Circus news from 2012

 28 December 2012

Circus is for all generations. Here you see the famous and still active clown Oleg Popov (80 years) together with 6-year-old Jack, who is son of the artists Joan and Kenny Quinn.

28 December 2012

The circus year 2012 in review

Introduction

The quality of the performances in the Danish circuses was like previous years very high. Both in the 3 large circuses (Circus Arena, Circus Benneweis and Circus Dannebrog), in the medium sized Circus Baldoni and in the 3 small circuses (Circus Arli, Circus Krone (a Danish circus having the same name as the mighty German circus) and Circus Mascot. In the three large circuses the quality of the program was fully in line with what you can see in leading circuses elsewhere in Europe. And for the other 4 circuses the quality was above what you usually can expect to seen in similar circus south of the border between Denmark and Germany.

Thus, Danes have good reason to be proud of the quality of the performances in the 7 Danish circuses.

For the fourth year in row the Danish circuses had competition from DR television’s Big Band and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation’s Circus Summarum. The Summarum-performances are not circus, but children's theater that takes place in a circus environment.  Partly due to intensive advertising in DR television's children's programs 87,000 persons visited one of Circus Summarum’s performances. This was an increase of nearly 10,000 from last year and even better than the previous record year 2010, when they had 83,000 guests. For a number of guests the visit in Circus Summarum was instead of paying a visit to one of the real circuses. The tent used by Circus Summarum was rented from Circus Arena which due to this was less annoyed with the competition than other circuses. The Summarum tent had 2,350 seats and thus room for more spectators than any other circus tent in the Nordic countries.

Unlike other art forms the Danish circuses does not get any sort of public subsidy. The only circus form, which received support from the Ministry of Culture, is the so-called new circus (contemporary circuses). In the Governments latest budget settlement agreements, for example, 6 million DKK was allocated to a new Danish education of artist for contemporary circuses. It is very rare that contemporary circus artists are engaged or are interested in being engaged in traditional circus. Thus, the Danish school for contemporary circus artist is not of much interest for the classical circuses.

Apart from the famous Canadian Cirque du Soleil many new circus performances are performances which need public support as they can’t sell tickets enough to get the needed income for running the show. Many of the performances are quite interesting, but the artistic level is not always in line with what the audience can see in a classic circus. Normally, contemporary circus performances are performances, targeting an adult audience ("theater audience") and not, as in the classic circuses a family audience.

Some municipalities permit circuses to use the local circus lots free of charge. This applies for example in Copenhagen. A great example which more municipalities should follow. Unfortunately, in some municipalities the trend is in the opposite direction: the rent for circus lots increases. Also in other respects circuses in Denmark are struggling with rising costs.

The performances in 2012

During the school’s winter break Circus Krone performed at Gellerupscenen. Benny Schumann produced performances for both the West Zealand Shopping Centre and for Elsinore City Centre. Circus Mascot could be seen at the Herning Centre and Aalborg Shopping Mall. In Odense Isabella Enoch produced circus performances for an indoor amusement park in Odense Congress Centre and Jimmy Enoch produced Enoch’s' Circus Show for the Rosengaard Shopping Centre.

The largest circus in the Nordic countries CIRCUS ARENA began their season on 13 March in Copenhagen. It was probably the best performance ever presented by Circus Arena.

The show began with a strong number, Puyang Acrobats. Often one sees that a circus performance begins with a less impressive act and the best acts are kept until later in the performance. But here was a very strong opening act with a beautiful and spectacular jumps and balance acts by 15 artists.

Then we met a skilful diabolo-juggler, Georgio Hromadko. With great variety and fast pace, he held the audience up to the mark and ended up having 3 objects flying simultaneously high up under the tent roof.

There followed a comical tableau, where Keaton Brothers acted as robber and police. The robber tried to escape in an air balloon which is mighty difficult in a circus tent. So he was run down.

Keaton Brothers. Photo by courtesy of Circus Arena ©Christian Warrer

Jimmi Folco had now his first entrée as run-in clown and he understood what many clowns find difficult: to find the exit while he is still fun to watch.

Merrylu and Patrick showed dirty dancing / pas de deux on horseback - sensual and strong especially when Patrick hurls Merrylu around his body, while the horses are moving forward at full speed.

Then there was a reunion with Toto Chabri. He was approaching 80 years and doing the same thing that he has always been doing. Even the lines are recognizable: "Take it easy, sister. She is sexy, huh?" But nothing wrong with that - it seems as if this is the first time - fresh and new.

Toto Chabri. Photo by courtesy of Circus Arena ©Christian Warrer

Picasso Jr. is an excellent juggler - not least due to his personality. He has artist's features: a magnetism that reaches right out to the rear benches.

After the intermission came a liberty horse act with Laura, Anastazja and Patrick Berdino. And Jimmi Folco has a run-in as the Indian who loses his feathers. Then came a juggling / bouncing number performed by Duo Platschkov.

Jimmi Folco then entered the ring with the run-in with his homemade band, where spectators were “invited” to play in the band. Often such acts are too long, because the participants feel unsafe or because preparations for the "music" takes too long. But it was OK here!

And then we went to Monte Carlo! The tremendous Casselly Family presented their large elephant and jumping act which earned them a gold clown. And it was unbelievable. The young Rene Casselly JR could not just go in splits between two elephants, but he could climb under the elephant's stomach, as if it was a Cossack riding act. He could turn a backward somersault from elephant to elephant and land on Merrylu's shoulders. And he could - quite incredibly - turn a 3-double somersault from a teeterboard to the elephant's back. It is very difficult, it is said, because the elephant, which press the teeterboard down can’t control the power of impact. And as an encore - oh! He would try a 4-double somersault. Incredible and impossible. But actually he succeeded.

René Casselly Jr. in his gold-winning jump. Press photo Circus Arena © Christian Warrer

The Catana Troupe closed the performance. The troupe presents a springboard act of great beauty and severity.

Click here to see some photos from the performance at the opening night.

Click here to see photos shot by Per "Mr. Sputnik "Krogh Petersen during the season.

Circus Arena closed the season 2 September in Koege.

As usual Circus Arena had in early October a performance on tour in Greenland.

As in 2011 Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Aarslev was open to the public during the winter holidays, summer holidays and autumn holidays. Circus Land, as it is called, offered training of circus animals in the training ring, sea lion show, pony rides, playground, museum, etc. and short performances in Circus Landino. During the summer and autumn holidays you could also see the exhibition Days of the Dinosaur with 44 "live" dinosaurs in natural size. Not least due to this latter exhibition the number of visitors was much higher than in the previous years.

CIRCUS BALDONI had their opening night at the circus lot in Lyngby on 21st March. The performance was perhaps the best performance that Baldoni to date has presented.

This basic concept for year's show is the usual: the recurring characters are René (Director Baldoni), Thessa (Clown Danilla) and Daniel Dimitrijevic (Danillo). This year they are assisted by 3 talented foreign artist groups: The Chinese Gao-sisters, The Chinese Chen Brothers (when the two couple of twins, who are married to each other, all four are in the ring they become the Gaochen-Troupe, the Bulgarian Tomovi- Family and Szulita & Dennis from Hungary. The latter was one of top acts in the Hungarian show at the recent circus festival in Budapest.

The show began as usual with Danillo climbing up on stage (Baldoni use a circular stage instead of a tradition circus ring) where he this year collected applause in a bag. This led naturally into Baldoni’s welcome song. One of the Chen brothers, assisted by one of Gao sisters then showed a fine and a little different quick change act, where he also changed his mask. You couldn’t see how it happened.

The GaoChen duo presented a nice quick change act. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

After a short clown run in with Danillo and Danilla Stiliana presented a very nice foot juggling act. While the stage was prepared for the next act Danillo from the band stand mimed to the Save your love my darling save your love.

The GaoChen-troupe are not only good acrobats but also innovative. The Chen brothers presented a handstand act which was extra spectacular because it was performed inside a giant balloon. A sort of oversized fun-ball, as we know them from various water parks. Then Danillo and Danilla had one of their main acts beginning with the classical "you can’t not play here"-gag, following which they found out that Rene had X-factor and should be included as in the number as musician. Of course without much luck.

René with Danillo and Danilla. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

The final number before the interval was the fine act in vertical rope which Szulita & Dennis presented to the audience at the Circus Festival in Budapest. Great that Thessa and René have been able to get a contract in place with these two artists, which I will consider as "rising stars".

After the interval Stiliana did a fine tight wire number with multiple costume changes. She ended by doing a backward somersault. Something you rarely see female artistes do on tight wire. Next act was a handstand act, performed by Dennis, but made extra spectacular by the fact that he was wearing a skeleton costume.

The hand stand act was replaced by a clown entrée with Rene, Danillo and Danilla who would serve a delicious meal for René as an excuse for that they earlier in the show had beaten him in the head. As always in the classical spaghetti entrée the two clowns are getting more and more drunk as the meal progress. The clowns were replaced by Togovi family's exciting and charming dog act with two large St. Bernard dog and a couple of Heinz 57’s. You rarely meet Saint Bernard dogs in a circus performance. But both artists and the dogs seemed to enjoy the act and so did the audience.

The performance's last act was GaoChen-troupe's spectacular entrance in tissues.

Szulita Szekrényes and Dennis Kiss. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

Click here to see a slideshow of additional photos from the performance.

Circus Baldoni ended their tented season August 23 in Tureby. From 27 August to 5 September they visited the Faroe Islands.

BALDONI'S CHRISTMAS CIRCUS had the only three public performances in the fencing hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre this weekend 24th-25th November.

The show consisted of many beautiful and good circus acts. First part began with a welcome by Santa Claus, Christmas Line and Nis (Daniel, Thessa & René), then Nis started out doing some magic tricks.

The first act was a mono bike act - both small and high bicycle. The act included skipping on bike. Next act was with Natalya Tomilova as a handstand elf - a very nice handstand entrée.

After her hand stand act came the juggling Christmas elf - Yevgeny Tomilov - who could juggle with up to 4 clubs. The entrée also included balancing on ladder while juggling with 3 clubs. The last act before the interval was a pigeon act.

During the break you could be photographed together with Santa and buy circus delights in the kiosk.

Second part began with a pole act performed by Hélène Ramer. It was a beautiful and impressive pole number.

Then Natalya Tomilova and Yevgeny Tomilov came in the ring again, now with an acrobatic entrée. After acrobatics came the human Balloon Man Sergejs – always a funny act. The last act was performed by a pack of dogs which both could skip and jump through rings.

The performance was presented by Nis, Pixie Line and the Christmas pig Anton Antonisen (a ventriloquist’s doll).

This year again Baldoni presented a beautiful and cosy Christmas show. To the acts there was always good Christmas music which provided just the right Christmas mood.

The grand finale. Photo Jacob Boas Leitisstein, Click here to see more of Jacob’s photos from the performance.

CIRCUS BENNEWEIS opened their 125 years anniversary season in Hillerod on 23 March. The 2012 anniversary performance was world class circus and the best Benneweis-performance for many years.

Ringmistress Judy Glosted opened the show with a welcoming song to the tunes from There's No Business Like Show Business.

After that the performance began with a number in the absolute world class: Yury Volodchenkovs rode high school on a horse that he could get to dance in elegant interplay with his partner, who was wearing a gypsy costume. He was absolutely glued to that saddle even when the horse is jumping.

He was followed Mexican clown Versace's first run-in where he came rolling into the ring in a giant cube and came out of it wearing a Batman costume, later inflated.

Next act was the female juggler Helena Polach who juggles with footballs. Helena is not just good-looking but also an excellent juggler.

Helena Polach. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Versace had then a run-in, where he invited three males from the audience in the ring and persuaded them to skip. If you know the gag from other clowns, then look forward to Versace! His version has an extra bonus that I will not reveal here. And unlike many other run-in clowns he doesn’t try to make fools out of his guests.

One of the most beloved acts in Benneweis season 2004 was Mr. Dalmatin (Sergey Prostetsov) with his number with Dalmatian dogs and ponies. The children's cheers would never end when Mr. Dalmatin again this year came in the ring with his glorious act, which among other things, offers jockey riding performed by dogs.

Mr. Dalmatin. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Next act was Duo Guidi with Risley acrobatics. The male partner Sacha juggled easily with Iana on his feet, and Iana ended up going in splits. Beautiful and elegant!

Next, Versace had a fine and poetic run-in with three tiny “elephants”.

While competing Danish Circus Arena this year presented acrobatics on elephants done by the super talent René Casselly JR the elephant act at Benneweis is different. Lars Hölscher has decided to let the elephants be the stars.

The first number after the break was a spectacular act where Iana Suarko wearing skin colored tights appeared in a kind of fishing nets, which were pulled up under the big top. She was followed by another of the children's favorite numbers: Beatrix Holscher three sea lions, presented by the Spanish couple Chelo and Gabi. Applause would never end when the California sea lion grabbed rings, balanced with balls, sang and played trumpet.

Many teeterboard troupes are large troupes who can build pyramids of three, four and sometimes five men high. Obviously this is not possible for the elegant Trio Bokafi, which as the name implies has only three members. However, this requires extra artistic skills in such a troupe – and so had Trio Bokafi! Beautiful!

After the three top acrobats Versace came in the ring as 5 x Versace dressed in pirate costumes. Not at least the kids cheered!

The show ended as it began: with an act in the absolute world class: the Eshimbekov Troupe of Cossack riders brought the show to a rousing and resounding conclusion. Easy to understand why this troupe two years ago was awarded a silver clown in Monte Carlo. I can’t remember when I last saw a performance that ended with such a bang of an act!

Three riders from the Eshimbekov-troupe. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Of course a singing ringmistress Judy Glosted opened the Grand Finale in a performance for which Diana Benneweis and her team, including Jan Hertz who has put on stage, deserves much credit.

Click here to see photos from the premiere performance and subsequent performance.

Benneweis closed the season 16th September at Bellahoj in Copenhagen.

CIRCUS MASCOT opened the season on 28 March in Roslev.

After Jess Deleuran's welcome Andreas Deleuran opened the performance with his diabolo act. Those who remember him as a cute little boy will be surprised. The now 14-year-old Andreas is today taller than his mother and father. And the act keeps getting better year by year.

The run-in clowns were as last year Alex & Lulu. This year they offer a number of new and original entrées. It's always great to see the clowns who can more than just copying other clown’s acts. In their first entrée they took us on a fishing trip.

They were followed Voronin with a German wheel act. Then Alex went hunting - hunting ladies, and this did not please Lulu! But the audience!

Next act was one of the Circus Mascot’s classics: Marianne Deleruan and her talented and playful dogs - poodles, a Löwchen and a Danish / Swedish farm dog. As last year, Marianne was assisted by Andreas.

Marianne and Andreas Deleuran with the dogs

Alex & Lulu then had a run-in as comic magicians. The next number was a fine act with chair balancing, performed by 22-year-old Daniel. In addition to stacking chairs, he showed beautiful handstand acrobatics.

Daniel Deleuran

Daniel was replaced by Katja Schumann who rode excellent high school on her beautiful brown American Saddlebred horse. It was wonderful once again to see a member of the Schumann family in the ring in a Danish circus.

The first number after the interval was the elegant Andrey Voronin, who wearing top hat and tails ran on one-wheel bicycle, while he juggled. Then Alex & Lulu took us on a picnic together with their two dogs. A very charming entrée which ended with the competition between the dogs on scoring basketball goals.

The clowns and their dog were replaced by a quite impressive number in aerial straps, presented by the brothers Andreas and Daniel Deleuran. Andreas and Daniel – please promise me that you are working further on this act. It's very good but has the potential to be really great.

We are accustomed to Mascot-performances featuring Jess Deleuran ponies. However this year he had left horse acts to Katja Schumann who presented liberty horses. Katja presented two horses: one brown and one gray horse of the breed American Saddlebred. The acts fitted perfectly to the size of the ring of Circus Mascot. Small is beautiful - at least when it is an act with the grace and charm that not many other than members of the Schumann family can present.

Katja Schumann

The performance's ended with a fast-paced gaucho number, performed by Andrey and Svitlana.

The audience liked this year's performance in the small circus. The recurring comment when they left the tent was "we shall certainly see it again next year." And it's probably the best recommendation a circus can get.

A man and his circus. Jess Deleuran is one of the few circus fans, who with help from Mrs Marianne has realized his boyhood dream of getting his own circus. Click here to see more photos from this year's Mascot-performance

Circus Mascot closed their season on 26 September in Thise.

CIRCUS DANNEBROG opened their season on 29 March in Vojens. For the first time in many years a Danish circus offered a so-called themed show. The show Amazing Africa was thus an innovation in the Danish circus world and was far removed from the old-fashioned circus. A large part of the participants were African, and the concept was fully implemented: circus servants and orchestra was wearing tropical suit and not the classical circus uniforms. Tino Aeby’s orchestra, which has a more modern "sound" than the old Dannebrog band, was this year supplemented by a talented African singer. She brought back memories of the legendary Miriam Makeba.

When trying something new, there are always two options: to get success or to fail.  Fortunately, Circus Dannebrog had success and presented a beautiful and exciting spectacle.

The show began with all the African artists coming dancing into the ring together with artists from Duo Maybe and the comedian Cesar Dias. Everyone did a few tricks and contributed to an impressive start of the performance.

The performance's first act was Bernhard Kaselowsky and his camels and zebras. Then Cesar Dias had his first run-in, where he invited a man from the audience into the ring and got funny noises out of his guest. Of course because the sound from the guest’s microphone was replaced by pre-recorded sounds. The entrée ended with Cesar and the fellow from the audience shooting each other. A good and original entrée.

Next came the 5 acrobats from the Hakuna Matata Troupe in the ring and built human pyramids. They were followed by Cesar Dias, who, with help from a man and a woman from the audience did the classic motorbike gag where the first woman and then the man are passengers on Cesar’s imaginary motorbike.

The Hakuna Matata Troupe

Then we met the 7 acrobats from African Queen Sheba, who, like their colleagues from the Hakuna Matata troupe built human pyramids. New and nice to see such a number done by female acrobats.

African Queen Sheba

The last act before the interval was pole acrobatics, performed by the Hakuna Matata Troupe.

The first number after the break was Bernhard Kaselowsky with camels, zebras and the elephant Ramboline. The act ended with Ramboline’s solo entrée.

Next act was Duo Maybe with elegant acrobatics in aerial straps. After them Cesar Dias had an excellent run where he sang "I did it my way" - and that’s what he did! Not at least the children loved this run-in which had elements from the legendary George Karl's battle with a microphone. Cesar was followed by this year's debutant Dawid Enoch Sosmann. With charm and a warm twinkle in his eyes he juggled with up to 9 balls, among other things, in cascades where the balls were thrown up against a wall.

Then Liazeed presented their famous act.

The Liazeed. Click here to see more photos from the show.

The performance's last act was the aerial acrobat Super Silva who many will remember from Monte Carlo 2010. The Brazilian daredevil did upside down loops walking and as his last feat a leap from one swinging trapeze to another to catch by his ankles without any safety devise. A great act to end a very nice performance.

Circus Dannebrog closed the season 26th September in Haderslev.

CIRCUS ARLI had its opening day in Fløng on 1 April.

Once again the Arli family has managed to find some talented young artists, who suits perfectly in a tent of Arli-size (17 meters in diameter). In addition, the family's own members were this year supplemented by Alexander Arli's pretty girlfriend, the actress and dancer Ditte Lill Mortensen.

As always in Circus Arli costumes were elegant. The same goes for staging and choreography.

The show began when a groom coming into the ring with a barrel organ playing "Oh mein papa". Martin and Alexander Arli took over on trumpets, and many shed tears when a picture of Soren Arli in his star part as white faced clown was projected up on the tent wall.

After the welcome we met Maillard's (Hélène Ramer and David Maillard), in a great number on Chinese Pole, where he was dressed as a Pinocchio doll. They were succeeded by Alexander Arli in a great entrée with handstand and hand jumps, where he got help from Ditte Lill. It ended as a competition between the two: Alexander with acrobatics and Ditte Lill with showdance. Beautiful - and a good idea.

Alexander Arli. To the left Ditte Lill, to the right Bettina Arli. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour  Press

Martin Arli then entered the ring with his father's old debut act: tearing figures out of newspapers initiated with saxophone playing. During the act Martin talked the hint leg off a donkey. I have been told Soren did the same thing. The very entertaining act must, as Rud Kofoed wrote in his review, give paper-based newspapers a new reason to survive!  How could you do such an act with an e-newspaper?

Martin Arli with one of the figures. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Martin was followed by Italian Duo Ferrandino with a roller skate act. The last number before the break was David Maillard with an act on unicycle, where he rode up and down a stairway, skipped and juggled. On the chairs behind me sat two connoisseurs of such kind of acts: the retired bike acrobats Anna and Leif Conradi. "He's excellent," Leif said Leif. I can only agree.

The first act after the interval was Martin who dressed as a plump ballet dancer presented two fat geese running hurdle race and a goat. It was hilarious funny.

He was followed by Danish Helene in a great act in tissue. Next time has come for Ditte Lill to have her debut in the ring with one of Lotte Arli’s old star turns: trained pigeons. Ditte Lill was elegant and smiling and did it well and did not lose courage, even although the pigeons not always would do exactly what they should.

Ditte Lill and one of her pigeons. Click here to see more photos from the show.

What is circus without clowns? Fortunately, Circus Arli has their own: Martino & co. It wouldn’t be an Arli performance without them. This year Alexander decided to be a white faced clown, just like his grandfather. I was curious: could he do it – was the 25 year old kid old enough to be a white faced clown? But yet I have never experienced anything which the super talent Alexander couldn’t manage, and this was also the case when he this year changed his character from being the stupid August to be the arrogant white faced clown. The number began with a music entrée and ended with the classic hypnosis gag.

The performance's last number was an act in aerial cradle, presented high under the big top by Ferrandino's.

Circus Arli closed the season 26th August in Vindinge.

The smallest of the Danish circuses, CIRCUS KRONE started their season on 15 April at Torring.

The show began very poetic with the clown Alando (aka Irene Thierry’s spouse Jan Allan) cleaning up in the ring and finding a small rabbit (a puppet doll) which he chatted with.

The first act was Natacha Kostareva with a fine sword balancing act. The climax was sword balance as she climbed up and down a ladder. Her costume was a gypsy costume.

Natacha Kostareva

The next number was a nice entrée with Alando and two mischievously ponies.

Then Miss Kathy (Katalin Farkas) came into ring, dressed as cat and put in a cage, which turned out to be a cube, which she juggled with, followed by juggling with bolas.

Next act was acrobats, as when great-grandfather was young: Duo Sopranos with a comical entrée, inspired by the famous Manducas, although not of the same standard. One of the two acrobats was a stout man, the other tiny.

Next, Natacha Kostareva was back in the ring with a new elegant sword balancing act, this time performed in trapeze.

The first act after the interval was a reunion with the hard-working Natacha, which this time proved that she could juggle with balls and clubs. Again, she was dressed in a gypsy costume that fitted well to the number.

Next issue was a comical magic entrée: Two Thierry’s aka Irene and Jan Allan. Comedy magic acts can be rather boring but this was certainly not the case for the act which Irene and Jan Allan presented for their audience. It was both good and funny and ended with the classic gag where Irene's head could be found underneath one of three buckets (see photo).

Two Thierrys

Next Circus Krone’s boss canvas man entered the ring. However not in his capacity as boss canvas man but with a nice dog act where he as the golfer Mr. Golfy was disturbed by two terrier dogs.

There are many traditions in Circus Krone. One of them is that there has to be an act with Alando and a large or dangerous animal. This year it was an ‘elephant’ with the newly appointed stage manager Teis inside. Children and adults loved the poetic number, where the somewhat naive Alando tried to get the elephant to do tricks.

The performance's last act was a reunion with Duo Sopranos in a comical entrée where the stout partner was a trapeze star and the small one a groom who should help him.

Duo Soprano. Click here to see more photos from the premiere performance.

The season ended 22nd September in Aale.

Years back you could see artists in many Danish amusement parks. But that is unfortunately history. Only artists in an amusement park I've heard about were at THE CLOWN FESTIVAL AT BAKKEN in the Easter days 5th to 9 April with Benny Schumann as a producer.

After a short entrée with Benny Schumann and the pony Shadow Konstantin Mouraviev opened the show with his formidable number as the fat man, who by help of a German Wheel goes on a diet.

Konstantin Mouraviev

From Egypt we met the dwarf clown Hassan Bekhit who with Benny and Tøffe as his partners presented the classic springboard gag. Hassan was followed by the talented German mimic Mr. Niels (Niels Weberling). Then Tøffe "song" his Dad to Four Four-potpourri before the show ended in the best Blues Brothers style with the singing sea lion trainer and entertainer John Burke.

Tøffe, Hassan Bekhit and Benny Schumann with their springboard number. Click here to see more photos from clown show.

From 9 May to 15 September you could meet a show called ZIRKUS NEMO. It is owned by a popular Danish actor and comedian Soren Ostergaard and is a combination of a comedy show (spoken language Danish) and artist performance. Most Danes loves Soren Ostergaard but foreigners will hardly be able to understand him or his typically Danish jokes. However, there were also some real circus artists:

Konstantin Mouraview showed his comic entrée in German Wheel as a fat man on a diet, Ingo Stiebner presented his sea lions, Dany Daniel appeared with rola bola and Elena and Viktor Minasov showed their quick change act. Viktor also did his entrée as the man who climbs into a giant balloon.

The owner of the resident NO NAME CIRCUS In Solbjerg by Bælum went bankrupt in autumn 2011. In 2012, there was no circus performance in No Name, and it is doubtful whether the small resident circus ever will start again.

In addition to the aforementioned Danish circuses two foreign circuses toured Denmark: Italian owned Circus Royal and the small German family circus Astoria.

CIRCUS ROYAL, which was owned by Italian Larry Rossante, had its opening night in Sonderborg on 2 April. Larry Rossante's Danish co-operations partners were Henry Schæffner and Lucy Berdino. Circus Royal called them the funniest circus in Denmark. They had neat and well maintained equipment and a tent with seating for 900 spectators. The 6 piece orchestra was led by Circus Dannebrog’s former bandmaster Ryszard Murakowski.

The show was nice but not on par with what the Danes is used to from the Danish circuses. The promise to be the funniest circus in Denmark was hampered by the fact that none of the performance's reprise clowns (Larry Rossante and Mr. Bananas) could speak anything but Italian! Undeniably a problem for a circus, who wants the children to experience it as Denmark's funniest! Furthermore, the clowns were not very funny.

The show started with a number of Dalmatian dogs which came into the ring in a wagon pulled by two ponies. (The family Busnelli). Later in the season the largest Danish society for the prevention of cruelty to animals notified the police about neglect of the Busnelli dogs and Busnelli got a fixed penalty notice. The dogs' conditions might not have been quite as glaring as press coverage of the episode might suggest. But of cause a circus has to treat their animals in a proper way.

Rudi Macaggi had four entrées. He is a middle-aged Italian who some years ago became no 10 at the American Got Talent competition. His first entrée was a parody of Pavarotti. The act was OK, but children among the spectators had never heard of / seen Pavarotti, so for them it was only a fat man who toppled over. The number ended after he had taken off the Pavarotti stomach and wig with Rudi Macaggi balancing on the head on ball. Rudi talked a lot, but only English, which smaller children in Denmark doesn’t understand.

Later in the show he did the well-known gag where he stopped a balloon down through his throat. A short entrée with a mechanical dog that could turn somersaults were exactly the same entrée as Titto Medina presented in Benneweis in 2011. Rudi’s last entrée was a lengthy tap dancing act accompanied by two musicians from the orchestra.

Miss Sandy showed an act hanging in fishing net, which was used as a tissue.

Duo Amsejf showed a standard quick change act but with fewer costume changes than in best quick change acts.

Then came the pirate Ranzan with a number of beautiful and colorful parrots, who couldn’t do much else than flying around the tent. Colourful but far from the level of e.g. Fochesato who Danes saw in Circus Benneweis a few years ago.

The first act after the break was in a part of the season a handstand by 14-year-old Miss Elizabeth and part of the season a tight wire act  performed by 11-year-old Angel.

Mr. David had an act in Washington trapeze. Nice, but not sensational. Both Miss Sandy, Miss Elizabeth, Angel and Mr. David were probably members of the Rossante family.

The last number in the performance was the rubber man Araz. It is a matter of opinion whether you like this kind of acts. Technically, it was a good act; from an artistic point of view the best in the performance.

Until the beginning of June the magician Kasper Alberto was ringmaster. Then Kasper decided to stop his cooperation with Circus Royal and the task was taken over by Lucy Berdino.

The plan was that the tour should continue until mid-August. But very low attendance - often less than 50 people in the tent - and bad press after the episode with neglect of dogs meant, however, that Larry Rossante chose to stop the tour on 24 June. An experience richer and probably a nice sum of money poorer.

The tiny German CIRCUS ASTORIA toured on Funen and Jutland from early May to early August. Many performances were given at Jutland campsites, where there always a many German tourists. Quality performance was not on par with what one could see in the Danish circuses.

During the school children’s autumn Circus Mascot performed at the Bilka Supermarket in Holstebro. Circus Arena produced a performance for the Kolding Shopping Mall and Circus Krone was sponsored by Dronninglund savings bank on a tour to several cities in Northern part of Jutland. Benny Schumann’s Mini Circus could be seen at the Glostrup Shopping Center in Copenhagen.

Obituaries

On 13 June 2012 "Mama" Dina Steckel, whose full name was Dina Theodora Mosgaard Steckel-Schmidt, passed away in her home in Villa Lindely in Hedehusene. She was 85 years old. She was the widow of the clown Frederik "Gugele" Schmidt and was for many years her husband's partner in his clown act Gugele & Co. The couple were married in 1950, when Frederick Schmidt was 50 years old and Dina was 23. At that time Frederick Schmidt together with his brother Arnold owned Circus Brdr. Schmidt (Circus Schmidt Bros.). Circus Brdr. Schmidt stopped after season 1955, but already in 1953 Frederik and Dina had “gone solo” and started a career as a clowns with appearances in a number of circuses in Denmark and abroad, including Danish Circus Benneweis, Circus Arena and Circus Vivi. Also the couple's 4 children Randi, Freddi, Jacki and Heidi became artists. Dina had lived in Villa Lindely ever since she was married to Frederick Schmidt.

Artists and rider Alex Pietka died on 1 September 2012 at the age of 76 years. For 46 years he lived together with the artist Mina Moré (Vilhelmine Steckel). Alex Pietka came in 1964 to German Circus Busch-Roland as an electrician. Previously he had worked in Italy at Circo Hellas-Medrano and had some experience of riding. Therefore he joined the Golgojew-troupe. After having stopped as artists Mina and Alex settled in Copenhagen, where he worked as a forklift driver until he retired.

The artist and musician Richard Thierry died in late October after a period of illness.

Richard was son of Danish Circus Krone's founders, Ebba and Regnar Thierry. Even as a child Richard performed on rola bola, went through rings and played the trumpet. Later he appeared together with his elder sister Irene in trapeze and swaying mast. Richard has also worked as balancing artist and musician. When Irene Thierry in 1984 restarted Danish Circus Krone Richard was an indispensable support, and for several seasons he was the Circus Krone's music director and drummer.

The artist Wilhelmine Steckel, also known as Mina Moré, died 8th November at Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen. She was 94 years old. Wilhelmine Steckel was the granddaughter of Circus Dannebrog’s founder Theodor Justus Enoch and his wife Wilhemine born Schultz. As a circus child Wilhemine got a versatile artist training. She did a great act in vertical sail, assisted by Solveig Enoch's sister Grethe. She also worked in trapeze and has presented elephants. For several seasons, she worked for German Circus Busch-Roland. She also worked for other circuses, including circuses in Italy.

The circus year in review is an annual review published on this website by the end of each year. You can find link to the previous year's reviews at the bottom of the circus news page.

23 December 2012

The list of museums of Circus, Artists and Showmen has been updated. The Danish librarian Dan Roneklint Sorensen has updated his list of Circus Museums etc. worldwide. Click here to see the updated list which also includes links to at lot of fascinating websites.

23 December 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS --   the small family circus LES GONTELLIS offers a nice program, geared to the youngest children, 3 - 6 years, before that age the kids can't really follow a show as their attention span is limited - a truth that any teacher will agree with.

Point of interest is that the rather mild temperatures of Paris allow for show in a non-heated tent APRIL - NOVEMBER, after that GONTELLIS  move on to Southern France where they perform DECEMBER - APRIL.

Another point of interest is that the SMALL TOP can be installed in small parks, called "squares" after the English model, and there are many of those squares in Paris.

GONTELLIS move from square to square within Paris and this is an important detail as it allows parents and children to come to the circus on foot, the main part of the public comes from surrounding buildings.

THE GONTELLIS run the only circus that features a program created exclusively towards the youngest children. The only competition may come from the puppet theatres - about 10 play in Paris, there are some travelling theatres run by families, having done so for generations.

The program is introduced by CHRISTIAN GONTELLI, 12 years, who throws balloons out into the audience, the children throw them back - and the tent is warmed up !

Dad SERGE GONTELLI greets the public and performs a classic but nonetheless impressive foot-juggling act.

Son CHRISTIAN performs lasso-tricks, juggling and takes part in this year's clown-entrée:

The Water Sketch.

Daughter OPHELIE is beautiful performing in aerial ring and still elegant in her act as a gypsy girl with fluttering doves.

Youngest daughter MARY is incredibly sure when she spins her hula-hoop rings, she is only 5 years old !

This year there is a goat that does what a goat can do: balancing and climbing a ladder, there are two small goats and the kids are allowed to pat them - surely a highlight for any child - there are not too many goats in the streets of Paris !

The programs change: sometimes there are a cat and some mice, not together though....  sometimes some magic tricks.

During intermission the kiosk sells candy floss, pop corn, lighting rods, red noses that light up as well , balloons and hula hoop rings - this is an important part of the benefit, as it also is for the big circuses.

Mum FABIOLA manages the kiosk and the ticket sale; she welcomes the spectators in a nice and friendly way.

Thus we have a good hour's clean, funny, healthy entertainment for the young children -- and when they are happy, the parents are so as well -- IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venues: look in L'OFFICIEL DES SPECTACLES, headline "Pour les jeunes" = for the youngest ones - 0.35 €, sold in all newspapers stalls.

See more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjn7E31MbZM (video clip from 2011)

----------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

A comment on Zarro Zarro’s review dated 12 December of Circus Christiane Bouglione:

The English circus fan and reporter to the King Pole magazine John Cooper writes: Having just seen the report on Cirque Christiane Bouglione in Paris, the continuity comedy is provided by Gregory Bellini, who has worked as second auguste to Toto Chabri, in which capacity he was with Dannebrog at the start of 2006.

The juggler who pays tribute to Michael Jackson is Ricky Rech, whose family runs Cirque Kinos in France, and who have provided the tent for Christaine.

The hula hoop girl is Nancy Brandt, who is cousin to Ricky Rech.

The sea lion act was presented by Los Munoz, otherwise Gary Jahn and (wife) Conchi Munoz.

21 December 2012

Danish circuses in 2013. None of the Danish circus has yet published their 2013 program. Usually Circus Arena released their program in October. But not this year. From Circus Benneweis marketing manager Louise Mandrup tells that all artist contracts were signed several months ago and that the names of the performers will be published in the beginning of February. The tours list will be published 1 March, and from that date there is open for ticket sales via the Internet.

Circus Baldoni is the only Danish circus which has published the date for their opening night: 21 March in Lyngby (Copenhagen suburb). Danish Circus Krone will not begin the season until mid April, while all other circuses will begin their season sometimes in March.

In Denmark we have 7 travelling circuses: 3 large circuses: Arena, Benneweis and Dannebrog. One medium sized circus, Circus Baldoni, and 3 dog and pony-shows (what Americans calls high grass circuses) Circus Arli, Circus Krone (not to be mistaken for the mighty German Circus Krone!) and Circus Mascot.

21 December 2012

Circus in television is certainly not nearly as good as "the real thing". But especially in the winter season better than nothing.

Friday 28th December at 20:15 the German channel NDR has a 1 ½ hour summary from the circus festival in Monte Carlo in January 2012. The summary will probably not include the Caselly family's gold clown awarded elephant act or Vladislav Goncharov’s lions. German animal rights activists don’t like to see performances with wild animals in circuses in tv.

28 December at 20:15 you can in German channel NDR see acts from the Monte Carlo Circus Festival

If you can see the Swedish TV channel TV SV1 you can on Monday 31st December at 20:00 see a summery from Circus Maximums 2012-performance. It will also be send on 3 January 2013 at 14.05, 6 January at 07.00 and 7 January at 02:35.

One of the Diorius-troupes was with their death globe that opens up among the attractions in this year's Maximum-performance which you can see a summary from in STV1 New Year's Eve at 20:00.

Click here to see a 2 minute clip from this year's show "Jubilee" in Circus Maximum. Jubilee because it was season No. 30. Thus in 2013, Circus Maximum can celebrate its 30th anniversary with season number 31 (First season is always in "year 0" and therefore the number of season always one higher than age).

18 December 2012

Circus Scott in 2013. About the 2013 performance in Swedish Circus Scott Anders Troedsson writes (my translation):

A brand new performance with a touch of magic. Children and adults can go on a journey where together they have to find Merlin's lost wand ... A fantastic journey filled with exotic animals, amazing gymnasts, hilarious comedians, high-flying acrobats, speedy jugglers, beautiful singing and great music.

Obviously the Cicus Park will be kept. The concept is further developed and now gives the children the chance to learn new tricks from the most talented teachers.

Do not miss the chance to be part of this year's family adventure!

On 6-9 June, Circus Scott will in Skövde. I don’t know the date for their season opening.

Photos from Circus Scott’s Circus Park 2012

The ring and gradin part of the giant tent which Circus Scott called Europe's largest circus tent

16 December 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  a number of Christmas circuses, having success in spite of the biting crisis.

The circus family BOUGLIONE features several productions, from now and until the end of DEC.

CHRISTIANE BOUGLIONE presents a pleasant CIRQUE DE NOEL/ CHRISTMAS CIRCUS/, having very appealing acts, unfortunately it was impossible to get photos, not even the artists' name, I have identified some of them.

In a nicely decorated BIG TOP, listening to recorded music, we saw:

LA FORTE, Germany, featuring a very sympathetic and funny dog show, he formerly worked with brown bears and he did a juggling act, I remember him well as we were together at LYDIA ZAVATTA CIRCUS, years ago.

Edi Laforte. Photo from Danish Cirkus Arli 2009

A very skillfull tempo-juggler, juggling the usual objects, but original as he imitated Michael Jackson on stage.

Another skillful diabolo-spinner GEORGIO HROMADKO, dressed as a Scot and changing to a costume while moving around.

The speedy diabolo-juggler Georgio Hromadko. Photo from Danish Circus Arena 2012

ROBERT FOXALL - a marvellous act in straps high up in mid-air.

A HULA-HOOP act, performed by a beautiful girl, an outstanding performance, including a special stunt: a vertical rope was lowered from the cupola, she grasped the rope and continued spinning a hoop while being hoisted up in mid-air - very original !

A sympathetic sealions act from Portugal

The clowns RASTELLI, sons of the Rastellis we often saw in the circus ring ---  comedy with music and funny props - I recognized the piano that explodes - and laughed like I did years ago !

A very clever and original reprise-clown, didn't get his name, acting hilariously also with some magic effects, he closed the show performing SNOW STORM IN CHINA, where wet pieces of paper, fanned by a fan - multiply like falling snow.

An excellent program and - IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!

Venue: Bois de Boulogne, Metro: La Muette and 20 min. walk.

See more: http://www.lecirquedenoel-paris.com/ ---  many sites.

CIRQUE D'HIVER BOUGLIONE proudly presents an ICE-AND-CIRCUS SHOW, situated in Nanterre, a suburb to Paris, easy access by RER /suburban local train/.

A seven-piece circus band accompanied the show and six different ballets were featured by 5 female, 5 male dancers, alternating between the circus acts:

A young and elegant girl juggled five footballs in an outstanding way - amazing and beautiful !

HANS PEDERSEN'S sealions, presented by his wife and daughter, a very pleasant act.

An outstanding diabolo spinner-juggler brought the house down, the strongest applause of the evening !

An elgant girl on the vertical rope, she managed to get an excellent contact with the audience - not an easy task when high up in mid-air !

THE CATS, the well-known act with performing cats, from Russia, if my memory is right.

Amazing what those cats can do - seeming to like it, too !!

TRIO RUSSO, also a well-known act, performing hand-acrobatics in the style of "animated statues". They feature incredible positions.

THE CLOWNS DIE BALDERS, known from a number of European circuses, offering us the opportunity to get a good laugh. See video clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UERBg5tsjCw

Impossible to get photos, not even the names of the artists, I got some photos from DIE BALDERS whom I have known for years.

Two of the three Balder clowns. By courtesy of Die Balders

So, this info is given with reserve for spelling of names and the reliability of my sources.

However, the program is super --- and  --  IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venue: Parc André Malraux, Nanterre, take the RER/local train from Metro Etoile, get off at Nanterre Prefecture.

See more: www.cirquedhiverbouglione.com

LA PETITE LOGE --the smallest theatre in Paris, sporting 25 seats and a rather tiny stage, proudly presents a collection of short theater plays as well as stand-up-comedians  -- and occasionally LA PETITE LOGE features  a MAGIC SHOW performed by DAVID SAUVAGE, carrying the name of MA VIE EN MAGIE /My Magic Life/ - a pleasant and funny show, where some of the kids - of course - are invited up on stage to participate and act ...  in order to make the entire play function ...

DAVID SAUVAGE is an actor and this is obvious as he uses mimicry and body language to make the show run well - and here he is successful. As the theatre is a small one, the children immediately get into contact with the magic entertainer - and this is what the accompanying parents appreciate, an important point of view as it is  the grown-ups who pay the affordable price of € 10.

LA PETITE LOGE works with a good Light-and-Sound System, the theatre is decorated with posters and photos from various shows - which contributes to a good atmosphere.

As always, it is a clever idea to use a theatre for family shows in the afternoons and -- it teaches the young children that pleasant experiences and entertainment ---  is not necessary linked to electronics !!

A sympathetic show, adapted to the youngest ones --- IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!

Length of show: 45 minutes.

Venue: La Petite Loge, 2 rue La Bruyère, 75009 Paris.  Metro: Saint Georges.

See more: www.lapetiteloge.fr

-----------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

12 December 2012

The Nordic countries’ largest circus. Since 2001 Circus Arena has called itself "the largest circus in the Nordic countries". Rightly, since no other Nordic circus has a tent which can accommodate as many spectators as the Arena tent. Their current tent has room for about 1,800 people, where the tents of the other big circuses in the Nordic countries "only" can accommodate some 1,200 spectators.

The tent, which the Swedish Circus Scott used for their tour this summer and at their Christmas circus in Stockholm can however accommodate 2,000 spectators, i.e. more than the Arena tent. Thus, Circus Scott has the largest circus tent in any Nordic country.

Circus Scott's tent, being the largest circus tent in a Nordic country. Photographed in Malmö 17th May 2012. In addition to room for 2,000 spectators the tent contains a circus park

Drawing of the tent and circus park, reproduced from Circus Scott printed summer program

Circus Scott claims that their tent is Europe's largest circus tent. It is possible that the statement is true if you only look at the number of square meters and includes the circus park part of the tent. Spectator-wise they lack however much compared to the German Circus Krone, whose giant tent of 48 x 64 meters and with floor space of 3,000 square meters can accommodate 4,500 spectators.

Given the total extent of their business Circus Arena will probably still regard themselves as the largest circus in the Nordic countries. Before Circus Arena grew to become the largest it was for many years Circus Benneweis which could call themselves the largest circus in the Nordic countries.

Today we have the following large circuses in the Nordic countries: Denmark: Circus Arena, Circus Benneweis and Circus Dannebrog. Norway: Circus Arnardo and Circus Merano. Finland: Circus Finlandia. Sweden: Circus Maximum and Circus Scott. All of them present every year high quality performances with international top artists. Big cat acts are forbidden in all Nordic countries. As for Finland the same goes for elephant acts.

10 December 2012

Circus Scott's Christmas Circus 2012.  Soren Kastoft Nielsen has been in Stockholm and seen the show. Soren writes (my translation):

Swedish Circus Scott has always been among my favourite circuses. When the opportunity to see the first edition of Circus Scott's Christmas Circus and also visit the beautiful City Stockholm came up I was ready to go. Actually, it was not the first Christmas circus produced by Circus Scott as they also had Christmas Circus in Stockholm in the mid-1980s.

