We’ve all walked on a fallen tree or the playground’s beam with our arms up in the air. A concentrated and graceful person crossing a wire, sometimes holding on tight to an umbrella, is one of the oldest known images worldwide. We’ve all seen it in storybooks where some intrepid animal  in a tutu pretended to be a circus artist, or by the ring, popcorn in hand as our eyes gaze high up. Such familiarity is no surprise given tight wire’s constant presence in circus programs since the 1800s. Various dance styles, acrobatic prowess, and random props used by artists from all walks of life have allowed this ancient discipline to keep up with more recent ones and remain relevant throughout the years. 

Hannah Moisala on wire. Photo credit: Bertil Nilsson  Audiences are likely to see a dynamic man racing from one platform to the next at a traditional Christmas circus while an elegant lady is seemingly floating above an intimate theater’s stage right across the street. A general consensus that there is no “must move” and that everyone’s style and personality are both wel...