starved a 12-Year-Old Boy Until He Died, Police Say
Karen Graham and her husband sensed that the boy who lived next door wasn’t being treated well. Eduardo Posso seemed…
Read more >
The Big Apple Circus Faces a Potential Crisis in Artistic Leadership
If one were to look at the development of the American circus in the last 40 years, as I have…
Read more >
‘The Final Farewell’ Showcases Ringling Bros. Circus’ Last Days
In a new documentary titled The Final Farewell about Ringling Bros., CEO Kenneth Feld is purported to have said “Ringling Bros….
Read more >
Teatro ZinZanni Expands Their Reach with Love, Chaos & Dinner Show
In early April the local Chicago arts press was invited for a ‘hard hat tour’ of the still under construction…
Read more >
NoFit State Launches Associate Artists Program to Encourage Growth of Circus Sector
In a recent press release,NoFit State made a big announcement about an initiative they have created to support up-and-coming circus…
Read more >
End of an Era for Circus Oz, As Rob Tannion is Leaving the Company
Circus Oz announces that Artistic Director and Co-CEO Rob Tannion will leave the company on Friday, 28 June 2019 as…
Read more >
The Nock-out: What Are the Real Reasons for Leaving the Oldest Circus in Switzerland?
Circus Nock could have been saved, says a former board member. Not true, says the family. What are the real…
Read more >
Legend Nik Wallenda Announces Walk Across A High Wire 25 Stories Above NYC’s Times Square
Legendary highwire acrobat Nik Wallenda announced on “Good Morning America”Thursday that he and his sister will embark on a high wire…
Read more >
These Cambodian Performers Are Using The Circus Arts To Heal Intergenerational Trauma
During the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia, the threat of violence and death permeated daily life. Leader Pol Pot’s brutal…
Read more >
The Persistence of Youth Circus in the UK
CircusWorks, the umbrella organization for UK youth circuses, recently conducted a survey and interviewed 45 youth circus organizations to learn…
Read more >
Circus ‘As an Artistic Experience’
On their 10th anniversary, circus theatre company The Dust Palace is going from strength to strength. Rebecca Fox talks to…
Read more >
Wild Animals to be ‘Banned from Travelling Circuses’
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced a new law to ban travelling circuses from using wild animals. Than plan will…
Read more >
CINAR President’s Lifetime Contribution to Performing Arts is Recognized
On May 27th, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec will induct 17 new cultural ambassadors from Quebec…
Read more >
Cirque du Soleil in New Vegas Show Leaves the Acrobats Out
The news just broke, Cirque du Soleil, in a continued effort to diversify and distance itself from their brand as…
Read more >
Highlights of Media Preview of 2019 Seoul Circus Festival: Circus Cabaret
A South Korean artist performs at a media preview of the 2019 Seoul Circus Festival: Circus Cabaret in Seoul, South…
Read more >
Circus Acts by Vietnamese Troupes to Brighten Up the Summer
HANOI (Viet Nam News/ANN) — Amazing circus acts performed by artists nationwide will be presented during a circus festival held…
Read more >
CATCH ME Will Tour UK Festivals
Playfully poking at our expectations of relationships between ages and genders using dance, circus, and sound, Upswing’s new dance-circus hybrid…
Read more >
The 7 Fingers Hosts En Piste AGM Forum for Circus Artists
The En Piste AGM(Annual General Meeting) is a chance for the circus community to come together once a year to…
Read more >
Urs Pilz Celebrated World Circus Day in China
Urs Pilz, President of the World Circus Federation, promoted circus culture and celebrated World Circus Day in China at the Chimelong…
Read more >
NECCA Student Wins at International Circus Competition
BRATTLEBORO — The New England Center for Circus Arts is making its mark on the international performing arts scene. NECCA,…
Read more >
New Artists Congregate to St Jax Montreal for 2019’s Second Edition of le Monastère’s Circus-Cabaret
After dazzling its audience within the hallowed halls of St Jax Montreal (1439 St-Catherine Street West), at the premiere of…
Read more >
‘Viva Fest’ opens in Henderson Thursday, Features Top Aerialists, Acrobats
HENDERSON, Nev. (KLAS) — Some of the best aerialists and acrobats around the world return to Las Vegas this weekend….