Circus Scott uses the white 2000 sqm. large tent, which also was used during this summer’s tour in Sweden. The tent is of impressively size and is divided into a "Circus Park" and a "Circus Tent" in which there is a circus ring, 3 rows of ring side chairs and plastic bucket seats at the gradin. In total there is room for 2,000 persons in the tent. Outside the tent was decorated with Christmas fir, and 4 live reindeer stood in front of the tent as an effective eye-catcher.

Before the show, it is possible for children to buy various circus-related activities, such as pony rides. There was also a pool with 3 penguins. It is also in the "Circus Park" section of the tent you find concession area including kiosks and toilets. Thus, when you have entered the tent you don’t need to leave it until the performance is over which in the Nordic winter weather is an advantage.

The show began with all the artists and general manager Robert Bronett entering the ring. Robert Bronett is also the very sympathetic ringmaster of the show. During the break, you could see the "stardom" Bronett has got as many children wanted to be photographed together with the circus manager.

Following the opening with all artists in the ring came an act with Russian swing, which was located on the gradin so that artists were thrown from the gradin and into the ring. It was a very effective way to start the performance. It was the troupe “Reb Crew" (2 men and 2 women) who did this act. They did also a nice act in tissue, and the men had an entrée in "double leather strap". The latter act was a powerful and dramatic number done to the music and the songs from the musical "The Phantom of the Opera".

It is not clear from the printed program if is also was "Rope Crew" who dressed in Christmas elf costumes began the second part of the performance with a fast-paced and humorous entrée on trampoline in which also Christmas music plays an important role. It was in any case a great introduction to the second part of the performance. You became simple in a good mood by seeing this fast-paced number.

Tim Delbosq presented Circus Arena’s exotic animals (dromedaries, llamas, zebras and an Arabian stallion) in the first part of the performance. As always Delbosq know how to sell the act even although the animals apparently not yet had become accustomed to the new environment. Delbosq also presented Arena’s ponies in a fast-paced and humorous act - nice!

The clowns were they from Circus Ringling and other circuses well-known Caveanga clowns. Their act included a modern version of the classic "don’t play here”-entrée. I was told that they will tour with another Swedish circus in 2013.

The performance's absolute weakest number is crossbow shooter Van Gool. He appeared in Circus Scott’s summer performance with a wheel of death-act. It looks like his crossbow act not yet is in its final form.

In Circus Scott’s summer performance you saw a break dance troupe with female artists. In the Christmas show it is the troupe "Camelot" that presents break dance. There is also a great ballet, framing several acts in the performance.

The show has three top acts: The juggling troupe Drogaleva (known from German Circus Krone's current program). A troupe with 3 male jugglers and a female present a fast-paced number, which included changing places while the clubs are kept in the air.

The duo "Manducas" was originally "invented" by Roncalli manager Bernhard Paul. Now it works with new artists, but the entrée is the well-known where difficult tricks are matched with humour.

The last number in the show is high wire act "Los Talentos". The artists looked familiar to me under a different name, which I can’t remember. It is a very nice act, which included building a pyramid and skipping on the wire. A beautiful, beautiful act.

During the last number it was almost hard to sit still for the immersive music and song. Scott has this Christmas show found 6 young Swedish musician and 2 singers (one woman and one man). At times you could sense that the orchestra is not a "real" circus band as they not always was able to keep the pace. But they could play and sing, and it's probably the most important thing.

Circus Scott Christmas Circus 2012 is a nice performance. However I would have liked one or two additional animal acts. Dogs and / or sea lions would have been a good supplement the many great artists.

The best news is the last page of the printed program, which reads: "Thanks for visiting. Look for us next summer” which indicates that Circus Scott will be on tour again in 2013.

Circus Scott was established in 1937 but did not tour from 2004 to 2011.

As you can see Soren who saw the performance in the weekend 2 – 3^rd December did not believe that the crossbow shooter Van Gool’s act had found its final form. This was in an

unhappy manner demonstrated in Circus Scott's performance on Sunday 9 December afternoon, where Van Gool hit an assistant in the stomach with an arrow from his crossbow. The accident happened when Van Gool dressed as James Bond shot at a target covered with thin rice paper. Behind the paper you could see the silhouette of a dancing woman. The light behind the target was put out for a few seconds while Van Gool made his shot. The arrow should have hit a target behind the rice paper covered target and the woman should then have jumped through the rice paper with the target with the arrow in the bull’s eye. But something with the timing went wrong, and the arrow hit the woman in the stomach.

The woman, Lelde Feldmane, was carried away with the arrow in the stomach and taken to a hospital. Circus manager Robert Bronett told the newspapers that she fortunately not was seriously injured. She was back in the circus again on 10 December.

Click here to see a video clip from Swedish TV4 where you see part of the entrée and where Robert Bronett and Gengis Van Gool tell what happened.  Van Gool speaks English in the interview.

8 December 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS. Late in the year, you can always Paris see a number of excellent circus performances. There are hardly any other cities in the world which offers a similar feast of beautiful circuses. On 20th November my Paris correspondent wrote a review of the performance in Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione. Below you can read his reviews of two more outstanding performances. Next week you can write his review of another two circuses. The reviews proves that Zarro Zarro is absolutely right when he always writes: IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS

CIRQUE PINDER JEAN RICHARD, direction GILBERT EDELSTEIN and family, proudly present a wonderful program, featuring many animals, clowns and flying trapeze, exactly what the family audience wants to see - this is Christmas Circus !!

Ringmaster CLAUDY BRUNEL accompanied by clown and magic entertainer BENJI guides us through the show:

The classic CHARVARI, performed by the Cuban troupe LOS DIABLITOS CUBANOS, salto over skipping rope and whirling stunts in the ring - dressed in Cuban costumes and to Cuban music, they get the audience in the right mood. They return performing acrobatics on springboard, with saltos up to five men high - amazing !

Los Diablitos Cubanos. All photos by courtesy of Cirque Pinder Jean Richard

BEAT DECKER features his exotic animals: lamas, camels, donkeys and a zebra, as well as nice and pleasant horses performing well. The sympathy and confidence between him and the animals are spectacular.

GINA GIOVANNI is elegant and remarkably strong on high pedestal, hand-stands and balances, she is also an accomplished tight-rope-dancer - a top act !!.

SOPHIE EDELSTEIN accompanied by five excellent acrobatic dancers, performs amazing illusions, some of which are rarely seen.

The Cubans again, now with flying trapeze, including a three-fold salto in midair - excellent, sure and aesthetic.

FREDERIC EDELSTEIN features a unique act: 16 lions and tigers, thus performing in a mixed group, beautifully well-kept animals, we saw the confidence and attachment between the man and the beasts - a wonderful act.

Frederic Edelstein and his big cats

While the big cage was taken down, we enjoyed LORENA, gracious and pleasant in textile, à la vertical rope - a very beautiful act.

Not mentioned by name in the program: seven young Ethiopian girls performed outstanding contortion, and pyramids - amazing and elegant.

CIRQUE PINDER'S own elephants had not worked for years, but they appeared to be accomplished artists to the great joy of the audience.

The Portuguese clowns CARDINALIS performed a funny sketch, ending with rhythmic music - a good thing as clowns belong to circus !!

The Cardinalis

LOS DIABLITOS CUBANOS closed the show by performing outstanding acrobatics on Russian bar.

An excellent program, well worth seeing !

However, a live band ---- when do we get it....?

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venue: Pelouse de Reuilly, 75012 Paris.  Metro: Porte Doree.

See more: www.cirquepinder.com

CIRQUE ARLETTE GRUSS proudly presents a program that is original, elegant and full of joy - it is remarkable !!

Paris loves circus and there is plenty of space to welcome the various shows - on the Pelouse de Reuilly which is a large park, the red-and-white BIG TOP looks great.

A 10-pieces band under the direction of SERGHEI LURCO accompanies the program playing especially composed music.

Ringmaster KEVIN SAGAU pulls the audience into this world of enchantment - we see HANS LUDWIG SUPPMEIER featuring 5 beautiful tigers where man and beast melt into one appealing action.

The clowns TOM AND PEPE, respectively from USA and Spain, amuse the audience, they have several entrées and both have a remarkable mimicry that reaches well out into the audience who are seated at a distance as always in a circus, they are very good.

ROBY BEROUSEK, acrobat on free-standing ladder, original tricks executed very fast.

ROSI HOCHEGGER with her playful and happy dogs - very appealing act. (She will be with Swedish Circus Maximum in 2013)

Well-known from circuses in the Nordic countries: Rosi Hochegger with her horse Scout. Photo ©Fabrice Vallon. All photos by courtesy of Cirque Arlette Gruss 

NICOLAJ KUNTZ in swinging Washington trapeze, original stunts, nearly the impossible, happily for all he sports a security line, nobody would like him to fall...

TATJANA KASTEIN featuring a handstand and contortion act on a mirror-like support - very stunning.

LAURA-MARIA, LINDA /and occasionally GILBERT GRUSS/  perform elegant horsemanship.

KEVIN GRUSS treats us to an incredible illusion-show.

After intermission we saw:

CIRQUE ARLETTE GRUSS' 4 elephants, presented by JOHN VERNUCCIO and HANS LUDWIG SUPPMEIER, very impressive and the 4 girls riding the elephants added a touch of feminine beauty.

NATHALIE and ZDENEK SUPKA featuring a juggling act with integrated dance - elegant and seldom seen.

ROSI HOCHEGGER in a comic sketch with her horse SCOUT - hilariously funny.

DUO VARNAS, stunning acrobatics in aerial straps.

THE GLOBE OF SPEED, 8 motorbike riders spinning around inside the globe, people were holding their breath !

8 man in globe of death. Photo ©Fabrice Vallon.

LARISSA KASTEIN, pole dancing made into acrobatics, a treat for the eyes.

THE WHEEL OF DEATH, 2 acrobats performing inside and outside the wheels, a salto on an outside wheel is seldom seen, high perfection. (They will be with Swedish Circus Maximum in 2013).

Duo Vanegas, who in season 2013 will tour with Circus Maximum in Sweden. Photo ©Fabrice Vallon.

So-  grande finale after a splendid program -- IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: http://www.cirque-gruss.com/

Venue: Pelouse de Reuilly, 75012 Paris.  Metro: Porte Dorée.

--------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

7 December 2012

Cheveux and not chevaux. In my article 2nd December about the upcoming Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, I wrote: “Cirque National de Cuba present "suspension aux chevaux". In is probably a form of dressage riding”.

I've never been good at French! Zarro Zarro has told me that Cubans present "suspension aux cheveux". Cheveux does not mean horse, but hair. Thus, the Cuban act has nothing to do with horses. They present a hair hang act as we in Denmark have seen Bettina Arli do.

6 December 2012

The large Swedish Circus Maximum is the first Nordic circus to publish its 2013 program. Season 2013 will be Circus Maximum’s 30 year anniversary, and the show will be called Celebration.

The performers in season 2013 will be

·         Dalian Acrobatic troupe - a troupe of young Chinese artists and jugglers, which include juggling with water bowls

·         Rosi Hochegger with her horse and dogs. Rosi Hochegger has in Denmark worked first in Circus Arena and later in Circus Benneweis, last time in 2010. The Swedes have met her in Circus Brazil Jack in 2008 and 2011.

·         Circus Maximum’s horses – knabstrup ponies presented by Anton Frank

·         The Bobylevs clowns. It will be their first season in Sweden. The Danes know them from Circus Benneweis 2007 and 2009. The Bobylevs are some of the very best run in clowns. They present original entrées and not just copies of other clown’s acts.

Bobylevs. Photo from Circus Benneweis 2007

·         The hand balancing acrobat Glen Nicolodi and his tiny dog Boy. Glenn Nicolodi is well-known in Denmark, where he performed in Benneweis in 2003 and in Zirkus Nemo in 2009 and 2011.

·         Ingo Stiebner and his sea lions. Ingo Stiebner was last time with Circus Maximum in 2010. In Denmark, he has for several seasons worked for Circus Arena. In 2012 he toured Denmark with Zirkus Nemo. He had his Danish debut in Circus Benneweis in 1992, and he was also with Benneweis in 1998.

·         Costin Belu (Constantin Alexandru Bellu) in a comical trampoline entrée. It will be his first season in Sweden.

·         The aerial acrobats Duo Volkov. They were with Circus Arnardo in Norway in 2012 They toured also with Circus Maximum in 2000.

·         Circus Maximum’s elephants - "Europe’s largest elephant Dunja and her African companion Daela presented by Anton Frank"

·         Duo Vanegas with "The greatest wheel of death act ever presented”. They come from Columbia and have not previously worked in Sweden.

Circus Maximum opening night is in Älvsered close to Gotenburg on Wednesday 27th March at 18: 30. Their 2012-performance can be seen at the Swedish TV channel STV1 on 31st December at. 20:00.

6 December 2012

"As you can see, a lot happens on my fansite Jimmy - Entertainer on Facebook which you are welcome to write about," the bike acrobat and entertainer Jimmy Enoch writes.

Monday last week Jimmy presented his act for the accounting firm Ernst & Young for 2,000 people at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen.

Both last Friday / Saturday as the upcoming Friday / Saturday Jimmy will perform at a Christmas party at Vojens Hotel. Saturday Jimmy will also together with the acrobats from Flying Superkids perform at the TV channel TV2’ annual Christmas party. Jimmy’s act is often part of the Flying Superkids' show.

From 20 December to 6th January 2013 Jimmy Enoch will be with Kerstcircus Nijmegen in the Netherlands. And throughout March 2013 he appears as the Bicycle Mosquito Egon at the Aalborg Theatre. The Bicycle Mosquito Egon is a popular Danish picture book based on which a theatre play has been made.

Jimmy has created a brand new website: www.jimmyenoch.dk

The bicycle mosquito Egon aka Jimmy Enoch

3 December 2012

Press release from Fédération Mondiale du Cirque - Mobile Mini Circus for Children International Celebrates Tenth Anniversary and becomes the Federation’s Eleventh Member

Mobile Mini Circus for Children International (MMCC International) today celebrated its tenth anniversary with a special performance by children and for children in Kabul, Afghanistan. MMCC International’s membership in the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque was announced as part of the celebrations. MMCC International is an umbrella organisation that gives hope and joy through circus arts.

According to founders David Mason and Berit Mühlhausen, circus arts are a powerful

technique to access and release the creative potential of young people traumatized by war

and displacement. Moreover, circus simply brings happiness and laughter in an

environment lacking fundamental security, health, shelter, education, and economic

stability. “We have been helping children to laugh for ten years and there is no end in

sight,” says Mr. Mason. “These children, who have experienced joy through circus, are the

future of their country.”

“The Federation is extremely pleased to welcome its first member working primarily in the

field of social circus,” said Federation Executive Director Laura van der Meer. “We

congratulate MMCC on ten years of making a real difference for children through circus.”

Founded in 2002, MMCC-International has established structures, networks, schools and

teams across Afghanistan (Afghan MMCC) to create high quality artistic circus shows.

Under the direction of MMCC International, Afghan MMCC also uses circus performances

for educational purposes and to bring positive social change for underprivileged children.

Since its establishment, more than 2.7 million children have enjoyed live performances in

25 provinces of Afghanistan. The Afghan MMCC also has performed in Japan, Denmark,

Germany and Italy. The Afghan MMCC is complimented and supported by MMCC

organisations in Denmark and Japan with expansion to the United States underway. Based on its success in Afghanistan, MMCC-International is working to create similar programs in Tajikistan.

For more information about the MMCC organisation and partners, visit

www.mmccinternational.org; www.afghanmmcc.org; www.japanmmcc.org and

www.danskmmcc.dk.

"I have just returned from Kabul, and it was great to see that many dedicated and happy children and adults. There are a lot of good work going around in several refugee camps and plans about creating an education in circus, media and theatre skills - and to expand to more countries," Tommy H. Widriksen who is chairman of the Danish MMCC writes.

2 December 2012

Monte Carlo the 2013. The list of performers at the upcoming festival is now published. However there might be changes.

A troupe from the North Korean national Circus Pyongyang appears in flying trapeze and should master a quadruple somersault. Two other artists from the North Korean circus present a pas de deux in trapeze. The number includes sword balance in a swinging trapeze. The North Koreans undoubtedly hopes to come home with another gold clown to their collection. They got a Golden Clown in 1984, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2005 and 2009.

Jean-Francois Pignon presents horses, both as a rider and as liberty horses. Also he is a good bet for a winner of a clown of gold or silver.

Pat Clarrison presents his four lively Hot Dogs. The Norwegians could this year meet him in Circus Merano and the Swedes in Circus Brazil Jack in 2010. In Denmark, Pat has performed at some of Benny Schumann’s shows. He was also assisting in his father Peter Harrison’s dog act at Circus Benneweis in 1998. Pat almost grew up in Denmark, where his parents Clare and Peter Harrison presented sea lions at Benneweis for several seasons: They were in the Circus Building in 1978 (this year was Peter clown), in the tent in 1979 and 1983, in the Circus Building in 1984, and in tent 1985, 1990 and 1992, when the sea lion act was taken over by Pat's half brother Ingo Stiebner. Pat took later over his father's dog act, which he has developed further and now will present in Monte Carlo. Sometimes he appears under the name Pat Harrison. His given name is Patrick Harrison and he is born the 1980. In Monte Carlo he is presented as Pat Clarrison.

Pat Clarrison and his hot dogs. Photo from Circus Brazil Jack 2010

Kid Bauer presents his lions and tigers.Truppe acrobatique national de Chine works with diabolo and jump through hoops. Truppe Greschuskin does an act in Russian swing and Troupe Meschanov in Roman rings. Trio Markin presents a comical rola bola entrée and the Hungarian Donnert-family does jockey riding. Trio Equivoquee is comedy jugglers, and Giang Brothers from Vietnam present hand-to-hand and head-to-head balance. Also Duo Shcherbak Popov does hand-to-hand acrobatics. The juggling sailor Alexander Koblikov is a juggler and Leosvel & Diosmani does pole acrobatics.

Duo Clubhouse shows a comical magic entrance. Trouppe jongleurs the Kazan is as the name indicates jugglers. Family Navas performs in a wheel of death and has performed in the Cirque du Soleil show Zarkana. Anait & Tatevik Seyranyan does contortion. Anait does also an acrobat act.

Hugo Noel and his troupe are catwalk acrobats - jumping from trampoline to wall. Cirque National de Cuba present "suspension aux chevaux". In is probably a form of dressage riding.

The elephants come from Gran Circo Mundial. The old Benneweis-elephant Ceylon ended up in this circus. Thus, it is possible that you will meet Ceylon in the ring in Monte Carlo. Ceylon, which Eli Benneweis bought as a baby elephant in 1971, is now 43 years old. Grand Circo Mundial has 6 elephants, and it is probably only 4 of those which are going to Monte Carlo. So you can’t be sure that Ceylon is among the performing elephants. The elephants will be presented by Aurori

As a new feature the Monte Carlo Festival made a video with some of the acts. Click here to see this video.

If you want to see Monte Carlo Festival from January this year tune in at German TV channel NDR 28 December at 20:15, where they show 1 ½ hour summary from the festival. However, some animal acts might be excluded including the Casselly family's gold clown winning elephant act after pressure from the German animal rights activists.

2 December 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  as usual at Christmas -- LE MARCHE DE NOEL DE PARIS / CHRISTMAS MARKET IN PARIS / -- takes place from mid-NOV thru beginning of JAN, this market is very large, stretching from Place de la Concorde, Metro Concorde and further on Les Champs Elysées, Metro Champs Elysées-Clemenceau.

It might well be one of the biggest in Europe, 180 booths/outlets, where you find EVERYTHING: Christmas gifts, cafés and restaurants, and --  FATHER CHRISTMAS in his sledge pulled by reindeer, travelling high up in the air - very impressive !!

The German artist family DIE TRABER performs this show, a steel wire attached to 2 masts makes it possible for FATHER CHRISTMAS  to travel extensively to and fro, he can even turn the sledge around, X-mass music is played and he addresses the children and their parents, by a good PA system.

Traber's sleigh. By courtesy of the Traber family

All this makes for a pleasant atmosphere, including the beautiful illuminations, the music and the very spectacular trip that Father Christmas performs up in the air, and this from 1 DEC thru the X-mass festivities. You can enjoy a walk, continuing on the Champs Elysées, called the most beautiful avenue in the world, the area is beautifully illuminated during DEC and JAN.

As DIE TRABER have been seen by many people interested in circus, this info may well be of interest.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: http://www.sortiraparis.com/loisirs/guides/34166-les-marches-de-noel-2012-a-paris & http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traber_(Artistenfamilie)

You will find many attractive photos.

THEATRE DE LA CLARTE proudly presents a funny magic-comedy -- SOUVENIRS D'AUTREFOIS /= Childhood memories/, performed by the young magic entertainer and comedian JIMBREIZT.

The plot: a small boy remains alone in the grand-parents' living-room - which he explores ...and magical things happen: a goldfish appears in a glass of water, it is emptied into an aquarium that seems to be a TV-set ...a girl is invited up on stage and water poured into a funnel attached to her back, runs right through her body and down into the aquarium..

JIMBREIZT puts a box over his head and pushes a number of sticks right through the lot - thus a variety of the classic swordbox.

Jimbreizt. Photo by courtesy of the artist

The success of this show is due to the expressive and hilarious mimicry that JIMBREIZT displays, his clear and intensive body-language as well as his apparent joy of playing.

The contact with the public is excellent and JIMBREIZT gets the sympathy of the audience.

Light-and sound effects are well integrated, the stage backdrop, mounted on some structure, represents a living-room.

An excellent show for the entire family - and - IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Length of show: one hour.

Venue: Theatre de la Clarté, 74 Avenue du Général Leclerc, Boulogne.  Metro: Billlancourt.

See more: http://theatredelaclarte.com/jimbreiztsouvenirsdautrefois.html

---------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO

My Paris correspondent Zarro Zarro could on 26 November celebrate his 80 years birthday.

Swedish magic entertainer ZARRO ZARRO / Rolf R. Wollert, born in 1932/ lives in Paris since 1993. Zarro Zarro has a PhD in French, taught in Göteborg on the Swedish west coast, as well as in Zambia, Ivory Coast and Paris. During his years /l970 thru 1973/ in Zambia, he taught secondary school, organized according to the British educational system, meaning three months of work and one month of holidays.

These holidays provided the possibility of travelling and performing his magic act in the /then/ Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Mocambique and the Mauritius Island, mainly cabarets and night clubs. In Zambia, in the capital Lusaka and in Livingstone he performed at the prestigious luxury hotel MOSI-O-TUNYA, named after the local language's name of Victoria Falls.

 After a two-year stint back in Göteborg, he landed a contract with the Ivory Coast government, Ministère de l'Education, it lasted for ten years until 1985. Being posted in the economic capital ABIDJAN, he had numerous possibilities to perform in front of a public, eager to get entertainment: schools, sea-side-resorts, social functions, hotels, night clubs and cabarets. Abidjan was the Paris of West Africa ... !!!

The holidays here  /July - Sept/ were the same as in France /former colonial power/ -  he went to Paris, performing in street-shows and many cabarets. Together with daughter MADELEINE, they featured the SPIRIT CABINET that became their signature act. Some months ago he wrote an article about the act with a lot of illustrations. Click here to read the article.

Zarro Zarro together with some of his good friends, the well-known clowns the Balders.

30 November 2012

Baldoni's Christmas Circus. What do you do when you are on Koh Lanta in the week-end when Baldoni produce Denmark’s only Christmas circus in Hvidovre, and you would like to write a review of the show? You seek for help! And I was helped by Jacob Boas Leitisstein, who writes (my translation):

This year again Baldoni's Christmas Circus had their performance in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre. Copenhagen. It was in the weekend of 24 - 25 November 2012, where they in total had three performances - one on Saturday and two on Sunday.

The show consisted of many beautiful and good circus acts. First part began with a welcome by Santa Claus, Christmas Line and Nis (Daniel, Thessa & René), then Nis started out doing some magic tricks.

The first act was a mono bike act - both small and high bicycle. The act included skipping on bike. Next act was with Natalya Tomilova as a handstand elf - a very nice handstand entrée.

Natalya Tomilova with handstand. All photos are shot by Jacob Boas Leitisstein

After her hand stand act came the juggling Christmas elf - Yevgeny Tomilov - who could juggle with up to 4 clubs. The entrée also included balancing on ladder while juggling with 3 clubs. The last act before the interval was a pigeon act.

During the break you could be photographed together with Santa and buy circus delights in the kiosk.

Second part began with a pole act performed by Hélène Ramer. It was a beautiful and impressive pole number.

Hélène Ramer

Then Natalya Tomilova and Yevgeny Tomilov came in the ring again, now with an acrobatic entrée. After acrobatics came the human Balloon Man Sergejs – always a funny act. The last act was performed by a pack of dogs which both could skip and jump through rings.

The performance was presented by Nis, Pixie Line and the Christmas pig Anton Antonisen (a ventriloquist’s doll).

This year again Baldoni presented a beautiful and cosy Christmas show. To the acts there was always good Christmas music which provided just the right Christmas mood.

The grand finale. Click here to see more of Jacob’s photos from the performance.

30 November 2012

Greetings from a princess. Hello! My name is Emily Kaselowsky Enoch, and I am a circus princess. I was born on 14 November 2012, so I am two weeks old. My father's name is Jimmy Enoch and he is a great bike acrobat. My mother is Melanie Kaselowsky and she is awfully good to take care of me. My grandfather is called Bernhard Kaselowsky and has a big elephant! My other grandfather is named Dennie Enoch and says he is much better to ride a bike than father. But I do not believe him! Dad's the best in the world - second only to mother.

Dad told me that I am 6th generation after Theodor and Wilhemine Enoch, who many years ago - Dad says it was in 1880 - established Circus Dannebrog.

Dennie Enoch with his granddaughter Emily

Bernhard Kaselowsky with his granddaughter Emily

Congratulations with the newborn princess to Jimmy and Melanie, to the granddads Dennie and Bernhard and to the great-grandmother Solveig Enoch.

25 November 2012

Kim Kenneth and Jessica to Swedish Circus Brazil Jack in 2013. The last few seasons the Danish magician Kim Kenneth and his Italian girlfriend and partner Jessica Caveagna has toured in England with Circus Vegas. But in 2013 you can meet “the Dane in the fast lane” and his partner in Scandinavia. They have signed a contract with Swedish Circus Brazil Jack, which opens their season in Malmö in late March. In addition to the illusion numbers with Kim Jessica will do a sword balance which she never before has presented in a Scandinavian circus ring. - Thank to Kim and Carmen Lupascu Rhodin for giving me permission to release that Kim and Jessica will be with Circus Brazil Jack in season 2013.

Kim Kenneth and Jessica with one of their fabulous illusion acts. Photo from Circus Vegas 2011

26 November 2012

Ringling Museum of Art and Aladdin’s Ticketing Join the Federation. A press release from Federation Mondiale du Cirque writes:

The internationally renowned John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art of Sarasota, Florida and Australian online box office service Aladdin’s Ticketing today joined the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque as Associated Members.

The Museum of Art, built by Circus Showman John Ringling to house his personal collection of masterpieces and opened to the public in 1931. Today it features paintings and sculptures by the great Old Masters including Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, Titian and more.

The Circus Museum, established in 1948, was the first in the United States to document and celebrate the rich history of the circus and focuses on its unique relationship to Sarasota. The Museum’s Tibbals Learning Center displays the world's largest miniature circus, a replica of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 – 1938. It was created over a period of more than 50-years by master model builder and philanthropist Howard Tibbals. A 2011 addition to the Tibbals Learning Center includes a state-of-the-art digitization facility and exhibitions that celebrate circus performers. The Museum will host a series of professional meetings in cooperation with the Federation in January 2013 focused on the preservation and sharing of circus memory, artifacts and language.

“The Federation is honoured to partner with one of the world’s preeminent museums of both art and circus,” said Federation President Urs Pilz. ”The Circus Museum plays a critical role in preserving the history and importance of Circus, not only as a performing art, but as cultural heritage.” Mr. Pilz continued, “We also are very pleased that Aladdin’s Ticketing has joined the Federation as an Associated Member, bringing much needed expertise on the use of internet technologies to help achieve the Federation’s goals.”

Aladdin’s Ticketing is an Australian family business that provides online box office services to travelling circuses. Owned by John Le Mare, a founding Director of the Federation, Aladdin’s maintains a stable internet platform through which patrons can book, prepay and print out e-tickets for circus performances. Available day and night, seven days a week, the service allows circuses to monitor their own forward online bookings and can make necessary yield management adjustments at any time of the day or night. The business is now operated by “New Generation” family members. Aladdin’s contribution to the Federation will focus on exploration of further development of the Federation’s website as an on-line platform to bring together Circus interests.

For additional information about the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Circus Museum and Aladdin’s Ticketing, visit www.ringling.org and www.aladdinstix.com.au. To find out more about the Circus Fans Association of America, see www.circusfans.org.

20 November 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  the CHRISTMAS circuses are opening  --

CIRQUE D'HIVER BOUGLIONE proudly presents an outstanding program in the old, beautifully refurbished circus building, one of the most attractive ones that remain in Europe.

Live music - bandleader PIERRE NOUVEAU and his ten musicians accompany the entire program. Ringmaster MICHEL PALMER guides the audience, many children ! - right through the show-

ALBERTO CAROLI - the very symbol for circus is very present and takes part in the MITCHELS' clown entrance.

THE SALTO DANCERS - eight beautiful and skillful dancers continue a tradition established for years. The circus hands, 10 of them, under Stephane Danetto' supervision -- an important part of any circus show.

REDI MONTICO presenting five beautiful tigers, we feel the mutual respect between the trainer and the animals doing what comes natural to them.

ANTON MONASTYRSKY featuring a masculine version of the Hula Hoop spinning, elegantly and skilfully.

Anton Monastyrsky. Danish audience will remember him from Circus Benneweis 2005. Photo: Dominique Secher - Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione 2012

REGINA BOUGLIONE, a sympathetic moment between her and a horse and a poney, Maxi and Mini.

TEMPO ROUGE, Tania and Sergii are a wonderful duo in hanging trapeze, beauty, skill and strength.

SAMPION BOUGLIONE, tempo juggling with balls spiced up with saltos - excellent.

DIANA VEDIASHKINA, funny play with six dachshunds, original and appealing.

PASHA VOLADAS, acrobats on bar, did not perform when I was there.

IRINA BOUGLIONE, acrobatics on pole, inspired by the modern pole dancing, very gracious.

JASTERS, GIACOMO shots arrows and throws knives towards ELENA, either on foot or on a rotating target - apparently she trusts him !

NATALIA BOUGLIONE, acrobatics with straps - very graciously performed, this discipline is often a masculine one.

LES BOUGLIONE JR, surrounded and assisted by the SALTO DANCERS, -- VALENTINO, ALESSANDRO and DIMITRI perform a magic show.

TRIO BELLISSIMO, three girls performing an impressive hand-acrobat and balancing act, featuring incredible positions - everything amazing !

Trio Bellissimo. Photo Dominique Secher - Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione 2012

THE MITCHELS are irrestistibly funny performing the classic WATER ENTRANCE -  producing hilarious reactions from the audience.

TROUPE FANTASY from Roumania, tremplin/schleuderbrett,  featuring dare-devil stunts, high class act.

ROB TORRES, USA, links the entire program together, featuring original jokes and unexpected stunts - a talented artist.

All in all - a super program, it can't be done better, as I see it - and -- IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Photo Dominique Secher - Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione 2012

Playing in Paris from OCT 20 thru mid-March.

Program 2 hours with intermission which gives the opportunity to visit the Bouglione Museum, the kiosques and the bar-café.

Venue: Cirque d'Hiver, 110 rue Amelot, 75011 Paris.  Metro: Filles de Calvaire.

See more: www.cirquedhiver.com

--------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

20 November 2012

Mikkel Filtenborg at the Cirque de Demain. The Danish contemporary circus artist Mikkel Filtenborg has together his company Sisters Company been selected for the prestigious festival Cirque de Demain, to be held in Paris from 24th-27th January 2013. Sisters Company consists of three artists from Spain, France and Denmark, all of whom are trained at DOCH in Sweden in 2012. Recently, Sisters Company has as one of only five companies been selected to participate in the European project Circus Next, which provides financial and artistic support for the upcoming contemporary circus groups. Read about Sisters Company here: www.sisterscompany.net and read about Circus Next here: http://www.circusnext.eu/circusnext/en

The Circus Queen from Vester Nebel. - Marianne Deleuran, Roslev, turns 50 on 25 November. The village Vester Nebel just north of Kolding has about 2,000 inhabitants. In this small town Marianne was born on 25 November 1962. Some years later her family moved for the sake of her father's health to Greve south of Copenhagen. When her father died in 1985 the family moved back to Vester Nebel. Meanwhile, the now 22-year-old Marianne had got an all-round education as a clerk at the Conscription Agency in Taastrup. But she moved with her family back to Jutland and got a job at Jutland Telephone Company. First in Kolding, later in Fredericia. There she met in 1987 a curly electrician, Jess, who, like Marianne had a failed marriage behind him. There was “sweet music” and two years later the couple married.

Before Marianne met Jess, she had only visited a circus 3 times in her life: 3 performances in Benneweis. And they had not made a great impression on her. Jess was already as a child a circus freak. He stayed at the circus lot in his home town of Fredericia whenever there was a circus in town. After leaving school he was apprenticed as electrician and got a job at Jutland Telephone. His true interest was, however, a life in and with the circus. In a closet he had some magic props, which he almost never had used. But the props came out of the closet and together with Marianne Jess began to perform in community centres etc.

In 1991 the couple got a job in Conny Hende and Jorgen Hansen’s tiny Circus Scandinavia. They should do an illusion act and an act where Marianne was the mind reading phenomenon Lizette. Jess should also help with advertising, including putting up posters and Marianne should help in the kitchen. After 3 months Circus Scandinavia ran out of money. Marianne and Jess lost their jobs. But the couple had learned something about how you should not run a circus.

On the basis of this knowledge Jess and Marianne founded Circus Mascot in 1994. Today their circus is as a neat and attractive business which every year tours over most of Denmark. It is structured as a traditional circus with international artists, clowns and animals. Marianne present poodles and tell that Swedish Henrika Bengtsson from Circus Olympia is one of her models. Jess presents his ponies. However, in 2012, they were replaced by Katja Schumann and her horses. Marianne and Jess’s two sons Daniel and Andreas are also active as acrobats and become better and better each year. The Deleuran family’s goal is not to make Circus Mascot to Denmark's largest circus, but make it to Denmark's favourite family circus. Mother Marianne, as Jess affectionately calls her, likes to be queen of the tiny circus. And her office training as clerk is not completely wasted. There is quite a lot of office work involved in running a circus! Marianne became nationally known last year when she starred in an episode of the Danish TV2's channel’s successful series The week, where women changed husbands.

10 November 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS

THEATRE TREVISE welcomes several variety programs, basically visual acts, proudly presented by LULLY, CREDO MUSIC AGENCY.

Right now: a theatrical sketch featuring magic, mime, diabolo-playing and a lot of comedy action, performed by JEROME HELFENSTEIN and CLAUDE BRUN.  This theatrical setting is called LES VOYAGEURS EGARES = THE LOST TRAVELLERS  -  the action takes place on a railway station where the actors are waiting for a train - that never comes --but they are instead gratified by many unexpected events: a torn newspaper is restored, they find balls coming out of their mouths, a shoe keeps disappearing but reappears regularly ..blue lights appear out of nowhere ...

The action is full of tempo, expressive mimicry and the audience reacts very positively - there is joy, applause and several curtain calls.

Jerome Helfenstein & Claude Brun as Les Voyageurs Egares. Photo: Eric Hochard. By courtesy of Lully, Credo Music Agency

Theatre TREVISE offers the opportunity to see excellent variety acts, special acts like magic, comedy, juggling, acrobatic stunts and dancing of many kinds.

BRAVO to LULLY for featuring all this ---  IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: www.voyageurs-egares.com and www.spectacles-magiques.com

Venue: Theatre TREVISE, 14 rue de Trevise, 75009 Paris. Metro: Grands Boulevards.

New program at the THEATRE CLAVEL which proudly presents a hilarious CIRCUS-CABARET by and with NINO MONTALTO and DIEGO STIRMAN.

The program is a composition of acrobatics and comedy using two chairs as props, music on the guitar and the trumpet, magic /the head that rolls around inside a box/ and ... a string of gags. NINO MONTALTO is irresistibly funny when acting together with DIEGO STIRMAN, his reactions are given both by comments, gestures and acrobatics.

He also has a very expressive mimicry.

Nino Montalto and Diego Stirman

I could recognize all the classic circus-jokes, having been performed by comic acrobats for ages, I remember them well from visits to the circus during my childhood years - these jokes are forever - and appreciated even by the audience of today.

The contact with the audience is perfect !

This show is an excellent one - it captures the children's attention from the very start, they laugh from the very first moment - a proof of the artists' know-how and quality !!

Two excellent artists, mastering their art to perfection !!!

Length of show: 50 minutes.

Venue: Theatre Clavel, 3 rue Clavel, 75019  Paris, Metro: Pyrenees.

See more: www.familia-stirman.com & www.theatre-clavel.com

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  !!!

-----------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

9 November 2012

The gold clown awarded René Casselly family which Danes know from Circus Arena has not much time for vacation during the winter season. First they will be at the Trierer Weihnachtscircus. Next, they will participate in the 21st Festival du Cirque de Massy held from 10th to 13 January 2013. In February they will be part of Circus Krone’s performance in the Circus Building in Munich. From early March to early September they will be the back at Circus Arena.

René JR and Marylou Caselly on one of the family’s 4 African elephants. Photo from Circus Arena’s opening night 2012 when René JR little later in the act performed a quadruple somersault from the springboard to an elephant!

9 November 2012

Obituary: the artist Wilhelmine Steckel, also known as Mina Moré, died 8th November in the evening at Frederiksberg Hospital in Copenhagen. She was 94 years old. Wilhelmine Steckel was the granddaughter of Circus Dannebrog’s founder Theodor Justus Enoch and his wife Wilhemine, born Schultz. As a circus child Wilhemine got a versatile artist training. She did a great act in vertical sail, assisted by Solveig Enoch's sister Grethe. She also worked in trapeze and has presented elephants. For several seasons, she worked for German Circus Busch-Roland. She also worked for other circuses, including circuses in Italy.

"I will miss her very much. She was a true Enoch with pride and style," Agnete Louise Enoch of Circus Dannebrog writes.

4 November 2012

Contemporary circuses in December.

AFUK and Zirk Mir present the performance Ad Undas on Saturday 1 December at 19:00 and Sunday 2 December at. 15:00. Among the performers are Jacob, Daniel & Igor, who are all former students at AFUK's artist line.

The performance had its premiere in Norway in 2010 and has since toured all over the world from Greece via Guadeloupe to Haiti.

From 3 to 15 December the Copenhagen Music Theatre presents Lys nord for mørke (“Light north of darkness”). It is an artistic and sensual tale of two people's journey through a year with changing seasons and how they are affected by the sun, the night and the nature. It is a blend of aerial acrobatics, dance and theatre. Performers are Michiel Tange van Leeuwen and Camilla Becker Madsen. Regi: Stine Zty Jørgensen.

In What's On  you can read how to book tickets etc.

4 November 2012

At the European Youth Circus Festival in Wiesbaden, which was held from 1 to 4 November the winners were:

Age 10 til17 years:

Gold: Michael Betrian - diabolo (Netherlands)

Silver: Svaytoslav Rasshivkin – aerial straps (Russia)

Bronze: Adèle Fame – aerial straps (France)

Age group 18 to 25 years:

Gold: Lisa Rinne - trapeze (Germany)

Gold: Trio Dac - springboard (Belgium / France)

Silver: Passe-Pieds - Trapeze (Belgium / Germany)

Bronze: Elisabeth Schmidt - Tissue (Germany)

The "almost Danish" participant Husik (12 years old) got a special prize, Preis der Wiesbadener Kirchen, for his hula-hoop number. He is from Ukraine, but he and his family has for several seasons toured with the Danish Circus Mascot.

The Wiesbaden festival is known as a place where you meet new young talent (rising stars).

In autumn holidays the Danish audience could see Husik’s now award winning act in the tent outside the Bilka supermarket in Holstebro. Photo by courtesy of Circus Mascot

3 November 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS

LE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE, direction HERVE VALLEE, proudly presents an acrobatic show directed towards the youngest children - it is featured by two female acrobats who tell a story while they walk on a structure, made of bamboo, they perform various acrobatic stunts.

The theme of the show is DREAM - and this is clarified by the tell-tale and the acrobatic movements.

THE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE started 18 years ago and has produced numerous shows, all worth seeing. Now THE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE has an agreement with the TOWN HALL, they can stay on until 2015, featuring various creations.

The enterprise is youthful and dynamic, their success is well deserved!

See more: www.cirque-electrique.com

Venue: Place du Maquis du Vercors, 75020 Paris. Metro: Porte des Lilas.

From the performance in Le Cirque Electrique. By courtesy of Le Cirque Electrique

THEATRE COMEDIE DE LA PASSERELLE proudly produces an excellent magic-theatre-show:

DOCTEUR ANAEL AND MR CORANTIN, written, presented and instructed by the magic entertainer ANAEL. The scenario is simple, thus understood by the small fry: ANAEL is looking for his dress, trying to find it with the assistance of his rabbit, being also a chemist!!

ANAEL uses a string of classic magic effects which he manipulates in his own original way - this very show is a mixture of magic, mime, ventriloquism and humour.

The young audience is activated and drawn into the picture - there is a lot of interaction between the artist and his audience, as well as with some kids on stage, where they are made to do what they specially like -viz. participate in the hilarious things that happen.

Sound and lighting are well synchronized, the stage is fairly large, although the theatre is rather small. A good show for the kids - and their parents.

Point of interest: here we find - again - another example of the entertainment  that is offered particularly to the smallest ones, by various theatres, and rather in the afternoon when these premises otherwise would remain empty, a phenomenon I think is unique for Paris -  and the children get into the habit of going to the theatre, another Parisian speciality - and all of it can be traced back to the religious plays that were featured inside the churches before being relegated to the ground outside the church buildings.

Venue: Comedie de la Passerelle, 102 rue Orfila, 75020 Paris.

Metro: Gambetta.

See more: www.anael-magicien.com

THEATRE DES BELIERS PARISIENS proudly presents L'APPRENTI MAGICIEN =  the magician's apprentice - a story about a young man who is to learn the magic craft !!

Photo from l'apprenti magicien. By courtesy of Sébastien Mossière

Scenario and performance: SEBASTIEN MOSSIERE, stage instructions: Sarah Bazennerye, lighting Thomas Rizzotti. This is a magic cavalcade where SEBASTIEN performs a round of magic effects - manipulating sponge balls, the floating ball in mid-air, professionally called Zombie, and the classical, eternal effect where some drink is recuperated by pumping the liquid out of a spectator's arm - and many more stunts !!

SEBASTIEN has an excellent contact with his audience, he makes them join him in various jokes - everything is hilarious and sympathetic. His public was enthusiastic and applauded wildly - it can't be better !!!

SEBASTIEN is well-known from the sketch TOUT EST ECRIT - a comedy-sketch together with two colleagues, previously covered by me for www.circus-dk.dk

Point of interest: Shows of this type are featured at various theatres and cabarets which otherwise would have remained empty in the afternoons - a phenomen unique for Paris.

Length of show: one hour.

Venue: Theatre des BELIERS PARISIENS, 14 bis, rue Sainte Isaure, 75018  Paris.

Metro: Jules Joffrin.

See more: http://www.theatredesbeliersparisiens.com/lapprenti-magicien/

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!

----------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

2 November 2012

Baldoni’s Christmas Circus. Thessa and René Moenster write (my translation)

It has become a tradition for Circus Baldoni to produce Christmas circus in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen.

Every year we put together an indoor show with brand new artist where all the artists are dressed in Christmas elves clothes to make fun together with Nis, Nisseline, the talking Christmas pig Anton Antonius and of course Santa himself.

There are performances on Saturday 24 November and Sunday 25 November, both days at. 15.00. Since the show the last few years has been completely sold out, there is an additional performance on Sunday at 11.00.

Read more at www.julecirkus.dk where you also can order your tickets.

