There's No Big Top, But Today's Circus Performances Share The Same Spirit Of Playful Rebellion - CircusTalk

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There’s No Big Top, But Today’s Circus Performances Share The Same Spirit Of Playful Rebellion

Today’s circuses don’t look like they used to. A contemporary blend of circus and theater surpassed the animal-centric model of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey years before its final show.

But through their change and push for experimentation, contemporary circus companies — like The 7 Fingers currently performing “Reversible” at ArtsEmerson — share the same spirit of playful rebellion that once marked the world of the big top.

Traditional American circus, known for its spectacles, animal menageries and train caravans, was a powerhouse of performance in the 1900s. Shows consisted of flashy, cabaret-style acts celebrating the achievement of the performer. It was a very different, and, for some, a very attractive lifestyle of living on the social fringe…

Link to the full article atWBUR

 

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