In 2021, no matter what has happened in the circus world, I can always say I did a thing–and that thing was to watch over 60 circus shows in the span of one month from my living room. It is a far cry from two and three years ago when I saw as many or more shows during the course of a whole year in my capacity as editor at CircusTalk. In those days, I counted the local circus shows in my hometown that recurred every month as well as the big-ticket shows that came to town, and of course, there were the festivals we’d have the privilege to attend. For a couple of years at these festivals, a three-show-a-day diet with colleagues was the norm. Even though this year’s circus viewing experience was a vastly different one, it was also still a joyous one, because instead of rewatching a Netflix series or perfecting my bagel recipe, I was engaging with new circus creations–ones that had been devised, created and performed during the pandemic for people to see.

This award was envisioned as a way to recognize the contribution circus makes to society The shows ran the gamut of possibilities for performances–some were recorded with live audiences, some were films, and some were recorded in empty theatres and even apartments. But whatever the method and production value, they were a sign that the art form persists and is being made by companies of all sizes around the world. Thanks to the International Circus Awards (ICA), as editor of CircusTalk, I was invited to join 31 circus colleagues from around the world on the voting committee to assess the productions for the first-ever contemporary circus award show, and also to present ...