We look forward to see you at a great Christmas show

Performers: Rene Moenster tells that we from Latvia can meet Yevgeny Tomilov acting as Bob the construction worker and his wife Natalya Tomilova who do handstand. Together they have an acrobatic act. Yevgeny was with Baldoni’s Christmas show in 2006 and the couple has also later appeared in one of Baldoni’s Christmas performances. From Estonia comes a female artist with dogs, a pigeon act, where she also uses pigeons to conjure with, and a mono cycle entrée. From Switzerland / Denmark comes Hélène Ramer with a pole act. Throughout the summer, she performed together with David Maillard in Circus Arli.

Finally you can of course meet Circus Baldoni permanent staff: Daniel (aka the clown Danillo), Sergei and Thessa and René Moenster.

1 November2012

The clown Bonbon in Finnish morning television. The Danish/Finnish clown couple Bonbon and Tiina has in season 2013 toured with the large Finnish Circus Finlandia, which ends the season in Helsinki. In Helsinki, Bonbon was guest in Finnish morning television, where there are a few clips from some of his acts and he tells a little about his life. Click here to see the TV clip with Bonbon.

Circus Finlandia ends the season on Sunday, the 4th November, and then Lasse (Bonbon), Tiina and their two children will return to their home in Denmark, where they have a short vacation after a seven months long tour without a single day off. In the season artists works 7 days a week!

Later they go to Germany, where Bonbon and Tiina from 21 December to 6th January 2013 has been booked for Offenburger Weihnachtscircus.

Bonbon and Tiina will celebrate Christmas and New Year in Offenburger Weihnachtscircus. On the photo you can see them with their human canon ball entrée.

29 October 2012

GLiMT to the southernmost city in the world. In the end of January the Danish contemporary circus company GLiMT travels to Punta Arenas in Chile and performs " ARE YOU US?" at the "Cielos del Infinito" festival. Afterwards the performance will play 5 performances in Santiago, Chile at GAM cultural centre. The Chilean tour is supported by the Chilean art council.

ARE YOU US? It is a story about a man, the earth and the surrounding communities, about human nature and our relationship to our home.

On a huge knot, hanging in a rope from above, sits a man. Watching, while swaying gently.

The rope knot is his world, where he eats, sleeps and lives his daily routine. When he moves down from the knot and into the unknown, he becomes aware that he is not alone.....  

GLiMT was founded in 2002 (then teatro GLIMT), and is thus the oldest existing contemporary circus company in Denmark. Camila Sarrazin is General Manager, Lars Gregersen Artistical director and performer and Julie Vogelsberger Artistical director, performer and director.

29 October 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  since 1974 when CIRQUE ALEXIS GRÜSS featured its very first creation in the centre of Paris - the medium-sized top was located in a small square -- the development has been a string of successes without interruption.

Now CIRQUE NATIONAL ALEXIS GRÜSS proudly presents, together with the whole large family, an outstanding show, really a mixture of innovative thinking, as well as references to music, cinema and ballet -- indeed a performance that honours Paris, a city with the slogan PARIS AIME LE CIRQUE =  PARIS LOVES CIRCUS !!

All photos by courtesy of Cirque Alexis Grüss

The programme features the best from the circus art:  we are treated to acrobatics in many different forms, juggling in the ring, on horseback and on a bike, stunning and beautiful features with and on horses, comedy, footjuggling on trinka, an aerial act on double vertical rope and an elephant performing with a Falabella horse.

The show is featured by ALEXIS and GIPSY GRÜSS, and by their children and grand-children: Stephan, Nathalie, Firmin, Maud, Alexandre, Charles, Louis, Joseph and by Tony Florees, Sarah Florees, and Francesco Fratellini. Four elegant dancers nicely integrated in various acts: Mickael Fleury, Marie Zawada, Jérémy Legrand and Mathilde Francoise.

Choreography: Sandrine Diard, Lighting: Arthur Oudin, Music and bandleader: Sylvain Rolland and his Big Band.

The show is called ELLIPSE and refers to the art of cinema as well as to the music that accompanied several cinema masterpieces.

A truly great show - to be seen now ---  IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: www.ALEXIS-GRUSS.com

Venue: Bois de Boulogne, Metro La Muette - then a 20 min.walk in the park.

-----------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

27 October 2012

Obituary: the artist and musician Richard Thierry has died after a period of illness. Richard was son of Danish Circus Krone's founders, Ebba and Regnar Thierry. Even as a child Richard performed on rola bola, went through rings and played the trumpet. Later he appeared together with his elder sister Irene in trapeze and swaying mast. Richard has also worked as balancing artist and musician. When Irene Thierry in 1984 restarted Danish Circus Krone Richard was an indispensable support, and for several seasons he was the Circus Krone's music director and drummer.

There are many traditions in tiny Danish Circus Krone. One of them has been that Richard at the premier performances just before the interval is presented with the first copy of the year's printed program. At the premiere in year 15 April you could see that his health wasn’t good, and now he has passed away.

"Dearest Uncle Richard Thierry R.I.P. You were the reason for what I love most of all: to play and hear music. Thank you, " his nephew Marc Thierry writes on facebook.

Irene Thierry has just handed over to her brother the first program and gives him a big hug. Photo from the 2012 opening performance.

26 October 2012

Toto Chabri 80 years.  On Wednesday, 31 October the Belgian clown Victor "Toto" Chabri can celebrate his 80 years birthday. Toto has appeared countless times in Denmark, which he first visited in 1942 when his father got a job at Circus Schumann and he started in a Danish grammar school. Later the family went back to Belgium. In 1966 Toto Chabri came, now as a clown, back to Schumann in the Copenhagen Circus Building. In 1969, he was on tour with Circus Benneweis. Eli Benneweis was so pleased with the Belgian clown that he for many seasons worked for Benneweis both in the Copenhagen Circus Building and in their tented circus: he was in the Circus Building in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1990 and with Benneweis tent in 1980 and 1998. Also other Danish circuses has benefited from Toto's talent: Circus Arena in 1986 and 1987 and again in 2012, Circus Dania in 1989 and Circus Dannebrog for a few months in 2006.

Toto Chabri & co., photograph shot at Circus Arena’s opening night 13th March 2012

At the Clown Festival at Bakken in 2001 Toto received The World Artist and Clown Award. He has several times later worked for Benny Schumann both at Bakken and in Benny Schumann's mini-circus.

Toto's permanent partner through the years has been his wife Nora (born Dedessus le Moutier). The last partner in clown trio, which acts as Toto's younger brother, has been replaced several times over the years. In 2012 it was Toto's son in law, who took on the task.

Toto calls the Danes his favourite audience. And there is no doubt that the Danes also regard him as one of their favourites.

Introduction to the load –unload gag at Bakken in 2011

His most famous act is the "load – unload” gag where he and his smaller brother wearing a large suitcase (box) enter the ring in order to seek employment. The gag is usually followed by a musical entrée with Toto and Nora as pianists. Many remember probably also Toto Chabri & Co. 's ballerina entrée and "The nightingale's courtship"-entrée. Click here if you want to see the ballerina entrée in a version from 1976.

23 October 2012

Quinn "fully booked" for 1 year. On 1 November Joan & Kenny Quinn start what will be a very busy year. First the go to Germany to participate in Europa-Park's annual Dinner-Show "GLAMOUR" in the amusement park's Italian inspired "Teatro dell'Arte", which can accommodate more than 500 guests / people. Here you can every day see a show with an associated 4 course luxury dinner. It will be served to the audience during the show, which is a mix of amazing dancers and international artists. The job of Europa-Park is a re-engagement of the noble pickpockets who will stay at Europa-Park until the beginning of February. Click at http://dinnershow.europapark.de/  to get more info about the show "Glamour" in Europa-Park.

Immediately after the job in Europa-Park the journey will go north for the Danish pickpocket couple who will spend the entire summer season 2013 on tour with one of the leading Nordic circuses.

Joan and Kenny Quinn

23 October 2012

Cassellys will stay with Circus Arena for season 2013. Benny Berdino has previously told several circus friends that the Casselly family stays with Circus Arena for season 2013. Now you can also read it in the Swedish circus magazine Cirkuläre Notiser. The magazine furthermore tells that Kenneth Feld has invited 4 members of the Casselly family and Benny Berdino’s grandson Patrick on study visit to Ringling. It has to be seen if Cassellys for season 2014 signs a contract with Ringling. Cirkuläre Notiser also tells that René JR is training train on a 4-double somersault from the springboard to the elephant. The triple somersault awarded him and his family a gold clown in Monte Carlo in January. At the opening night of this year’s performance in Circus Arena in Copenhagen René JR did a 4-double somersault, but this trick has not yet been a permanent part of the family’s elephant act.

René Casselly Jr. getting ready for his gold clown-winning jump where an elephant jump up on the springboard and sends René off like a rocket. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

22 October 2012

Circuses during the autumn holiday. As mentioned earlier, you could in week 42 several places in Denmark see circus and artist performances. Here I will mention a few from which I have photos:

At the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, there were performances by clown Tapé and Children's Circus Workshop. Curator Mikkel Knudsen says that Tapé’s performances and the other activities were extremely popular, and people were excited. "We had over 1,100 guests during the week," a happy Mikkel Knudsen says.

Top: clown Tapé. Bottom: the workshop where children could try their talent as artists

Several thousand people enjoyed Circus Mascot’s performances in the autumn holiday in the party tent, which was set up at the entrance to the Bilka supermarket in Holsterbro. The performers were Andreas Deleuran with diabolo and - together with his mother Marianne - dogs, the clown Gulio, Husik with hula-hoop and Daniel Deleuran with chair balancing. Jess Deleuran was as usually ringmaster.

Top: Andreas with diabolo. To the left: Daniel with chair balancing. To the right: Husik with hula-hoop

Marianne’s dogs, presented by Marianne Deleuran and her son Andreas

12 years old Husik will be among the participants at the European Youth Circus Festival in Wiesbaden which this year is held from 1 to 4 November. The festival is held every second year. Participants are divided into two age groups: 10-17 years and 18-25 years. In the circus world the festival is known as one of the places where you can spot new young talents. The first festival was held in 1991. Since 1994 it has been held every second year (even years). From 2000 to 2004, the late Nelly Jane Benneweis was member of the jury.

Husik is son of the clown Gulio (Ulmas Gulyamov) and his wife Tatyana Primachenko. Since 2003 the family has in most seasons worked for Circus Mascot, where Husik also had his debut in the ring. So even though the family is from Ukraine, we consider him as a little bit Danish. So let's keep our fingers crossed for him!

There are no Danish artists at the festival. Finland is represented by the troupe The Passaus Jonglage and Sweden by Julietta & Anna with hand to hand acrobatics.

21 August 2012 

The Caveagna clowns to Circus Scott’s Christmas circus in Stockholm. Robert Bronett has released the names of this year’s clowns, telling that the Italian Caveagna-clowns after two years in the U.S. with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus are back in Europe, and that has signed at contract with Scott’s Christmas circus. Danes met the Caveagna clowns in 2006, when the first was with Circus Baldoni and later with Circus Dannebrog. Since December 2009, they have appeared in Ringling’s Gold Unit (the Ringling unit which has one ring) where the youngest brother Steve has been a recurring character in the show, assisted by his father and his older brother.

The Caveagnas in Circus Dannebrog in 2006

20 October 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  now in OCT - NOV, 2012,   -- LE VILLAGE DE CIRQUE proudly presents several different circus-shows on the large circus facility Pelouse de Reuilly, in Paris.

CirkVOST is a big show, entirely based on aerial acrobatics, performed by 8 very skilful aerial acrobats, whereof three females.

CirkVOST. Photo P. Cibille. By courtesy of Coopérative De Rue et De Cirque

They perform in a  circular structure, obviously custom made, standing 13 meter high it looks like a huge wheel, being the base for all the stunts. There are acrobatics on vertical rope, hands-to-head moves and eventually a somewhat longer sequence featuring saltos and passages from one catcher to another one, i.e. one catcher standing on a platform throws a fellow trapeze artist to another catcher, standing on an opposite platform.

Elegant, skilful, thrilling and original.

The show as a whole suffers from a certain monotony, as basically all the stunts are somewhat similar. The lighting is certainly artfully conceived, but too dark - the audience has difficulties seeing clearly what is going on, particularly when the acrobats are climbing around on and in the wheel-structure. More light is needed!

All in all an original show, for an adult audience - as I see it.

Venue: Pelouse de Reuilly, 75012 Paris.

Metro: Porte d'Orée.

See more: www.cirkvost.eu

Click here to see a video clip from the show.

-----------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

18 October 2012

Benny Schumann in Glostrup Shopping Centre

As mentioned 12 October adults with children and grandchildren can many places during the autumn holidays in week 42 see circus or artist performances. The photos above are from Benny Schumann’s show in Glostrup Shopping Centre. Click here to see more photos from the performance, shot by Per ”Mr. Sputnik” Krogh Petersen.

16 October 2012

Diana Benneweis tells that contracts with the performers for season 2013 in Circus Benneweis are in place. Season opening for Circus Benneweis will, as usual, take place in Hilleroed in mid-March. As many other circus owners Diana Benneweis does not yet want to disclose the names of the performers. She promises that there among the performers will be international top artists, which we never before have seen in a Danish circus ring. Circus Benneweis was founded in 1887, making 2013 season no 127.

15 October 2012

Duo Manducas to Circus Scott. Robert Bronett tells that Duo Manducas with their acrobat von anno-Dazumal act will be among the performers at Circus Scott's Christmas circus in Stockholm. Originally Duo Manducas consisted of Tony (Antonio Ferreira) and his partner Tino (Tino Frattelini). Tony was the small one, Tino the big one. Their entrée is probably "created" by Bernhard Paul from Circus Roncalli. After performing at Circus Roncalli Duo Manducas toured with a number of other shows. Duo Manducas toured with Circus Scott in 1999. The same year they also performed at the open air stage in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens. The duo was awarded a silver clown in Monte Carlo in 2001.

Shortly after, Tino became serious ill. Tony continued with a new partner, who, having stopped working with Tony started Duo Dores. The Danes saw Duo Dores in Circus Arena in 2001 with an entrée that was very close to Manducas’ act.

Today, Duo Manducas consist of Tony’s son Fabio and his partner Gabor. They use sometimes the name Manducas JR. Fabio and Gabor were with Circus Finlandia in 2010. Click here to see a video clip from their act.

Tony is still performing with a new partner under the Manducas name. He was with Finlandia in the beginning of season 2010, but had to stop because of a shoulder injury. It is probably Fabio and Gabor, we can meet at Scott's Christmas Circus in Stockholm.

15 October 2012

After having completed his usual late-summer visit to friends and family in Denmark and Sweden, my permanent Paris correspondent ZARRO ZARRO is back on track in the city of all cities, viz. Paris. Thus the readers of www.circus-dk.dk can during the coming months enjoy getting news from the Parisian scene - circuses, variety and visual shows of all kinds.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  also that things go on changing   --  the international magic entertainer JAN MADD has closed his MAGIC SHOWBOAT METAMORPHOSIS, where he for 22 years has produced elegant and entertaining MAGIC SHOWS.

JAN MADD has chosen to start A NEW LIFE, viz. in his childhood village BARFLEUR, a beautiful place on the coastal line of Normandy, where part of the Allies' invasion took place. BARFLEUR is a popular venue for tourists, where survivors and descendants of the allied forces are frequently seen, and of course, others who here find joy and relaxation.

Jan Madd

THE NEW LIFE translates as a building with a museum, LES AMUSEURS / THE ENTERTAINERS, and here we find all kinds of entertainers, including magic ones.

There are café, bar, restaurant and a theatre hall, where JAN MADD performs magic shows WED - SAT- SUN, 3 times each day, showtime 30 min.,  shows created for the family audience.

See more: www.lesamuseurs.fr

IT ALL HAPPENS NOW  IN   ---   BARFLEUR  !!!

---------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

12 October 2012

Circuses during the autumn holidays In Denmark, all schools are closed in week 42, giving the pupils autumn holidays.

As in previous years, adults with children and grandchildren can many places during the holidays see circus or artist performances.

In the KOLDING SHOPPING MALL, you can see a show, produced by Circus Arena. Admission is free. In addition to Circus Arena you can on 18 October meet the Flying Superkids (the elite team of the gymnastic club and non-profit organization “Gymnastikgården” in Aarhus). 

At BILKA in HOLSTEBRO you can meet Circus Mascot. In the performance you will meet Ulmas (aka clown Gulio), his son Husik and members of the Deleuran family. Also here entrance is free.

In GLOSTRUP SHOPPING CENTER you can meet Benny Schumann’s Circus and Pony Show. Admission is free. Glostrup is a Copenhagen Suburb.

From 15th to 19 October Circus Krone will with Dronninglund Savings Bank as sponsor visit a number of sport centres etc. in Jutland with a performance which runs for approx. 1 hour. Free tickets are available in the savings bank's branches.

On the CENTRAL SQUARE IN GRENÅ you can from 17th to 20 October meet the tiny Circus Aroma, which promises daredevil unicycle comedy, fire shows and breathtaking high speed juggling both with and without fire, magic and illusions. Between the circus performances you can visit the circus playground. Admission is free.

Of other circus-related activities during the autumn holidays can be mentioned that CIRCUS LAND at Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Aarslev at Slagelse is open from 13th to 21 October. The main attraction is as during the summer season in Circus Land the exhibition Days of the Dinosaur. It is a 4,200 square meter large exhibition with 44 moving dinosaurs in full size. The exhibition is built like a jungle and lifelike sounds create a perfect illusion of being 65 million years back in time.

In addition to Days of the Dinosaur, guests can also visit the rest of the Circus Land, where there are performances in Circus Landino, circus school, sea lion show, pony rides, training of animals in the circus ring, playground, museum, etc. Address: Circus Land, Årslevvej 6, 4200 Slagelse. Ticket price: 199 DKK

In Circus Landino at Circus Land you can meet the Berdino family’s own African elephants presented by Tim Delbosq

At the CIRCUS MUSEUM IN HVIDOVRE, COPENHAGEN there is a lot of activities for the whole family. All activities are included in the entrance fee: DKK 50 for adults and free before children under 18 years.

From Monday 15 October to Friday 19 October every day at 11 there is a show with the clown Tapé. Tapé promise to present a tremendous show that includes both acrobatics, juggling and high class clowning. The show is for adults and children aged 4-99. The show lasts approx. 35 minutes.

Sunday 14 October and Sunday 21 October from 11 to 12.30 and Monday 15 October to Friday 19 October from 12.30 to 14 you can try your own skills as an acrobat assisted by the museum's artist Line Vittrup

On the museum's second floor you can be creative at Children's Circus Workshop. Here children accompanied by parents and grandparents can enjoy themselves by making their own circus characters and circus by drawing, cutting and pasting and decorating with feathers and sequins. The Children's Circus Workshop is open from Sunday 14 October to Friday 19 October from 12 to 15.

10 October 2012

Circus Arena has just returned from their traditional autumn tour to Greenland, where they have performed in a number of sports centres etc. As usual, it was Benny Berdino, who was ringmaster. The artists in the performance were Alicia & Miguel Peris with lasso, vertical sail and slinky, The Keatons with reprises and diabolo, the juggler Nandor Varadi, Diana Borachia with soap bubbles, Bettina and Martin Arli with reprises and clown entrée and Ib Groth "Pierrot" Rasmussen. Click here to see some photos from the performance.

10th October 2012

Christmas Circus in Stockholm, Sweden. In e.g. France, Holland and Germany, there are plenty of circus performances at Christmas time. But every time a circus has tried something similar in one of the Scandinavian countries they have not had much luck.

This year, Robert Bronett and his Circus Scott, however, will try their luck and make Christmas Circus in Stockholm. At Circus Scott's website is written (my translation):

Circus Scott builds a beautiful Winter Circus Palace at the circus lot at Gärdet in Stockholm. Some of the world's funniest comedians, finest acrobats, fastest jugglers, best aerial acrobats and kindest animals are gathered there to offer a warm and funny entertainment for the whole family.

Flying Christmas elves, real reindeers, break dancers, acrobats, singers, dancers, equilibrists and much, much more are offered in this breathtaking family show.

A few hours before the show starts we will open Christmas Circus Park. where you can go for a ride with Santa's reindeer, ride pony rides, learn to juggle, walk a tightrope, swing on trapeze, try circus acrobatics, get ace painting and many other surprises. Start a new family tradition together with us in Europe's most beautiful circus palaces circus, Circus Scott’s Christmas Circus!

There are performances from 29 November to 16th December. Link to ticket ordering: http://cirkusscott.se/biljetter-1/

The creation of a Christmas circus in the Swedish capital is an exciting initiative which hopefully will be successful. Robert Bronett tells that Danish Circus Arena’ chief animal trainer Tim Delbosq in Christmas circus will present 12 yellowish-brown ponies and llamas, zebras and camels. You can also meet one of the world’s very best juggler ensembles: Elena Drogaleva and her gentlemen and 6 break dancers from Camelot Breakfast Crew. The 10 men large REB-crew troupe performs in Russian swing. Genis Van Gool performs with what Robert Bronett call "The sharpest, most acute act I've ever seen with a crossbow, James Bond style.” The names of the rest of the performers are not yet disclosed.

4 October 2012

No elephant ban in Norway. Mattilsynet, which manages the Norwegian animal welfare rules, presented in late 2009 a draft for rules which from 2015 would prohibit the Norwegian circuses for presenting elephants and sea lions.

Norwegian animal welfare organizations supported the new rules (the most rabid animal rights people want animals completely out of circuses, zoos and private homes, and the people made vegetarians), while the Norwegian circus protested against the rules.

In contrast to what happened when Denmark some years ago got new rules, the Norwegian authorities have not tried to make investigations regarding treatment of animals in circuses. Neither had anyone from the circus world been involved in work.

The Norwegian newspaper VG writes today that the Norwegian Agriculture Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum now has decided that it also in the future shall be possible to present elephants in Norwegian circuses.

- I will ask Mattilsynet to send out a proposal for a new regulation in consultation, where we propose to keep the elephants in circuses, Vedum says to VG.

He will also suggest the circuses to make life in the circus a little better for the elephants.

- It may be a requirement for physical activity, outdoor facilities, and a shower when it is hot weather – there are many things that can be natural, Vedum says to the Norwegian newspaper.

Circus people are happy to keep the possibility for presenting the Norwegian audience with good elephant acts.

- It is good news and very pleasant, Knut Dahl, owner of Circus Merino says to VG.

Perhaps the Norwegians can get inspired by the Danish rules drawn up by a working group where the circus industry was represented by Klaus Jochumsen from Circus Arena. Of cause also animal welfare organisations and zoos were represented in the working group.

Although we still are allowed to see circus elephants in Denmark and Norway the circus elephants are a dying breed as no circuses today are permitted to buy young elephants. Thus, the population of circus elephants is reduced as they die due to age or sickness. However, the American Circus Ringling bros. and Barnum & Bailey has been successful in a breeding program for Asian elephants in their elephant centre in Florida (Ringling Bros. Centre for Elephant Conservation) and Sonny Frankello has a dream about the same at his elephant farm in Platschow, Germany. In Denmark Benny Berdino of Circus Arena doesn’t try to hide the fact that it would be very nice if Casselly’s elephant bull could make one of the female elephants pregnant. Most other animal trainers has only female elephants in their troupe of elephants.

3 October 2012

African Queen Sheba Girls to the International Circus Festival – City of Latina.

During the Danish Circus season the audience in Circus Dannebrog has enjoyed seeing the talented young Queen Sheba Girls from Ethiopia. The built human pyramids using contortionism. It was new and nice to see such an act done by female acrobats.

From 18 to 22 October their act will be among the 26 numbers in competition at the International Circus Festival – City of Latina. The performers come from 14 different countries: the United States of America, the Ukraine, Argentina, Ethiopia, Taiwan, Germany, Russia, France, the Czech Republic, Italy, Belarus, the People’s Republic of China, Mongolia and Colombia.

African Queen Sheba in Circus Dannebrog’s ring

1 October 2012

Although the circus season in Denmark is over, you can get good experiences in shopping centres etc., which features circus artists. Such a wonderful experience got my grandson Sebastian (5 years old) when he Sunday 30th September met his idol Benny Schumann in the Ballerup Centre. Photo: Per "Mr. Sputnik "Krogh Petersen. Click here to see Mr. Sputnik’s photos from the performance.

27 September 2012

New book about Norwegian extreme artist. A book written by Randi Fuglehaug about the Norwegian extreme artist Eskil Rønningsbakken has just been published. It is written in Norwegian and the title is På kanten - Eskil Rønningsbakken, nordmannen som ble verdens beste balansekunstner (On the edge – Eskil Rønningsbekken, the Norwegian who became the world’s best balancing artist).

Eskil Rønningsbakken was born 24 June 1979. Years back he worked for Norwegian Circus Arnado. But today he is known for performing balancing acts at the tops of lethal drops, such as canyons and cliffs and doing a handstand on a pile of chairs balanced on a rock wedged in a crevice between two cliffs. Click here to see a video clip from some of his stunts.

26 September 2012

Close of circus season 2012. The Danish circus season 2012 began on 9 March, when Circus Arena had its first public dress rehearsal for this year's performance. The season ended 26 September, when Circus Dannebrog and Circus Mascot had their last performances in Haderslev, respectively Thise. The other circuses have already closed the season.

There has in 2012 as in the later years been 7 touring Danish circuses: 3 large circuses: Arena, Benneweis and Dannebrog, a medium-sized circus: Baldoni and 3 small circuses: Arli, Krone and Mascot. In addition Soren Ostergaard has toured with Zirkus Nemo, being a combination of comedy and artist show. Furthermore, the small German family circus Circus Astoria spent some months in Denmark. The Italian-owned Circus Royal toured Denmark from 2 April to 24 June, after which they abandoned the tour due to low attendance.

Season 2013 for the Danish circuses begins in March or April 2013. Some circus is active with performances in shopping malls, institutions, etc. during the winter season, including in the schoolchildren’s autumn holiday in week 42, up to Christmas and the winter holidays. You can also in the coming months see some contemporary circus performances in Denmark. In What's On you can find a list of all the events, I know.

23 September 2012

From Switzerland the Danish ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard, who until the beginning of February 2013 works in the dinner show Clowns & Calorien, writes: (my translation)

Greetings from Switzerland! Clowns & Calorien is a dinner show where the actors also act as servants (or attempts to do so ...)

We must be ready at 17.30 and at midnight the show is usually over. The Swiss audience is very civilized people who are not afraid to praise the cast. And that we like!

I will just tell you a little about the staff care here in the Clowns & Calorien.

14 days ago we were in Liechtenstein and in a local fabric shop I saw some wonderful cloth of which I would like to make a new frock. It was pretty expensive and perhaps too conspicuous, so I decided to consider it further. For safety's sake I took my wife with me to the shop a few days later, and she approved it.

Unfortunately, there was apparently not cloth enough, so I had to first check my pattern before I could come back and order the cloth.

When I returned to order it, it was sold and the clerk told me that they could no longer supply it.

19 September was my 60 years birthday but I had decided to keep as a secret. At least it was what I believed. For there had been arranged a surprise party for me, and on the stage was my gift from the management. On a mannequin hung a frock, made of the stuff I could not get hold of. With bow and west.

It turned out that the director's wife had bought the last piece of cloth and persuaded the shop assistant to say that they could not deliver it. At nights after the shows she had made one frock - after my own pattern.

It was something of a gift!

Click here to read more about Clowns & Calorien.  

The director’s wife Marion Gasser, the frock and Preben Palsgaard

23 September 2012

Danish artist education. AFUK in Copenhagen has been granted public money to establish an education for contemporary circus artists. Total is it about 6.25 million DKK over the next three years. They expect that the first students can begin in the autumn 2013. AFUK say thank you to the City of Copenhagen City Council and to everyone who has been engaged in the matter.

As mentioned the money are “earmarked” to the training of contemporary circus artists, although the number of spectator to shows with Danish contemporary circus artists are far less than to performances in the classical circuses.

23 September 2012

 21 September 2012

Today the Danish magician Kurt Flemming, better known as Pierrot in the Danish amusement park Bakken can celebrate his 60 years birthday.

Kurt Flemming started doing magic tricks in 1962 when he was 10 years old and dreamed about becoming a professional magician. But his parents believed that he should have a proper education, so he was trained as a mechanic and later took a high school exam. But his dream was still to entertain and do magic. For a period he also planned to build up a business with sales of magic props etc. In 1992, he received a call from the director of the now closed Tivoli in Aalborg, who offered him the job as Pierrot and demanded an answer within 24 hours. Kurt Flemming said yes. In 1997, he moved to Bakken north of Copenhagen where there had arisen some ill-feelings between the owners and the former Pierrot.

Kurt "Pierrot" Flemming as hundreds of thousands of children and adults know him

As Bakken’s Pierrot has Kurt Flemming found his niche. To the delight of children and their parents/grandparents, he gives every day in season 3 performances in front of the small Pierrot house just as he the last few years has performed with a puppet theatre next to the Open Air Stage.

20 September 2012

Vibeke and Arne "Jody" Bjørk writes (my translation): As with most other Danish circus, The smallest Circus has closed this year’s outdoor season at Møntergaarden's open-air stage in Odense and in our little red tent, which has been put up at manor Sellberg.

The rest of the year, we have our indoor performances which we look forward to.

We have from Diana Benneweis received over 50 almost antique blue chairs from Circus Benneweis which will add an extra poetic and nostalgic dimension to the interior of our little red tent. We are grateful to Diana Benneweis for this gift.

The Clown Jody aka Arne Bjørk on his way into the small red tent in Sellberg's park.

Vibeke (Vipse) and Arne Bjørk

19 September 2012

Super Silva to Swiss Circus Knie. The Brazilian acrobat Super Silva who during the 2012 season has closed the performances in Circus Dannebrog with his impressive and thrilling act can in season 2013 be seen in the famous Circus Knie in Switzerland.

Super Silva. Last chance this season to see him in Denmark walk upside down from trapeze to trapeze for then without a net or safety line to jump back to the first trapeze is when Cirkus Dannebrog has the season’s last performances 24th September in Vamdrup and 25 September in Jels. Click here to see a video clip from his appearance at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo in 2011. At the festival, he got two special awards: Prix du Grand Cirque D'etat The St Petersburg and Prix du Rosgoscirk

18 September 2012

Circus Flik-Flak 25 years. I offend hardly anyone by writing that Circus Flik-Flak from Odense is Denmark’s largest and best children's and youth circus. It all began in August 1998, when the newly formed youth circus under the name Circus Tusindben (“Circus Millipede”) presented "great great acts in a small ring." The organizers were the club leaders Tommy Hardam and Anne-Gerd Bonde.

Odense had previously had a youth circus: From 1946 to 1980 there had been a youth circus, Circus Zoo, related first to Funen Tivoli and later to Odense Zoo. Circus Zoo was a great attraction that drew many children each summer, just as it always was very well visited when there was performance. It was memories from this circus which inspired Tommy Hardam to start a new youth circus.

The first years the youth circus was "only" an event in the last week of the school holidays. But since 1995 Circus Flik-Flak has been active throughout the year, where there every Tuesday and Wednesday is training in the circus building at Herluf Trollesvej in Odense.

To mark the anniversary, Circus Flik-Flak has published a book Sikke et cirkus – 25 år med børnecirkus i Odense (”What a circus - 25 years of youth circus in Odense”) and a DVD, Et cirkus – Cirkus Flik-Flaks sommercirkus 1987-2012 (“A circus - Circus Flik-Flak’s summer circus 1987-2012”).

The book is written by the Odense author and journalist Anders W. Berthelsen and contains a number of articles about Circus Flik-Flak’s history and activities. The handsome book has hardcover and has 108 pages. It is richly illustrated. The DVD is made by Mikkel Kristensen and tells mainly about Circus Flik-Flaks summer circus 2012, but has also clips from previous seasons. It is a fully professionally made DVD.

The book costs 150 DKK and DVD 100 FKK. The book and DVD can be purchased at www.cirkusshop.dk

As mentioned above Circus Flik-Flak was for the first two seasons called Circus Millipede. But Tommy Hardam, who continues to be the driving force behind the circus, found out that there was already a circus Millipede on Zealand. And then he in 1990 changes the name to Flik-Flak. Under this name the circus has become well known not only at Isle of Funen but also elsewhere in Denmark and abroad where they have been on tour. A fundamental element of the work on Circus Flik-Flak is that they want to create community and not to develop soloists. Tiny Peter, who can’t do very much, must therefore also be part of the performances.

17 September 2012

Sunday 16th September at 16:30 Circus Benneweis had this season’s last performance at Bellahoj in Copenhagen. Thus, they have completed their 125 year anniversary season. Click here to see a short video clip from the anniversary show.

"We have just completed our 125 year anniversary tour, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our loyal audiences, artists and the whole team behind this year's show. We are finalizing the program for 2013, and I can promise you that it will be something to look forward to. See you in 2013 when we by tradition have our opening night in Hillerød in mid-March, " circus owner Diana Benneweis writes.

She does not yet want do disclose the names of the participating artists. It is of course up to the director to decide when names of the individual artists in next year's performance can be disclosed. But based on what Diana Benneweis have told me, I dare to promise that Benneweis also in 2013 will offer a super great show.

12 September 2012

Lars Hölscher to participate in the XIII International Circus Festival in Warsaw. When Circus Benneweis ends their season on Bellahoj in Copenhagen on 16 September Lars Hölscher and his elephants goes to Warsaw, where they from 22 September to 28 October will participate the 13^th International Circus Festival in Warsaw (XIII Międzynarodowego Festiwalu Sztuki Cyrkowej). The festival is organized by the Polish Circus Zalewski.

Lars Hölscher and his elephants

12 September 2012

Cabaret in the Magic Mirror Tent or "Spiegeltent" in Tivoli Friheden as part of

The Aarhus Festival. Seen Saturday 8 September at 15 by Jørgen Lorenzen who writes (my translation):

Again this year, the Belgian magic mirror tent is put up in Tivoli Friheden (“Tivoli freedom”) in Aarhus and again this year it is the setting for beautiful and exciting entertainment.

Despite the name, the magic mirror tent is not a tent, but a removable wooden building with a tented roof. In connection with the Aarhus Festival it was put up in Tivoli Friheden. Note the white box to the left for the bellboy at the entrance

When you rang the bell the box opened and you were welcomed by Muriel (the female half of the comedy magicians Scott and Muriel).

Last year the show had a number of artistic high quality acts so you felt almost as being in Circus Roncalli.

This year, the show is different but exciting. The performance was closer to an actual cabaret, where the Magic Mirror Tent in recent years more has been a sort of Music Hall/Variety Theatre. The colors black and red were consistent especially in the first part of the performance and you sensed a little decadent, burlesque atmosphere. The show also reminded you of the film version of the musical Cabaret.

The first artist was Isabel Anobian who worked in tissue, but differently than we usually see it: flirty, erotic, on the edge of the frivolous.

The performance's first act was Isabel Anobian who to the music from the musical Cabaret took us to a journey to Berlin in the 1930’s and landed right in the middle of the glamorous cabaret. Along with her partner Sonia Arias Jiménez she appeared later in the show as Duo Supanova

There was some illusion acts in particular in the first part of the show done by Scott and Muriel. It was particularly impressive that they in the second part of the performance called a gentleman from the audience up on the stage and sawed him in half! The female part of the duo complemented by a hysterical alternating between laughing and crying bouts.

The two comedians Raymond and Mr. Timpkins presented a prop/music driven double act, professionally dancing about and holding up words and pictures illustrated and demonstrated verses from famous songs. Little by little became shoppers from Lidl. You walked into my life was a literal walk over the partner and so on. Great cheers!

The crazy British comedians Raymond and Mr. Timpkins

Les Freres Taquins had several acts. But most attention attracted their best-known number with the statue who suddenly comes to life and will.

Les freres Taquins

Strahleman und Söhne juggled in an unprecedented way as they stripped and made garments drifting back and forth on an equal footing with clubs. And the hardest part of the act came at last, for not only they took off their clothes, but they pulled it on again while the clubs flew through the air.

After the interval Kenny Quinn entered the stage all dressed in white. One never becomes tired of seeing his elegant act. And a fine thing: he manages to get his “clients” enjoying being part of the show even if they are very confused. They will never be made ridicule.

Kenny Quinn in action - here a tie is stolen

There was a good woman foot juggler Laura von Bongard. Such acts are often seen in a circus but it was great to see it in a smaller location than a circus tent.

Laura von Bongard

One of the last acts was a truly difficult aerial act in trapeze, performed by Duo Supernova.

As mentioned the performance this year was different from last year and led the memories back to the La Clique-ensemble, which for two consecutive years visited Aarhus Festival. The change fell into the audience's taste, and you do not quite understand that a show like this only can be seen for 10 days. It ought also to be presented in other cities. It would be strange if they can’t find an audience also there.

Duo Supanova

10 September 2012

Norwegian Circus Minimax close the season in Toronto on 22 to 23 September in connection with Lekivalen. Cirkus Minimax is booked to give four shows and workshops.

This family festival is this year's big happening for children and families in Møre & Romsdal. Circus Minimax has this time been joined by multi artist Steen Offersen from Denmark (see photo). Being Norway’s only mini circus, Circus Minimax is preparing next year's season, 2013, but will not yet reveal anything. (Source: Press release from Cirkus Minimax)

In Denmark, Steen Offersen has appeared in Danish Circus Krone, Circus Charlie and Circus Baldoni / The Circus Theatre, Steen Offersen is within the Danish fairground and circus world known as one of the best when it comes to juggle with a diabolo.

Juggler and multi-artist Steen Kristoffersen

11 September 2012

Alegría in Denmark, Finland, Norway And Sweden. Cirque du Soleil proudly presents Alegría — a baroque ode to the energy, grace and power of youth — in an adapted arena format, coming to Herning in Denmark, February 7 to 10, 2013, to Copenhagen in Denmark February 13 to 24, 2013, to Oslo in Norway February 28 to March 2, 2013, to Stockholm in Sweden March 6 to 10, 2013, to Helsinki in Finland March 13 to 17, 2013 and to Turku (Aabo) in Finland March 22 go 24, 2013.

Alegría is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that has received international acclaim and wowed over 10 million people worldwide since it premiered in 1994 in Montreal. After 15 years performing under the big top, Alegría embarked on a new journey in May 2009 and is now presented in arenas throughout the world. Click here to see a video clip from the show.

10 September 2012

Mexican Circus Organisation becomes Tenth Federation Member. Press relate from Federation Mondiale du Cirque.

A second Mexican circus organization has joined the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque, bringing the Federation another step closer to its goal of uniting the global circus community for the promotion and preservation of Circus Arts and Culture. The Unión Nacional de Empresarios y Artistas de Circos Mexicanos A.C. (UNEAC) comprises 22 circuses based in Mexico and was formed to represent the circuses and advance mutual interests. UNEAC is the tenth circus association to join the Federation since its founding in 2008.

Federation President Urs Pilz welcomed UNEAC into the Federation, stating, ”Mexico has a vibrant classical circus tradition and is an important part of the international circus community.”

“With UNEAC and the Mexican Association of Circus Proprietors, the Federation now has two members based in Mexico. This reflects the reality that there are many diverse interests and challenges facing circuses and different structures in place to address them from place to place.” said Federation Executive Director Laura van der Meer. “We are very pleased to have both organizations as members.”

UNEAC was founded by Mr. Juan Manuel Medina González (Medina Circus), who continues to serve as its Honorary President. Mr. Javier Vertti Pita (Barley Circus), serves as president with Vice-President Mr. Julio César Padilla Cortés (Circo Golden Palace), Secretary Mrs.Guadalupe Estrada Leyva (Circo Golden Palace), and Treasurer Mr. Armando Cedeño Alvarez (Circo Mágico Italiano). UNEAC is advised on cultural matters by Professor Julio Alberto Revolledo Cárdenas, a fifth generation member of the prominent Suárez brothers circus family, who serves as the Director of the Bachelor of Circus Arts at Mesoamericana University in Puebla, Mexico.

The Federation looks forward to working with UNEAC in the coming months and to the future membership of other organizations based in the Americas. The Federation also is working to establish relationships with additional circus associations in Asia, Africa and Europe, including those that represent contemporary circuses as well as youth and social circus organisations.

7 September 2012

Standing ovations for Benneweis’ artists. At Circus Benneweis' Copenhagen premiere 6 September the audience in the packed tent gave standing ovations to the artists. Standing ovations is rarely seen in Danish circuses. Everybody felt that Circus Benneweis’ 125-year anniversary performance is one of the best circus performances we have seen for many years. You can see the show at Bellahoj in Copenhagen until Sunday the 16th September. This will end the season and tent and equipment will return to the winter quarter in Dronningmølle, where the Benneweis team during the winter will make the equipment ready for season 2013, which will be season No. 127 for Circus Benneweis.

(Someone believes that you in the year when you have your 125-year anniversary must have season No. 125. But try to count on your fingers: Starting year 1887 was season No. 1 and then the jubilee year 2012 is season No. 126).

Circus Benneweis at Bellahøj. Photo Benneweis / Arne Magnussen. The 4 pole tent can seat 1,240 persons. Chairs on all seats. In Denmark only the smaller circuses use benches.

6 September 2012

Suzanne Berdino starring in a new Swedish musical with music by Benny Andersson (ABBA).

Benny Andersson, Kristina Lugn and Lars Rudolfsson are writing a new musical called HJÄLP SÖKES! (Seeking help) to celebrate the 30 years anniversary of Theatre Orion in Stockholm. A press conference takes place September 13 at Theatre Orion, where writers and actors will be available for interviews.

Benny Andersson writes the music, Kristina Lugn the text and Lars Rudolfsson puts on stage. On the stage you will apart from the Danish equestrienne meet the Swedish actors Johan Ulveson, Sofia Pekkari, Magnus Roosmann and two cows, two pigs, a goat, a horse, three dogs and four geese.

Premiere will be at the Orion Theatre in Stockholm on 8 February 2013. Suzanne Berdino and her horses have previously appeared in a couple of Orion Theatre’s other performances "6 mimare 6 levande Hästar" and "6 mimare 6 vita Hästar". Both performances were praised by both audience and reviewers. Suzanne Berdino' first cooperation with Lars Rudolfsson was in 2009, when he staged Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute for Opera Hedeland in Denmark.

The former ABBA member Benny Andersson will hardly need further introduction. Together with Bjorn Ulvaeus, he has written the musicals Mama Mia and Chess and the less known musical "Kristina of Duvemåla".

The author Kristina Lugn is a member of the Swedish Acadamy.

Theatre Orion is not an usual theatre. It is former industry estate. The number of seats varies depending on each production. At its largest, the number of seats is around 400. Lars Rudolfsson established the theatre in 1983 and has been in different positions since then.

About the cast:

Johan Ulveson, born 1954, appeared in Kristina Lugn´s play (at her small theatre) "Jag har ett flygfotografi av kärleken" in 2008. It had music by Benny, the song NU MÅR JAG MYCKET BÄTTRE was recorded by BAO, featuring Helen Sjöholm and Tommy Körberg.

Sofia Pekkari, born 1985, has appeared in many classical theatre pieces, recently in Hedda Gabler at Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden.

Magnus Roosman, born 1963,  has been working in Vaasa in Finland and Malmö Musikteater, before coming to Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden.

Suzanne Berdino, trainer of horses, dogs and other animals, is a rider and is a member of a circus family in 3th generation.  Her father Benny Berdino is the Managing Director of Danish Circus Arena, being the largest circus in the Nordic countries.

Suzanne Berdino with two cows and a goat

5 September 2012

Success for The Tent of Mirror’s International Night Cabaret in Aarhus. There are only a few tickets left for the performances in the Tent of Mirror’s International Night Cabaret in Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus in connection with this year’s Aarhus Festival. There are performances 30th August-8. Sept at 21.00 and 8th-9th September also at 15. If you hurry up, you can still get tickets for Denmark's only real cabaret / music hall show.  Click here to link to ticket office.

Both the audience as the two Aarhus Newspapers Jyllands-Posten and Aarhus Stiftstidende like the show. "This year Night Cabaret in the Tent of mirror is a gala performance of hand-picked international artists ... This year night cabaret is a beautiful and varied show with many surprises, "Henrik Grønvald wrote in Jyllands-Posten.

"You get served gaga literally singing and graceful acrobatics in the tent of Mirror at this year's international night cabaret. A stupid music potpourri and a galloping juggler striptease are this year's hits in Aarhus Festivals international night cabaret....

More than two hours flies away during the show off the night cabaret, which has more to offer than last year, " his colleague Kirsten Dahl wrote in Aarhus Stiftstidende.