Read more >
11th Mexican Circonvention – The Heart of Circus in Mexico
More than 200 circus artists gathered during the inauguration of the 11th Mexican Circonvention at the CAD Campus of the…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Scotland’s Danny MacAskill Joins International Artists As Underbelly’s Circus Hub Celebrates 5th Anniversary
Marking its 5th year on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Underbelly’s Circus Hub 2019 programme announced today offers audiences of all…
Read more >
Physical Festival 2019 Returns to Liverpool
The UK’s only international physical theatre festival returns to Liverpool this June for a 6-day extravaganza of performance, workshops and…
Read more >
10th Annual World Circus Day April 20th— Register Your Circus Event
The 10th Annual World Circus Day will be celebrated around the world on Saturday, April 20th 2019. The Fédération Mondiale…
Read more >
The Musical Paramour Comes to Hamburg
To bring the musical Paramour together with Cirque du Soleil on stage is currently one of the most fascinating and…
Read more >
Circus Oz and Company 2 to Create a Mesmerising World this June with the World Premiere of WUNDERAGE
Circus Oz and Company 2 will create a mesmerising world this June with the world premiere of Wunderage – an…
Read more >
Dumbo: The Circus Angle
Circus movies have a long and interesting history: From classics such as The Greatest Show on Earth to modern day…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Chinese Acrobatic Troupe Wins International Prize
An Inner Mongolia autonomous region acrobatic troupe has won the Golden Bear Award – the top prize at the International…
Read more >
Circus Knie, the Musical Opens in Switzerland to Celebrate 100 Years and 8 Generations of Family Run Circus
Circus Knie, which started 100 years ago as Switzerland’s National Circus, has found a rather unique way to celebrate their…
Read more >
Join the Dots Scheme: ‘Artists Tend to Be a Neurotic Bunch, So Structured Feedback Can Only be a Good Thing’
After creating a show, rehearsing, staging and then touring it, what happens next? Most of the time the creative team…
Read more >
Mother of the Nation Festival in Abu Dhabi Welcomes First Visitors
Abu Dhabi: Decked in festive colours, the fourth edition of the Mother of the Nation Festival opened in the capital…
Read more >
Connecting Circus Arts and Dance in Training
With the popularity of inter-disciplinary shows on the rise, it is common for circus shows to incorporate more dance and…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
The Circus Reflects Society – With or Without Bearded Women
Circus Knie, often called Switzerland’s national circus, will soon set off on its centenary tour. This will certainly gain attention,…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Death-Defying Circus Stunt Goes Horribly Wrong as Motorcyclists Crash in Cage
A circus act, which saw three motorcyclists enter the ‘cage of death’ went horribly wrong, leaving one injured and shocked…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
International Circus Festival in Girona is Growing into New Dimensions
Between February 14th and 19th, around 80 artists participated at the 8th edition of the Golden Elephant Circus Festival in…
Read more >
YUCK Circus and Rest Share Top Fringe World Award
YUCK Circus and theatre work Rest have shared the top prize at the 2019 Fringe World Awards, which were presented…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Laughter Amid Despair: Teaching Circus Skills to the Syrians of Zaatari Camp
I took a deep breath and dared myself to speak the closing words of our week together, quoting a man born…
Read more >
A Project Turning Frowns Upside Down for Children of War
For almost five years now in Turkey’s Southeastern city of Mardin, local and foreign volunteer teachers at the Her Yerde…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Cirque du Soleil Buys Magic Show Company
Cirque du Soleil is expanding its long and wide reach into a new realm: magic. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group,…
Read more >
Circus and Gender–Second Meeting of Cirqueras in Spain
The circus women of Spain have met again for the second time, from the 10th to the 13th of December…
Read more >
Fraser Hooper Wins Iron Chicken award for Best Busker at Christchurch’s Bread & Circus
An English busker who boxes with his audience has won the Iron Chicken award at the Bread & Circus –…
Read more >
Zip Zap Circus Off to Ivory Coast for Festival
Cape Town – The city’s Zip Zap Circus has set its sights on wooing Ivory Coast circus lovers after being…
Read more >
Cirque du Soleil Withdrew From China Show as Tensions Mounted
As diplomatic relations grew tenser between Canada and China last month, one of Canada’s most recognizable entertainment companies withdrew from…
Read more >
Why Circus Arts and Festivals are a Match Made in Heaven
From Perth and Sydney to Castlemaine, as Australia’s international arts festivals reveal their programs it’s become increasingly common to see…
Read more >
43rd Monte Carlo Winners Announced
The winners of the Gold Clown at the 42nd International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo have been announced on Sunday…
Read more >
Exploring the Beauty Rituals of a Circus Performer
Rituals is a monthly column that looks at the obscure beauty routines and sacred acts of self self-care different professionals practice…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Please Stop Misusing the Word “Clown”
David Konyot, renowned circus clown, explains how the misuse of the terms clown and circus to make negative connotations about…
Read more >
Stéphanie de Monaco Wants to Add Traditional Circus to the Heritage of Humanity
In an interview with the Le Figaro , Princess Stéphanie of Monaco has again stood up for the traditional circus. …
Read more >
7 Reasons to Attend or Tune in to the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in 2019
Everyone has their own favorite reasons for going to Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain. For some it’s the iconic…
Read more >
Circus Performers Live, Raise Children in a Caravan Roaming Turkey
Ulaş and Melike Cankurt have raised their children in a caravan. They travel all across Turkey to perform shows in…
Read more >
2018–A Year of Progress: Circus Anniversaries, Festivals & Hot Topics
In many ways, 2018 has been a great year for circus. This is really saying something when you consider that…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Ontinyent Celebrates the 7th Edition of Its Circus and Theater Festival
The city of Ontinyent presents the 7th edition of its Festival of Circus and Theater. The festival started as an…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Press Release–A New Era in Circus Arts: the First Big Top Label Prizes Awarded
Big news from the Federation Mondial du Cirque about a rating system they have developed for circus. “This is the Michelin-star…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
The Circle Project, a FEDEC-led Event at CIRCa
CIRCa, a place of diffusion for circus and performing arts, and FEDEC, the European Federation of Professional Circus Schools which…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
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…
Read more >
Time to Apply for Young Stage–A Word from Festival Director & Producer Nadja Hauser
Here is a message from the organizers of Young Stage, reminding circus artists that it is time to apply for…
Read more >
Circus and Cabaret Festival to Align with Re-opening of Palais
COME ONE, come all, the Palais is set to re-open in a spectacular fashion this November. When news of the…
Read more >