Generalists vs Specialists
Since the dawn of the new century, a shift has been happening in the circus world, and multidisciplinary circus artists have been sought out for new stages, shows, and companies. But specialists of one discipline are here to stay. Looking to performers of the past and present, Martin Frenette breaks down the appeal of generalist versus specialist artists– and how each one can thrive in the contempary market.
When Frank Sinatra walked on stage at Caesar’s Palace in 1982, he did so with his show tuxedo and signature smile. The Las Vegas audience enthusiastically waited for “Fly Me to the Moon,” “New York, New York,” and other classics. They had come to see a polished act. The same could be said of those who attended Rizoma at Berlin’s Wintergarten in 2007. Anatoly Zalievsky Unlike Sinatra’s fans, rare were the ticket holders who could spell Anatoly Zalievsky’s name. The Ukrainian hand balancer gained world fame in 199...Do you have a story to share? Submit your news story, article or press release.