Among the performers is the pocket thief Kenny Quinn, here photographed at similar dinner show in Germany. In addition, we meet Isabel Anobian, Raymond & Mr. Timpkins, Scott & Muriel, Duo Supanova, Strahleman & Söhne, Laura von Bongard and Les Freres Taquins. The show is produced by Henrik Mortensen

5 September 2012

News about new circus. A newsletter from the Danish Artist Association writes (my translation):

Nordic Spotlight on Fira Tarrega 2012

The International Circus Festival Fira Tarrega in Spain on 6th-9th September this year has a special focus on Nordic circus in the form of Nordic Spotlight, which presents an artistic showcase and invite to dialogue about the creation and production of new circus in the Nordic countries. Five different Nordic companies present examples of their work. From Denmark, Mikkel Filtenborg, who just has completed on the Dance och Cirkushögskolan in Stockholm and is part of the company Sisters. Sisters presents part of their upcoming performance Clockwork planned to have premiere summer of 2013.

Circus Fantastica on Folketeatret

The theatre concert Circus Fantastica is the story of a bunch of circus performers who, during their winter break is stranded in a closed and deserted amusement park. What keep the mood up are the dreams about the coming season. The circus performers in the show are Katja Tomasevic Olsen and Ivan Tomasevic. Music by Sebastian, regi by Rolf Heim. Premiere at Folketeatret in Copenhagen on 13th September, playing until 20th October.

The Circus Company Cikaros play Animal Farm on ZeBU

The physical exercise is based on a formidable blend of agility and strength. Wow, how it is talented and super-timed. It is visually expressed strong circus theatre at its very best Børneteateravisen wrote after the premiere of Animal Farm in April 2012 and granted the performance 4 out of 6 possible stars. Now you can see the show again at Theatre ZeBU, Copenhagen. Animal Farm is a new circus performance about power and abuse of power based on the famous allegorical novella by George Orwell. The animals take over power at the farm to create a free and equal society, but it quickly develops into a new tyranny, where ideals rewritten and friendships are put to the forefront. Can be seen from 18^th to 30th September.

Donald Kallesøe guests Denmark with Atemzug

The German circus company Atemzug visit for the first time Denmark with a brand new production. Atemzug presents FEEDBACK SCHLEIFEN. Performers: Clara Groeger, Donald Kallesøe Jensen, Paolo Masini, Christine Thevissen. Can be seen 26 September at 20 Vostrup Theatre and Concert Hall in Tarm and 28th-29th September at 20 at AFUK in Copenhagen.

Les 7 doigts de la main

The world famous Canadians company visit again Copenhagen, this time with the show Traces. 7 people standing in a city-disaster movies and must face death - in a moment. Traces is poetic and explosive, humorous and thoughtful. Combining traditional acrobatic forms with street elements such as skateboarding and basketball, mixed in with some theatre and contemporary dance, it surprises, awes and delights at every turn.

Can be seen from 5 to 21 October at the Theatre Republique, Copenhagen.

3 September 2012

Obituary: The artists and rider Alex Pietka passed away Saturday 1 September 2012 at the age of 76 years. For 46 years he lived together with the artist Mina Moré (Vilhelmine Steckel). Alex Pietka came in 1964 to German Circus Busch-Roland as an electrician. Previously he had worked in Italy at Circo Hellas-Medrano and had some experience of riding. Therefore he joined the Golgojew-troupe where he worked with Bjoern Schult Bjoernlys. Bjoern says: “We worked for some years together in the troupe for example in Italy with Moira Orfei and Circo di Berlino (Carola Williams / Enis Togni). During the summer season we were always at Busch-Roland. Alex was a very talented rider. In the 1960s he began to get along with Mina Moré, who at the time was doing a good number in vertical rope assisted by Solveig Enoch’s sister Grethe. Grethe later married Alex's colleague as electrician Michael Guthermuth. I remember many good episodes with Alex - sad that he has passed away." After having stopped as artists Mina and Alex settled in Copenhagen, where he worked as a forklift driver until he retired.

The Kaiser Golgojew-troupe around 1967. From the left: Mischa Kaiser, Bjoern Schult-Bjoernlys, Wolfi Kaiser and Alex Pietka. Photo from Bjoern Schult-Bjoernly’s collection

3 September 2012

Sunday the 2 September at 13 Circus Arena ended their season in Koge south of Copenhagen.

This year's performance Gold Festival 2012 has visited a total of 107 cities throughout Denmark. It has been a fantastic circus season, Circus Arena’s managing director Benny Berdino says, together with his 120 man strong company thanking their large and loyal audience for their visit to this year's Circus Arena performance and looking forward to a joyful reunion in 2013.

Next year's show is already in place. We dare to promise you that Arenas show 2013 is an unbeatable circus experience. However, we will not yet disclose the details and say just with a big smile: look forward to 2013 when Circus Arena is coming to your town! - Thank you for this year and see you

As usual, Benny Berdino has told several circus friends, including editor of this website, about some of the participants in next year's program. I can only confirm that Circus Arena also in 2013 seems to offer a great show. Obviously it is up to the managing director to decide when the names of individual artists in next year's performance can be mentioned.

Season 2012 is not quite over for Benny Berdino and his team. By tradition, Circus Arena will visit Greenland with a special performance at the end of September / beginning of October. Circus Arena usually visits Sisimiut, Nuuk, Maniitsoq, Aasiaat and Ilulissat. People on Greenland used to be wildly enthusiastic about the year's only opportunity to see a circus.

3 September 2012

America’s Senft Twins Capture Top Photography Prize for Second Time. Press release from The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque:

In a spectacular showing, Jason and Justin Senft, American artists and identical twins have won "Best of Show" for an unprecedented second time in the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque’s annual photography contest. Jason and Justin Senft’s idyllic “Norman Rockwell-esque” photograph features a talented circus elephant playfully painting a bright red heart onto an artist’s canvas while a circus clown looks on with amazement. The Senft’s winning image, which portrays the contest theme “Circus: The Art of Happiness”, was selected by Federation Honorary President H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco from twelve finalists chosen by an international panel of judges.

On the heels of winning the “Best of Show” photograph last year, Jason and Justin were excited to take on the challenge of creatively featuring an elephant in one of their photographs again this year. The concept for their winning photograph was inspired by elephants in Thailand who are trained to paint on canvas, each developing its own style. The photograph, featuring Annette the elephant, was a cooperative effort with elephant owners Franklyn and Gayle Murray, circus clown Luis “Lucho” Carballo and Ian Garden Jr., performance director of Piccadilly Circus.

“We are inspired by the rich visual history of the circus, in particular, the traditional circus, under a canvas Big Top,” say the Senfts, “and we hope to capture and convey the beauty and excitement that happens when the circus comes to town.”

Jason and Justin Senft demonstrate an incredible ability to capture magical moments at the circus. This wonderful talent is evident in their three additional winning photographs. Their second photograph captures circus clown, Barry “Grandma” Lubin, flying around the ring of the Big Apple Circus while holding seven-year-old Ethan Metzger, a delighted youngster selected from the audience of "Dance On!” in New York. Taken at John Ringling North II's Kelly Miller Circus, the Senft’s third photograph features an elated five-year-old, Grania Greene, receiving a special heart-shaped balloon from circus clown Steve Copeland. The photograph evokes the essence of ringmaster John Moss' closing line of the show: "The circus never leaves town if you keep it in your heart." The Senft’s fourth photograph depicts the art of face painting, a popular attraction on the circus midway. Circus performer, Jose Bermudez, paints a smile on the face of nine-year-old Keyan as he admires his reflection in a mirror before a performance of Winchester Circus in Virginia.

Two other American photographers also are among the winners. Amanda Stevens (Glen Rock, New Jersey) captured seven year old Matthew Iverson dressed in the costume of his father Jonathan Lee Iverson, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s renowned Ringmaster. Sandy Weber (Highland Park, Illinois) photographed Greg DeSanto, now Executive Director of the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in a nostalgic visit to Ringling Bros.’ former winter quarters at Venice Arena, Florida where he created and performed for 13 years.

European photographers also placed well in this year’s contest. Bruno Maria Campagna (Appiano Gentile, Italy), also a winner in the 2011 photography contest, features the artistic bicycle act from Cirque du Soleil’s “Saltimbanco”, performed in Milan, Italy. Two German photographers, Stefan Gierisch (Langen) and Stefan Nolte (Osthofen), submitted winning images. Mr. Gierisch’s photo features Spanish clown José Michel, performing a very lively water entree together with his partners at La Grande Fête Lilloise du Cirque, in Lille, France. Mr. Nolte captured world-famous Italian clown David Larible (dubbed “the Clown of Clowns” by legendary New York critic Clive Barnes) in the ring of Circus Roncalli of Germany in a moment of pure circus bliss.

The winning photograph of Rudolf Árpád Kozsák, (Debrecen, Hungary) features three unusual and whimsical clowns during “French cultural days” in Budapest. Patrick Prévost (Olivet, France) submitted a winning shot of the unbounded joy and talent of seventh-generation circus performer, clown and daredevil Bello Nock at the 35th Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo, where Bello won the prestigious Golden Clown.

The final winner is Mr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya (Kalkata, India), who captured a lighthearted encounter between a costumed horse and clown, bringing laughter and appreciation to the audience during a “Mask Dance” performance unique to India.

A total of 116 amateur and professional photographers from 35 countries this year participated in the contest. Entries were received from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand in Asia and Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico in Latin America. In Europe, photographers from Macedonia and Slovenia participated for this first time. Numerous photos also were submitted by contestants from India, Pakistan and Turkey.

The 2012 international jury comprised circus historians Greg Parkinson (USA), Mark St. Leon (Australia), Julio Revolledo Cárdenas (Mexico), and Charles Ricketts (South Africa).

The twelve winning images will be exhibited in January 2013 during the 37th Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo. Wall calendars featuring the winning photographs may be purchased at www.oaba.org for residents of North America and in the Federation’s Boutique at www.circusfederation.org for other world regions beginning in early October 2012.

The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque was founded in 2008 under the patronage of H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco and is headquartered in Monte-Carlo. The Federation is a non-profit organization created to promote Circus arts and culture worldwide, to serve as a voice for the Circus community, and to represent Circus interests at the international level.

1 September 2012

Additional singer in Circus Dannebrog’s Amazing Africa. "Since Copenhagen premiere on 24 August, we have added a singer more in the performance," Agnete Louise Enoch of Circus Dannebrog says and continues: "She appears on the elephant and sings and is a super talent. Her name is Jasmine Malaika Gledorf and she is the daughter of Deborah Herbert. "

In the Danish music scene Danish / American Jasmin Malaika Gledorf is known as a talented reggae singer. Her latest album is MonkeyRats’ new CD Sunshine.

You can find Circus Dannebrog in Copenhagen until 16 September.

 31 August 2012

Circus Benneweis will end their season with at visit to Copenhagen from 6 to 16 September. Saturday 8 September from 11 to 12 there is a special “open tent event” with free entrance

31 August 2012

Bandwagon is coming! Not news from Denmark. But of interest for subscribers, also in the Nordic Countries, of the Bandwagon Magazine.

For several month subscribers to the excellent American Circus Magazine Bandwagon has missed the world’s leading circus historical magazine. Last issue circulated was the November-December issue 2011! But The Bandwagon will be rolling into your home in just a couple weeks! It's being printed right now, Bob Cline of Circus Historical Society writes.

For 49 years Fred D. Pfening, Jr. edited the journal of the Circus Historical Society, a bi-monthly magazine that will forever be associated with his name and well-deserved reputation for excellence in honouring circus history through an unstinting fidelity to truth. When the Columbus businessman, philanthropist and circus enthusiast died Sept. 6 2010 the task as editor was taken over by his son Fred Pfening III, who as from 1 January 2012 left the task to Fred Dahlinger, Jr. who due to a number of issues withdrew as editor of Bandwagon on July 23 2012. Fred Pfening III has stepped in as the managing editor of Bandwagon to complete this year's six issues, the first of which will be circulated to the subscribers in a couple of weeks. 

Publishing a scholarly journal of the caliber that CHS members have come to expect is no simple task. Fred Pfening has received the content and outline for the issues that Fred Dahlinger had assembled and was preparing for print.

The publication of Bandwagon was identified as a top priority by the CHS Board at their long range planning meeting in June. As the primary benefit to the membership, the CHS Board has imposed a mandate to get the publication schedule up to date.

29 August 2012

Success for Circus Summarum. For the fourth consecutive year, the Danish circuses have had hard competition from DR Big Band’s and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation show Circus Summarum. DR is the largest Danish TV and radio channel. Among other things, thanks to intensive advertising in DR's children's programs 87,000 spectators visited one of Summarum's performances. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to last year and even better than the previous record year 2010, when they had 83,000 guests. For a number of guests a visit to Circus Summarum was without doubt instead of a visit to one of the real circuses. However, one circus, Circus Arena, appreciate the income from the rental of the tent, used by Circus Summarum.

During the Circus Summarum-performance you could as previous years meet several of the popular and beloved characters from DR TV's children universe, including Bamse the Bear, Bruno, Mr. Skæg, Jacob, Signe and Little Noerd. In addition you also met Robot Boys (winners of DR's Got Talent 2008) and a few circus performers. As earlier years the performance was not circus, but a very good children's theatre performance.

"It is forbidden to daydream in Circus Summarum. For it is the place where dreams become reality, proclaimed the ringmaster. And that was what happened. In a breathtaking pace, "wrote Tonie Yde Højrup about the show in a leading newspaper Berlingske Tidende and granted it 5 out of 6 possible stars.

27 August 2012

News from the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. A newsletter from the Circus Museum writes (my translation):

The Circus Museum's own artist. In the spring the Circus Museum was granted support from the Labour Market Holiday Fund for the recruitment of a professional artist. It is with great pleasure that we can announce that we have now engaged the artist Line Vittrup who many will know from circus workshops, circus school and children's parties at the Circus Museum. Line’s task will be to develop and create new offers for our guests giving them a possibility to try circus on their own body. We are in the process of developing new offerings that will be announced as soon as possible. The Circus Museum is looking forward to offering our guests a lot more circus during their visit to the museum!

Line Vittrup received her initial training as an artist by Irene Thierry from the small Danish Circus Krone, where she worked a few years. In 1997 she was assistant to the magician Kim Kenneth, who this season worked for Danish Circus Arena. After the end of the season Line and Kim Kenneth went to Billy Smart's Circus in England. There she met the Czech artist troupe Faltyny for which she worked a few years. Afterward Line Vittrup joined Danish Circus Baldoni, where she met knockabout table acrobat Freddie Steckel who she since then often has performed together with. Line Vittrup has also made children's theatre and held numerous workshops for circus interested children, including at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre and in cooperation with Circus Benneweis. In 2011 she made her debut as a writer of children's book With Milo in the circus about the dog Milo, who is visiting Benneweis

 26 August 2012

Masters of Magic the 2012. Over four days 20 - 22 - 23 and 24 August, 16 Danish magicians participated in Masters of Magic in 2012, arranged in collaboration between the amusement park Bakken north of Copenhagen and Magic Circle Denmark. At the finale 24 August you met the following eight magicians:

Jørgen Fevre

Mikkel Nielsen

Sunny Cagara

Mads Rasmussen

Anders Nissen

Carsten Nielsen

Rune Heen

David Tholander.

The magician’s performance was assessed by a panel of six persons among them Joachim Solberg from Deutsch and Solberg. Character giving was based on FISM's (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques) rules.

After about 1 ½ hours nice and varied show the winner of the Masters of Magic 2012 was announced. It was Anders Nissen from Jutland who in addition to the honor could go back to the Jutland with a check of 20,000 DKK.

David Tholander from Aalborg took the second price and the competition’s third price was given to George Fevre from Jutland.

Bakken and Magic Circle Denmark has already started to plan next year's Masters of Magic.

Click here to see a number of photos that Per "Mr. Sputnik "Krogh Petersen took from the 4 shows.

The cast in the 3 selection performances were:

Monday 20 August: Sunny Cagara, Miguel el Zorro, Rune Heen, Torben Joconde and Mikkel Nielsen

Wednesday 22  August:  Mr. Mox, David Tholander, Cyrill, Dixi & Trixi and Carsten Nielsen

Thursday 23 August:  Jørgen Fevre, Anders Nissen, Mikkel Rugholm, Jacob Rasmussen, Mads Rasmussen and Robert Mark

At some of Mr. Sputnik’s photos you can also see the ventriloquist Sine.

27 August 2012

The Spirit Cabinet is a classic magic entrée which has been performed by various magicians for more than 200 years and always has amazed and impressed the audience. It was one of my Paris correspondent Zarro Zarro’s most popular tricks in his heyday as a magician.

Zarro Zarro has written an article about the act with a lot of illustrations. Click here to read the article.

Last time we in Denmark saw the Spirit Cabinet was in 2011 in Circus Arli

26 August 2012

New singer in Circus Dannebrog. Since the start of the season you have met the singer Nonhianhia Pretty Shangase from South Africa in Circus Dannebrog’s amazing and fast-paced show Amazing Africa. Now she is replaced by the American jazz singer Deborah Herbert, who sings, vibrates and dances from start to finish and that is clearly better than Nonhianhia. The sold out tent was rocking with excitement when she dancing and singing ended Circus Dannebrog’s Copenhagen opening night on 24 august by leading all the performers and bandleader Tino Aeby out in the passage to the foyer tent where they said goodbye to the audience. Deborah Herbert and Circus Dannebrog can be seen at ‘Fisketorvet’ in Copenhagen until 16 September.

24 august 2012

Season 2012 is coming to an end for the 7 Danish circuses. In Denmark the circus season begins in March or April and ends in August or September.

This year the closing dates are:

Circus Arena ends the season 2 September in Koge.

Circus Arli ends their season 26 August in Vindinge

Circus Baldoni ended the Danish summer season on 23 August in Tureby, but is until 5 September touring the Faroe Islands.

Circus Benneweis ends their season with performances at ‘Bellahoj’, Copenhagen, from 6 to 16 September

Circus Dannebrog will close the season on 26 September with a sold performance somewhere in the southern part of Jutland where they have their winter quarter. From 24th August to 16 September they are at ‘Fisketorvet’ in Copenhagen.

Circus Krone ends the summer season 22 September in Aale

Circus Mascot will end their summer season late September in Thise.

So hurry up if you want to see one or more of the performances in the Danish circuses. All of them offer beautiful and impressive programs. In What's On you can see where you can find each circus and how you can order tickets.

 24 august 2012

CIRCUS XANTI. The Norwegian new wave circus is participating in a circus festival from 17 to 26 August in Sandvika, Bærum, Norway, and in a festival in Torshovparken in Oslo, Norway, from 1 to 9 September. Their show is called Pluto Crazy and is featuring "Lush, madness and exuberant live music in all its joyful circus happiness”

Among the other participants in the festival in Sandvik are the two French musical clowns Bibeu and Humphrey, and BASTARD with a wondrous performance in the world's smallest circus tent. In Oslo you can apart from Circus Xanti meet Bastard and the acrobat Karl Stets, which we recently saw at KIT's new circus festival in Copenhagen.

Cirkus Xanti is a Norwegian organisation to produce circus arts. It aims in the long term at developing a full infrastructure of circus arts in Norway, with governmental support.

Cirkus Xanti organises the Circus Village, during the summer season, which is Norway's first space for development of education, presentation and production of new circus and circus arts. 4 circus tents of different size form a mobile festival from one town to another.

During the Circus Village the festival offers free training, workshops, master classes, short term courses. Companies and projects are able to perform, experiment and present their projects and ideas.

22 August 2012

MASTER OF MAGIC - a "Swindler"s confessions. Premiere Thursday 4th October 2012. Following that the show can be seen every other Thursday throughout the year.

The Magician Henrik Christensen from Odense has send out the following press release (my translation):

Experience the magic AT GRAND HOTEL – the Magician Henrik Christensen is staying in the suite at the exclusive First Hotel Grand in the centre of Odense. Here he offers on selected evenings in a magical evening with elegant magic tricks and disturbing examples of mind control and mind reading. During the show Henrik will also tell the story of how he became a magician, about his life as a magician and some of his most magical experiences. Each show will have max. 20 spectators to ensure that everyone gets the chance to experience the impossible right before their very own eyes. Never before has the public had the opportunity to get that close to a real magician. A magical and amusing evening completely out of the ordinary!

Dates 2012: Thursday 4 October, Thursday 18 October, Thursday 1 November, Thursday 15 November, Thursday 29 November and Thursday 13 December, every day at. 20.00.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes + interval.

Venue: First Hotel Grand, Jernbanegade 18, 5000 Odense C

Ticket price 165 DKK. Group discount: 4 tickets: 580 DKK. Ticket Reservation by phone 30 63 52 51 every weekday from 10-16 or per e-mail to henrik@henrikchristensen.com

Note! Only 20 tickets per. show. Indicative age of the audience is 10 years. The municipality of Odense, City and Culture, has provided financial support to the show.

DRESS CODE - To create the right atmosphere the audience is encouraged to dress up:  jacket and tie for men and dress, skirt, blouse and dress pants for ladies. Please do not turn up in jeans, hood, t-shirt, sneakers, hat or cap.

FIRST HOTEL GRAND HOTEL has since its opening in 1897 survived as the Odense’s leading hotel and the stories attached to the hotel are many. The hotel has hosted both royal as other celebrities, and has been the setting for countless family celebrations, conferences, exhibitions, meetings and much more for more than a century.

16 August 2012

Royal visit to Circus Arli. On 15th august Circus Arli had a visit by Countess Alexandra and her and Prince Joachim's two sons Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix.  They came together with Alexandra's new parents-in-law Jane and Jacob Jørgensen. At the photos below you can apart from countess and the two princes see a girl, Alexandra is godmother to.

On 18 November 1995, Queen Margrethe’s youngest son HRH Prince Joachim married Miss Alexandra Manley, who in connection with the marriage became HRH Princess Alexandra of Denmark. On 8 April 2005, Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra divorced. On 3 March 2007 Princess Alexandra married Martin Jørgensen and became Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg.

Countess Alexandra and the two princes with Martin Arli. Photo by courtesy of  Circus Arli

14 August 2012

When Alexander Arli on 26 August ends his season with Circus Arli there will only be a short vacation for the talented young artist. On 14 September he will be at the stage at Menstrup Inn, where the premiere of Schou-tour 2012 takes place. Schou-tour is a cabaret and revue show with Jan Schou, Susanne Breuning, Kenneth Sichlau, Alexander Arli, Rasmus Krogsgaard and dancing girls. The show can be seen every Friday and Saturday until 8th December 2012. Jan Schou and his Schou-tour  has for several years appeared at Østergaards Hotel in Herning in January, February, March and on Menstrup Inn at Næstved in September, October, November and December. Alexander Arli has been part of the Schou-tour team since 2007.

Alexander Arli. Photo from this year's performance at Circus Arli

13 August 2012

Circus Baldoni to the Faroes Islands. Thursday 23 August Circus Baldoni will end this year's tented tour. However, this does not mean that Thessa and René Moenster and their team can go on holiday. Already on Monday 27 august they begin their tour on the Faroe Islands, where they will stay until 5 September visiting 10 cities on six islands and playing in sports centres, etc. It is 6 year in row Circus Baldoni ends the season with a visit to the Faroes.

You can’t bring circus animals to the Faroes Islands. Due to this program is slightly changed compared to what we have seen during their tented tour. From the tent show you will meet the clowns Danilla and Danillo, the 4 Chinese from the GaoChen-troupe and the tight wire acrobat Stiliana. And of course the talking lion Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll). Additionally, the Faroese can meet Gugge who previously has performed for René Moenster in his Circus Theatre.

The Chen brothers are doing acrobatics in a large balloon

13 April 2012

Two new circus books. Recently a book about the large Finnish Circus Finlandia has been published.  About the book Christer Nilsson writes at http://magiarkivet.se/ (my translation)

Carl-Gustaf "Kalle" Jernström began his circus career by working as a canvass worker and ring boy etc. in Sweden in late 1960’ties. When Circus Ray Miller closed and equipment was offered for sale in 1975 a lot was interested in purchasing but it was Kalle who bought the equipment. This was the beginning of Circus Finlandia. It has gone up and it has gone down for Finlandia, but it is today one of Scandinavia's largest circuses. One who helped a lot to build up the circus was the magician Thord Junge / Charimann. Today, Kalle has eft the ringmaster role to his son Carl-Johan Jernström JR. But Kalle is still around and travels with the circus.

The book "The Enchanting Circus Finlandia" (2011) tells about how the circus began and how it has developed and continued until today. You can follow the daily life in a large circus and learn to know a lot of the staff and various artists. 96 pages text in Finnish and English illustrated with over 100 colour photos. A book to be enjoyed by all circus fans.

In Germany, the famous circus director and trainer of big cats Gert Simoneit-Barum has published his memoirs. The book is called Viel riskiert für einen Traum and is on 449 pages in format 13 x 20 cm. It costs 24.80 Euro. As a young man Gert Simoneit worked for a period in Danish Circus Benneweis, and he mentions Manfred Benneweis as one of his teachers. When he later established his own circus he needed a good brand. Eli Benneweis was the owner of the name Circus Barum and Gert Simoneit phoned and asked if he could use the name. Eli liked the young German and gave green light. This was the start of the Gert Simoneit's career as a circus owner. Circus Barum quickly became one of Germany's leading circuses. But when market conditions changed, the number of visitors dropped and Gert Simoneit-Barum closed his circus by the end of season 2008.

Gert Simoneit-Barum with Nelly Jane Benneweis. Photo from August 2007

The press release about the memoir reads:

Nur der verdient sich Freiheit wie das Leben, der täglich sie erobern muss.“ Dieses Goethe-Zitat ist das Lebensmotto von Gerd Siemoneit-Barum, der auf eine in Deutschland beispiellose internationale Karriere als Raubtierdompteur und Zirkusdirektor zurückblicken kann. Sein Leben ist außergewöhnlich, faszinierend seine Autobiografie, die nun erstmalig veröffentlicht wird.

Im Frühjahr 1939 besucht er als kleiner Junge zum ersten Mal einen Zirkus. Faszination und Ästhetik dieser schillernden Welt nehmen ihn vom ersten Moment an gefangen. Jener Abend soll sein ganzes weiteres Leben verändern. Instinktiv fühlt er die innere Verbundenheit, unumstößlich steht sein Berufswunsch fest: Er möchte Raubtierdompteur und Zirkusdirektor werden, und er wird keine Mühen und Widrigkeiten scheuen, dieses Ziel zu erreichen. Als Fünfzehnjähriger bricht er von Zuhause aus und schließt sich dem Zirkus an. Dort spürt man das Feuer, das in ihm brennt. Gerd Siemoneit-Barum erlernt seinen Beruf von der Pike auf. Beginnend als Hilfsarbeiter überzeugt er durch sein Durchhaltevermögen und sein Talent, wird zunächst Jockey-Reiter bis sich schließlich sein großer Traum erfüllt und er seine eigene Raubtiernummer übernehmen darf. Dies ist der Beginn einer Bilderbuchkarriere. In den folgenden Jahrzehnten genießt der spätere Direktor des Zirkus Barum weltweiten Ruhm, absolviert unzählige Auftritte und Tourneen. Immer wieder hinterfragt er seinen Dressurstil, arbeitet hart und ist offen für bis dahin völlig neue Ansätze in der Raubtierdressur. Seiner Zeit weit voraus entwickelt er seinen auf Verhaltensforschung und Tierpsychologie basierenden humanen Dressurstil: Das einzelne Tier steht als Partner und Individuum im Vordergrund. Respekt gegenüber der Kreatur ersetzen Zwang und Unterdrückung. Publikum und Fachwelt zeigen sich gleichermaßen beeindruckt und reißen sich um ihn. Dies ist sein endgültiger Durchbruch. Er setzt Maßstäbe und prägt alle ihm nachfolgenden Zirkusgenerationen. Gerd Siemoneit-Barum wird zur Legende.

Seine Autobiografie ist spannend und außergewöhnlich. Die Faszination, die der Zirkus im vergangenen Jahrhundert auf die Menschen ausübte, wird wieder spürbar. Gerd Siemoneit-Barum erweist sich auch im geschriebenen Wort als Künstler, der sein Publikum zu unterhalten versteht.

Der Autor:

Gerd Siemoneit-Barum, Deutschlands berühmtester Raubtierdompteur, übte seinen Traumberuf rund 62 Jahre lang aus, davon 50 Jahre in der Manege mit Raubtieren. Sein Dompteurstil war revolutionär: Er basierte auf der partnerschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit zwischen Mensch und Tier, auf Liebe und Akzeptanz der Tiere, auf psychologischen Erkenntnissen über das individuelle Verhalten von Tieren und auf dem Respekt vor der zu beschützenden Kreatur.

12 August 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  even the events you would least expect:

The other day,strolling along on the CHAMPS ELYSEES, reputed to be the most beautiful avenue in the world, I suddenly saw a young magic entertainer perform his show right on the CHAMPS ELYSEES and he was quite successful: a rather big crowd gathered, being interested in the show which was lively, skillfully performed and most entertaining.

The young magic entertainer JESSE MOCK, hailing from Canada, performed some short magical effects using coins and cards, this was a means to attract a bigger crowd - he went on: rope tricks, small silks that appeared and vanished ...  the racoon, very lively but a dummy ...and the classic CUPS AND BALLS where small balls and lemons wander under these cups,,, eventually JESSE MOCK put his hat on his small table - removing the hat - there was a big melon !!!

The entertainment was great and people stopped, dropping money in his hat at the end of the show. Even  the Champs Elysées offer a limited choice of entertainment: cafés, restaurants, shopping, people passing, in fact from the whole world ... all this is there but apparently a different kind of entertainment is needed - and it doesn't cost a lot - you give what you want ...

Points of cultural interest: 25 years ago I frequently performed in Paris as a street magician, mostly in the Saint Germain area and in front of Musée Pompidou, Beaubourg, but as the years have gone by, all kinds of street entertainment have gradually all but disappeared, nobody knows why. The local painters who displayed their work at the iron railing around the Saint Germain Church are gone, there is hardly anyone left, still we don't know why.

Consequently, I was highly surprised, seeing JESSE MOCK on the Champs Elysées, an area where street entertainers were not allowed at all, at the time mentioned above, we knew that the police would have turned up immediately. Apparently the tolerance we enjoyed at the Saint Germain area has now been extended to part of the Champs Elysées.

Already 25 years ago, there was no permit to get - it was and remains -- a tolerance !

A most worthwhile JESSE MOCK show on the CHAMPS ELYSEES !!!

Since JESSE MOCK is an international magic street performer -  photo from Canada. Zarro Zarro saw JESSE on his first day on the CHAMPS ELYSEES, PARIS, and quickly sent a write up - no time to take a photo !

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

---------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

10 August 2012

Program change in Swedish Circus Brazil Jack. The talented young Fratelli Rossi with their Risley act have replaced the Veslovski family in Circus Brazil Jack’s 2012 performance. They come directly from Roncalli Bajazzo in Schwerin. The brothers are educated at the artist school in Verona just as the two Azzario Sisters who also are part of Brazil Jack’s 2012-show. The brothers are 20 and 21 years old and are regarded as a super talents and rising stars. Click here to see a video clip from their act.

10 August 2012

The young German diabolo juggler Alexander Xelo aka Alexander Schiller died on Tuesday 7 August. Danes will remember the talented young juggler from Circus Arena 2004. Apart from Circus Arena he has performed e.g. in Circus FlicFlac (Germany), Circus Nock (Switzerland), Circus Arlette Gruss (France), Circus Hermann Renz (Holland) and Circus Pinder (France).

7 August 2012

Circus Minimax. "Here are some pictures from the first performance in Circus Minimax. This performance was in Lonevåg Osterøy on 4th August at 18.00. The tent was completely full and the tickets were sold out, "writes Carl-Andre Hjelvik from the small Norwegian circus.

 Among the acts were the Danish clowns Pip & Bobby aka Ole Bünger and his partner.

The total 2012 program for the small Norwegian circus looks as follows:

 1. Charivari

 2. Director Carl-André Hjelvik

 3. Pip & Bobby

 4. Mono Cycle

 5. Replay Clown Pip

 6. Juggling

 7. Clown Trio

 8. The chicken Pingrid & Mr. Beef

 9. Clown Pip Pip

 10. Duo Diabolo

 PAUSE

 11. Ingrid, Somewhere Over the Rainbow

 12. China Troup

 13. Clown Pip Pip

 14. Pip & Bobby

 15. Hula Hoop

 16. Magician

 17. Clown Pip Pip

 18. Rola-Bola artist Christer & Vicky

 19. Diploma ceremony

 20. Le Grande Finale

 NB! The Management reserves the right to change the program!

Pip & Bobby in Circus Minimax’s ring

6 August 2012

Visit to Circus Land (Circus Arena’s winter quarter).  On Saturday 4 August the Danish Circus Friends Association had arranged a rally to Circus Land at Aarslev, Slagelse. The 19 circus friends got a guided tour by Suzanne Berdino and visited also the workshops and other areas which normally not are open to visitors. They saw of course also the stables and the museum at Circus Land. After the tour the fans saw the performances in Circus Landino and the sea lion show, just as they peered into the tent with this year's attraction at Circus Land: mechanical dinosaurs. All participants felt that they had a great day and hope that the Danish Circus Friends Association next year again will arrange a rally to an interesting place. Thanks to Suzanne Berdino and the team in Circus Land.

The group of Danish Circus Friends and Suzanne Berdino photographed at the entrance to the Circus Land. Photo: Sophie Egede-Schroder, Press Officer, Circus Land

To the left Kurt Wagner, former schoolteacher at Circus Arena. To the right: Suzanne Berdino (daughter of Benny Berdino and his wife Hanne). Between them Arne Berdino Olsen's desk. It was Arne Berdino who in 1955 founded Circus Arena, which his son Benny Berdino today has made to the largest circus in the Nordic countries. Photo: Ole Simonsen

Suzanne Berdino with Arabian horses. Photo: Ole Simonsen. Click here to see more photos from the day and performances at Circus Landino.

For the season's final days Circus Land will feature an additional attraction: Anker’s travelling fun fair visits Circus Land. They have more than 30 rides and Denmarks largest touring roller coaster. Anker's Tivoli will be in Circus Land from 9th-12th August.

At the same time the number of performances in Circus Landino is reduced to one, as Suzanne Berdino and her children have left to Sweden where they work in Circus Skratt.

When Circus Arena on 17 and 18 august visits their home town Slagelse, they have chosen to use the lot next to their winter quarter in Aarslev, Slagelse instead of the lot the municipality suggested them to use at corner of Kinavej / Japanvej. The old circus lot in Slagelse, Grønningen can no longer be used by the circuses. The lot at Circus Land, Aarslev is situated barely 10 km. from the centre of Slagelse.

6 August 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  -- so let's together visit the charming little theatre: THEATRE ALAMBIC COMEDIE - we have been there several times to enjoy visual MAGIC SHOWS.

NOW - in the midst of the holiday month of AUGUST, THEATRE ALAMBIC COMEDIE proudly presents a truly original show, viz. the mnemonic and memory artist BENOIT ROSEMONT.

To create this very interesting and also funny show, he has revisited the art of former artists of this kind, happily enough as they don't really exist anymore. History conceals treasures .... there were artists capable of reciting any calendar year, by heart,

of finding the weekday to a given date, they could find the square root and cube root to any number given etc.

BENOIT ROSEMONT masters this art in an elegant way and he is an outstanding comedian as well, which is a must to make such a theoretic show entertaining and appealing to a general audience.

BENOIT ROSEMONT, being a good actor, plays on and with his audience, treating everyone with kindness and respect - ACTION is the key-word to the success he harvests at each show.

During the beginning of the 1900s, this form of cultural entertainment was in great vogue in the so-called literary saloons, often created by intellectual ladies from the higher tiers of society, so this kind of show has a historical background.

BENOIT ROSEMONT sports an elegant stage costume and is visibly happy to perform - a good example to be followed if the aim is to entertain. Absolutely well worth seeing !!!

Length of show: 60 min.

Benoit Rosemont

See more: www.alambic-comedie.com and www.benoitrosemont.com

Venue: Theatre Alambic Comedie, 12 rue de la Chardonniere, 75018 Paris.  Metro: Simplon.

----------------------------------------------------------- reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

2 August 2012

Come to the circus with Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary. Monday 3 September there will be a special charity performance in Circus Dannebrog at ‘Fisketorvet’ in Copenhagen in favour of ‘Nyreforeningen’. Protector of the organization is Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary. She will together with her and crown prince Frederik’s two oldest children prince Christian and princess Isabella attend the performance.

‘Nyreforeningen’ (the Kidney Association) is a Danish Patient organization that seeks to take care of interests of persons with chronic kidney disease, especially dialysis patients and kidney transplant subjects and their relatives.

31 July 2012

Danish comtemporary circus group GLiMT writes:

Dear supporters, partners, colleagues and friends,

On the 11th of August 2012 we will celebrate GLiMT's 10th anniversary and hereby invite you to join our cabaret and concert. Performers and musicians from past performances get inspired by GLiMT's artistic universe and create "A GLIMPSE of a Cabaret." Afterwards comes the amazing band "Faela" from Malmo fires up the celebration with their mix of balkan and latin beats. It will be an evening packed with entertainment, music and celebration at the Copenhagen Music Theatre.

Without your support over the years, GLiMT would never have reached the point where we are today. Therefore, we hope you feel like celebrating the anniversary with us on Saturday 11th August. And on top of that you have the great possibility to see GLiMT's latest performance "Are You Us?" at the Contemporary Cirkus Festival in Copenhagen: from the 13th - 17th of August at the Copenhagen Music Theatre, 18 o'clock.

"Are You Us?" is visual contemporary circus with 222m of rope! A story about a man, the earth and the surrounding communities, about human nature and our relationship to our home.  We look forward to see you.

GLiMT / Camila Sarrazin, Lars Gregersen and Julie Vogelsberger

Information about the venue and GLiMT

Celebration of GLiMTs 10th anniversary on Saturday, the 11th of August & performance "Are You Us?" on the Contemporary Circus Festival from Monday the 13th of August until Friday the 17th of August: Københavns Musikteater, Kronprinsensgade 7, 1114 København K. Contact and reservation of tickets: info@glimt.info

30 July 2012

Huesca Brothers (Giovanni and Nikolai Huesca, sons of the clown Natalino "Fumagalli" Huesca and Angela Fossett), who this season together with their father and uncle have toured with the large Swedish Circus Scott has as mentioned this site on 17 July been taken out of the performance due to one of the brother's disease. Director Robert Bronett had hoped that the sick brother would be back again in early august, but this is unfortunately not the case. Huesca Brothers has in the Scott performance been replaced by Duo Flash with their Comic-Eccentric Acrobatic Act.

26 July 2012

Artist in the holiday centre Lalandia during the summer holidays. As previously mentioned on this website there is every evening until 5 august artist performances on the square in Lalandia. Miss Martina, Mr. Plys and German Freddy Anthony entertain alternately every evening at 20 to the delight of the Centre's many guests.

Meeting at the poolside before show start

25 July 2012

Three German circuses in two days. Martin Lasson Berglund from Malmö has a couple of times arranged circus trips for Swedish circus friends. Among other tours a trip to the Christmas circus in Dresden and a trip to the Circus Charles Knie in Flensburg. The tours usually take place in a minivan with seating for 9 people.

During the weekend 21-22 July, Martin arranged a tour to three German circuses. The bus was packed: 8 Swedish circus friends and Danish Ole Simonsen.

Martin's group in front of a billboard in front of Circus Berolina. From left: Martin Lasson Berglund, Uno Karlsson, Lars Hansson, Birgitta Magnusson, Jan Erik Larsson, Lennart Holmgren and Inga and Stig Nilsson. Behind the camera and therefore not on the photo Ole Simonsen

Departures from Malmo Sweden was 6 o'clock Saturday morning. Then we went with the ferry boat from Trelleborg to Sassnitz from where we went to Bergen, where the large Zirkus Probst (‘Probst East’) had performance at 15. Zirkus Probst has its roots in the old East Germany and markets itself as "Die Nr. 1 aus Ostdeutschland". They provide a nice, traditional circus performance. The highlights of the show were the Probst family’s own animal acts: Alexandra Probst with horses, including a beautiful ridden Hungarian courier, which was the first act in the performance. At the end of the show we met her again along with "farm animals". For the other animal acts her uncle Rüdiger Probst was responsible: a mixed act with ‘eksoten’ and a big cage act with 6 tigers. The family's own acts were supplemented by a versatile troupe from Cuba, Havana Truppe Flair, who both skipped, did bungee jump, did acrobatic and presented a number of Russian swing. The numbers were bound together by the Hungarian reprise clown Pom Pom. The show was accompanied by a well-playing 6-piece orchestra. The tent was a 36 meter tent with 3 rows of ringside chairs, 4 rows of plastic bucker chairs and 5 rows of benches, which provided seating for about 1,500 spectators. But as in many other countries there are crisis in the German circuses: we were fewer than 200 people in the tent.

Alexandra Probst opened the show with nice courier riding

From Bergen we drove to Zinnowitz where Circus Berolina is from 22 June to 2nd September. Their oval tent is somewhat larger than the tent at Circus Probst. But Berolina’s tent has definitely seen its best days, and apart from ringside chairs and sperrsitz (with iron chairs!) there were benches on all seats. I will estimate the tent to provide space for about 2,000 spectators. But also in Berolina there were fewer than 200 people in the tent. As for Probst the main acts was animal acts. And they have many animals in Circus Berolina - probably more than over 100. Also animals that you rarely see in the circus: a giraffe and a rhino. All acts in the show were done or presented by members of the Spindler family who owns the circus. Worth highlighting is Patrick Spindler’s liberty horse act with no less than 14 horses in the ring and his tiger, who rides on an elephant. Visually impressive was also the elephant squad of 6 Elephants - 3 African and 3 Indian. The elephant entrée began with the classic barbershop gag. As at Probst a very nice performance although animal dressage was not quite on par with what you saw in Circus Probst. And also here "live music": 4 musicians led by conductor Wieslaw Blaszczyk. The speed in the show was not quite as briskly as in Circus Probst, perhaps because there were only two ringboys. When you do not have to travel around you can manage with fewer ringboys/tent workers than in a touring circus.

14 horses in the ring at the same time are not often seen today. In Circus Berolina they were presented by Patrick Spindler, who also presented an act with a tiger riding an elephant.

Sunday afternoon we visited Circus William (not to be confused with the legendary Circus Williams) which from 16 June to 30 august are performing in Heringsdorf / Bansin. Circus William is owned by the Wille family: a father with 4 sons and 2 daughters, of whom all boys and one of the daughters Maria Weber are connected to the circus. The tent was a brand new Scola Teloni-tent without quarter poles and with a diameter of 36 meters and with chairs on all seats and with elegant lighting. Willes family pride is 2 white tigers and a white lioness, which Manuel Wille presented in a mixed cats act. The number is OK, and the animals have fine conditions. However, it was not quite on par with Rüdiger Probst tiger act and certainly not with Alexander Lacey's formidable mixed cat act which now is with Ringling in the U.S. Of course there were also other animals: horses, camels and zebras. Music was taped. The money saved for the band was used to book some artists of decent quality: The Wild West troupe Colerados (perhaps members of the Wille family), the clowns Charley and Antonia, Marketa Maleckova on tight wire and trapeze and Mary and Robin Weber with snakes and a fakir act. The number of visitors was the same as in the other circus: less than 200 people. As at Berolina there were only two ringboys which sometime affected the pace of the show.

Steigerpferd at Circus William. After taking this photo, I was told that Circus William did not allow any sort of photographing during the performance. Not even photos taken without flash. Almost all other circuses allow photographing at least without a flash. Click here to see some photos from the performances at Zirkus Probst, Circus Berolina and a few photos from the start of the show at Circus William. Because of the photo ban unfortunately none photos Circus William’s pride: the white tigers and white lion.

Circus William wants undoubtedly to get some elephants! Papa Heinar Wille asked me if Probst or Berolina was best, and was surprised when I said Probst. "But Berolina has elephants," he said with wonder in his voice.

24 July 2012

New dinner show at Wallman's in Copenhagen. The Copenhagen Circus Building was opened 8 May 1886 by the German circus king Ernst Renz. Sadly enough the building is no longer used for circuses as the current owner Wallman use it for their dinner shows with singers, dancers and very few acrobats. On 19th August there is opening night for a new dinnershow called REVIVAL. According to Wallman it is "a unique show, which with their own interpretations, but with respect for the original, breathing new life into familiar classics, and taking you on a moving musical and visual journey through the greatest hits."

On stage are 14 young singers, dancers and acrobats. As usual the performers also has to work as waiters. The language in the show is English and most performers are Swedes. The acrobats in the show is

·         Swedish Anna Netterlid who is educated at Urdang Academy in London and has been trained by teachers from the Cirque du Soleil and Las Vegas

·         Swedish Sara Jane Lundstedt, who studied at The Circus Space, London and Estetiska Programme on VBU Ludvika

·         Swedish Jimmy Andersson, who has studied the aerial acrobatics of Marque and Becky Ohmes, Las Vegas, USA, and with Jean-Pierre from Cirque du Soleil.

None of the three have ever appeared in circuses or music halls of international standard. Wallmans thus continues the concept with the use of young and unknown performers, making the standard of show a bit below the standard of international variety theatre performances in other cities. Ticket prices at Wallmans are from 475 DKK to 1,175 DKK (64 Euro to 157 Euro). Visiting the show gives you an opportunity to see the beautiful Copenhagen Circus Building from inside.

24 July 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  THEATRE LE FUNAMBULE together with B. Wolf Production, proudly present a lively and well conceived magic show, composed and featured by magic entertainer FRANK BELLEVIE.

LE FUNAMBULE, really meaning THE TIGHT ROPE WALKER -- targets the summer audience with kids as of 4 years - people who have not yet left Paris for summer vacation and who are eager to get entertainment, suitable for the whole family. The show is a hilarious and sympathetic one - FRANK BELLEVIE appears in two roles: as a somewhat befiddled comic magician and in the finale as an elegant circus artist, featuring The Floating Table and a large production of streamers and umbrellas out of ---  nowhere !!

Frank Bellevie

The children are invited to take part - interaction is a must in all kids' shows -- and the atmosphere and contact with the audience are excellent.

Point of interest: as always - this show is performed in a real theatre, certainly a small one, but with a spacious stage, correct installation of curtain, light and sound-track, as well as a comfortable seating -- everything is there to make this show a nice theatrical event.

See more: www.bwolfproduction.fr/ and www.funambule-montmartre.com

-----------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

19 July 2012

Wet circus lots. The recent period with heavy rain are beginning to tease the Danish circus. As last year, several lots are rather swampy. Circus Arena has been forced to cancel a performance in Humlebaek on 20 July, because there is water on the circus lot!

19 July 2012

Program change in Circus Maximum. There has been small change in the program for the large Swedish Circus Maximum: Pascal and Mike Sanger’s comic dog act has replaced Joulia Tchakinova, who had two entrées: one with a poodle and one with llamas and Afghan greyhounds. Mike Sanger could be seen in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen in 1998 and at the Clown Festival at Bakken in 2010, just as he was part of Benny Schumann's winter show at Elsinore City Centre in 2011.

In 2007 Mike Sanger published the book Two Dogs, a Donkey and a French Woman: The Life, Legacy and Adventures of a Traveling Canine Comedy ACT about his life in the circus

Also in at the Swedish Circus Scott, there has been a small change in the program: for a few weeks Huesca Brothers are not part of the performance as one of the two brothers is ill. They should however be ready to resume work on 2 august.

Huesca Brothers. Behind them Robert Bronett

16 July 2012

Planning a circus visit to Copenhagen? Foreign circus fans who want to see circuses in Denmark could choose the week-end 31 August to 2 September. It will be possible to see the three leading Danish circuses Circus Arena, Circus Benneweis and Circus Dannebrog in Copenhagen or close to Copenhagen. It might also be possible to see Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni somewhere in the Copenhagen area.

On Friday 31 August Circus Arena has performance at 15:00 in the Copenhagen suburb Rødovre next to the shopping mall. Circus Benneweis has performance at 17:00 in the Copenhagen suburb Greve. Circus Dannebrog has performance at 15:00 and 19:00 in Copenhagen at the lot ‘Fisketorvet’.

On Saturday 1 September Circus Arena has performance at 15:00 at the Copenhagen suburb Birkerød. Circus Benneweis has performances at 16:00 at the Copenhagen suburb Ølstykke. Circus Dannebrog has performances at 13:30 & 17 in Copenhagen at the lot ‘Fisketorvet’.

On Sunday 2 September Circus Arena has performance at 15:00 at the Copenhagen suburb Køge. This performance will close season 2012 for Circus Arena. Circus Dannebrog has performances at 13:30 & 17 in Copenhagen at the lot ‘Fisketorvet’. It is not yet published where you can find Circus Benneweis on 2 September.

The two following week-ends 8/9 September and 15/16 September you can see Circus Benneweis as well as Circus Dannebrog in Copenhagen. Circus Benneweis will be at the lot ‘Bellahoj’ with performances Saturdays at 16:30 and Sundays at 13:30 and 16:30. Circus Dannebrog has all the days mentioned performances at 13:30 & 17 in Copenhagen at the lot ‘Fisketorvet’.

Cheap accommodation in Copenhagen? Prices from 18 Euro per night. Well, it’s not easy to find cheap accommodation in any capital in Western Europe!  But here are some suggestions: At Cabinn Hotels you can get a single room with bath and toilet for DKK 495 (68 Euro) per night. Click here for further information.

At Danhostel you can get a bed at a 10 bed dorm room for DKK 230 (31 Euro) per night and even a bit cheaper, if you bring yourself linen and towel. Click here for further information.

During a circus visit to Copenhagen, don’t forget to visit the Circus Museum at Hvidovre (Copenhagen Suburb). It’s the largest and best circus museum in the Nordic countries. The museum is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 to 15. The address is Hovedporten 6, Avedørelejren, Hvidovre. From central Copenhagen you can take Bus 1A to Avedørelejren right in front of the museum.

At the hostel Belægningen next to the Circus Museum bunkbeds in communitiv will cost you 133 DKK (18 Euro) per night. The price for a single room with bath and toilet is 379 DKK (52 Euro) per night. Click here for further information.

16 July 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS --  now during the summer season -- THEATRE ALAMBIC COMEDIE- proudly presents BASTIEN, featuring a hilarious magic show including some ventriloquism, when he talks with a white glove on his right hand, giving the illusion that the glove is a small rabbit !

Dressed in a green jacket, a pair of black trousers and a top hat, he enters the stage, starting at a brisk pace, but nevertheless in a way that the small children can follow.

BASTIEN, really FABRICE ROUBEYRIE, performs in a dramatically way and thus he catches the interest of the audience, small fry and their parents, he is very funny and performs many stunts, all well rehearsed. BASTIEN has studied theatre and mime, this is obvious as he perfectly masters both body-language and mimicry - using just a few props, and he performs during 50 minutes. The audience is well aware that BASTIEN enjoys putting on his show - his joy of performing is clearly shown, and the audience gives feedback laughing, shouting and applauding.

I know that I repeat what I said many times: it is of utmost importance that already the small kids have the opportunity to enjoy a show - magic or something else - comfortably seated in a REAL THEATRE, and not -- anywhere !!

An excellent show, performed by BASTIEN with personality and showmanship !!!

See more: www.fabriceroubeyrie.fr and www.alambic-comedie.com

Venue: 12, rue de la Chardonniere, 75018 Paris.    Metro:Simplon.

---------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

13 July 2012

Circus Benneweis 125 years. On Friday 13th July is exactly 125 years ago since Gottfried Benneweis were permitted to work as a musician and acrobat and thus founded the Danish Circus Benneweis. The permission was granted in form of a travel passport issued by the police in Vordingborg, Denmark. The travel passport revealed that Gottfried Benneweis' full name was Gottfried Carl Heinrich Wilhelm Binneweis and that he was born 18/6 1865 in Tistrup. He had black hair and brown eyes. Distinguishing features: uneven in the back. He spoke German and Danish. Passport holder's signature was filled out by the authorities with "can’t write"!

The old travel passport from 1887

Today Circus Benneweis is owned by Gottfried Benneweis great-granddaughter Diana Benneweis. It is the only circus in the world that owned by the same family for 125 years have toured every season. It is alto one of the oldest circuses in the world.

On Friday the 13 July Diana Benneweis' children Nadia and Dawid can celebrate their 25 years birthday. So there is every reason for congratulating Circus Benneweis with the anniversary and Nadia and Dawid with the birthday. Let’s hope that Circus Benneweis for many more years each year will present international top quality performances. Just as they now have done for 125 years. (Well, the first years the performance might not have been too impressive …).

12 July 2012

Jody the Clown seen at Møntergården, Odense on 11 July at 12. Jørgen Lorenzen writes (my translation):

When you come by train to Odense, you arrive at a station and a station forecourt which is incredibly ugly and unaesthetic. Unbelievable that someone has authorized the construction of such building.

But it is quickly forgotten when you close to the station at the Møntergaard building (built 1846) see the performance by clown Jody, aka Arne Björk. Then you immediately get happy again. It might be obvious for a moment to compare him with Hans Christian Andersen. We are in Odense. Both are dressed in black, wear a white shirt front and a cylinder hat. But from here the similarities stops. The differences are far greater. H. C. Andersen was a tall man; Arne Björk has a slight figure. Hans Christian Andersen had coarse facial features, Arne Björk has delicate features and a vivid facial expressions. How H.C. Andersen has moved about nobody knows. But Arne Björk has the artist's agile suppleness and the actors mimic expression. In his figure one senses features from many of the great clowns and comedians: Charlie Chaplin, George Carl, Joe Jackson, Charlie Rivel and his mustache could have been sitting on the famous Danish clown August Miehe.

Jody under the umbrella. Photo: Asbjørn Sand

Arne Björk gave the 120 persons who watched his performance half an hour of life-affirming, genuine entertainment, where he played several musical instruments - among them, of course the concertina. He did card tricks and other magic in the magical clown universe where the hat has 3 dents, and where all the crooked things are straight and the laws of nature are not valid. Arne Björk's figure alternates rapidly between being the little child who curiously explores life's endless possibilities and being the old man, who only with difficulty can keep together the life and has infirmities of old age.

Jody with the concertina. Photo: Torben Rasmussen

When the performance was over, Jody sat down and took his time to talk with the children, who now could get close to him and talk with him. For some of them probably a not insignificant part of the performance. Jody is a gentle, friendly, lyrical and poetic clown, maybe a little wistful. He can’t do any harm or do anything bad. He does not use words but you can feel that he is trained as actor. Right from the beginning of his show you could feel his joy by performing and making contact with the audience and giving them a little piece of poetry and courage.

It annoying that I could not stay at Møntergaarden and the clown’s universe but had to go back to the ugly station!

11 July 2012

Circus Big. The photographer Per “Mr. Sputnik” Krogh Petersen writes:

CIRKUS BIG Show is a really nice present for all children. It is always a pleasure when you see CIRKUS BIG SHOW. Benjamin you always get the good mood up. It is with great pleasure that I now can show you the pictures & movie clips I took. May All Your Days Be Circus & clown Days. In the performance you met the Director Mr. Big: Benjamin Breith

The Clown Knud: Thomas Larsen, The clown Don Carlos: Mogens Koelmeyer

Magician Mini Benjamin: Benjamin ????? and the Circus Princess Mrs. Big: Louise Rasmussen.

Click here to see Mr. Sputnik’s photos and video clips.

11 July 2012

Circus Finlandia. Gertrude and Christer Nilsson has visited Finland and seen the large Finnish Circus Finlandia. On his website http://magiarkivet.se/ which also has photos from the performance Christer writes (my translation):

In the large tent almost every seat was sold! The clown Bonbon joked with the audience before the show and I reminded him of when we were last met - for some 20 years ago after a performance in Swedish Circus Maximum when Maximum’s owner Bengt Källquist invited to a party after the performance.

The large live circus band played and director Carl Jernström Jr. welcomed the audience in Finnish and Swedish. Lauri Vatan began the program with a trapeze act. Valtteri was a clown on a unicycle and returned later with a much better act on unicycle where he cycled with stilts! Duo Kate & Pasi performed impressively acrobatics and Kate's specialty is foot juggling, including juggling using Pasi’s back as ‘trinka’. Bonbon and Tina made several appearances: She was dressed in a crinoline and began to run faster and faster around in the ring while Bonbon couldn’t keep up. Bonbon wants to play violin but the chair wobbles. Then he saw off one leg - good, but the fiddle fall apart so then he plays on the saw instead. Bonbon and Tina makes also their famous human cannonball act.  Warm humor which is appreciated by both children and adults.

Vlad Olondars cats were exceptionally well trained! The seven white Angora cats did not have a single failure or refusal in the fast moving act. Surely the best house cat act we've seen! Oriental Swan, a pair of acrobats where she dances on tiptoe all the time. Among other things, she stands on the tip of her toe on his head. Very nice act! Marko Karvo with his partner ended the first part of the performance. We have seen Marko's act both in Lund and at FISM in Stockholm for magicians so it was interesting to see it in a circus. It worked very well! His act with doves, shredded newspaper, costume change on Vanessa, cage illusions and conjuring up of a lot of birds which flew around in the was world class magic!

The Buldig Brothers are two gentlemen who are juggling clubs between themselves in a variety of formations. The whole time they talk in Finnish and it seems as the audience found it funny - we didn’t understand a damn. Troupe Stoian worked with Russian bar and did it well! Sebastian is not only a great ventriloquist - he's a great artist too! The audience loved his numbers with the two dolls, and when he brought in two spectators, who got quite scary voices, the audience shouted with joy! The Circus Director's own specialty is juggling on horseback. Carl Jernström Jr. has full control on clubs, balls as well as torches. In these years a lot of circuses has globe of death acts and we have seen a lot such acts. But Diorios will probably take the price as the best. Four guys on motorcycles and a woman in the middle of the small globe appears to be more than there is room for. But they manage and run at full speed! Very impressive! This was the finale - and it can only conclude that this was probably this year's circus experience No. 1!

10 July 2012

Circus Minimax is Norway's smallest circus. The tent has only room for 200 spectators. The 2012 season starts in Hordaland Osterøy on 23 July. For season 2013 they have planned a six-month tour starting in April and lasting until September.CEO Carl-André Hjelvik writes about his little circus (my translation):

Circus Minimax is the tiny circus with roots in the ancient traditions but also being aware of new vibrations. Introducing jugglers, rola-bola artists, clowns, acrobats, cats, dogs, ponies, fakirs, contortionists and magicians in our small circus tent. Each summer we arrange performances around the country. We also give lectures and hold workshops. The purpose of the circus is to generate interest and spread joy to children of all ages, but also provide a service for everyone who wants to hire a great circus to different events. 

SOME FACTS: Minimax Circus was started up by circus director Carl-André Hjelvik (34) from Sunnmøre and his fiancee, Ingrid Lone (29) from the Hordaland. Circus Minimax is the country's smallest circus, and the only circus in Norway who travels around with a one pole circus tent. In Europe, we find several such circuses. The tent has room for 200 spectators. Artists are often brought in from all over Europe. We have a great circus kiosk selling popcorn, cotton candy, bacon snacks, chocolates and soft drinks etc. Circus Minimax is mainly traveling in the summer season, but plans to extend the season. We do often visit campsites with performances, activities and workshops for the whole family.

Circus Minimax can also be booked for different types of events. Circus Minimax offers performances, classes, workshops, rental of popcorn machine and tents. Our biggest goal is to bring back the good old circus atmosphere we all remember from when we were young, with good presentations by artists and animals. Attractions, sensations, animals and surprises in the country's smallest circus! Our performances will impress, fascinate and amaze the whole family. We always put great emphasis on joy, humor and excitement!

Circus Minimax’s tiny tent

9 July 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  during the summer-season LE CIRQUE GONTELLIS performs in Paris and adjacent communities, featuring a program composed for the smaller fry,  3 - 6 years.

LE CIRQUE GONTELLIS is a small family circus, run by SERGE AND FABIOLA GONTELLI together with their children, in winter-time they play in Southern France around Marseille where the climate is rather mild, during summer in Paris where they get a license to raise their SMALL TOP in the numerous squares, having a play-ground and where parents go with their kids. The SMALL TOP and all circus props are well cared for, well maintained and freshly painted for the season, the seating is adapted with mini-armchairs for the comfort of the small kids, also a classic gradin of wooden planks, some chairs for the parents and other adults who accompany the small ones.

The program is composed and geared to the youngest children: SERGE GONTELLI greets the audience, thus establishing a good contact and performs an antipodean/ foot juggling act in the best classical circus style, then daughter OPHELIE excels in aerial ring, trapeze, on tight rope and also an act "THE DOVE QUEEN” - everything graciously and beautifully executed. Son CHRISTIAN who warms the audience by throwing balls and balloons to the kids, performs a funny rola-bola act, he juggles and shows a cowboy act using several lassos. Youngest daughter MARY performs a hula-hoop act, rather amazing for a girl of 5 years!

Several acts with animals, in fact well-known to the kids so they can feel familiar with them -- the mountain goat HEIDI, doing what a goat can do - climbing stools, walking a beam .. and the cat TOM, doing ....  what he chooses to do .... and some white mice climbing, balancing and running in a wheel -- very nice - the important thing is that the children who want - may pat the animals .. cautiously..The program ends offering the classic clown-entrée MUSIC IS HERE FORBIDDEN - always getting much laughter, also from the adults!

The GONTELLIS children:  CHRISTIAN, MARY, OPHELIE.

An excellent show for the whole family, having small children, as the atmosphere is a good and sympathetic one - and parents are happy to see ----  happy children !!!

See more: click on http://cirquegontellis.skyrock.com and adjacent sites - there are photos, videos etc.

Venues: see L'OFFICIEL DES SPECTACLES, headline Pour les jeunes/=for the young ones/, in all newspaper stalls, price € 0.30. See also Pariscope= what's on in Paris, also in all stalls.

-------------------------------------------------------------reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

27 June 2012

Kenny & Joan Quinn at the Aarhus Festival 2012. When the doors open up on 31 August to this year's Aarhus Festival and the Tent of Mirrors’ International Night Cabaret you can also meet Danish artists in the show. The thieving entertainers Kenny & Joan Quinn, who last appeared at the Night cabaret 9 years ago, are back!

Beware of pickpocket thieves! Assisted by his wife Kenny steals neckties, belts, wallets, watch, glasses and braces from his victims. But he is an honest man: his victims get everything back.

The Aarhus Festival has for this year's international show booked talented artist from all over the world. Artists who will enchant and delight the audience with their amazing, comical and magical acts. From the magical world where you can, besides being relieved from your valuables by JOAN & KENNY QUINN, meet the comedy magicians SCOTT & MURIEL (USA / Holland). They are the first comic magicians ever awarded the Grand Prize at the World Championships in Magic in 2000.You will be amazed by the British comedy duo RAYMOND & MR. TIMPKINS with their humour and musicality. You will be impressed by the  trapeze duo DUO SUPANOVA (ES / DE), performing a daredevil trapeze act high up under the dome in the Tent of Mirrors’ and by the jugglers STRAHLEMANN & SÖHNE (DE), who dressed stylishly in suits perform tempo juggling while they undress and dress.

Duo Supernova. By courtesy of Tent of Mirrors’ International Night Cabaret

ISABEL ANOBIAN (ES) presents an original and charming acrobatic act performed both on the stage and high above the heads of the audience. Last but not least, the amazing LE FRERES TAQUINS (BE) will be on the stage with their comical and brilliant mime art. In Denmark they are known from Benny Schumann’s clown shows at the amusement park Bakken. But they have also won a gold medal at the Circus Festival in Paris and bronze clown at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo.

The Tent of Mirrors International Night Cabaret can be seen in Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus from 30th August to 8 September at 9 p.m., however not on 2 September.

After the last performance in the Tent of Mirrors there will only be a short break for Joan and Kenny Quinn before they hurry to their next engagement, which is also a re-engagement of the elegant pair of pickpockets. They have once again signed an contract with Germany's largest Tivoli & Leisure Park EUROPE PARK, to participate in Europe Park’s large Dinner-spectacle Cirque d'Europe from late October 2012 to mid-March 2013 in Europe-Parks elegant "Teatro dell'Arte "with room for approx. 500 dining guests.

26 June 2012

Contemporary Circus Festival in Copenhagen in August. Copenhagen International Theatre (KIT) writes (my translation):

We've searched all over Europe for the best New Circus performances and from 6 to 22 August you can see them in Copenhagen. We open the festival with a visit by one of the European contemporary circus' heavyweighters Gandini Juggling, where 100 apples, 9 jugglers and a tea set have the main role. There is reunion with Circ'ombelico and their minimalist two person acrobatics inside a truck. The bearded lady Jeanne Mordoj shows that she is more than a freak. Danish GLINT explores the world from a clump of 222 meters of rope. And Subliminati’s bad boys take us on a beat boxing acid trip through European politics. Un loup pour l'homme explores the terms of acrobats with childlike and playful curiosity. The wolves crowd La Meute get to vent their indomitable ferocity in the open. Danish Karl Stets finally comes to this country with his mysterious circus magic for the whole family. And there's cabaret and party atmosphere of Prags Boulevard with Danish New Circus artists and foreign guest stars. See more details on the performances and ticket booking at What's On.

25 June 2012

Correction of information about Circus Royal. I my article dated 20th June about the closing of Italian owned Circus Royal’s tour in Denmark I wrote:

Larry Rossante’s Danish co-operations partners were Henry Schäffner and Lucy Berdino. Larry Rossante had expected those two to sell a lot of tickets in the presale

Lucy Berdino has informed me that she didn’t have anything to do with ticket sales. At Circus Royal’s website her tasks was described as follows (my translation): "L.Berdino is our lovely female ringmistress and tour manager."

Sorry for the mistake.

25 June 201 

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS --  an interesting initiative  --  PARIS TOWNHALL /LA MAIRIE DE PARIS/  has started a co-production with LE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE, direction HERVEE VALLEE and friends ... This is a unique feature as LE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE certainly is a good edition of new-circus-concept, but within the framework of the activities we find workshops for circus-skills, different kinds of music, free market, literary events and a unique structure: THE TIGER PALACE, an old itinerant dance-hall which has piously kept its dance-floor made of oak and where an unknown number of happy dance-partners have satisfied  their joy of dancing. There are also a bar and a small snack restaurant as well as a modern music and PA-system.

LE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE now proudly presents the creation STEAM referring to our post-industrial development:  several symbols from the industrial era serve as a background to artistic performances: swinging trapeze, classical ballet stunts, juggling, acrobatics on bar and vertical rope and above all there is a young male acrobat, featuring amazing stunts - handstands, saltos and leaps, contorsion of a quality seldom seen, everything performed with the greatest skill, - a top of the cast artist !! The musical background is made up of techno-music and solos on bass, guitar, drums/percussion and trumpet.

Photo from the performance. By courtesy of Le Cirque Electrique

The flyer announces a program suitable from 8 years, but it is really for adults - I noticed that the majority was about 20 thru 35 - having no kids with them, in fact the audience that the new circus targets.

LE CIRQUE ELECTRIQUE is an original performance and well worth seeing !!!

See more:  www.cirque-electrique.com

Venue: LA DALLE AUX CHAPITEAUX, Place du Maquis du Vercors, 75020 Paris.

Metro:  Porte des Lilas.

YOGANE FAMILY MAGIC SHOW, mentioned on this website on 11 June, will play thru the end of JULY, Boulogne Paris. Venue: 74 Avenue du General Leclerc, Boulogne. Metro: Billancourt. See more: www.theatredelaclarte.com

------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

22 June 2012

Solveig Enoch reaches 75 years on Monday 25 June. On 25 June, the owner of Circus Dannebrog, Solveig Enoch can celebrate her 75 years birthday. As a little girl Solveig Enoch dreamed of being a circus performer. The dream came true when she in her childhood home met the bicycle acrobat Haddy Enoch. In 1951 Solveig and Haddy formed a bike trio together with Solveig's sister Grete. Later Grete chose a career as an aerial artist, and Solveig and Haddy continued alone as 2 Haddies. Their breakthrough came in December 1951, when they won first prize at a talent competition at National Scala in Copenhagen and the second price at a similar competition in Lorry, Copenhagen. National Scala and Lorry was at that time leading music halls. This led to an engagement in Circus Moreno for season 1952. In 1953 the Haddies worked in Alhambra Music Hall at the amusement park “Bakken” north of Copenhagen and later the same season in Circus Brdr. Schmidt, before they got a new engagement in Circus Moreno for season 1954. Then they went abroad, where the Haddies for season 1955 was engaged in Circus Löwe in Norway. The same year, Haddy and Solveig was married. And now began a trip around the world, where Solveig and Haddy worked in circuses, music halls, ice shows and on TV. It was all in all contracts and engagements in 32 different countries. Their favourite place was Hansa-Theatre in Hamburg, where the Haddies worked 18 times. When the 4 children Dennie, Agnete, Isabella and Katja grew up, they were became part of the bike act. In 1977 the Enoch family re-established Circus Dannebrog, which had belonged to the Enoch family until it closed in 1928. But now if was successfully re-established by Solveig and Haddy Enoch. After Haddy Enoch died in November, 2009, Solveig became sole owner of the circus which she runs with help from the four children. Family means everything to Solveig and she is happy when she has her children and grandchildren around her. The birthday with the round figure is celebrated with a party in the circus tent, which on 25 June is put up at the circus lot in Hune / Blokhus.

Solveig Enoch. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

20 June 2012

Circus Royal stop their tour in Denmark. Sunday the 24th July at 3 p.m. the ill-fated Italian-owned Circus Royal will give their last performance in Denmark. The owner Larry Rossante has chosen to stop the tour due to low attendance and the negative Medias after an episode with reporting of maltreatment of dogs etc. earlier this month. The original plan was to continue the tour which started in Sønderborg on 2 April until mid August.

Larry Rossante’s Danish co-operations partners were Henry Schäffner and Lucy Berdino. Larry Rossante had expected those two to sell a lot of tickets in the presale. However, it was certainly not the case. Often there were less than 50 persons in the tent, which can seat 800 persons.

Until the beginning of June the magician Kasper Alberto was ringmaster at Circus Royal. He decided to discontinue cooperation with Circus Royal when Larry Rossante refused to dismiss the artist (David Busnelli), who was responsible for the dogs. The assignment as ringmaster was then taken over by Lucy Berdino.

It is unclear whether the dogs' condition was quite as poor as the media initially reported. "We had noticed that the dogs had stomach troubles and that they were thin and often had no access to water, what we complained about numerous times," Kasper Alberto says.

Larry Rossante will have another unpleasant and costly surprise before leaving Copenhagen. The City of Copenhagen's Technical and Environmental Management was on supervision at Circus Royal on 7 June 2012. Here they found 14 vehicles that did not comply with environmental zone rules and therefore they reported the matter to the police. The offence will trigger a considerable fine for both the owner of the trucks (Larry Rossante) and the persons who have driven the cars into the green zone.

Too few customers in front of the ticket wagon are the reason for Larry Rossante to take his circus back to Italy. The season was certainly not what they had hoped for but became an expensive and sad experience for Italians. The photo is taken 30 minutes before a performance. At that time a circus will normally have queue in front of the box office.

14 June 2012

Obituary: "Mama" Dina Steckel. On 13 June "Mama" Dina Steckel, whose full name was Dina Theodora Mosgaard Steckel-Schmidt, passed away in her home in Villa Lindely in Hedehusene. She was 85 years old. She was the widow of the clown Frederik "Gugele" Schmidt and was for many years her husband's partner in his clown act Gugele & Co. The couple were married in 1950, when Frederick Schmidt was 50 years old and Dina was 23. At that time Frederick Schmidt together with his brother Arnold owned Circus Brdr. Schmidt (Circus Schmidt Bros.). Circus Brdr. Schmidt stopped after season 1955, but already in 1953 Frederik and Dina had “gone solo” and started a career as a clowns with appearances in a number of circuses in Denmark and abroad, including Danish Circus Benneweis, Circus Arena and Circus Vivi. Also the couple's 4 children Randi, Freddi, Jacki and Heidi became artists. Dina had lived in Villa Lindely ever since she was married to Frederick Schmidt.  Funeral service will take place from the Rønnevang Church in Taastrup on Friday 15 June at 1. p.m.

Dina Steckel photographed in 2010 together with her sons Jackie and Freddi

11 June 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  LE THEATRE DE LA CLARTE proudly presents female magic entertainer YOGANE who invites the family audience, kids and parents, to a stunning display of supreme magic, amazing effects and incredible illusions.

The name of the show is MA SORCIERE PREFEREE / = the witch I prefer / - it refers back to a TV series, running for years.

Yogane has a very sympathetic appearance, she is humourous and patient with the children, some of these are invited up on stage to assist - a good piece of interaction.

Yogane wears a colourful and elegant costume that fits well into all her nice effects, everything is performed at a good pace, but moderately so, thus allowing the youngest ones to follow the action. All the props are beautiful, well kept and nice-looking - an important detail !!

Yogane. Photo by courtesy of the artist

LE THEATRE DE LA CLARTE is a real theatre, sporting a good-sized stage, a satisfactory lighting and comfortable seats - it is of utmost importance that even the youngest children get acqainted with a real theatre where they are treated to entertaining and interesting performances - and thus not in various inadequate surroundings.

A family show, well worth seeing !!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: www.yogane.fr   ---  below, same window, you can see: magie au feminin - Magicienne - Yogane - there are photos and video.

Venue: LE THEATRE DE LA CLARTE, 74 Avenue du General Leclerc, Boulogne.  Metro: Billancourt.

----------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

8 June 2012

Diana Benneweis reach 65 on Tuesday 12 June. Diana Benneweis, being the owner of the oldest Danish circus, Circus Benneweis, reach 65 years on 12 June. Circus Benneweis was established 13 July 1887 by Diana's great-grandfather Gottfried Benneweis. Diana took over the circus when her father Eli Benneweis, who made Circus Benneweis the leading circus in Scandinavia, passed away in 1993. 

Diana has modernized the performance and although Circus Arena today has a larger tent than Benneweis Circus Benneweis is still a leading circus which every year presents fast-running international performance of high quality.

Diana Benneweis gave both the press and her audience a shock when she in 2002 openly admitted that she had mental problems and a short period had been at the locked ward. Today, Diana has learned to live with her mental problems and remains in charge of the now 125 year old circus. However, she is not any longer going into the ring. Much of the year Diana is living in her house in the southern part of Sweden. This also applies during the circus season, as many decisions easily can be taken "long distance" by phone and e-mail. However, she visits regularly her circus. She is out of town (and circus) on her birthday.

Diana Benneweis

7 June 2012

New problems for Circus Royal. The Italian-owned Royal Circus has since season start on 2 April struggled with unsatisfactory attendance. They are now in Copenhagen and have run into additional problems. Two Danish tabloids report that Copenhagen Police on 6th June visited the circus lot where nine dogs and a lame horse were taken to the vet for signs of neglect. One of the tabloids BT quotes the police for saying that the animal was severely malnourished. There were some open wounds and possible fractures on one of the dogs.

The matter was also reported in the Copenhagen TV channel TV2 Lorry. Click here for link.

Circus Royals ticket agent and Danish spokesperson, Henry Schæffner said to BT that he is deeply shocked by the case. "It is simply a hard slap in the face that we have some artists who can’t figure out how to treat their animals properly," BT quotes him for saying. He promises that he in the future will check up whether the animals are given proper conditions.

Circus owner Larry Rossante does not understand what the problems are. Apparently he is not aware of the Danish rules for treatment of animals in circuses. And despite the missing animals he intent to continue the performances in Copenhagen.

It was the largest Danish society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, Dyrenes Beskyttelse, who asked the police to investigate the matter. Before contacting the police the society had warned the management of Circus Royal who had promised to improve their handling of the dogs and the horse. As nothing happened, the society asked the police to investigate. Dyrenes Beskyttelse is not one of the societies which in general fight against animals in circuses.

Following the incident Circus Royals Danish ringmaster Kasper Alberto and his fiancé Sascha decided to leave the circus. They gave management an ultimatum: either they would have to dismiss the artists who couldn’t take proper care of their animals or Kasper and Sascha would leave. And apparently the management preferred the artists.

Besides problems by animal welfare Circus Royal might also have another problem. The Copenhagen circus lot is located in Copenhagen's green zone. Diesel trucks must either be fitted with a particulate filter or have an exemption and a green zone label from the Environmental Protection Agency. And Circus Royal has not applied for such a waiver. The EPA has informed the Municipality of Copenhagen, who is supervisor of green zone rules in Copenhagen, that Circus Royal is staying in the green zone without green zone labels. So unless the Circus Royal trucks are fitted with particle filters, they can foresee to get a fine, as they obviously has to observe exactly the same environmental zone rules as Danish circus.  

I saw the performance in Circus Royal some weeks ago. It was nice, but not on par with the quality of the 7 Danish circus. If I handed out “stars” Royal would probably get 3 stars, where the Danish circus would get from 4 to 6 stars.

Do those trucks have particle filters? If not, it is illegal that they are driven into the Copenhagen green zone. (Note - the photo is not taken in Copenhagen)

5 June 2012

Circus Mascot 2012. Circus Mascot is in the first half of June visiting some cities on Zealand. It gave me the opportunity to visit “Denmark’s family circus," as Marianne and Jess Deleuran call their dog and pony show. The visit was a wonderful experience. Not least, it was good to see that Marianne and Jess’s two sons Daniel and Andreas now are not just cute and talented adolescent boys, but real artists with obvious talent. Also the meeting with the legendary Katja Schumann was a great experience. The visit confirmed once more the high quality we have in the Danish circuses, being they small family circuses or the 3 large circuses. Apart from the large Swedish Circus Scott's visit to Copenhagen in the years 1999-2001, I can’t remember in any of the foreign circus that has visited Denmark, to have seen performances that quality can compare with what you can see in the 7 Danish circus.

After Jess Deleuran's welcome ANDREAS DELEURAN opened the performance with his diabolo act. Those who remember him as a cute little boy will be surprised. The now 14-year-old Andreas is today taller than his mother and father. And the number keeps getting better year by year.

The run-in clowns are as last year ALEX & LULU. This year they offer a number of new and original entrées. It's always great to see the clowns can be more than just copying other clown’s acts. In their first entrée they took us on a fishing trip.

They were followed VORONIN with a German wheel act. Then Alex went hunting - hunting ladies, and this did not please Lulu! But the audience!

Next act was one of the Circus Mascot’s classics: MARIANNE DELERUAN and her talented and playful dogs - poodles, a Löwchen and a Danish / Swedish farm dog. As last year, Marianne was assisted by Andreas. The number had also gotten a nice facelift: when the dogs aren’t "on" they are sitting dog on a pedestal (see photo).

Marianne and Andreas Deleuran with the dogs

Alex & Lulu then had a run-in as comic magicians. The next number was a fine act with chair balancing, performed by 22-year-old DANIEL. In addition to stacking chairs, he showed beautiful handstand acrobatics. Some other chairs balance acts is more about stacking the chairs on top of each other than about showing the artist's acrobatic skills.

Daniel Deleuran

Daniel was replaced by KATJA SCHUMANN who rode excellent high school on her beautiful brown American Saddlebred horse. It was wonderful once again to see a member of the Schumann family in the ring in a Danish circus.

The first number after the interval was the elegant ANDREY VORONIN, who wearing top hat and tails ran on one-wheel bicycle, while he juggled. Then Alex & Lulu took us on a picnic together with their two dogs. A very charming entrée which ended with the competition between the dogs on scoring basketball goals.

The clowns and their dog were replaced by a quite impressive number in aerial straps, presented by the brothers ANDREAS and DANIEL DELEURAN. Andreas and Daniel – please promise me that you are working further on this act. It's very good but has the potential to be really great.

We are accustomed to Mascot-performances featuring Jess Deleuran ponies. However this year he had left horse acts to Katja Schumann who presented liberty horses. Katja presented two horses: one brown and one gray horse of the breed American Saddlebred. The acts fitted perfectly to the size of the ring of Circus Mascot. Small is beautiful - at least when it is an act with the grace and charm that not many other than members of the Schumann family can present.

Katja Schumann

The performance's ended with a fast-paced gaucho number, performed by ANDREY AND SVITLANA.

The audience liked this year's performance in the small circus. The recurring comment when they left the tent was "we shall certainly see it again next year." And it's probably the best recommendation a circus can get.

A man and his circus. Jess Deleuran is one of the few circus fans, who with help from Mrs Marianne has realized his boyhood dream of getting his own circus. Click here to see more photos from this year's Mascot-performance

5 June 2012

Artist in Lalandia. Lalandia has been receiving happy bathing guests at its tropical holiday centre in Rødby for 20 years. This summer they will in addition to other activities offer artist performances: From Germany come Freddy Anthony and Miss Martina, known by Danes from e.g. Circus Dannebrog, Circus Krone and Circus Baldoni. Freddy Anthony play honk horns and Martina is doing acrobatics and hula hoop. You can meet the artists from 1 July to 5 August. Freddy and Martina will on the stage every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. 20.00. The other day you meet the Danish entertainer and magician Mr. Plys.

Freddy Anthony with his honk horn car. Photo from 2011

1 June 2012

Bettina Arli of Circus Arli turns 50 on Tuesday 5 June. Bettina Storgaard is born in Horsholm north of Copenhagen. Her father was a lawyer and her mother a nurse. After school Bettina became an apprentice hairdresser and everything indicated that the nice girl would find a good middle-class man and get a good bourgeois life. So if Bettina hadn’t met Martin Arli at a private party in 1981, one would undoubtedly today in one of Copenhagen's dormitory towns have had a "Salon Bettina" where the hairdresser Bettina and her staff had cut, dyed and permed local ladies hair and where men had come because the hairdresser had such a charming smile. "Here you go" Bettina would had said every time she finished cutting a customer.

But the 19-year-old Bettina met Martin, and there was sweet music. The first year she continued to work as hairdresser but visited throughout the circus season Martin every weekend. After the end of the season the couple moved together, and in season 1983, Bettina got her circus debut as "target" in a knife throwing act where it was Martin who successfully placed knives around the body his beloved girlfriend.

After the end of season 1983, Bettina and Martin was on 11 September 1983 married in the Groendal Church in Copenhagen. The church is located at Hulgaardvej where the Arli family has their permanent address.

After switching from hairdresser to circus princess the audience has met Bettina in a variety of roles. She has presented trained pigeons. She has presented trained goats. She has presented magic illusions. She has hung in her hair. She has appeared in aerial rope. She has been a clown. Bettina and Martin and many others believe that her best act was the trapeze act, with which she debuted as a 30-year-old. It was the old artist Yrsa Zidla who trained her. It required a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but the result was very good.

Martin and Bettina Arli in 1985 as 2 Arlikins.

Bettina Arli with pigeons in 2001

It should also be mentioned that Bettina in 1987 got the role as mother: her and Martin's son Alexander was born on 20 January 1987.

In 2004, Bettina got a whole new role: She became the elegant ringmistress who with charm and elegance leads the audience through the show. When she with authority say "here you go", we know that we have reached the culmination of a number. As ringmaster, she was also the natural opponent to two Auguste clowns from clown troupe Martino & co. This task she does however not have in 2012 where her son Alexander has his debut as a white faced clown.

Bettina Arli as ringmistress in 2012. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

There are many traditions in Circus Arli. Traditions, the audience definitely not will miss. Mama Lotte has to sit in the ticket office. Martin must present magic and be a clown. Alexander shall every year present a new acrobatic act and be clown. And the costumes and choreography in the show has to be stylish, and the engaged artists must always be first class. And last but not least: Bettina must present the show and say "Here you are" every time an artist makes a particularly fine trick.

At the round days Bettina and her family will be in Havdrup where Circus Arli has performance at 18:30. You can’t cancel a show just because there is a birthday with a round figure. Bettina will at later occasion be celebrated appropriately.

1 June 2012

International Clown Festival 2012, Svendborg, 23 to 28 May 2012. 'Smiling' Lise Kokholm writes (my translation):

We have now had the International Clown Festival in Svendborg for the 14^th year in row. As always we had some festive day with lots of life and activities in the city for both children and adults. This festival is not just a festival, but also the place where artists meet, share experiences and have a good time together.

As a “citizen" in the city is wonderful to see how happy everyone are those days. I am so fortunate that I was allowed to participate on an equal foot with the clowns and take a lot of photos. Something I really appreciate.

Circus Big at the square in Svendborg – owner Benjamin along with the clown Knud

The participants at festival has become one big family where everyone meet each other very friendly, whether it's the first time they meet and know no one or has participated in festival every year. All do not arrive at the same time, so you meet all during the day new faces and old friends. As my photo shows, there are many different activities: gala at Svendborg Theater, performances at the square, street entertainment, workshops in face painting and lots of other fun stuff.

Left: Martin also known as the hospital clown Victor. He is also an actor and dancer. Right: the clown Zilly, being 83 years old, together with his wife. He has participated in all the festivals and as a young man appeared in circuses in England. It was the first time he brought his wife to the festival.

We hope next year to be able to hold a 15th festival. A big thanks to John Newman for his great work (the clown with the arrow through the head).

John Newmann. All photos: Lise Kokholm

28 May 2012

Program change in Circus Royal. The Italian-owned Circus Royal which for the time being is touring Zealand has made a few changes in the program. At season start in the beginning of April the show featured Duo Amsejf with a quick change act, the comedian and multi acrobat Rudi Macaggi, 14-year-old Miss Elizabeth with a handstand, the contortionist Araz (the male partner from Duo Amsejf), Mr. David in Washington trapeze, Miss Sandy in "fishing net" (tissue), the clown Larry, Ranzan with parrots and the Busnelli family with Dalmatian dogs. Miss Elizabeth is now replaced by a tight wire act, performed by 11-year-old Angel, and the clown Larry has been replaced by another run-in clown presented as Mr. Bananas. In total there are 9 performers in the show, including members from the Rossante family, which owns the circus. The only animal acts are parrots and dogs, if you look away from the two ponies that pull the wagon with the dogs in and out of the ring.

The number of visitors is still very disappointing. The tent can seat 900 persons. E.g. on 26 May they had 38 visitors and the following day 50 visitors. From 6 to 28 June they plan to give performances in Copenhagen at the same lot where the large Circus Arena had performances for 4 weeks in March/April. It is illegal to put up circus posters in Copenhagen and newspaper and/or TV advertisement is very expensive. And their performance is certainly not on par with Circus Arena and the other leading Danish circuses. Due to this they will hardly get success in Copenhagen.

Circus Royal. Despite a 4-pole tent with room for approx. 900 spectators and a number of large trucks and other equipment it is not a big circus like Circus Arena, Benneweis and Dannebrog, but a family circus where the performers are members of the owning family, supplemented by some other artists.

28 May 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  THEATRE POPULAIR DU REINITAS  proudly presents a clown-show, featured by clown PAIN AU LAIT, one hour performing clowning and slap-sticks, giant soap-bubbles, magical effects, and the sketch showing a coat-and-hat-rack, bearing a coat - the artist interacts with the coat, and we get the impression that this coat is a living person ! Very stunning and amusing.

There is a lot of audience participation pulling the kids into the show, they laughed a lot and were very engaged in all that happened on stage. This theater is a small one, only 50 seats, this makes for a sympathetic near-contact with the small fry - exactly what is needed for a children's show. A young female stage technician manipulated the sound-and-light system very professionally.

Pain Au Lait. By courtesy of the artist. Photo Shane Woodward

All in all a good show for the smaller kids - and yet another example showing us that in Paris there are a lot of theatre-cabarets featuring entertainment for the whole family in the afternoons.

Venue: Theatre Populair Du Reinitas,  36 rue Henri Chevreau, 75020 Paris.

Metro: Menilmontant.

See more: www.clownpainaulait.org

-------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

24 May 2012

The Swedish Circus Skratt is owned by Bo Rönnberg. As in previous years, Benny Berdino of Danish Circus Arena is supplying tent, equipment and artists. Danish Jacki Steckel is boss property man and technical manager. Circus Skratt had its opening night 4 May in Gothenburg. Almost all performances are sold to companies, clubs, supermarkets, etc., which either give away the tickets or sell them for very low prices. Often ticket prices are as low as 50 SEK (5 Euro). The tent can seat 1,300 visitors, and 2012 is season No 29. Among the performers are Charmaine & Stephanie Berdino with their horses. An act, which together with other acts from the Berdino and Casselly families was awarded a junior-gold clown at the New Generation-circus festival in Monte Carlo in january. Among the other performers is the multi-artist Richard from Gothenburg with an award winning act with glass balance.

Circus Skratt on the Bultofta lot in Malmö on 19 September 2010. The tent was at that time presented as Sweden's largest. This record has now been broken by Circus Scott, which’s tent has room for 1,900 spectators.

21 May 2012

The tiny German Circus Astoria visit again this year a number of smaller towns and campsites in Funen and Jutland. It is 6th time in row they spend the summer months in Denmark. The performers consist of members of the Köllner family: Papa Richardo, Mama Velica and the three children Jamie, Celine and Diego. This year they have been joined by a Polish balance artist who also presents trained house cats. The performance is not at the same quality as the performances in the Danish circuses. Besides the cats Circus Astoria has some other animals: horses, dogs, llamas, and an old camel.

When driving from one lot to another Circus Astoria is running with two trailers or caravans after each truck. This is in conflict with the regulations in Denmark and the police will probably fine them and force them to change their transport system, which might give them severe problems as they seems to be short of trucks.

Circus Astoria. Photo from 2008. Photographer: Ole Callesen

21 May 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  COMEDIE DE LA PASSERELLE proudly presents the artist PAUL MAZ who is a magic entertainer, mime, musician /concertina/, really an all-round artist.

The theme of the show is a man walking around collecting old newspapers in order to recycle them - and this gives the possibility to display all sorts of quaint, surprising and wonderful things: a fish made of paper becomes a living goldfish which swims in a glass of water, a bottle of Ketchup disappears in a grocery paperbag, a ship's steering-wheel is cut out of a newspaper, a couple of cuts more - and we see a string of paper-dolls holding hands ... a dozen alarm clocks are pulled out of a small grocery bag - all ringing - and we are treated to the palmtree, growing high up from a small roll of paper....

This show is performed calmly and in a soft rhythm, PAUL MAZ has a good mimicry, he plays his concertina and he knows the art of making short breaks and pauses, thus allowing the youngsters to follow the development of the show. This is theatre for children of the very best kind, very poetical and the calm rhythm is excellent for the kids who live in a world of rapidity and -- zapping.

A nice show in a theatrical style and appealing by its visual poetry, for children as of 5 years.

Paul Maz. Photo by courtesy of Paul Maz

Paper tearing is a classic ---  I saw it at CIRCUS SCHUMANN in Stockholm and the founder of Danish Circus ARLI, SØREN ARLI  featured it when he started his career and -- it still is very alive and kicking - his son MARTIN ARLI   is performing it this year in the CIRKUS ARLI SHOW !!

A fine performance for the entire family !!!

See more: www.paulmaz.com

Venue now: Comedie de la Passerelle, 102 rue Orfila, 75020.  Metro: Gambetta.

Paul Maz performs at various theatres as well, and at the Theatre Festival in Avignon, Southern France, in July.

Look in L'OFFICIEL DES SPECTACLES, = € 0.35 in all news stalls, headline Pour les jeunes/ young public.

Soren Arli’s debut act from 1953 with paper tearing. Photo by courtesy of Martin Arli

Martin Arli with paper tearing in this year’s performance in Circus Arli. Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

-----------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

18 May 2012

The Swedish Circus Scott was founded in 1937 by the brothers Herman (1885-1949), Carl (1889-1937), Bruno (1891-1937) and Nantini Bronett (1895-1952), who at that time for several years under the name 4 Bronetts has toured as clowns all over Europe. Later, Bruno's widow, Kate Bronett (1906-91), became the sole proprietor. In collaboration with her son Francois Bronett she developed Circus Scott to a large circus with high quality programs. In Circus Scott's greatness day it could compete with Danish Circus Benneweis about which of them which was the largest (their tents were of approximately the same size) and had the best program. It changed from year to years which of the two circuses which presented Scandinavia’s strongest program. Both circuses had always very good performances. After Francois Bronett’s death in 1994 and until 2003 his two sons Henry (b. 1961) and Robert Bronett (b. 1964) run the circus. In the last years the quality of the performances was not quite on par with the past and the number of visitors was not as in the god old days. For this reason the circus stopped touring by the end of season 2003.

Robert Bronett produced in 2005 and 2006 the horse show Levade Noble Horse Gala. However, he had still the dream of re-establishing Circus Scott. In 2009 Robert Bronett presented for at few days Circus Scott as an outdoor circus playing at a football stadium in Östersund, Sweden. In august 2011 Circus Scott had nine performances in the Swedish capital Stockholm.

This year, Robert Bronett has started a nationwide tour in Sweden with Circus Scott with season opening 3 May and season closing 9th September. They will visit 15 Swedish cities. Usually there will be performances Thursday to Sunday and Monday to Wednesday will then be used to move the tent and equipment to the next town.

The show takes place in an oblong 8 pole tent, which according to the Circus Scott is Europe's largest circus tent. Half of the tent is used for circus and the other half is a "Circus Park", where children against payment before and after the performance can try certain activities: trapeze, walk at tightrope, juggling, pony rides, acrobatics and face painting. The Circus Park opens two hours before performances.

Drawing of the tent and circus park, reproduced from Circus Scott's printed program.

Besides artists you in the performances meet Bamse (‘Teddy’) and his friends. Bamse is a very popular Swedish comic strip character.

Most of the performers come from two families: the clown Fumagalli (Natalino Giovanni Huesca) with his older brother Darix (Daris Huesca) and his sons Giovanni and Nikolai Huesca and the Hardy Weisheit family. Additionally, you meet trampoline troupe Jumping Jacks presenting trampoline jumping against a wall of Plexiglas. It is first time such an act is shown in Scandinavia. Furthermore we meet Gengis van Gool in Wheel of Death and a troupe of Shaolin monks. A female break-dance troupe BreakCrew’s performance has not much to do with breakdance. A human cannonball is actually a soft toy shot out of a canon. You could read a review of the performance on this site on 8 May.

The Jumping Jacks come from Ukraine. Such an act has never before been presented in a circus in the Nordic countries. Click here to see more photos from Circus Park and from this year's show at Circus Scott.

17 May 2012

Circus Royal has left Jutland. Larry Rossante’s Italian Circo di Mosca, which on 2 April began touring in Jutland under the name Circus Royal, has left Jutland, where they gave their last performance 6th May in Løgstør. Originally they had planned to stay in Jutland until 31 May. After that they would visit Funen and then in the middle of June reach Zealand.

In Jutland Larry Rossante and his Danish helpers realized that it is very difficult to sell tickets to a circus that is completely unknown in Denmark! There has previously been a Danish Circus Royal. But Larry Rossante’s circus has absolutely nothing to do with the Bruun family’s Circus Royal, which stopped touring 40 years ago and for that reason only is remembers by the 50+ generation. That Larry Rossante’s circus did not have heating facilities in the tent for cold nights did not make the visit better. It's not fun to freeze in a circus tent.

At the opening night in Sønderborg there were a few hundred spectators. In Kolding about 100 visitors. In Viborg 65 visitor at the first of two performances. In Vejle Circus Royal wrote on their website that the performance was sold out. Actually the show was cancelled. Also some later performances were cancelled.

Circus Royal has now left Jutland and is trying their luck on Zealand, where they on 10th and 11 May visited Kalundborg and 12 and 13 May Holbæk. In both cities they were the year's first circus. They plan to continue the tour to a number of cities on Zealand which already have been visited by Circus Benneweis and / or Circus Baldoni. Furthermore, the audience in those cities knows that they in July can see Circus Arena with their reviewer and audience acclaimed performance.

15 May 2012

Video clips from the performances in Circus Dannebrog and Circus Mascot.

8th May I wrote that Benneweis had made a short trailer with clips from this year's show.

Also Circus Dannebrog and Circus Mascot have made such trailers.

Click here to see Circus Dannenberg’s trailer.

Click here to see the Circus Mascots trailer.

13 May 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS

THEATRE TREVISE proudly presents an elegant, interesting, funny and original show: ATTRACTIONS MAGIQUES, where the word "magique" is to be interpreted in a very wide meaning, viz. "fantastic" and "wonderful". Direction: JEROME MURAT.

This show is staged by Jerome Murat and the program runs:

MIKAEL SZANYIEL, a magic entertainer playing on the theme OPERA - he is a singer who is confronted with various unexpected incidents - and he has to make do .... hilarious and original.

During the show, he acts as MC - linking the acts together by using magic effects, the sponge balls that multiply in a girl's hand and a levitation of a lady from the audience - amazing - she is as astonished as the audience looking at this stunt !

MARIEANGELES, formerly mentioned in Circus in Denmark, performs as always an outstanding act, combining dancing, contortion and spinning of hula hoop rings, featuring a beautiful choreography and wearing an orientally inspired costume - very high class !!

NATHALIE ROMIER performs an original act, combining dancing, singing, costume-quick-change and a kind of ventriloquism - she is constantly interrupted by a hen ---  hilarious idea ! Her personal approach to the audience was rewarded by lots of applause.

JEROME MURAT opens the show presenting his act as a bartender, where everything goes wrong - well assisted by his partner SOFIANE ABERCANE - a good act to put the audience in a receptive mood.

JEROME MURAT closes the program featuring his STATUE which has two heads - this type of act has never been seen before and is the favorite of the public. He can be seen at the Nordic Magic Convention, this autumn,  in the university town of Lund, Southern Sweden, near Malmoe and Copenhagen, dk. If possible at all - don't miss him out !

Jerome Murat’s fabulous entrée as the statue with two heads. Photo by courtesy of Jerome Murat.  Photo: Virgile Biechy

Thus - an elegant, beautiful and hilarious show, well worth seeing - and all visual - you don't need to know French. IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --- last performance July 2.

See more: www.jeromemurat.com & www.virtuosesdeletrange.com

Venue: Theatre Trevise, 14 rue de Trevise, 75009 Paris.  Metro: Grands Boulevards.

CIRCUS-CABARET LE ZEBRE proudly presents various interesting programs, both catering for the adult audience and families with children ... the choice is wide and LE ZEBRE features both concerts and visual artists.

Direction FRANCIS SCHOELLER has succeeded in transforming an old decrepit cinema, closed by the authorities as it no longer fulfilled security norms, into an attractive and appealing circus-cabaret that has won the approval of people seeking entertainment.

It may be of interest to know that you don't need to master French to enjoy most of the shows.

NOW: LE ZEBRE proudly presents a one-woman-cabaret-show -- the young female artist ALYONA features together with her partner LILLY an entire program: ALYONA performs as an elegant contortionist, accompanied by LILLY playing the accordion - she continues on the vertical rope - an interlude singing with guitar and accordion as back-up - some magical effects - a sequence in Washington trapeze -- and all along there are comedy stunts and lots of funny happenings.

Alyona and Lilly. Photo by courtesy of Le Zèbre de Belleville

Elegant costumes and very appropriate so for a female acrobat at that - a sincerely felt joy of performing leading to a good contact with the audience - a well established light-and sound-installation and a very personal and artistic charm - completes the image of a very good show. Week-ends offer a family program: the small fry get face-painted, then there is the very program, and at the end there is a work-shop where everyone, kids and adults as well, can try out various circus disciplines, like spinning plates on a stick or juggle balls.

LE ZEBRE really fits well into the Parisian circus-variety traditions - good, healthy entertainment !!! The Belleville area was formerly a working class environment where a lot of the café-concerts were flourishing, and where Maurice Chevalier /for those who remember him/ - made his first appearance, when he was 14 years old!

Today it is Paris' China-town, a Cosmopolitan area with many immigrants - there are lots of ethnic restaurants - thrilling, isn't it ---  life out on the street and everything here makes for a worthwhile visit !!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venue: LE ZEBRE, 63 Boulevard de Belleville, 75011 Paris.  Metro: Belleville.

See more: www.lezebre.com/

-------------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

11 May 2012

Vivi Schmidt 80 years. On Tuesday 15 May the former circus owner and sea lion trainer Vivi Schmidt, Haarby, Denmark, can celebrate her 80 years birthday. As daughter of Louis Schmidt who initially was co-owner of Danish Circus Schmidt  Bros. and from 1937 to 1960 owner of the large Danish Circus Louis, it was not surprising that she got a life in and with the circus. She started performing with tap dancing and music. Later she presented trick riding. In season 1950 she presented sea lions and established soon herself as a talented sea lion trainer. She also presented flame riding, liberty horses and was riding par force. In the years 1957-59 Vivi Schmidt presented her 6 sea lions at Ringling in USA. After Circus Louis closed by the end of season 1960 she worked abroad. However, her dream was to establish her own circus, and assisted by her husband Erik Christgau Circus Vivi Schmidt was established in 1963. The tent was a brand new 6 pole tent with room for about 1,200 people and the equipment was new and modern. The performances were always of good quality. Her sea lions were not part of the performance due to a ban on presentation of wild animals in circuses, which entered into force in Denmark as of 1 January 1963. Instead the sea lion act toured with other circuses. However in 1966, Vivi Schmidt succeeded in persuading the Danish Minister of Justice to permit that she could take her beloved sea lions on tour with Circus Vivi in Denmark.

Vivi with her sea lions. Photo reproduced from the printed program for 1966

Circus Vivi stopped touring by the end of 1967. Helped by her assistant and niece Addie Jepsen Vivi presented for a few seasons her sea lions in other circuses. Later Addie took over the act which however still was presented as Vivi’s sea lions.

Vivi Schmidt. Private Photo by courtesy of Erik Christgau

9 May 2012

Circus Scott 2012 - The Return of Bamse and his friends. Jonas Karlsson attended the opening performance in the large Swedish Circus Scott on 3 May in Växjö, Sweden, and writes (my translation):

After 9 years of silence the Swedish giant circus is again on tour. Circus Scott is back on the Swedish roads. And what a comeback: a gigantic 8 pole big top, world class artists, beautiful animals, a great eight-pieces band with a singer. Yes, and Bamse (‘Master Bruin’) and his friends of course. (Bamse is a popular Swedish cartoon).

Robert Bronett has in association with Ole Andreasson created a show that offers something for all ages. Ok I'll admit that I was sceptical about the Bamse story when I first heard about it but I must say that it's working. It is in a form that makes it fun for both children and adults.

For non-Swedes and for those who have not grown up with Bamse I can say that Bamse is a nice and friendly comic strip hero who is the kindest bear in the world. He becomes the world's strongest bear when he eats honey. In Circus Scott, he is assisted by some of his friends: the rabbit Lille Skutt, the Beaver Brothers, Mikaela the fox and unfortunately also the bad wolf.

The artists?

The artists I have to say is at the high level you would expect in a Circus Scott performance.

We meet the world class clowns Darix & Fumagalli with some of their best entrées. One of the highlights of this performance was Huesca Brothers with their Risley act. The Huesca Brothers are sons of Fumagalli and are also involved in their father's comic acrobatic troupe Fumaboys which in this performance also enclose the wheel of death artist Gengis Van Gool who really seemed to enjoy his role as an acrobat from the good old days.

Another highlight was Jumping Jacks with their trampoline act where the use two trampolines on each side of a Plexiglas wall.

What about animals? Sure, there were animals. Hardy Weisheit from German Circus Jambo Africa presented liberty horses (3 black Friesian horses and a white Arab) and 4 Siberian camels as well as three elephants, two African and an Asian. It was planned that Hardy’s daughter Ashley Weisheit should ride the Courier but unfortunately she broke her leg about 3 weeks ago broke and can’t work for at least 4 months. Instead we got to see her sister in a nice aerial rope act as Mikaela the Fox.

Was there something that was not so good?

Yes a little disappointing both for me and for many others the advertised Human Canon Ball was not really what you has expected and seen in the printed program. Instead of a huge canon with human cannonball that would fly over the audience and end up in the foyer tent, it actually was a small cannon that shoot out the wolf. Although he flew over the ringside chairs and landed in the in the net it was not what most of us had expected.

Finally I must mention the fantastic Circus Park. A playground built in the foyer tent where children paying with coupons can try different circus disciplines such as tightrope walking, juggling, acrobatics and trapeze. There is also pony rides and face painting. At the beginning of the show Robert Bronett promised us a few hours with joy, humour and excitement, a phrase his father (the late Francois Bronett) also used, and he kept that promise.

If I were to give a rating on this year's Circus Scott I would grant them four circus-DK out of 5 possible and I look much forward to next year’s performance.

Also Linda Himsel, one of the world's best most talented circus photographers, visited Circus Scott. On her blog you can see some photos and read what she thinks about the show.

8 May 2012

News from Circus Benneweis. The Open Tent event on Saturday 5th May in Odense was a great success, and there was almost full house at the seven performances, Benneweis had in Odense from 2nd to 6^th May.

Thursday, 3 May the clown Versace, the juggler Helena Polach, Trio Bokafi and Duo Guidi visited Hans Christian Andersen’s Hospital for Children in Odense. Most of their young patients are unable to go to the circus. The visit created joy and happiness and helped to give the sick children an experience beyond the ordinary.

Trio Bokafi perform for the sick children

As in previous years Benneweis has made a short video trailer with clips from this year's show. Click here to watch the trailer, which runs for a little more than two minutes.

The Open Tent event will be repeated when Benneweis visits Aarhus, where they also previous years have had such events. This year it is on Saturday 2 June from 11 to 12. There is free admission and you can meet artists and animals in the circus ring. There is free ice from Frisco for the first 300 children.

8 May 2012

Books with circus pictures. It is always exciting when Danish artists become so fascinated by the circus that there come pictures out of it. And even more exciting when such pictures become available in book form.

This year it happens twice!

The painter Anne Marie Johansen followed last year Circus Arena with sketchpad and pencil.

Her trip with Arena has now resulted in a book called Rundt og rundt! - Sådan cirkus!  (Round and round! – That’s circus). The story in book is about the thoughtful everyday dog ​​with the proud name Grock which meets the fairy tale when the circus comes to town. The text is written by Eric Kaare and the illustrations are by Anne Marie Johansen. The book is in large format with hard cover and has 68 pages. It is published by the publisher NORTH WIND, Saeby and costs 200 DKK + shipping.

To the left the cover page.  To the right a picture from the book. By courtesy of Anne Marie Johansen

The second release is the painter Viggo Salting’s new trilogy, The Smile That Lasts A Mile. It is a children’s book series. It will be released to the public in conjunction with an up-coming solo exhibition by Viggo Salting, September 1-15; 2012 at Ward Nasse Gallery, New York.

Opening Reception takes place Saturday, Sep. 1, 2012, 4–6pm, 7–9pm where

Ward Nasse Gallery will host a book signing at the opening reception from 4–6pm including children’s activities, refreshments and the opportunity to hear the author read his book and share his inspiration. The festivities continue with a champagne reception 7–9 pm. Ward-Nasse Gallery, 178 Prince Street, New York NY 10012

The Smile That Lasts A Mile is published and printed in New York by Basak Malone LLC.

The drawings in pencil are done by Viggo Salting. Lyrics are written by Viggo Salting and his spouse Helle Abildgaard.

7 May 2012

International Clown Festival in Svendborg, Denmark. The largest clown festival in the northern part of Europe will take place in Svendborg from 23 to 28 May. Clowns from all over the world will visit Svendborg: they come from England, America, Germany, Spain, India, Chile, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Holland, Mexico, New Zealand and Denmark.

Young (beginner) clown from the Commedia School and Old timers as Zilly and Dizzy Des (83/82 years old). Hospital clowns from Scandinavia and Europe are invited to workshops

The festival offers children's performances, workshops, drawing competition, gala show at Svendborg Theatre, clown parade, family show, hospital visits and clowns mix and mingle. For details see www.clownfestival.dk

The festival has been held in Svendborg every year in since 2002. Svendborg is situated on the southern part of the Isle of Funen and has a population of approximately 27,000.

6 May 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  THEATRE TREVISE proudly presents an excellent program from October thru July - featuring artists who really deserve the name LES VIRTUOSES DE L'ETRANGE, / original and stunning virtuosos/.

THEATRE TREVISE is a very old theatre, where generations of people looking for good, healthy entertainment, have enjoyed famous and appealing artistic acts.

The direction/management of LES VIRTUOSES DE L'ETRANGE, is LULLY SAKAGUCHI - she has been working for years with the aim of presenting quality shows, mostly visual ones - which means that a tourist audience, not knowing French, easily can enjoy her productions.

Her artists are often, at least partially, present at the Theatre Festival in Avignon, each year in July.

NOW: we saw:

MIKA QUARTZ, manipulating crystal clear balls, elegantly and with great skill, it is called

CONTACT JUGGLING, at the end a ball floats in mid-air /Zombie/ and a giant ball is produced from nowhere.

MLLE GRETA, a female magician featuring nice magical effects with a personal and humoristic approach to the audience, sympathetic and funny.

Mister F, skilful diabolo-juggler, mastering amazing figures with his diabolo and having a personal and funny approach to the audience.

REMY LARROUSSE, original magician featuring both a stunning mental effect and a fakir-stunt, all performed in an awesome tempo.

ISADORA, a young talented dancer, mastering the entire register of dancing, also having a mischievous and thus funny attitude to the audience - dressed in original and elegant costumes in both her acts.

JEROME MURAT, featuring an absolutely original act: he is a statue that moves and - has a second head - at the end he floats in mid-air and ----   suddenly disappears !

He also presents a comic-bartender-act where lots of unexpected and funny things happen.

MARIANGELES, oriental-style dancer with spinning of  hula-hoop-rings - elegant, beautiful, appealing -  there are dancing, contortion, acrobatics and female elegance and beauty - in her act.

LES ACCROCHES-LUNE, a pair of comic mime and acrobatic dancers - they participated in showing the people to their seats, in a funny way, they  MCeed from the stage before each act and performed a hilarious dancing stunt as a finale. A great asset to the program !

To the left Jerome Murat. To the right Mariangeles. Photographer John Event. By courtesy of Theatre Trevise

All in all - a great program, featuring really competent artist, well worth seeing.

During the year, other artists perform as well, all excellent.

See more: www.virtuosesdeletrange.com

Reservations/Bookings:  phone: ++ 33 142 0970 06./English/

Venue: Theatre Trevise, 14 rue de Trevise, 75009  Paris. Metro: Grands Boulevards.

---------------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

2 May 2012

Circus Scott. After some years break, the Swedish Circus Scott is back on the Swedish roads. Season opening will take place in Växjö on 3 May

During the performance you will meet the following artists:

• The clowns Darix & Fumagali

• Circus Scott's three elephants, presented by Hardy Weisheit

• Carolina Weisheit , riding the Courier

• Jumping Jacks – Trampoline jumping against a wall

• Fuma Boys (Fumagalli, Darix and others) - 8 parterre acrobats anno da zu mahl.

• Huesca Brothers (Fumagalli's two sons) – Risley act

• Scott’s camels, presented by Ashley Weisheit

• Shaolin Monks

• Michael Wilson – wheel of death.

• Billy Fly Canon – human canon ball

• Break-Crew - One of the few all-female break-dance groups.

Circus Scott has an 8-piece live band. The performance lasts 2 hours 15 minutes.

Robert Bronett in front of Circus Scott's tent in Vaxjö. Photo: Roy Himsel

2 May 2012

More about World Circus Day in Denmark and Sweden.

On 22nd and 23 April, respectively I described how the day was celebrated in Denmark and Sweden.

To complement the description of the event at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre its curator Mikkel Knudsen has told me that you at the museum's YouTube channel can watch a video clip from the show with ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard and his singing shoes.

The Swedish Circus Academy’s president Roy Himsel has sent me the photos below from the gala performance in Circus Maximum on World Circus Day. Photographer is Janerik Dahlin.

Roy Himsel hands over to Anton Frank the Circus Academy’s honorary award "The Charlie". To the left Hans Lindgren, a member of the board of the Circus Academy.

Circus owner Bengt Källquist was proud of the honorary award presented to his longstanding head animal trainer

At the finale Bengt Källquist got flowers from Roy Himsel

29 April 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  the big fun-fair  LA FOIRE DU TRONE  - recently opened at La Pelouse de Reuilly which is the giant park where most Christmas circus-shows plant their big tops in November.

LA FOIRE DU TRONE opened April 6 and will continue until June 3 - this year is number 1.055 - a record as the first one opened in 975 !!

This story can be compared to that of DYREHAVSBAKKEN, a fun fair north of Copenhagen, although BAKKEN, as it is known, only has a few hundred years to look back upon as a place for entertainment.

Of course, LA FOIRE DU TRONE has changed somewhat during the years - the particular pitches featuring big illusions have disappeared, but in 2003 I wrote about THE LADY WITHOUT A HEAD, published in the Scandinavian magazine PEGASUS. We can only hope that the aerial acts, on mast and high-wire, will be back some time, they were big attractions for any fun fair.

Photos from La Foire du Trone. Both photos by courtesy of Michel Primault, L'inter-Forain

During the big Christmas Market near the Champs Elysées in Paris, the German high-wire troop DIE TRABERS is hired to appear as Father Christmas travelling under the wire in a sledge.

The small pitches don't exist any longer - like at BAKKEN. In spite of all this - LA FOIRE DU TRONE is well worth a visit - the thrilling attractions are there and there are lots of them - there are play and games halls and all kinds of market food and drinks ! LA FOIRE DU TRONE keeps its family-friendly, festive and popular character, where everyone can have a pleasant day with the family - see photos giving a clear idea of the atmosphere.

After some incidents, security has been beefed up, the visitors are filtered in through several entrances, by security guards and police - calm has thus been restored.

A good experience for all those who visit LA FOIRE DU TRONE - more than two million each year.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!! 

Venue: LA PELOUSE DE REUILLY.  Metro: Porte Dorée.

See more: www.foiredutrone.fr

--------------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

24 April 2012

World Circus Day Celebrated in 45 Countries - 2012 Photo Contest Theme Announced. Press release from Federation Mondiale du Cirque:

Celebrations took place around the world on 21 April, the Third annual World Circus Day organised by the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque. From acrobatic troupes in China to social circus in Ecuador and youth circus in Finland to classical circus in South Africa, World Circus Day was recognized in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. Nation-wide print media, television and radio publicized World Circus Day in Afghanistan, Peru and Australia with many reports of local announcements and media attention still coming in to the Federation.

The majority of World Circus Day events involved youth and amateur circus troupes, demonstrating the wide-spread public interest in Circus. Famous circus names participating in World Circus Day included Joseph Ashton, Webers, Stardust, and Lennon Bros. in Australia, Brian Boswell’s Circus in South Africa, India’s Rambo Circus, Kinoshita of Japan, Cyrk Korona in Poland, Cirque Medrano–France, Circus Krone and Charles Knie in Germany, Italian Circo Moira Orfei and Circo Medrano-Casartelli, MACIVA in Hungary, Globus in Romania, Riga Circus in Latvia, Baltijos Cirkas in Lithuania, and Grand Circo Mundial of Spain. Famous names leading celebrations in North America were Cirque du Soleil, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and Big Apple Circus.

The national circuses and troupes of the Democratic Republic of Korea, China, Uzbekistan, and Cuba also celebrated with special performances. Circus friends organizations hosted and participated in celebrations in Denmark, France, Germany and the United States with World Circus Day cake consumed from Australia to the United States. Also prevalent were events by circus museums, archives, historical societies and arts foundations.

Also announced on World Circus Day is the theme of the 2012 Federation Photo Contest: “The Art of Happiness”. The Contest will open on 1 May 2012 to all professional and amateur photographers. Photographs and media reports of World Circus Day events registered with the Federation will be available online at www.circusfederation.org. Selected events will be featured in a dedicated volume of Planet Circus this summer.

The Fourth World Circus Day will be celebrated on 20 April 2013.

In the Scandinavian Countries the Third World Circus Day was celebrated in Denmark and Sweden, cf. reports below.

23 April 2012

World Circus Day celebrated in Skövde, Sweden. World Circus Day was celebrated in Sweden on Saturday, April 21. There were events in Skövde, Karlstad, Ludvika and Ingelsträde.

In Skövde in the lot at Billingen 15 circus friends had gathered at 10 to watch the building up of Circus Maximums 36 meter tent. The friends were guided by Maximums tour manager Helena Schicht and Toni Rivero (former Ringling trapeze star) who for years has put the Maximum performance on stage. It took four hours for the hard working tent crew to put up poles, tent, ring and seating facilities etc. The musicians built up the bandstand and the guys from the Diorios troupe their large globe of death.

Circus owner Bengt Källquist then offered the visitors coffee and sandwiches, while all kinds of circus-related matters were discussed. Many around the table wondered why it nowadays is rather difficult to get the press to write about the circus.

Bengt Källquist. Text and photos: Lennart Strandner of the Swedish Circus Academy

At 13:30 Skövde City Museum opened its doors for the group of circus friends who wanted to see parts of the Sten All’s collection of circus models, posters, programs, photographs, etc. Sten had a major exhibition at the museum in 2008, the year he died at the age of 79 years. Now it was Mrs. Kate All who was the host and again circus friend was offered coffee. Later the photographer and author Janeric Dahlin presented an interesting slideshow from different eras.

At 16 the whole gang of circus fans visited a sold out performance in Circus Maximum.

In the circus ring Bengt Källquist welcomed the guest and mentioned that today, 21 April, the World Circus Day was celebrated with events all over the world. In the second part of the performance the president of the Swedish Circus Academy Roy Himsel and board member Hans Lindgren was invited into the ring where they presented the Circus Acadamy’s honorary award "Charlie Year 2011" and a bouquet of flowers to Circus Maximums head animal trainer Anton Frank. 

But the day was not yet over. At 19 circus friends, together invited guest from Circus Maximum had dinner and circus talk in the hotel restaurant just next to the circus lot. A very nice day. The Circus Academy intends to organize a similar event next year, but in another city.

22 April 2012

World Circus Day at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen  - 21 April from 11 to 17. Jorgen Lorenzen writes:

Even more people than the previous year used the lovely spring weather – perfect circus weather - to participate in the celebration of the World Circus Day which now in Denmark has become a good, long-standing tradition that has found its final form. 

Throughout the day there were many visitors at the museum and everyone was impressed by the museum's size and quality.

At 11 there was a talk show in the Auditorium where John Lington as host interviewed the sea lion trainer Addie Jepsen. She talked lively and enthusiastic about her exciting circus life and she did thoroughly and accurately explain how to train a sea lion, and told about the differences between the various species of sea lions. One felt that she was a specialist and capacity in its field, and you felt all the time her great joy in the work with the sea lions that have filled a large part of her life and almost all of her circus career.

Addie Jepsen and John Lington

At 13 there was full house when the ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard did a 45 minutes long show and proved his skill as a ventriloquist. He did so with a commitment, a warm and professional competence, which evoked admiration a warm applause at the end of the performance. A well-deserved a tribute to a great artist.

Preben Palsgaad and his talking and singing shoe

At 15 there was a long queue outside Circus Baldoni’s tent, which was almost full when the show began. The Baldoni performance is touching, real and life-affirming. Thus ended a glorious circus day.

Queue in front of the box office in Circus Baldoni. All photos taken by Per "Mr. Sputnik" Krogh Petersen. Click here to see more of Per's photographs and film clips from World Circus Day

18 April 2012

Preben Palsgaard to Switzerland. From late July to early February, the Danish ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard will be part of the show Clowns & Kalorien in Switzerland. Preben says:

 "It is a dinner show in the exclusive class, which means that I first have to do my own acts (probably the entrée with the singing shoes and the push-in-hand act) and then assist in other acts and serve and receive orders."

Preben and Mrs. Lisbeth saw the performance last year, where they in November and December performed at a dinner show in St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Preben says that they were very impressed with the show at Clowns & Kalorien. The interior, the food, the performance and the atmosphere. The show is presented in a wooden pavilion with tented roof. Clowns & Kalorien is owned by Frithjof and Marion Gasser. Frithjof's brother Peter operates the Swiss Circus Royal. Another brother Daniel is also involved in the dinner shows business. It was actually for him, Lisbeth and Preben Palsgaard worked last year.

You can read more about the Swiss dinner show at www.clowns.ch

 Preben Palsgaard and his singing shoes

18 April 2012

The Casselly family to Ringling? In an interview with TV2/East Benny Berdino from Circus Arena said that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is interested in getting the gold clown winning Casselly family and their elephants to the U.S. The family has been with Circus Arena since 2005. Benny Berdino believes that the young super talent René Casselly JR perhaps for the time being is the world's greatest artistic talent. He will be sorry to lose René Casselly JR and his family to Ringling. "But if that is what it is good for the family and René JR it has to be so," Benny Berdino said. So maybe the 2012 season will be the last, where the Danes can see the Casselly family and René Casselly JR's acrobatics on elephant back.

Rene Jr. triple somersault to the elephant earned the family a gold clown at this year’s circus festival in Monte Carlo. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

17th April 2012

Circus Krone 2012. As the last of the Danish circus Irene Thierry’s tiny Circus Krone had their season opening on 15 April in Torring.

The show began very poetic with the clown ALANDO (aka Irene Thierry’s spouse Jan Allan) cleaning up in the ring and finding a small rabbit (a puppet doll) which he chatted with.

Then Irene Thierry welcomed the audience. Circus Krone has lots of traditions. One of them is that you say hello to the person sitting to the left, and then to the person sitting to the right. Then Irene asks if everyone is seated comfortable. The answer is yes, and then everyone is asked to stand and join hands with each other and bow. In this way everyone says hello to Irene.

The first act was NATACHA KOSTAREVA with a fine sword balancing act. The climax was sword balance as she climbed up and down a ladder. Her costume was a gypsy costume. Natacha comes from Russia. She received her artistic training in France with Anna and Guérino Simonelli at "Le nez dans les étoiles" in Bourges and from the renowned juggler Italo Medini. Until now, Natacha has mainly worked in small French circus and new wave circuses. Let’s hope that the season in the Circus Krone can be her international breakthrough.

Natacha Kostareva

The next number was a nice entrée with Alando and two mischievously ponies.

A beloved part in every performance in Circus Krone is when Irene tells a bit about the circus and circus history and her grandfather's pole. And don’t worry: grandpa's pole was also used this year. Without that pole you do not get Irene into the tent!

Then MISS KATHY (Katalin Farkas) came into ring, dressed as cat and put in a cage, which turned out to be a cube, which she juggled with, followed by juggling with bolas. A bola can best be described as a rope with two fabric balls in the ends. The number could in a slightly different choreography be seen in Circus Krone’s 2011-performance. Swedish circus friends might remember the act from Circus Olympia’s 2005-performance.

Next act was acrobats, as when great-grandfather was young: DUO SOPRANOS with a comical entrée, inspired by the famous Manducas, although not of the same standard. One of the two acrobats is a stout man, the other tiny.

Next, Natacha Kostareva was back in the ring with a new elegant sword balancing act, this time performed in trapeze.

The first act after the interval was a reunion with the hard-working Natacha, which this time proved that she could juggle with balls and clubs. Again, she was dressed in a gypsy costume that fitted well to the number.

Next issue was a comical magic entrée: Two Thierry’s aka Irene and Jan Allan. Comedy magic acts can be rather boring but this was certainly not the case for the act which Irene and Jan Allan presented for their audience. It was both good and funny and ended with the classic gag where Irene's head could be found underneath one of three buckets (see photo).

Two Thierrys

Next Circus Krone’s boss canvas man entered the ring. However not in his capacity as boss canvas man but with a nice dog act where he as the golfer Mr. Golfy was disturbed by two terrier dogs. I first time met the Hungarian artist in 2005 in the Swedish circus Olympia, where he was called Yotzo and wasn’t too funny as run-in clown. Nice to see the positive developments this artist has had since then.

As mentioned there are many traditions in the Circus Krone. One of them is that there has to be an act with Alando and a large or dangerous animal. This year it was an ‘elephant’ with the newly appointed stage manager Teis inside. Children and adults loved the poetic number, where the somewhat naive Alando tried to get the elephant to do tricks. For example, to jump through a ring which is too small. The elephant act ended as every elephant number should end: with the elephant gently walking over the trainer.

The performance's last act was a reunion with Duo Sopranos in a comical entrée where the stout partner was a trapeze star and the small one a groom who should help him.

Duo Soprano. Click here to see more photos from the premiere performance.

Irene Thierry and Jan Allan can be satisfied with this year's show. Let us hope that many children and adults will find their way into the tent in Denmark’s smallest circus, which has a seating capacity of 149 persons.

17 April 2012

Not many visitors to Italian circus in Denmark. So far business has been very poor for Larry Rossante’s Italian Circo de Mosca which under the name Circus Royal on 2 April began a tour in Denmark. A typically Danish family goes to the circus only once a year and prefers a circus which is known and which has toured Denmark for many years for a newcomer. Circus Royal’s tent can seat 900 persons. At the opening night in Sonderborg they had a couple of hundred visitors. In Kolding 100 visitors. In Viborg 65 visitors. In Vejle they claimed that there was full house, but actually the performance was cancelled!

In Denmark is it necessary to heat tents in the spring season and the autumn season. But Larry Rossante does not heat his tent and his audience is freezing with evening temperatures often close to zero.

Only a few Danish newspapers have mentioned the performance. Horsens Folkeblad wrote that the performance was fairly nice however below the standard Danes are used to from circuses as Arena and Benneweis. And without elephants, sea lions and spectacular light setting. The reporter noted that there were a lot of empty seats!

15 April 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  all the time shows, being interesting, funny and appealing, sometimes even original.

NOW - CABARET-CIRQUE-LE ZEBRE, playing in a nicely decorated local, everything renovated and refurbished in what was an old cinema, closed down by the authorities, because of no maintenance it had become a security risk. No more so:  Direction FRANCIS SCHOELLER has achieved a lot:

NOW - it is reborn from the ashes, featuring various programs, theatre, music and now a circus-cabaret addressing both adults and the smaller fry.

THE RENZOS, Ludovic and Olivier, all-round artists, perform a brilliantly composed program, featuring comedy, clowning, tap-dance, music on percussion and trumpet, magic, performing budgies, hand-to-hand acrobatic stunts, balance on slack wire and elegant juggling.

They sport colorful costumes, there is appropriate background-music, and the most important thing: an excellent contact with the audience which they secure right away when people arrive and they face-paint both the children and the adults ! - this is a good idea precisely at the entrance, which is called EINLASS in circus-jargon.

There is a lot of laughter during the show, which runs: Face-painting - the Show - the Workshop -where children and adults can try to spin plates on sticks, stand on their hands and ....juggle. Grande Finale at the exit door where THE RENZOS say Hello and See you again ...!!! A variety-cabaret-circus program with a theatrical touch --  well worth seeing and having a human dimension in a beautifully decorated setting !

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venue: LE ZEBRE, 63 Boulevard de Belleville, 75011 Paris.  Metro: Belleville.

This area is part of Paris Chinatown, also worth seeing, eating with chop sticks in the restaurants is fun !!

See more: www.lezebre.com

See also: www.royalbouiboui.com - Pics, videos and informations about our different activities

-----------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

The Renzos

13 April 2012

World Circus Day in Denmark. Last year more than 160 circus partners in 39 countries participated in 125 festive events to celebrate the Second World Circus Day. Celebrated the third Saturday each April, World Circus Day is a special day for families all over the world to celebrate the magic of the circus.

In Denmark, World Circus Day was in 2011 celebrated at the Circus Museums in Hvidovre (Copenhagen) and Rold. Also Circus Baldoni participated in the celebration.

In collaboration with Danish Circus Friends the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, will also in 2012 celebrate the event. Also Circus Baldoni and Danish Circus Krone will participate in the celebration.

The program at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, is:

At 11 a.m. talk show with the sea lion trainer Addie Jepsen, who with John Lington as the host will tell about her life.

Addie's grandmother was married with Joseph Bruun of Danish Circus Royal.  Addie grew up in the circus and worked as tight wire acrobat. However, Addie would rather work with animals and came to Circus Vivi where she got acquainted with sea lions as circus owner Vivi Schmidt was a well-known sea lion trainer. When Circus Vivi closed after season 1968 Vivi Schmidt offered Addie the job as her assistant. That’s how Addie got her debut as sea lion trainer in 1969. The following year Addie presented Vivi’s sea lions in the Norwegian Circus Berny. In 1971 she toured with the large Norwegian Circus Arnardo and in 1972 in the leading Swedish Circus Scott. From 1973 to 1975 Addie presented Vivi’s sea lions in the large German Circus Barum. In the following years she and the sea lions had jobs many different places in Europe. In 1981 she presented the act at Circus Benneweis in the Copenhagen Circus Building. In 1987 she toured with Danish Circus Arena.

Later Addie Jepsen bought her own sea lions. After a while she sold her sea lions to the large Swiss amusement and animal park Connyland. Addie also got a job in Connyland where she worked with the sea lions which former belonged to her.

In 2003 Benny Berdino of Danish Circus Arena persuaded Addie to return to Denmark to present his sea lions in the Danish amusement park Bonbonland. Since Benny Berdino some years ago rebuilded his winter quarters and established a giant sea lion pool  Addie has spent more and more time in Denmark where you can meet her and the Berdino sea lions when Circus Arena’s winter quarter Circusland in the holiday seasons is open for the public.

At 13:00 show with the ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard.

Preben Palsgaard made his professional debut in 1971 and was for some years much used by Danish television. He has performed in numerous circuses and music halls and is one of the best Danish ventriloquists.

Preen Palsgaard with his speaking shoes. Photo from Danish Circus Krone 2006

The Circus Museum is open from 11 to 15. On this special day there is free admission.

At 15:00 Circus Baldoni has performance on the lot right behind the Circus Museum. Due to World Circus Day ticket prices are reduced: All tickets cost only 130 DKK (17.50 Euro).

In Circus Baldoni you can meet director Baldoni along with clowns and Danillo and Danilla. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

In Jutland the World Circus Day is celebrated by Circus Krone. It happens at 16 at the circus lot in Braedstrup.

In Danish Circus Krone the clown is named Alando. He is married to circus owner Irene Thierry. On the photo Alando is seen together with an intelligent elephant. Irene is inside the elephant

13 April 2012

World Circus Day in Sweden. The Swedes will celebrate the World Circus Day in four cities: Ingelsträde, Karlstad, Ludvika and Skövde.

In Ingelsträde north of Helsingborg the Swedish Circus Museum is open from 13 to 14:30. Besides a tour of the museum there is trad-jazz jam and circus show with Carling family etc.

In Karlstad Circus Brazil Jack celebrates the day with open house, acrobatic workshop for children and lottery for children with circus tickets as a prize. Circus Brazil Jack can be found at the circus lot at Norra Fältet in Karlstad.

In Ludvika Ludvika Mini Circus has open house in their premises at the Old Folkan.

About the program in Skövde is stated:

Circus Maximum is in town and gives a gala performance at 16.00. Circus tickets on the Internet at www.ticnet.se and the ticket office from 14.00.

 Four items are on the agenda for the day

 • At 10:00 Visit to Circus Maximum while they build up their tent etc. Guides are

Helena Schicht and Tino Rivero.

• At 13:30 Visit to Skovde City Museum to see the Sten All’s circus exhibition

 • At 16:00 Performance in Circus Maximum.

 • At 18:30 Immediately after Maximum dinner at Hotel Billingehus. Main course will cost about 200 SEK + drink. Following that there will be mingling in Piano Bar. Register not later than 18 April to Roy Himsel by email: roy.himsel@telia.com

13 April 2012

Line Vittrup turns 40. On Tuesday 17 April the acrobat Line Vittrup, Copenhagen, can celebrate her 40 years birthday. Line is known and loved by children all over Denmark from the workshops, which she holds for circus interested children.

Line Vittrup

Line Vittrup was born in Vissenbjerg on Funen. She received her initial training as an artist from Irene Thierry in the tiny Danish Circus Krone, where she worked a few years. Then the comedians Soren Ostergaard and Flemming Jensen asked her if she would be lady who gets sawn in half in their comedy show "the big dog show" and also serve as backstage manager. Line accepted their offer and was later with “the big dog show” on its tour in Germany. In 1997 was Line Vittrup assistant to the magician Kim Kenneth who in this season worked for Circus Arena. After the end of the season she followed Kim Kenneth to Billy Smarts Circus in England. There she met the Czech artist troupe Faltyny who asked if she would like to be their trainee. The following two years Line toured around the world with the Czech troupe with tempo juggling, acrobatics on one-wheel bicycle and a knife throwing act.

Afterwards Line Vittrup joined Danish Circus Baldoni, where she met the knockabout table acrobat Freddie Steckel, which whom she has worked ever since. They have among other things toured with Circus Agora and Circus Merano in Norway, Circus Maximum in Sweden, a brief period with Circus Dannebrog, performed at the clown show at ‘Bakken', been on tour with Circus Arena to the Faroe Islands, worked at the Hansa Theatre in Hamburg, at various galas in France etc.

Line Vittrup and Freddi Steckel. Photo from the clown show at the Open Air Stage at Bakken  2011

Line Vittrup has also been involved in children's theatre and has as mentioned held numerous workshops for circus interested children, among other places at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, and in collaboration with Circus Benneweis.

In 2011 she had her debut as a writer of children's book called Milo in the circus, about the dog Milo visiting Circus Benneweis.

11 April 2012

As the last of the Danish circuses tiny Circus Krone has its season opening on Sunday 15 April. It takes place on the old sports ground in Tørring. According to a local newspaper the audiences can this year meet the Romanian Soprano Duo doing a breakneck comedy act in trapeze. French Natascha Kostareva present sword balancing in a trapeze. Miss Kathy is the the juggling cat-woman, and Mr. Golfy is trying to play golf, but is hampered by two terriers. The clown Alando presents ponies and is fighting with an intelligent elephant that doesn’t bother to listen to him. Alando also present a magic show together with his spouse Irene Thierry who is the owner of the small circus. When this website is updated next week you can see a review and photos from the performance.

10 April 2012

Two circus premieres in Sweden. Martin Lasson Berglund writes:

Circus Maximum jubilee is the name of this year’s performance which contains various ‘goodies’. The show begins with Zuma Zuma, acrobatics from Kenya presented by a couple of happy guys. Long-time faithful servant Anton Frank presents ponies and frieser stallions and two elephants from Circo Americano as elegant as ever. It looks easy and Anton's quiet style in the ring gives a positive impression. When the elephants enter the ring, we also see Sweden's only circus animal groom who is colored. Most likely he is from Morocco or any other African country. He is one of the animal keepers who take care of the elephants which come from Circo Americano. Previously, you could see Moroccans on almost any circus in the Nordic countries and Germany, but today it's very rare to see these talented circus employees.

One of the few Moroccans who this year works at Circus Maximum with Circo Americano’s elephants. In the 80s you could see Moroccans in most circuses but now Moroccans are very rare in Scandinavian circuses. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

The clown Totti present various acts that sometimes are fast paced and sometimes a somewhat slow. He is skilled and has the audience where he wants it. The trapeze acrobats Sorellas has previously been with Roncalli and is in my opinion is among the best acts in this year's program. Strength combined with perfection is presented in the trapeze.

Duo Sorellas, photographed in February at the Circus Festival in Budapest. Photo: Ole Simonsen

Joulia with her poodle and her llamas (last year with Circus Dannebrog in Denmark) is a good prove of how well you can train your pet, in this case the llamas which in most other acts only can walk in a caravan of animals. The juggler Juan Pablo Martinez is good, but definitely not the best I've seen. The Chinese balance act with Duo Yingling is skilful but perhaps it is not places appropriate in the program and I was not as impressed as I perhaps should have been. The motorcycle globe with Diorios is back this year as is was a huge success last year. This year there are more riders and I believe the globe is larger.

Last but not least, Maximums Orchestra led by Krzysztof Majewski is always playing good new circus music.

Grand Final in Circus Maximum. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

Circus Olympia begins according to tradition their season in Oskarström and this year we were spared the snow and the sun peeped out. This year the Bengtsson family has put together a very varied program. First of all, Jessica Bengtsson is back after a few seasons with Circus Wictoria. This year in front of her camels while she rides her horse. Her brother Niklas handles the presentation of liberty horses, large and small. Natascha Jarz presents expressed alpacas, cows and geese. Henrika Bengtsson present her dog’s in a playful act. Just as it should be at Olympia, the animal dressage is delightful and attractive features. Perhaps the alpacas should have been in the ring for a bit shorter time as the act went very slowly but otherwise it's great news that they had bought cows and given the act a ‘face-lift’.

Jessica Bengtsson with this year's group of camels. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

This year's clowns are the familiar Balder clowns, who have worked at several famous circuses. This year they're only two instead of three and the run-ins are actually a bit short. I would have liked to see a long entrée with the Balders. Maybe in 2013? The run-ins they are doing are very good and in my opinion the best clowns Circus Olympia ever have had. Bravo!

The juggler from Duo Concalves is very good and entertaining. A really top number! Allesandra Gillert & Cristina Moia walks on tight wire and are doing it very good while their other "comic" act wasn’t my favourite. Mihail Dimitrov performs aerial acrobatics with a cube. It is some years ago I last time saw a similar number. He also does acrobatics in the aerial rope dressed as Spiderman. Different and good.

Circus Olympia's always happy and well-playing orchestra with Valentin Smirnov offers great music that really gives the show a new dimension, some new and some old.

Grand Final in Olympia’s ring. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

9 April 2012

Clown Show at Bakken. Since 1996 every year in August Benny Schumann has presented clown shows at the Open Air Stage at the Copenhagen amusement park Bakken. This year the stall holders who is paying the costs of entertainment on the Open Air Stage had moved the event to Easter, hoping to attract many additional visitors during the Easter holidays

They succeeded fully Maundy Thursday, when the weather was great and there were lot of people at ‘Bakken’. A Good Friday with rain and a cold Easter Saturday brought more modest visit. Easter Sunday there was more sun and again good visit. That’s how it is with outdoor events.

Prior to the performances clown there was a clown parade. The show Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday had special guest stars: 4 young bike acrobats from Circus Flik-Flak (a youth circus) in Odense, who for the first time showed their skills to a larger audience.

After a short entrée with Benny Schumann and the pony Shadow Konstantin Mouraviev opened the show with his formidable number as the fat man, who by help of a German Wheel goes on a diet. Known from Monte Carlo, Roncalli in Germany, Moscow State Circus in UK etc. The audience cheered - and the audience in the coming season in the Danish comedy show Zirkus Nemo can look forward to see the act in Zirkus Nemo’s tent.

Konstantin Mouraviev

From Egypt we met the dwarf clown Hassan Bekhit who with Benny and Tøffe as his partners presented the classic springboard gag. Hassan was followed by the talented German mimic Mr. Niels (Niels Weberling). Then Tøffe "song" his Dad to Four Four-potpourri before the show ended in the best Blues Brothers style with the singing sea lion trainer and entertainer John Burke.

Tøffe, Hassan Bekhit and Benny Schumann with their springboard number. Click here to see more photos from clown show.

10 April 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  LA CIBLE, a small theatre-cabaret with 50 seats, proudly presents BURLESQUE BABYLONE - a kind of show having its roots in US Vaudeville, where classic music- hall and variety acts were performed, as well as a kind of humorous and funny strip-tease  --  geared to the general audience. The founder of the famous CRAZY HORSE, Paris, Alain Bernardin brought his inspiration to Paris - and the result became a success.

Knowing this initial story, we can better appreciate and enjoy BURLESQUE BABYLONE, where three female comedians/dancers feature sketches that are hilariously funny, surprising, original and very appealing, everything performed with an unpretentious and tongue-in-cheek attitude.

The three performers CLAIRE AMOUROUX, FREDERIKA DODIN and JULIE COYNE play dynamically and sensually in a setting and after ideas by JULIE COYNE.

As the cabaret LA CIBLE is very small, and thus the audience is quite near the performers, a good contact with the public is obtained from the start and some interaction comes naturally.

The show is good, clean and healthy entertainment, sensual but without any vulgarity - for an adult audience and quite in line with what can be expected from cabaret entertainment -  BRAVO - and --- IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do-RNmmntHA

Venue: Theatre Cabaret LA CIBLE, 62 bis, rue Pigalle, 75009 Paris.  Metro Pigalle.

--------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

The three performera at Burlesque Babylone. Photo: Ophelie Kustra.

10 April 2012

Press release from Fédération Mondiale du Cirque. Federation and Circus Collections Partner with World Digital Library

The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque today joined the World Digital Library as an official Partner. The World Digital Library (WDL) was conceived by the United States Library of Congress as an Internet-based, easily-accessible collection of the world's cultural riches that would tell the stories and highlight the achievements of all countries and cultures to promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding. Launched in April 2009, the WDL today features high quality, selected images reflecting the cultural heritage of UNESCO member states. The Federation, together with a group of leading libraries, museums and archives, is ensuring that Circus is included among the digital images of world treasures displayed on the site.

“We are excited to partner with the Federation and other great institutions to provide access to rare circus content,” said Michelle Rago, WDL Product Manager. “One of the benefits of the WDL is that users can access content from partners around the world on one site. Leading institutions have worked together to identify top treasures related to the history of the circus and users everywhere will be able to access the content, in multiple languages, for free.”

Collaborating with the Federation and also accepted as new WDL Partners are the Barnum Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA; Centro Educativo di Documentazione delle Arti Circensi (CEDAC), Verona, Italy; Circus World Museum, Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois State University, Milner Library, Normal, Illinois, USA; John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, USA; the Musée du Cirque Alain Frère, Tourrette-Levens, France; St. Petersburg Bolshoi Circus Museum of Circus Art, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; and Somers Historical Society, Somers, New York.

“The WDL partnership provides an unprecedented opportunity to highlight Circus as part of world cultural heritage,” according to Laura van der Meer, Executive Director of the Federation. “But it has also provided a fantastic opportunity for close collaboration among experts from some of the most prestigious museums and archives holding Circus collections in Europe and the United States, a first-ever achievement. We look forward to expanding the initiative to other continents.”

Each institution will be submitting three to four images from their collections for this initial posting of Circus content. The images will show the historical roots of the modern Circus and its formative events, its Golden Age grandeur, and its continuing vitality as part of contemporary culture. Final selection and submission of the Circus content to the WDL will be completed this month in a collective celebration of the Third World Circus Day on 21 April 2012.

The WDL partnership is part of the Federation's ongoing Preservation Project aimed at preserving circus artifacts, history and memory. Circus images will be available at www.wdl.org in the coming months in multilingual formats.

10 April 2012

Press release from ECA: Local Ban Invalidated. On 27 March 2012, the City Council of Capelle aan den Ijssel (near Rotterdam) rejected a ban on animals in the circus. The proposal of alderman Joost Eerdmans, in charge of local animal welfare regulation, to ban circuses with elephants, lions, tigers and other exotic animals, was dismissed by a vote of 21 against 11 votes. Members of the City Council were informed in advance of the facts of performing animals in the circus y the "Commissie Klassiek Circus", which provided in depth documentation on the subject of circus animals. Mr. Adri Lammers, Chairman of the

"Vereniging Nederlandse Circus Ondernemingen" (Dutch Circus Proprietors’

Association) addressed the Council prior to the vote. This extends the list of invalidated or abandoned proposed local bans which already were rejected by Amsterdam, Zeist, Alphen aan den Rijn, Veendam and Winschoten. At the national legislation level, legislation is under development to govern the keeping of animals in circuses in The Netherlands.

6 April 2012

The Third World Circus Day will be celebrated on Saturday, 21 April 2012. Last year more than 160 circus partners in 39 countries participated in 125 festive events to celebrate the Second World Circus Day. When this site is updated 14 April you can read all about events celebrating World Circus Day in Denmark and Sweden. In Denmark the Danish Circus Friends Association is the main responsible for events at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, and in Brædstrup, In Sweden the day is celebrated on the Swedish Circus Academy’s initiative. Two Danish circuses and a Swedish circus have chosen this year to participate in the celebration: Danish Circus Baldoni, Danish Circus Krone and Swedish Circus Maximum.

6 April 2012

Circus Dannebrog 2012 - Amazing Africa. "We will present a sort of performance which never before has been shown in Denmark," Circus Dannebrog's CEO Agnete Louise Enoch said when she first told me about this year's show, which is called Amazing Africa.

A wonderful sight: a long queue in front of the circus tent before the performance on Maundy Thursday at 16

One can always rely on Agnete and of course she kept her promise. The show Amazing Africa is an innovation in the Danish circus world and far from the old-fashioned classical circus. Many of the performers are Africans, and the concept is fully implemented: circus grooms and orchestra is wearing tropical dress and not the classic circus uniforms. As far as I know the uniforms etc. are bought from Circus Herman Renz in Holland who some years ago had an African theme. TINO AEBYS excellent band has a more modern "sound" than the old Dannebrog band. This year they are assisted by a talented African singer. She brought memories of the legendary Miriam Makeba and her famous clicking noise.

As in previous years, the show is staged by Circus Dannebrog’s artistic director Isabella Enoch, this year assisted by Italian Elena Grossule. The result is an elegant and very well choreographed show.

The show began with all the African artists coming dancing into the ring together with artists from Duo Maybe and the comedian Cesar Dias. Everyone did a few tricks and contributed to an impressive start of the performance. The opening leads into Agnete Louise Enoch welcome. And the African concept was maintained: her costume was an African queen costume.

The performance's first act was BERNHARD KASELOWSKY and his camels and zebras. Then CESAR DIAS had his first run-in, where he invited a man from the audience into the ring and got funny noises out of his guest. Of course because the sound from the guest’s microphone was replaced by pre-recorded sounds. The entrée ended with Cesar and the fellow from the audience shooting each other. A good and original entrée.

Next came the 5 acrobats from the HAKUNA MATATA TROUPE in the ring and built human pyramids. They were followed by Cesar Dias, who, with help from a man and a woman from the audience did the classic motorbike gag where the first woman and then the man are passengers on Cesar’s imaginary motorbike.

The Hakuna Matata Troupe

Then we met the 7 acrobats from AFRICAN QUEEN SHEBA, who, like their colleagues from the Hakuna Matata troupe built human pyramids. New and nice to see such a number done by female acrobats.

African Queen Sheba

The last act before the interval was pole acrobatics, performed by the Hakuna Matata Troupe.

The first number after the break was Bernhard Kaselowsky with camels, zebras and the elephant Ramboline. The act ended with Ramboline’s solo entrée this year with Agnete Louise Enoch’s pretty daughter Victoria on the elephants back. At the end of the entrée it was Victoria's cousin Jimmy, who jumped up on elephants back.

Next act was DUO MAYBE with elegant acrobatics in aerial straps. After them Cesar Dias had an excellent run where he sang "I did it my way" - and that’s what he did! Not at least the children loved this run-in which had elements from the legendary George Karl's battle with a microphone. Cesar was followed by this year's debutant DAWID ENOCH SOSMANN who received his initial training as a juggler at the artist school in Verona. With charm and a warm twinkle in his eyes he juggled with up to 9 balls, among other things, in cascades where the balls were thrown up against a wall.

Then LIAZEED presented their famous act which many Danes remember from Benneweis 2008. The Liazeed consists of father and daughter, Omar and Zaida Liazeed and Zaidas friend Francisco, who joined the act 5-6 years ago. Omar has passed 70 years and several of the tricks he did in 2008 is now taken over by Francisco. Zaida became a mother a few months ago, what you couldn’t see when you looked at the pretty 42-year-old girl.

The Liazeed. Click here to see more photos from the show. (Slideshow will not be finalized until April 8)

The performance's last act was the aerial acrobat SUPER SILVA who many will remember from Monte Carlo 2010. The Brazilian daredevil did upside down loops walking and as his last feat a leap from one swinging trapeze to another to catch by his ankles without any safety devise. A great act to end a very nice performance.

2 April 2012

Circus Arli 2012. When Soren Arli died in January 2011 a large part of the 2011 performance was decided. Thus, season 2012 is the first for which the next generation, Bettina and Martin Arli, in cooperation with Martin's mother Lotte is responsible.

"A succession of format - and a show that reaches high to the top of the stars," the country's most talented circus reviewer Rud Kofoed wrote in his review of the performance. Everyone who saw the season opening performance at Møllebakken in Fløng (a Copenhagen suburb) will agree with Rud. It was a truly wonderful show.

Once again the Arli family has managed to find some talented young artists, who suits perfectly in a tent of Arli-size (17 meters in diameter). In addition, the family's own members are this year supplemented by Alexander Arli's pretty girlfriend, the actress and dancer Ditte Lill Mortensen.

As always in Circus Arli costumes were elegant. The same goes for staging and choreography, which I have the feeling that the family's good friend Susanne Breuning has helped them a bit with. In addition, they had remembered Soren’s principle: a show must not last over two hours in order to avoid children getting tired. Ticket prices are very reasonable: ticket costs 125 DKK (16.50 Euro) on benches and 145 DKK (19.50 Euro) on ringside chairs. Tickets for children under 12 year are 20 DKK (2.50 Euro) cheaper. So, mom, dad and two children can go to circus for less than 500 DKK (80 Euro). It must be called a tremendous deal, when the quality as here is in top.

The show began when a groom coming into the ring with a barrel organ playing "Oh mein papa". Martin and Alexander Arli took over on trumpets, and many shed tears when a picture of Soren Arli in his star part as white faced clown was projected up on the tent wall.

After the welcome we met MAILLARD'S (Hélène Ramer and David Maillard), in a great number on Chinese Pole, where he was dressed as a Pinocchio doll. They were succeeded by ALEXANDER ARLI in a great entrée with handstand and hand jumps, where he got help from Ditte Lill. It ended as a competition between the two: Alexander with acrobatics and Ditte Lill with showdance. Beautiful - and a good idea.

Alexander Arli. To the left Ditte Lill, to the right Bettina Arli. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour  Press

MARTIN ARLI then entered the ring with his father's old debut act: tearing figures out of newspapers initiated with saxophone playing. During the act Martin talked the hint leg off a donkey. I have been told Soren did the same thing. The very entertaining act must, as Rud Kofoed wrote in his review, give paper-based newspapers a new reason to survive!  How could you do such an act with an e-newspaper?

Martin Arli with one of the figures. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Martin was followed by Italian DUO FERRANDINO with a roller skate act. The last number before the break was DAVID MAILLARD with an act on unicycle, where he rode up and down a stairway, skipped and juggled. On the chairs behind me sat two connoisseurs of such kind of acts: the retired bike acrobats Anna and Leif Conradi. "He's excellent," Leif said Leif. I can only agree.

The first act after the interval was Martin who dressed as a plump ballet dancer presented two fat geese running hurdle race and a goat. It was hilarious funny.

He was followed by Danish Helene in a great act in tissue. Next time has come for Ditte Lill to have her debut in the ring with one of Lotte Arli’s old star turns: trained pigeons. Ditte Lill was elegant and smiling and did it well and did not lose courage, even although the spring horny pigeons would not always do exactly what they should.

Ditte Lill and one of her pigeons. Click here to see more photos from the show.

What is circus without clowns? Fortunately, Circus Arli has their own: Martino & co. It wouldn’t be an Arli performance without them. This year Alexander decided to be a white faced clown, just like his grandfather. I was curious: could he do it – was the 25 year old kid old enough to be a white faced clown? But yet I have never experienced anything which the super talent Alexander couldn’t manage, and this was also the case when he this year changed his character from being the stupid August to be the arrogant white faced clown. The number began with a music entrée and ended with the classic hypnosis gag.

The performance's last number was an act in aerial cradle, presented high under the big top by Ferrandino's.

Of course there was at the end of the performance well-deserved standing ovations for the cast and circus owner Lotte Arli.

1 April 2012

Zirkus Nemo 2012. Zirkus Nemo being a combination of a comedy show and a circus, writes: Welcome to the Circus Nemo and the year's new, big feature: Zirkus Nemo 2012 - now with zebra!

The world's most beautiful Circus tent will be filled to the brim with the world's most incredible people and animals. From Copenhagen comes the magnificent Peter Frödin and from abroad are nothing less than the world's fastest quick change act,  a very fat man in a wheel, the most insane rola bola act and a pretty alternative balloon man. Zirkus Nemo has expanded animal populations with a beautiful and gifted zebra, a pony from Lolland and finally two sea lions from the Harz Mountains. As always, the beautiful and well playing Zirkus orchestra will be in place headed by Frans Bak with newly composed music, and Baker Jorgen has promised to dance.

The main attraction in Zirkus Nemo is obviously the owner, the popular Danish actor and comedian Søren Østergaard, who this year just likes last year, is assisted by the actor Peter Frödin. But apart from the two actors and their crazy humor Zirkus Nemo feature as in previous seasons some international star artists: Konstantin Mouraview does his comedy entrée in German Wheel as a fat man on a diet. The act is in Denmark known from Søren Østergaard's Tivoli Variety 2004, Circus Arena 2010 and clown festivals on Bakken 2004 and 2012. Ingo Stiebner present his trained sea lions, known from several seasons in the Circus Arena, last time in 2008. Dany Daniel does rola-bola. He appeared in Circus Benneweis in 1996 and at the Open Air Stage in Tivoli in 1998. Elena and Viktor Minasov present their quick change act which is among the world's best. Viktor also shows his entrée as the man who climbs into a giant balloon. Both numbers could be seen in Circus Benneweis in 2004.

Zirkus Nemo has their opening night in Vejle on 9 May (dress rehearsal 7th and 8th May) and ends the season in Odense on 15 September. Before then, they have in addition Vejle visited Aarhus, Aalborg, Arhus, Esbjerg, Svendborg, Nykøbing S. and Copenhagen.

28 March 2012

Circus Benneweis 2012. Many Danish circus friends remember Benneweis’ 100 year anniversary performance in 1987 as the best performance ever shown in a Danish circus tent. The question before the premiere of Benneweis' 125-year anniversary performance was: could Benneweis match the level from 1987?

The question is not easy to answer. Sometimes a performance tent to be better in memory than it was in reality.

So let me just note that the 2012 anniversary performance is world class circus and the best Benneweis-performance for many years.

"It is an extremely delightful experience for the whole family to visit Benneweis," wrote Pallet Hoj in the newspaper Frederiksborg Amts Avis and gave the show 5 stars. It's a very strong show and the performance is this year is more child friendly than it has been for the past few seasons. A large part of the Danish circus audience is children together with parents or grandparents.

The show began with a brief welcome speech by Diana Benneweis. Then the curtain was pulled aside and artists came out of a circus wagon model 1887. Last came ringmistress JUDY GLOSTED, who opens the show with a welcoming song to the tunes from There's No Business Like Show Business.

After that the performance began with a number in the absolute world class: YURY VOLODCHENKOVS rode high school on a horse that he could get to dance in elegant interplay with his partner, who was wearing a gypsy costume. He was absolutely glued to that saddle even when the horse is jumping. It's the best and most beautiful opening number I for many years have seen in a circus performance.

He was followed Mexican clown VERSACE'S first run-in where he came rolling into the ring in a giant cube and came out of it wearing a Batman costume, later inflated.

Next act was the female juggler HELENA POLACH who juggles with footballs. I had seen a video of the act and told my wife and our youngest son about it. They believed in advance that I was probably a little too enthralled by the beautiful Helena’s two "built-in” footballs. After seeing how elegant and stylish Helena could juggle with first three, since four and finally five footballs they agreed that Helena is not just good-looking but also an excellent juggler.

Helena Polach. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Versace had then a run-in, where he invited three males from the audience in the ring and persuaded them to skip. If you know the gag from other clowns, then look forward to Versace! His version has an extra bonus that I will not reveal here. And unlike many other run-in clowns he doesn’t try to make fools out of his guests.

One of the most beloved acts in Benneweis season 2004 was MR. DALMATIN (Sergey Prostetsov) with his number with Dalmatian dogs and ponies. The children's cheers would never end when Mr. Dalmatin again this year came in the ring with his glorious act, which among other things, offers jockey riding performed by dogs.

Mr. Dalmatin. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Next act was DUO GUIDI with Risley acrobatics. The male partner Sacha juggled easily with Iana on his feet, and Iana ended up going in splits. Beautiful and elegant!

Next, Versace had a fine and poetic run-in with three tiny elephants. I will not reveal "the point" in this act which I never have seen other clowns do.

While competing Danish Circus Arena this year present acrobatics on elephants done by the super talent René Casselly JR the elephant act at Benneweis is different. LARS HÖLSCHER has decided to let the elephants be the stars. My grandson Sebastian on 4 ½ appointed it to be the performance's second-best number, surpassed only by the clown. It was my impression that most children were in agreement with him. Benneweis freaks might argue that elephant act from the 100 anniversary performance in 1987 was better.

Sebastian and Camilla (from the same kindergarten as Sebastian) as the Knights of the elephant. Photo shot during the interval in a performance in Græsted on 28th March

The first number after the break was a spectacular act where IANA SUARKO wearing skin colored tights appeared in a kind of fishing nets, which were pulled up under the big top. She was followed by another of the children's favorite numbers: Beatrix Holscher three sea lions, presented by the Spanish couple CHELO AND GABI. Applause would never end when the California sea lion grabbed rings, balanced with balls, sang and played trumpet.

Many teeterboard troupes are large troupes who can build pyramids of three, four and sometimes five men high. Obviously this is not possible for the elegant TRIO BOKAFI, which as the name implies has only three members. However, this requires extra artistic skills in such a troupe – and so has Trio Bokafi! Beautiful!

After the three top acrobats Versace came in the ring as 5 x Versace dressed in pirate costumes. Not at least the kids cheered!

The show ended as it began: with an act in the absolute world class: the ESHIMBEKOV TROUPE of Cossack riders brought the show to a rousing and resounding conclusion. Easy to understand why this troupe two years ago was awarded a silver clown in Monte Carlo. I can’t remember when I last saw a performance that ended with such a bang of an act!

Three riders from the Eshimbekov-troupe. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Of course a singing ringmistress Judy Glosted opened the Grand Finale in a performance for which Diana Benneweis and her team, including Jan Hertz who has put on stage, deserves much credit.

Click here to see photos from the premiere performance and subsequent performance.

26 March 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  just now and during the entire Easter vacation for the schools in April --  THEATRE LE BRADY proudly presents the young magic entertainer ANAEL who features an excellent program for the small kids, he skillfully mixes magical effects with his theatrical performance, he has an expressive mimicry and all sorts of funny pop-ups where toys are produced from nowhere - thus objects well-known to the children and captivating their interest.

Lots of interaction with the small ones, during the show several of them are allowed up on stage to interact - an important detail as the audience identify with the children on stage !

The program was interspaced with ventriloquism - a lively and colorful rabbit which both spoke and sang - perhaps the feature most appreciated by the children!

A classic like the cut and restored rope was performed with a skipping-rope, lights on the fingertips /D'LITE/ was blue, being matched by blue spotlight, and the raccoon kept biting ANAEL in his earlobes - so many hilarious details ...!!!

The point of interest, as I see it, is that the children were treated to a show on stage in a real theatre, sporting red velvet seats and nicely decorated - the real theatrical atmosphere was thus there as well as interest and expectation before the start of the show.

A program well worth seeing - and --  IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

See more: http://www.anael-magicien.com/

Venue: Theatre LE BRADY, 39 Boulevard de Strasbourg, 75010 Paris.

Metro: Chateau d'Eau  or  Strasbourg Saint Denis.

------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

Anael

25 March 2012

Circus Arnardo 2012. Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo has sent me the photos below and writes:

Circus Arnardo - Kragerø March 20, 2012, being the fifth performance and the third city on the tour list after the opening night. The show got good reviews in the local newspaper Agderposten Arendal, Circus Arnardo’s premiere city.

The ponies were presented by Andreas Quaiser until Luigo (Are and Pauline's son) takes over the act a little later in the season after some additional training. Circus Arnardo is as usual at the zoo just outside Kristiansand throughout the Easter holidays, followed by at visit to the Norwegian capital Oslo.

Arnado’s Circus tent in Kragerø

Duo Peris

Andreas Quaiser with ponies. The presentation will later be taken over by Luigo Arnardo

The Jasters. All photos: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

25 March 2012

An Irish circuses to Sweden. Anders Troedsson writes that that Alexander Scholl’s Circus Sydney had their opening night on 23 March Sjöbo in Skaane, Sweden. The circus announces to be the "World famous Circus Sydney". They have for several years, but probably not in 2011, toured in Ireland and have also tried their luck in Holland. A review from June 2010 in the English circus magazine King Pole tells that they at that time used a tent with a diameter of 26 meters. A larger tent, which they previously used, had been sold. The review states that "This is very much a family show", and it appears that most of the acts were performed by Alexander Scholl, his spouse, his siblings and children of the family. The Danes know Alexander Scholl and his brother Martino from Circus Arena in 1996 when they accounted for a large proportion of the numbers (elephants, horses, aerial number and wheel of death).

Alexander Scholl’s sister Manuela is married to the owner of the Swedish Circus Madigan, who in recent years only has toured to a limited extent.

Alexander Scholl is probably hoping that the "grass is greener" in Sweden than in Ireland. However, by experience it is mighty difficult for an unknown circus to have success in a foreign country. The existing Swedish circuses, including the re-established Circus Scott, have this year strong performances with many international top artists. It may be difficult for Alexander Scholl and his family to persuade people to visit a circus they have never heard of before.

24 March 2012

Circus Benneweis had the opening night for their 125 year anniversary season 23 March at 7 p.m. in Hilleroed.  A review of the performance can be read on this website when next weekly update takes place on 31 March.

Click here to see some photos from the opening performance.

23 March 2012

Circus Brazil Jack 2012. "Best Brazil Jack performance for many years!" I wrote in my review of the Swedish Circus Brazil Jack’s 2011-show. And I can use the same headline again this year after I Thursday evening saw a wonderful circus performance when Circus Brazil Jack began their season in Malmö, Sweden.

Circus Brazil Jack is a classic circus, showing classic performances in classical settings: tent with quarter poles, 2 rows of ringside chairs and benches in the rest of the tent. The 6-piece orchestra sits on a band stand high above the artist entrance. So high up that it is only when they take applause at the end of the performance that you can see how many they are. But nice with live music by an orchestra, where trumpet and sax is not just something that flows out of a synthesizer.

The show this year is featuring 4 talented circus families: the Santos family (better known as Michel's), the Donnert family, the Igen family and the Veslovski family. The Danish circus audiences have met all the families in Circus Dannebrog in the later years and a visit to Brazil Jack will therefore give the Danes the opportunity for a glorious reunion with the talented artists.

By tradition the performance is started by all the artist running into the ring doing some tricks before ringmaster Toni Rhodin welcomes the audience and hand over the microphone to "my charming cousin, the Swedish circus queen Carmen Rhodin." Also Carmen welcomes the audience and then the show can begin.

The first act was a cute and clever little pony, presented by Latoya Donnert. She was followed by DUO VESLOVSKI in a nice number with lasso and whips. In such acts it is usually the male partner who does everything, while the female partner is just ‘decoration’. In Veslovski's charming act the tasks were more evenly split between male and female.

Duo Veslovski

After a short run-in where the always charming JOSÉ MICHEL tried his luck as a as lamp lighter there was again animals in the ring. This time the goats presented by IGEN FAMILY. The goats was followed by another short clown run-in where José and his partner Kike dressed as nuns mimed to the song from the movie Sister Act. Then TRIO VESLOVSKI was back, this time with at very nice roller skate act during which they did all of the tricks that you would expect to see in such a number.

The last act before the break was Gabi Donnert with elegant and well-groomed liberty horses which could do everything you would expect from top class liberty act. It is perhaps the best and most beautiful liberty act which you this year can see in a Scandinavian circus ring. In part of the act Gabi was assisted by his son and daughter.

Gabi Donnert

The first number after the interval was KSYUSHA VESLOVSKI in an aerial act in a "fishing net". She was followed by the Igen family’s entrée with happy and playful dogs. Then time had come for the José Michel-clowns main act. Normally you will see them doing their formidable version of the water and the funnel gag. But they did this act in Brazil Jack in both in 2009 and in 2011. So this year they had to do something new. It was musical and slapstick clowning with elements from a number of venerable clown routines, ending op with the custard pie gag where José and Kike throws many dishes with whipped cream in the heads of each other and where the white faced clown Giulia also was close to being hit. She avoided luckily enough being hit. However, she is married with José. And who will cast whipped cream in the head of his wife? The fine clown entrée ended with music.

The final act in the performance was an act which I had been looking very much forward to see: the AZZARIO SISTERS with their beautiful hand to hand balancing act which in January brought them a Silver Clown in Monte Carlo. It was one of the finest such equilibristic acts I ever saw with a single handstand a top the head of the other girl when mounting and demounting a fixed ladder as the final trick. José and Giulia was quite understandable proud of their super talented daughters and looks forward to spend a whole season together with them and their smaller sister. Last year Azzario Sisters toured with the famous German Circus Roncalli.

Azzario Sisters. Click here to see more photos from the show.

The last months have not been easy for Circus Brazil Jack owners Carmen and Trolle Rhodin JR. First they lost their youngest son, Max, and only just a little more than a week ago Carmen's mother passed away. I will hope that in future the sun will shine a little more in their path. They have deserved this with the wonderful performance which they offer their audience.

22 March 2012

Circus Baldoni 2012. "If you liked our show, tell it to everyone. If not, tell it to us. We do not pay attention to gossip".  With these words René Moenster always end the performances in Circus Baldoni.

I will follow his request and not tell Thessa and René what I think of their performance. But to all you others, I can say: It was a nice performance, perhaps the best that Baldoni to date has presented.

It is 10 years ago since the Thessa and René converted their Circus Theatre into a real circus. It is nice to see the positive development in the quality of the performances during those years.

This basic concept for year's show is the usual: the recurring characters are RENÉ (DIRECTOR BALDONI), THESSA (CLOWN DANILLA) and DANIEL DIMITRIJEVIC (DANILLO). And then I'd better mention the lion Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll). Otherwise I might be eaten the next time visit Circus Baldoni with my grandchildren! This year they are assisted by 3 talented foreign artist groups: THE CHINESE GAO-sisters, THE CHINESE CHEN BROTHERS (when the two couple of twins, who are married to each other, all four are in the ring they become the GAOCHEN-TORUPE, the Bulgarian TOMOVI- FAMILY and SZULITA & DENNIS from Hungary. The latter was one of top acts in the Hungarian show at the recent circus festival in Budapest.

The show began with as usual with Danillo climbing up on stage (Baldoni use a circular stage instead of a tradition circus ring) where he this year collected applause in a bag. This led naturally into Baldoni’s welcome song. One of the Chen brothers, assisted by one of Gao sisters then showed a fine and a little different quick change act, where he also changed his mask. You couldn’t see how it happened.

The GaoChen duo presented a nice quick change act. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

After a short clown run in with Danillo and Danilla Stiliana presented a very nice foot juggling act. While the stage was prepared for the next act Danillo from the band stand mimed to the Save your love my darling save your love. The female voice he managed to do using a mop as a wig. As far as I know this entrée was years ago developed by the Swiss clown André. Also José Michel has presented a great version of the entrée.

The GaoChen-troupe are not only good acrobats but also innovative. The Chen brothers presented a handstand act which was extra spectacular because it was performed inside a giant balloon. A sort of oversized fun-ball, as we know them from various water parks. Then Danillo and Danilla had one of their main acts beginning with the classical "you can’t not play here"-gag, following which they found out that Rene had X-factor and should be included as in the number as musician. Of course without much luck. They ended up playing music by beating Rene in the head with "melody clubs." Don’t worry: he was wearing a helmet.

Rene with Danillo and Danilla. Photo Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

The final number before the interval was the fine act in vertical rope which Szulita & Dennis presented to the audience at the Circus Festival in Budapest. Great that Thessa and René have been able to get a contract in place with these two artists, which I will consider as "rising stars".

After the interval Stiliana did a fine tight wire number with multiple costume changes. She ended by doing a backward somersault. Something you rarely see female artistes do on tight wire. Then René, assisted by Leonardo, warned the kids that the next number might be a little scary, but certainly not dangerous. But you could always choose to hold an adult hand. The number was a handstand act, performed by Dennis, but made extra spectacular by the fact that he was wearing a skeleton costume. He completed the number taking the headgear off, so kids could see that it was a young man and not a ghost.

The hand stand act was replaced by a clown entrée with Rene, Danillo and Danilla who would serve a delicious meal for René as an excuse for that they earlier in the show had beaten him in the head. As always in the classical spaghetti entrée the two clowns are getting more and more drunk as the meal progress. The clowns were replaced by Togovi family's exciting and charming dog act with two large St. Bernard dog and a couple of Heinz 57’s. You rarely meet Saint Bernard dogs in a circus performance. But both artists and the dogs seemed to enjoy the act and so did the audience.

The performance's last issue was GaoChen-troupe's spectacular entrance into tissues.

At the opening night the audience awarded the performance with standing ovations.

Szulita Szekrényes and Dennis Kiss.

As mentioned, a great performance that will definitely not disappoint the audience.

Click here to see a slideshow of additional photos from the performance.

15 March 2012

Circus Arena 2012. Jørgen Lorenzen was among the invited guests at Circus Arena’s opening night in Copenhagen Tuesday 13th March at 18.30. He was excited about the show and writes (my translation):

Monte Carlo at Bellahøj (Bellahøj is the lot used by most circuses visiting Copenhagen)

Arenas red and yellow colours were given an extra glow and aura when director Benny Berdino welcomed the audience with recitation and song. One felt that there was something special in store. And Benny Berdino is a fine ringmaster. Like the true artist, he exudes pride and joy - without slipping and becoming self-satisfied and fulsomely praising. He uses the word which is needed but avoids unnecessary chatter, which could slow down the performance..

And then it all began. Especially the first part of the performance had drive and a flow. Especially in this part of the performance it was noticeable that the show was staged by Joseph Bouglione from Cirque d'Hiver in Paris.

And again: the red-gold colours burned into the memory - backed by an impressive lighting and - as always in the Arena - good and live music.

The show began with a strong number, Puyang Acrobats. Often one sees that a circus performance begins with a less impressive act and the best acts are kept until later in the performance. But here was a very strong opening act with a beautiful and spectacular jumps and balance acts by 15 artists.

Then we met a skilful diabolo-juggler, Georgio Hromadko. With great variety and fast pace, he held the audience up to the mark and ended up having 3 objects flying simultaneously high up under the tent roof.

There followed a comical tableau, where Keaton Brothers acted as robber and police. The robber tried to escape in an air balloon which is mighty difficult in a circus tent. So he was run down. It was an act which told a story during which there was shown aerial acrobatics in and out from the basket, which hung below the balloon.

Keaton Brothers. Photo by courtesy of Circus Arena ©Christian Warrer

Jimmi Folco had now his first entrée as run-in clown and he understood what many clowns find difficult: to find the exit while he is still fun to watch.

Merrylu and Patrick showed dirty dancing / pas de deux on horseback - sensual and strong especially when Patrick hurls Merrylu around his body, while the horses are moving forward at full speed.

Then there was a reunion with Toto Chabri. He is approaching 80 years and doing the same thing that he has always been doing. Even the lines are recognizable: "Take it easy, sister. She is sexy, huh? "But nothing wrong with that - it seems as if this is the first time - fresh and new. And a whimsy: the old clown entrée called "Do not play music here" opens the act. It is the white-faced clown who fights against August's untimely disruption of classical music. But towards the end is turns over, so it is now Toto / August, who request not to be troubled with unnecessary musical involvement.

Toto Chabri. Photo by courtesy of Circus Arena ©Christian Warrer

Picasso Jr. is an excellent juggler - not least due to his personality. He has artist's features: a magnetism that reaches right out to the rear benches.

After the intermission came a liberty horse act with Laura, Anastazja and Patrick Berdino. And Jimmi Folco has a run-in as the Indian who loses his feathers. Then came a juggling / bouncing number performed by Duo Platschkov.

Jimmi Folco then entered the ring with the run-in with his homemade band, where spectators were “invited” to play in the band. Often such acts are too long, because the participants feel unsafe or because preparations for the "music" takes too long. But it was OK here!

And then we went to Monte Carlo!. The tremendous Casselly Family presented their large elephant and jumping act which earned them a gold clown. And it was unbelievable. The young Rene Casselly JR could not just go in splits between two elephants, but he could climb under the elephant's stomach, as if it was a Cossack riding act. He could turn a backward somersault from elephant to elephant and land on Merrylu's shoulders. And he could - quite incredibly - turn a 3-double somersault from a teeterboard to the elephant's back. It is very difficult, it is said, because the elephant, which press the teeterboard down can’t control the power of impact. And as an encore - oh! He would try a 4-double somersault. Incredible and impossible. But actually he succeeded. Benny Berdino commented on it: “A desire to show others that you can - it is the artist's fate" Yes, so true, so true.

René Casselly Jr. in his gold-winning jump. Press photo Circus Arena © Christian Warrer

I felt almost sad for The Catana Troupe, which should close the performance. The troupe presents a springboard act of great beauty and severity. But one could hardly cope with more.

Was there not something to criticize? Yes! Especially in the first part of the performance there was almost constant artificial smoke spewed into the ring. And it's probably not the intention that there shall be that much fog in a circus arena, so there at times there is nothing to see.

Click here to see some photos from the performance at the opening night.

Click here to see photos shot by Per "Mr. Sputnik "Krogh Petersen the day after the premiere.

13 March 2012

Circus Zorba 2012. The smallest of the Norwegian circuses, Circus Zorba, writes on their website (my translation):

This year, we present not only a new look and a new facade but also a brand new show with award-winning artists and beautiful animals. The Circus industry is getting more and more difficult as the years pass by and our job is to get children, youth and adults to come to the circus to see live entertainment. This year we have taken the traditional circus and made it better, newer and more modern. Telling a story where a child's imagination is used and creates magic in the circus ring. This is a performance you shouldn’t miss!

Perna Marton from Budapest, Hungary plays the part of a young boy whose imagination brings him into a circus ring with world famous artists and beautiful animals. In his imagination he meets the owner played by Peter Bors, a man with magical powers and a magic stick that can control the light, sound and tricks. The young boy gets a glimpse of how the show unfolds and the magical atmosphere that lies with both the performers and animals! A story that everyone can feel could be their own.

The program is:

1. Opening - Dir. Ronja Gujord welcome the audience

2. Parade

3. Vertical rope - A beautiful and elegant air numbers performed by Russian Ekaterina

4. Our charming ponies Caesar and Goliath, trained and presented by Thor Gujord.

5. Gena Clown

6. Swinging Ring - A beautiful, exciting and dangerous number performed by 21 year old Krisztina Denes!

7. The mongrel Amira has its debut in the big top this year and does everything to destroy everything for its owner!

8. The Mini clown Palin

9. Zorba’s trained goats and cats

10. Perch acrobatics with Duo Stauberti. An incredibly difficult, demanding and award winning act - Perch acrobatics combined with juggling, ladder balancing  and unicycle.

- Interval

1. Opening

2. Chinese pole - Powerful pole acrobatics performed by two Hungarian acrobats

3. Gena the Clown

4. Balance on free-standing ladder

5. The magical unicorn - Circus Zorbas own horse, the Orlov trotter Kapral plays this year the part of the magical unicorn.

6. Aerial Straps

7. 5-year old Palin, with her beautiful pigeons

8. Air Acrobatics hanging in the hair

9. Gena the Clown

10. Trampoline Acrobatics by Astorelli Juniors. These four youngsters from Hungary are really something to look out for! An old tradition made more modern and very speedy!

11. Finale

12 March 2012

Katja Schumann to Circus Mascot. On 9 March, I wrote that Katja Schumann this year will be special guest star in Danish Circus Mascot. Both Katja and the Deleuran family (owners of Circus Mascot) look forward to the cooperation. In the performance Katja will present her two magnificent horses of the breed American Saddlebreed. I saw the act last year and wrote at that time:

Critical people may argue that Katja only presented two horses: two American Saddlebreds. But it's not always quantity that makes it. Small is beautiful, at least when it's an act with the grace and charm that not many other than the Schumann family can present.

Circus Mascot’s audiences can certainly look forward to see an outstanding liberty horse act.

Facts about Katja Schumann: Click here to read more about Katja Schumann and see some video clips from some of her marvellous acts during her years with New York’s Big Apple Circus. Katja returned to Denmark in 2008 and toured that summer with Circus Dannebrog. For the last few years she has been connected to the No Name Circus Project (a sort of social circus organization).

Katja Schumann

12 marts 2012

The Lumo Award to Circus Finlandia. The couple Carl-Gustaf Jernström and Leena Jurvakainen who own the Finnish Circus Finlandia has been awarded the Lumo Award. As reason for giving the award was mentioned that Circus Finlandia got the ward for during the last 35-years to have done a lot to maintain the circus tradition in Finland and to bring the circus tradition all around the country, including in cities where there not are many cultural offers. The circus has been persistently and without fear of adversity.

To the Finnish newspaper HBL Carl-Gustav Jernström says: "Before, we were second class citizens, now we are acknowledged as cultural providers. But still we are considered as being the B-category among cultural providers when you look upon what forms of culture the State supports most."

Carl-Gustav Jernström's circus career began as a canvas worker at the Swedish Circus Scala. For about 35 years ago he bought some used and well worn circus equipment. It was the beginning of the Circus Finlandia, which today is Finlands largest and every years offers a strong program with international top artists. Today Circus Finlandia is managed by his son Carl-Johan Jernström who also is an accomplished juggler.

11th March 2012

Balder clowns to Circus Olympia. On 8 March I wrote that you in the upcoming season could see the three brothers, Christian, Engelbert and Sidney Balder in the Swedish Circus Olympia. It is also true - almost! For only two of brothers, Sidney and Engelbrecht Balder, will tour with Circus Olympia while Christian will work elsewhere.

Sidney and Engelbrecht Balder

10 March 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  here we can frequently enjoy really appealing, elegant and original VISUAL specialty acts.

Within the framework of various gigs we may enjoy YOGANE, daughter of the famous and innovative YOGANO, when she features a really elegant MAGIC ACT in the best of true LAS VEGAS-style ...there are colors and tempo, originality and feminine beauty, enhanced by appropriately created costumes. I particularly liked the sequence when YOGANE produces canes in any number and colors, she performs the floating ball, called Zombie, which levitates behind and over a sheer piece of cloth, and a tie suddenly appears around her neck, only to vanish and re-appear on a kind of dummy a bit further away.

A good and appropriate sound-track as well as an apparent joy of performing completes the picture of an outstanding VISUAL MAGIC ACT.

Click here to see a video clips with Yogane.

Yogane

Using the stage-name ELLES DUO /which can't be translated literally but it means Feminine Duo/ YOGANE also performs together with her feminine partner SOLVEIL - we see classic magic as entertainment: The Chinese Linking Rings in a very feminine version and THE SPIRIT CABINET. As an extra, one of the performers is produced from the cabinet, previously shown empty !! These acts are nicely choreographed, every step has been rehearsed, it is elegant and mysterious but all the same joyful, a sure-fire success when they perform at separate gigs, private social functions,  congresses and festivals and what we call special events.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Elles Duo with the spirit cabinet

Please note that a special write-up on the SPIRIT CABINET will be brought on www.circus-dk.dk probably in May.

--------------------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

9 March 2011

Circus Arli 2012. Martin Arli writes that you in Circus Arli's 2012-performance will meet the following acts:

Chinese Pole with MAILLARD’S

‘Tear out figures of paper-act’ with MARTIN ARLI

 Pigeons, presented by DITTE LILL

 Hand Stand / Hand Spring with ALEXANDER ARLI

 Mono bike with DAVID

 Tissue with HELENE

 Geese & Goats presented by MARTINO

 Clowns – of cause MARTINO & CO.

 Roller skates act with FERRANDINOS

 Aerial pas de deux with FERRANDINOS

Maillard in Chinese Pole

About this year's performers Martin tells:

I do not think that you have met any of the foreign artists before. Ferrandinos come from Italy and are doing a roller skate act and a pas de deux number in the aerial cradle). From Switzerland we have found a Danish / Swiss couple Hélène Ramer (who is Danish) and David Maillard (who is French / Swiss - son of the management of Circus Helvetia, Switzerland). They do 3 acts: Chinese Pole, unicycle and tissue.

 Ferrandinos

Alexander will do handstand / hand jumps, along with his girlfriend Ditte Lill, a Danish girl. She was educated at the Danish Musical Academy. They met each other last year in show "Schoutur" in Herning, where they both starred. Ditte Lill has most recently starred in "Mamma Mia" at the Concert Hall in Aarhus. Ditte will also present trained pigeons. Alexander and I will do the clown entrée but this year with Alexander as the white-faced clown. Furthermore I will do my father's entrée from 1953 with a ‘tear out figures of paper-act’ plus present trained goats and geese. My wife Bettina is as usual ringmistress.

Martino & Co. , this year with Alexander as the white-faced clown. All photos by courtesy of Circus Arli.

9 March 2012

Circus Mascot 2012. "It's time once again to gather around the ring in 'Denmark’s Family Circus,'" Circus Mascot writes on their website, adding: "Welcome to SHOWTIME 2012. We have once again assembled a team of professional circus artists and put together a show that will entertain, delight, and not least impress. Briefly said a top performance with lovely animals, funny clowns and international circus artists. It is now our 19th season and as always we've done our best to combine traditional and contemporary circus culture of high quality. Get ready for the big show! "

As special guest star Circus Mascot this year proudly present KATJA SCHUMANN with liberty horses.

The clowns Alex and Lulu are back in Circus Mascot’s circus ring, where they had great success in 2011.

In the show you can amongst others meet VORONIN in German Wheel, the clown GULIO, the clowns ALEX AND LULU, MARIANNE DELEURAN and her lovely doggies, ANDREY VORONIN with a juggling act on unicycle, LOS GAUCHOS with a gaucho entrée, JESS DELEURAN with Circus Mascot’s ponies,  DANIEL DELEURAN with chair balancing and his smaller brother ANDREAS DELEURAN with diabolo. As a new feature the clown Gulio will give workshops at schools, etc. Some of the children will after such a workshop in the evening could be seen in Circus Mascot’s ring.

Left: Daniel presents a new act with chair balancing. Right: Voronin juggles while he rides a unicycle. All photos by courtesy of Circus Mascot

8 March 2012

Circus Olympia 2012. The press release about this year's show in the Swedish Circus Olympia writes (my translation):

For the 28th consecutive year Circus Olympia which has its winter quarters in Drängsered in Sweden will start a six-month tour through Sweden. 171 cities will be visited from Skillinge in the south to Norrköping in the north and plans are to have in total 200 performances.

Herbert and Henrika Bengtsson have built Circus Olympia up from nothing to a large modern entertainment company. Every year they present a whole new international circus program in the blue and yellow circus tent which can accommodate 600 spectators. This year they will present exciting artists who have never before has appeared in Scandinavia and present their own groups of animals which have been engaged at some of Europe's most prestigious circuses.

They have put together a top class international program, with talented artists and well trained animals:

The Clowns BALDER comes from Germany and Portugal and are considered as some of Europe's most enjoyable classic clowns.

Danes will remember the 3 Balder brothers from Circus Dannebrog 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Norwegians could meet them in Circus Arnardo. They were also with the large German Circus Barum for several years. This year is the Swedes' turn to enjoy the brothers Christian, Engelbert and Sidney Balder (Christian is the white-faced clown)

DUO GONCALVES is high speed jugglers from Portugal and ALESSANDRO GILLERT & CRISTINA MOIA from Italy is excellent tight wire dancers. EONYS GONCALVES we'll see in a unique number with a pole.

Duo Gonzalves aka Rodgerio Gonzalves and his partner could be seen in Danish Circus Dannebrog in 2009. Photo: Rud Kofoed

DUO GALAXY from Germany can be seen in the notorious "wheel of death" high beneath the big top and in another aerial act we will see Mihail Dimitrov from Bulgaria.

Circus Olympia is characterized by the circus tradition of family entertainment, framed by beautiful music and contemporary show technique. This year's program runs for two-hour program and is accompanied by an eight-man big band.

It is our own animal groups that are Circus Olympia's special features, and this year's performance is characterized by this. Herbert Bengtsson is considered as one of Europe's most skilled animal trainers and his animal groups hired by some of Europe's largest circus. This year animals from Circus Olympia’s stables can be seen in the Norwegian Circus Merano and in Circus Harlequin, Switzerland.

From our own stables we see second-generation animal trainers the siblings JESSICA AND NIKLAS BENGTSSON. They present a charming liberty act with a Shetland pony and Friesian horses and a group of four Siberian camels. NATASCHA JARZ AND NIKLAS BENGTSSON will furthermore present a playful dressage with alpacas and exotic cows. In addition HENRIKA BENGTSSON preset her mischievous but well trained dogs.

Henrika Bengtsson with her dogs. Photo by courtesy of Circus Olympia. Photographer: Linda Himsel.

FACTS: Tent: 30 meters in diameter - Seats: 600 pcs - Participants: 60 people - Performances: 200 - Nationalities: 10 - Vehicles: 30 vehicles and 20 trucks (over 1 km long caravan) - Animals: 70 (out of which about 30 are involved in this year's show) - Season opening 31 March in Oskarström

7 March 2012

Clowns at Bakken at Easter. The amusement park Bakken which is situated north of Copenhagen writes (my translation):

Benny Schumann presents throughout the Easter holidays a veritable feast of world-class clowning at the Open Air Stage.

Bakken will this year be visited by a very large number of clowns from all around the world, including English John Burke and his sea lions, the unique mime artist Herr Niels from Germany, Konstantin Mouraviev from Russia in German Wheel and the clown Bekhit Hassan from Egypt. As ‘icing on the cake’ you will meet the Danish clowns Toffe, Patricia and Benny Schumann with classic gags and clowning. Additionally there will be a number of guest appearances by clowns from Denmark and abroad. A veritable cornucopia of clowning and comedy.

Clowning and fun has always been connected with Bakken, so it will obviously not be missing in 2012. Denmark's clown-godfather Benny Schumann is if anyone the essence of clowning in this country. Therefore, it is obviously him who has put together a program that brings some of the world's best clowns to Denmark.

As a novelty, the participating clown supplemented by a number of other clowns and entertainers will make a parade through Bakken half an hour before each performance at the open air stage.

The program offers top entertainment for children and for all of us who were never quite became adults. Benny Schumann has promised that this year's Clown Festival will be one of the best since it’s the festivals began in 1996! And we believe in him!

Click here to see video clips from previous years' clown festivals.

Bakken will begin the summer season on 29 March. There will be clown performances at the Open Air Stage 5th-9th April at 13:00 and 15:00 and clown parades 1/2 hour before each performance.

7 March 2012

The large Finnish Circus Finlandia has season opening in Karjaa on 8 April and ends the season in Helsinki on 4 November.

The show this year features the Danish / Finnish clown couple  Bonbon & Tiina, the Finnish jugglers BULDIG BROTHERS (Pasi Nousiainen and Eero Auvinen) CALLE JR. as juggler on horseback, DIORIOS with their globe of death, the comical acrobats DUO KATE & PASI (Katerina Repponen and Pasi Noble), LAURIE VATAN in trapeze, the Finnish magician MARKO KARVO, the acrobats ORIENTAL SWAN where the female partner dances on the male partner’s shoulder, VLAD OLANDER and his house cats, SEBASTIAN (Seppo Tauriainen) with a comical ventriloquist entrée, TRIO STOIAN with Russian bare and WALTTERI with a comical entrance on bicycle.

Vladislav Olander and his cats photographed in Danish Circus Benneweis in 2009. The Swedish audience met him in Circus Maximum in 2008 and Circus Brazil Jack in 2011. This year it is the Finns turn to see one of the world’s best house cat acts

6 March 2012

More about Circus Dannebrog 2012. On 2 March I wrote about the 2012 program in Circus Dannebrog, whose show this year is called Amazing Africa. Here is some additional information:

The African acrobat troupe which I by mistake called Kenya Boys are named HAKUNA MATATA BOYS and comes from Tanzania. They are leapers and fill the ring with a myriad of acrobatic leaps and great vitality. AFRICAN QUEENS comes from Ethiopia and perform also acrobatics. But unlike Hakuna Matata Boys, they do more calm and graceful movements,

The music is again this year in the hands of conductor TINO AEBY from Switzerland, his orchestra and the South African singer NONHLANHLA PRETTY SHANGASE. They master everything from rock to reggae and from Beethoven to Brahms. This year it is of course especially African music that is in the centre and accompanies the artists during the show. 

Africa is a continent with many humanitarian and environmental disasters. Therefore, Circus Dannebrog has initiated cooperation with the Danish Red Cross. Out of the price for each ticket sold during the year, 5 DKK (a little less than one Euro) will go to the Red

Cross and support their work in Africa.

6 March 2012

Italian circus to visit Denmark? Everything indicates that it is the Italian Circo di Mosca (Moscow Circus), which under the name Royal Circus is planning a tour in Denmark. The owner is the 30-year-old Larry Rossante and his circus has nothing to do with Moscow's famous state circus. But Larry Rossante have taught / worked in the Moscow Circus for some years, and about half of the acts in the performance shown in Italy comes from Russia. In an interview with the magazine Circo he says that his circus will tour in Denmark from April to September. As background for the tour in Denmark, he refers to the cooperation from 1957 to 1965 between Denmark and Italy regarding Circus Palmiri-Benneweis. He overlooks the fact it wasn’t an Italian circus visiting Denmark but of an Italian circus which with a new Danish owner continued the tour Italy. The true background for Circo di Mosca’s visit to Denmark is probably that the economic crisis also has also affected Italian circus, and that Larry Rossante therefore want to see if ‘the grass is greener’ elsewhere.

Circo di Mosca / Circus Royals tour starts according to schedule 2 April in Sonderborg. In Denmark, the Italian circus is assisted by the firm HL Event w / Henry Schäffner. Time will tell if Italian circus manages to do a tour in Denmark,or whether they for economic reasons have to give up and return to their homeland. Experience shows that even with a significant marketing budget it is very difficult for a circus to make money in a new country. But Larry Rossante might of cause be a wealthy person who can afford to lose some hundred thousand Euros in Denmark.

4 March 2012

Circus Arnardo 2012. Norway's oldest circus, Circus Arnado, will begin the season in Arendal on 17 in March. Here is what Arild Arnado writes about this year's show (my translation):

A new and modern circus-show. Circus Arnardo invites this year the audience into a magical universe where the world's leading artists offers grand experiences in a whirlwind of energy, power, joy and fun. Of cause also with many beautiful animals. Close to the spectators, and in a context of modern technology, an entertaining world of wonder folds out. Always in a fast pace, always unexpected and with rapid changes in the ring. And it all in a spectacular artistic staging.

Here are this year's artists:

HELEN ARNARDO - Circus Princess. Circus Princess Helen Arnardo sincerely welcomes you to this year's show and our season nr. 64.

ARNE LUIGI OTTO FOLCO ARNARDO - 4 Generation Arnardo will have his debut. Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo is twelve years old and named after his grandfather Arne Arnardo, the founder of Circus Arnardo. As a 4 generation Luigi - as he's called –debuts this year with his own act in the ring.

Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo

DIANA & MICHI - Plate Spinning with a lot of fun. Diana & Michi comes from Hungary to set the table in the cheerful kitchen with a stack of dishes that spin. But can they manage to keep lots of expensive china in balance on long sticks?

DIANA - Pure soap bubble poetry. A poetic play with the laws of physics. Diana leads us into the fascinating kingdom of soap bubbles.

JESSICA – foot juggling. With her feet young Jessica is juggling with flying carpets that rotates and changes position in varying patterns. Then coordination has to be on top with synchronized movements.

ARE & PAOLINA'S ILLUSIONS - Are and Paolina are in the ring with new magic and illusion act. Are’s grandfather, the circus king Arne Arnardo, who this year would have turned 100 years, is Norway’s most famous magician of all time.

VARADI'S DOG REVUE - fun for dog lovers and everyone else. Poodles and Chihuahuas which are curious and enthusiastic. Woof! Woof! Woof!

DIANA BOIACHIN - ballet in the air. High above our heads Diana Boiachin perform in ring-trapeze. With colorful combinations of spins and turns, she takes soft expressive positions in and outside the ring, and shows how flexible the human body can be.

DUO PERIS - Centrifugal challenged on roller skates. Duo Peris takes you on an extremely fast-paced and dizzying journey of 16 spinning wheels where the centrifugal force is challenged to the limit.

QUAISER CAMELS - A gust of wind from the Sahara. As out of a fata morgana a herd of camels comes forward with elegant movements. The caravan of desert ships is led by Andreas Quaiser.

NANDOR PETRUSKA - Tempo juggler from the future. At the age of 24 years, Nandor Petruska already has become a great and speedy juggler. With a speed that make us breathless just to look at and with an level of difficulty that just increases and increases he throws himself into the express juggling with an impressive number of clubs, balls and rings: We count 6, 7, 8, 9, and ...

DUO SERJO - Living statues with amazing body control. With power and elegance Russian Sergey Dimitrov Dimitrov and Bulgarian Krasmir present a thoroughly exquisite hand-to-hand balancing act. And pay attention: Never before seen in this kind of acrobatics is a so-called Diamidov, turning on one arm to handstand.

THE JASTER - With flying knives and arrows The Jasters lives a dangerous life. Very dangerous. Spectacular crossbow shooting and knife throwing at the highest level; meet Elena Busnelli and Giacomo Sterza alias The Jasters! The highest precision is required when Giacomo casts knives or is hitting objects close to Elena's head with crossbow arrows. There is no room for error margins, performance must be 100% correct. Otherwise it will go completely wrong.

The Jaster

STERZAS - The musical clowns are back in the ring. With inventive instrumentation and hilarious natural talent you will several time during the show meet the Sterza family. In a musical clown entrée they have a large repertoire of original ideas, gags and surprises which calls for laughter from young and old. For what will Alessandro do with a saw?

DUO VOLKOV - Bold gold winners with Russia perfection. In December 2011 Duo Volkov won the jury award at the 16th international circus festival in the Dutch city Enschede.

ANDREAS QUAISER’S ELEPHANT AND CAMELS – The Quaiser family's mixed animal acts are one of the highlights of the performance.

Andreas Quaiser's with elephants and camels. All photos courtesy of Circus Anardo

Danes will remember the talented Hungarian Varadi family (Diana & Michi Vardi and their son Nandor) from Circus Krone and Circus Baldoni. Duo Peris we have seen in Denmark in Circus Baldoni in 2010. The Swedish audience will remember them from Circus Olympia 2006 and 2009. The Jaster toured with Circus Benneweis in 2011. Duo Serjo appeared in Circus Dannebrog in 2011. Sterza-clowns could in 2010 be seen in the Danish amusement park Bonbonland. Recently they participated in the Budapest Circus Festival.

3 March2012

As the first circus in the Nordic countries the Norwegian Circus Merano had its opening night in Fredrikstad on 2 March. Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo has sent me the photos. He said there was spontaneous standing ovation from the audience at the premiere.

 Circus Merano’s big top Fredrikstad

Don Christian. The Danish circus audience remembers him from Benneweis 201O and the Swedes from Circus Maximum 2009 and 2011

At the opening night it was Jessica Bengtsson who presented 6 beautiful Arabian stallions from Circus Olympia's stables. The presentation will later be taken over by Adriana Folco

 Adriana Folco with her elephant Baba. Danes recall the number from Benneweis 2005 and 2006. All photos are taken by Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

3 March 2012

Pip and Bobby to Circus Minimax.The Danish clowns Pip and Bobby (Hanne and Ole Bünger) shall for a period this summer tour with the small Norwegian Circus Minimax. In Denmark they are known from Ole Büngers tiny Circus Pip. Subject to change Circus Minimax's 2012-program looks as follows:

Circus Director Carl-André welcomes the audience

Charivari

Juggling a rapid pace.

 Pip & Bobby - Our popular and eminent clowns from Denmark enter the ring

Tricks on unicycle

The chicken Pingrid come into the ring, but the chef Mr. Beef is hunting something for dinner

Tremendous diabolo juggling

15 minutes interval

Over The Rainbow Musical introduction by Ingrid.

 Mr. Carlo - Rola-Rola balance with C elements.

 Pip & Bobby – watch out! Our clowns from Denmark are back in the ring!

The  Minimax Circus troupe of acrobatics in the ring.

Grand Finale - circus director Carl-André waves goodbye and thank you for visiting the circus, hoping you will be back in 2013.

Circus Minimax will only tour for a limited period. Carl-Andre Hjelvik have previously reported that they in the summer of 2012 will give circus lectures for children and youngsters in Osterøy in Hordaland County, Norway. They have been granted 20,000 NKK as support for making a 2-3 week circus training course with a closing show in the circus tent on the last weekend of the course period. According to Carl-Andre Hjelvik the small Circus Minimax is somewhat in the style of tiny Danish of Circus Pip, but with a slightly larger tent and some dedicated artists. Their big top is 12 meter in diameter.

Carl-Andre Hjelvik was in 1999 and 2000 the man behind Circus Carlo, which had slightly more ambitions Circus Minimax. For economal reasons Circus Carlo had to stop.

3 March 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  but now as well in DUBAI -- the big SHOPPING FESTIVAL taking place every year in JAN - FEB offers a lot of performances, street parades and music - and very much so the music and colorful display accompanying THE DUBAI FOUNTAIN that plays and throws cascades of illuminated water every evening.

THE GLOBAL VILLAGE is an area that is both a fun fair and a shopping centre, very picturesque and offering shows on several big out-door-stages, where we can see and hear folklore treating us to dancing and music from exotic countries.

On the artistic side I saw this year ZAMASIMBA ARTS, a troop of African acrobats, from Kenya, featuring saltos, hand-to-hand and head-to-head acrobatics as well as limbo-dancing, at a brisk pace displaying good spirits and joy of performing.

Especially from Kenya and Ghana we find these magnificent artists, whereof a number can be seen in European circus.

Zamasimba Arts. Photo by courtesy of Imadel Photo Dubai.

The other big show consisted of a big troop of Chinese, very young girls - performing Icarian acrobatics, foot-juggling with barrels, tables and umbrellas - featuring extreme skill - but as I see it - it reminds too much of military drill. A Chinese man juggled the classic jar , 50 kgs, - which he threw and caught on his head and shoulders - an elegant and classic Chinese act.

The Chinesee troupe. Photo by courtesy of Imadel Photo Dubai.

THE GLOBAL VILLAGE offers a rich opportunity to experience a memorable afternoon and evening:  there are a lot of ethnic restaurants, and elegant shows.

Security is top class, the whole area is under surveillance, the evening I was there with my daughter Madeleine and her husband Imad was a "family day" - which meant that we were allowed access since Madeleine was with us - and we were considered "a family”!

THE GLOBAL VILAGE is well worth visiting !!!

--------------------------------------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO.

3 March 2012

PRESS RELEASE from ECA - Reports of a Ban Incorrect. The United Kingdom’s governmental agency Defra announced yesterday a public consultation on a proposed licensing scheme that would promote and safeguard the welfare of wild animals in travelling circuses in England. Under the proposals, operators of a travelling circus that failed to safeguard the welfare of their animals would face enforcement action.

Contrary to certain media reports, Defra has not established a ban on wild animals in the circus. The consultation explicitly states that Defra “is not seeking views on a ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.” In future, Defra will consider this possibility following study of ethical issues. Knowledge gained from experience with the licensing system will be used for such future policy considerations.

A licensing system, including announced and unannounced inspections, is in line with the European Circus Association’s long-standing call for governments across Europe to establish and enforce appropriate regulations for performing animals.

“The European Circus Association is pleased to learn that Defra is continuing with its efforts to establish regulations for circus animals and we look forward to participating in the consultation,” said President Urs Pilz. “This approach is in line with scientific evidence demonstrating that welfare needs of animals can be met by travelling circuses.”

The licensing scheme would be introduced by regulations made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The regulations will require standards of animal welfare to be met. The welfare standards would be set as license conditions. The consultation will conclude on 25 April 2012.

2 March 2012

Circus Dannebrog 2012. The main thread in last year's performance in Circus Dannebrog was the story about a troupe of artists who came to seek jobs in the circus. First without success, but eventually they succeeded and got permission to present a performance. This year the show is called AMAZING AFRICA and offers the audience an exciting trip through Africa from Morocco in the north through eastern Africa with its many animals and to South Africa where the Haddy Enoch family worked for several seasons before they 1977 re-established the Enoch family's old circus which at that time had laid dormant for almost 50 years.

In the beginning of this year’s show we meet KATJA AND ABDELAZIZ with a beautiful pas de deux on elephant. It goes without saying that it is an African elephant. Later, there are plenty of animals - camels as in Egypt, zebras as at the savannas of Kenya and Tanzania etc. However no big cats as there in Denmark is a ban against big cat acts.

The show features lots of animals

The acrobat troupe KENYA BOYS present excellent acrobatics and AFRICAN QUEENS proves that there are female top artists. DAVID SOSSMAN is juggling and DUO MAYBE presents a beautiful act in aerial straps. The two young artists are from Ukraine and have created a unique act with a story about love and desire.

Duo Maybe

The show ends with one of the international circus world’s absolute top acts: THE LIAZEEDS who the Danish audience last met in 2008 in Circus Benneweis. One of the troupe members performs earlier in the program Chinese pole acrobatics.

The Liazeed consists of father and daughter, Omar and Zaida Liazeed and Zaida’s fiance Francisco Arano Aleman. Omar's father was the leader of a famous troupe of Moroccan tumblers, the Bombay-troupe. Omar Liazeed married the famous Italian aerialist Ketty Jarz, who, in the 1970s, became the fourth female flyer in history to complete a triple somersault on the flying trapeze, and he became a member of Ketty Jarz’s flying act. Their daughter Zaida, who was born in 1970, received in 1984 the award for Best Young Talent of the Year. The Liazeed won the "Golden Artist Award" at the 6th International Circus Festival Of The Netherlands in 2001 and Circus Moria Orfei's honorary award at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo in 2005. They have appeared in some of the world's leading circuses, including New York's famed Big Apple Circus, just as they have appeared at leading music halls such as the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris.

The Liazeed

The acts in the performance are linked together by comedy reprices by CESAR DIAS, who comes from Portugal. He worked initially as a rola-bola acrobat, but wanted to try his big dream about “the art of comedy” and became a clown. However, he wanted something else than being a traditional clown, something more modern innovator, and chose not just to be a clown but more like a comedian. Click here to read more about Cesar Dias.  

Cesar Dias. All photos by courtesy of Circus Dannebrog

Circus Dannebrog has its opening night in Vojens on 29 March. As always, the performance is sold to the local Kvickly supermarket. During the Easter days from 5th to 9 April they will as usual be in Odense. Following that Circus Dannebrog will tour Funen and Jutland until they in August reaches Zealand, where they will end their visit with performances in Copenhagen from 24 August to 19 September.

2 March 2012

Circus Brazil Jack 2012. The Swedish circus writes (my translation):

Circus Brazil Jack has as usually its season opening at the circus lot at Jägersro

 in Malmo on Thursday 22 March at 19:00. A classic and family-friendly circus show

which will be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. Circus Brazil Jack is always presenting high quality both as for performers and as for animals which can be seen from the many words of praise in the Medias.

 "Certainly it's a traditional circus as opposed to the contemporary circus. But what

 class on traditional circus! Incredible acts mixed with a high degree humor”

PER HÄGRED wrote in the Evening Post, Malmö, April 1, 2011.

 "Playful, crazy and super fun at the circus. Sweden's national circus Brazil Jack presents many great acts in this year's circus performance for the whole family”

Johanna Hejdenberg wrote in  Arbetarbladet, Sandviken, May 20, 2011

 "This year's performance in Brazil Jack is one of the best for many, many years"

 Harald Broström wrote in GOTLAND RIGHT NOW, Visby July 9, 2010

 Rating: + + + + + "Sweden's national circus continues to raise the level. It can seem as big words, but no circus can be much better than this Anders Morvare wrote in Dagbladet, Sundsvall May 30, 2009

In this year's show we are proud once more to present the Spanish World class clown José Michel in our nationwide tour in Sweden 2012.

Apart from José and Julia Mitchel and their partner Kicko you will in Circus Brazil Jack meet their daughters Katie (23) and Quincy (18) who under artist name Azzario Sisters will present the outstanding handstand act for which they at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo this year was awarded a Silver Clown. The Michel clowns were at the same festival awarded a couple of special awards: Prix de la Societe des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique and Sacem Prix Jose Maria Gonzales Villa Junior.

By tradition Circus Brazil Jack will not release the full program until the opening night.

Left: Azzario Sisters in Monte Carlo, photo Rud Kofoed. Right: José Michel. This photo by courtesy of Circus Brazil Jack

29 February 2012

Circus Scott 2012. Anders Troedsson writes that the large Swedish Circus Scott's program for 2012 looks like this

 • Armando Renz - 3 elephants and 6 camels

 • Caroline Weisheit – riding ‘the courier’

 • Fuma Boys - 8 acrobats "anno da zu Mahl"

 • Huesca Brothers – Risley act

 • Fumagalli & Darix - clowns

 • Shaolin KungFu

 • Stoichev Brothers - Wheel of Death

 • Billy Fly – human cannonball

 • Break Crew – break dance with women only!

 • Catwall - trampoline

 • Circus Scott's 8-piece orchestra

 • The strip character Bamse (‘Teddy bear’) with his friends.

Bamse is a very popular strip character in Sweden.

At Circus Scott’s website you can read that the Shaolin act is done by 4 real Shaolin monks. About the trampoline act they write that it is a type of act never before seen in a Nordic circus: "Trampoline Jumping against a wall. We are proud that we have with us six of the best in the world today in this discipline. They jump not only against a wall, but also through it to land on another trampoline and then jump again. You got to see it to understand it. Fun and amazingly cool! "

Circus Scott has its season opening in Växjö on 3 May. The tour ends at Örebro 9th September after visiting 15 Swedish cities. Where the other Swedish circuses mainly have one day cities, Circus Scott is always at least 4 days in a city. Like most German circuses Circus Scott uses some days without performances when they move from one city to another. This means obviously that they can manage with fewer tent workers and fewer trucks than a circus which is moving every day. And it does not give unnecessary expenses to artists because it in artist contracts usually are stipulated that artists only get salary for performance days. Often the contract will promise the artist a minimum number of working days per month.

Circus Scott advertises that they have Europe's largest circus tent with a circus school. However it seems unlikely that Circus Scott’s circus tent is larger than the tent with room for 4,500 spectators which is used by German Circus Krone.

Fumagalli. Photo by courtesy of Circus Scott

 29 February 2012

Circus Wictoria 2012. The 2012-program for the Swedish Circus Wictoria looks like this:

 • Duo Tarantini with revolving Ladder

 • Family Ruml with diablo, juggling and rola-bola

 • Brophy Family with Wild West Show

 • Natalia Balakireva presents Circus Maximum’s Eksoten and her school horse.

 • Duo Pasieka with perch and "dancing doll"

 • Nadja (Nadezha) Balikireva with trained polecats

 • Maria and the clown Professor Bluffo

Season opening is 30th March in Heby. The Danish audiences know the talented Czech Ruml family from several seasons with Danish Circus Mascot and No Name Circus.

Circus Wictoria is a small/medium sized circus.

Robin Ruml with rola-bola. His father Zdenek is a juggler and his brother Zdnek JR performs with diabolo

27 February 2012

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  --  but certainly also in DUBAI -- particularly during the yearly event of THE DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL featuring interesting shopping opportunities as well as many international events, parades, fireworks and various shows, circus and open air performances in THE GLOBAL VILLAGE which is a large Fun Fair offering both shows and a great number of shops displaying goods from the Gulf region and --- from the rest of the world.

The whole of DUBAI is illuminated - the palm trees along the highways leading to the city are decorated with lights - attractive scenery especially when dusk comes quickly at 18.00.

In the old, popular and populous part of the town, called DEIRA ---  the big CIRCUS MONTE CARLO had planted its BIG TOP. CIRCUS MONTE CARLO, direction SOUHEIL OBEID assisted by his son NICHOLAS OBEID, come from Beirut, Lebanon -- and it is certainly the main attraction during the Shopping Festival that attracts people from the whole world.

We saw a rich circus program, interesting, stunning, funny and beautiful - all the circus disciplines were represented:

A funny clown playing with the kids in the ring,

A dog revue where the dogs competed eagerly to show their tricks.

An oriental belly-dancer also featuring a python.

A bird revue, from Germany, presenting parrots of all colors and sizes - amazing !

A mixed group of lions and tigers, where the Egyptian tamer was in complete control all the time - reassuring !

A young juggler performing at a whooping pace.

A MAGIC SHOW, presented by a couple who were acrobatic dancers as well - mystifying and stunning !

A beautiful Spanish girl performing in tissues as well as on the classic vertical rope, very gracious and with a good contact to the audience - not easy to get facial expression sink in when you are high up in the air. The tissue act was fine, but as I see it - the acrobatic figures are better seen on the vertical rope, anyhow the tissues are a novelty and are worth seeing. A troupe from Columbia opened the show by evoluating in THE WHEEL OF DEATH, a breath-taking performance, they furthermore re-appeared in the grande finale, featuring a HIGH WIRE ACT, where they balanced, even on a chair, rode a bike and - made a pyramid on two bikes.

It was impossible to get the artists' names - so here are a few comments:

The show was conducted at a brisk pace - it was clear that the animals enjoyed showing their tricks in the ring - the Egyptian tamer was in full control over his animals and we felt a confidence and mutual respect between man and beast. All the acts were well worth seeing and the audience, very much cosmopolitan, were enthralled.

The cosmopolitan side is natural, only about 15 % of the Dubai population are Emiratis, the rest consists of immigrants who come for work and business. most of them from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines - and the ties with UK remain since the time of the British Mandate. Apparently there are a few thousand Scandinavians as well - and others.

The day temperature was about 24 C - during April thru October it rises to 45 C.

CIRCUS MONTE CARLO is well maintained and in good shape - a very welcoming reception awaits the audience.

Entrance fees:  Dirhams 50 - 100 = Euro  10 - 20 - very reasonable prices.

As a permanent correspondent for CIRCUS IN DENMARK, I got a warm welcome, together with my daughter Madeleine and her husband Imad -  so we all say  A BIG THANK YOU for that and for an excellent show !!!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN DUBAI !!

------------------------------------------------------------------------- reported by ZARRO ZARRO,

The performers in front of the big top. Photo by courtesy of Imadel Photo Dubai.

26 February 2012

A Birthday with a round figure: Addie Jepsen 70 years old. On Thursday 1 March the Danish sea lion trainer Addie Jepsen can celebrate her 70 years birthday. Addie was born in a circus family. Her grandmother Maria Bruun was married with the circus owner Joseph Bruun of medium sized Danish Circus Royal but had a daughter Rosa (Addie’s mother) before she met Joseph Bruun. When Addie was a couple of years old her mother took her to the Danish amusement part Bakken. "What a sweet little girl," a young man whom they met said. Addie’s mother liked that comment and it ended up with marriage between her and the young man who was a hairdresser. They got together another 2 children, so there were 3 children in the Jepsen family. Papa Jepsen believed that Addie should become a hairdresser as her 2 brothers became. But Addie was more attracted by life in the circus and worked as a tight wire dancer in Circus Royal. However, Addie would rather work with animals and in 1963 she came to the newly established Circus Vivi, who had rented some horses from Joseph Bruun. In subsequent seasons she worked for Circus Vivi and got acquainted with sea lions as circus owner Vivi Schmidt was a well-known and talented sea lion trainer. Circus Vivi closed by the end of season 1968 and Vivi Schmidt performed in season 1969 elsewhere with her sea lions and offered Addie the job as her assistant. That’s how Addie got her debut as sea lion trainer in 1969. The following year Addie presented Vivi’s sea lions in the Norwegian Circus Berny. In 1971 she and the sea lions toured with the large Norwegian Circus Arnardo. In 1972 she presented Vivi’s sea lions at the large Swedish Circus Scott where she met another Dane, Nelly Jane, who this season was ringmistress in Circus Scott and therefore introduced "Vivi’s famous sea lions presented by Addie Jepsen”. From 1973 to 1975 Addie presented Vivi’s sea lions in the large German Circus Barum. In the following years she and the sea lions had jobs many different places in Europe. In 1981 she presented the act at Circus Benneweis in the Copenhagen Circus Building. In 1987 she toured with Danish Circus Arena.

At sometime Addie Jepsen bought her own sea lions. Later she sold her sea lions to the large Swiss amusement and animal park Connyland, which is known for its shows with sea lions, dolphins, etc. The park is owned by the famous Swiss artist family Gasser, who is particularly well known as some of the world's greatest sea lions trainers. Addie also got a job in Connyland where she worked with the sea lions which former belonged to her.

In 2003 Benny Berdino of Danish Circus Arena persuaded Addie to return to Denmark to present his sea lions at the Danish amusement park Bonbonland which from 2003 to 2008 leased a sea lion act from Benny Berdino. Initially Addie only committed herself for the season in Bonbonland. But since Benny Berdino rebuilded his winter quarters and established a giant sea lion pool (much larger than the one in Zoo in Copenhagen) Addie has spent more and more time in Denmark where you can meet her and the Berdino sea lions when Circus Arena’s winterquarter Circusland in the holiday seasons is open for the public.

Addie Jepsen

26 February 2012

Circus Baldoni 2012. Circus Baldoni who have their opening night in the Copenhagen suburb Lyngby on 21 March promises that their 2012 program offers (my translation) "two hours at full blast with entertainment for the whole family. This year's show present a wonderful act with giant St. Bernard dogs, a foot juggler facing up and down on everything, a tight wire dancer who makes somersault on the tight wire, impressive aerial acts, a magical mask/quick change act, an exciting handstand entrée, amazing acrobats, lots of clowning and much more. The show is presented by Circus owner Baldoni (aka René Moenster) and cheeky talking lion Leonardo (a ventriloquists doll), who is loved by children and the hallmark of Circus Baldoni. "

Stiliana Tomovi with one of her St. Bernard Dogs

Among the performers are the talented Chinese GaoChen troupe (two male twins who is married with two female twins), which Baldoni’ audience last met in Baldoni’s Christmas Circus 2010 and before that in the summer performances in 2005 and 2008. In addition you will amongst others meet Stiliana & Matey Tomovi coming from Bulgaria. They are both talented and versatile acrobats who can make a variety of entrées. In Baldoni, we will meet then in a comedy act with two Sct. Bernard Dogs and a few smaller dogs, Stiliana with antipode (foot juggling) and on tight wire. Click here and here to see video clips from a couple of their entrées.

 And of cause the Baldoni audience will meet the popular clowns Danillo and Danilla.

 GaoChen acrobats in giant balloon

26 February 2012

Circus Arena 2012. The press release about this year's show in Circus Arena tells not surprising about the gold clown the René Casselly family was awarded at this year’s circus festival in Monte Carlo, and the junior-gold clown which at the New Generation Festival was awarded to René and Alexia Casselly's children Merrylu and René JR and Benny Berdino's grandchildren Patrick, Anastazja, Charmaine and Stephanie Berdino. The press release also mentions the Prix Du Public at the two festivals, which was given to the René Casselly family and René Casselly junior respectively.

The press release states (my translation):

Sensational Gold Party at Circus Arena - For the first time in the circus story the Monte Carlos world-famous gold clown went to Denmark – to the Casselly-Berdino family from Circus Arena. Not less than two times Circus Arena was in the top of this year’s circus festivals in Monte-Carlo. First it was Casselly’s elephants receiving the gold clown – the circus world's answer to an Oscar – from the festival's president Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Four times during the performance there were standing ovations from an almost ecstatic audience coming up from the seats, ending up with endless applause. And it went on. The artistic bull's-eye was not only awarded the Golden Clown but also four special awards, including Prix de Public which for the performers is the most important of all awards.

Gold party continued!

For the first time a 'New Generation' festival was organized with Princess Stephanie daughter Pauline as jury president. Again was the Casselly-Berdino family there and grabbed the only junior-gold clown in front of the many young circus talents from all around the world.

It's ended up as a pure Arena festival, the grateful circus manager Benny Berdino says. He is pleased to present the gold winners in this year's show. It will be a gold party in the ring. Clearly we will experience the winning act with elephants, but also the young generation, Merrylu and Patrick, are with us and will present tremendous acrobatics on horseback. I have gathered some of my favorites this year, Benny Berdino says and mentions the teeterboard troupe Catana and the Spanish energy bomb Picasso Jr., which both have been awarded in Monaco - 16 fabulous equilibristic acrobats from China - and the diabolo juggler-Georgo from Czech Republic. And I have all winter followed how my own family has been working with a brand new horse act at our winter quarter in Circusland in Slagelse, an act I look forward to present to the audience.

Puyang Acrobats. Press photo Circus Arena

World Clown from Belgium

It shall be great fun to visit Circus Arena - and it will be so when Benny Berdino, along with their usual clown Jimmy Folco introduces the world-class clown Toto Chabri. It is hilarious! Promise the circus manager who also has a few surprises up his sleeve and mentions a giant hot air balloon before he remembers that he is about to reveal his own secret.

Circus Arena has their opening night on 13 March 13 at Bellahoj in Copenhagen and will after that tour all over Denmark visiting 107 cities.

Benny Berdino surrounded by the Arena clowns for season 2012: Toti Chabri with his wife Nora and his partner and Jimmy Folco. Press photo Circus Arena © Christian Warrer

During the show the audience will meet Berdino's horses, the clown Toto Chabri, springboard artists from The Catana Troupe, the clown Jimmy Folco, Merrylu & Patrick in an equestrian entrée, the jugglers Duo Platschkov (Alina and Stefan Platchskov. Alina is  daughter of Toto Chabri and has previously performed under the name Line Carol both with Circus Arena and Circus Benneweis), the Chinese Acrobats Puyang, the master juggler Picasso Jr. (was also with Arena in 2008), a comic entrance with a Hot Air Balloon, the diabolo-juggler Georgio Hromadko and Casselly family with their 4 African elephants. The German Casselly family, who has their winter quarters and training center in Alexia’s native country Belgium, has since 2005 every summer season toured with Circus Arena, and will this year present the act with René JR's somersault from the springboard to the elephant, which earned them the Golden Clown in Monte Carlo.

René JR in doing handstand on the back of his larger sister Merrylu. Photo Rud Kofoed, taken during this year's circus festival in Monte Carlo

25 February 2012

Circus during the winter holiday. Week 7 and Week 8 has offered many wonderful circus performances in shopping centres, etc. Although I have not seen any of them (was on holiday in Israel and Jordan – that was also exciting) nice people have provided me with photos, etc. from some of the performances.

The photographer Per "Mr. Sputnik "Krogh Petersen visited Elsinore City Center, where you in week 7 could meet Benny Schumann and Patrick Burke and his sea lion. Click here to see Per’s photos from the show. My second oldest grandson Sebastian (4 years) has confirmed that it was a great show which he saw several times!

Elly and Kurt Stær visited Circus Mascot in Herning Centre. They write: "It was well attended and there was fight to get the front seats where you could see everything. The show lasted approx. 40 min and we do not think such show can be made better. We were very impressed with Daniel's new chair balancing act for which he received great applause. Then there was the dog act which always popular especially among children. "

Daniel Deleuran with chairs balancing.

Marianne and Andreas Deleuran with the dogs. Both photos taken by Kurt and Elly Stær

One of the mall performances in Week 8, which I did not mention in my survey dated 11 February over the circus performances during the winter holidays, was in the large shopping mall Rosengaard Shopping Centre in Odense as the final details first fell into place quite late.

For many years you could every year during the winter and autumn holidays meet Circus Kenny with in the centre with approx. 45 minute performances produced by Haddy Enoch family. It was always traditional circus performances of high quality. By the end of 2009, the centre however wanted to try something new and neither in 2010 or 2011 the Rosengaard Shopping Centre offered their customers circus performances. Circus Kenny was years ago established by the late Kenn Anker Petersen and gave in its heyday winter performances in a number of Danish shopping malls. Kenn Anker Petersen later transferred the business to Haddy Enoch who until the autumn 2010 produced Circus Kenny performances for Rosengaardscentret.

Haddy's grandson the bike acrobat Jimmy Enoch, has however occasionally been in contact with the Rosengaard shoppingcentre, among other times at Christmas time when the centre rented some seats and a stage from Circus Kenny. As a result of this contact you could this year again in week 8 (the school children’s holiday week in Odense) see circus in the Rosengaard Centre. Not the old Circus Kenny, but a "young" show, Enoch's Circus Show, produced by Jimmy Enoch. He used seating and ring from Circus Kenny and certain material from Circus Dannebrog.

"I wanted to try something myself," Jimmy says, adding: "I've always envied my late grandfather his ability to put together a fantastic circus performance. Now I have compiled some of my best friends with whom I have worked during the years - so I can now make the best show ever. It is with great pleasure and little butterflies in my stomach, I present this show with modern hand-picked artists. "

Those involved in the performance lasting for about 40 minutes was apart from Jimmy himself the juggler Eddie Carello from Switzerland (Circus Dannebrog 2008 and 2011), Joulia Tchakinova from Germany with fine acrobatics with her poodle (Circus Dannebrog 2011, with be with Swedish Circus Maximum in 2012) and Erwin Frankello who also came from Germany with his two talented sea lions. Erwin is the son of the well-known elephant trainer Sonny Frankello. Finally starred Alexander Arli - the classic clown, which you need to have in every circus.

Jimmy has kindly provided me with some photos from the show.

Left: Alexander and Jimmy. Right Jimmy doing lass balance on bike

Eddie Carello in the ring

Eddie Carello’s top trick is when he plays the drums with his juggling balls

Erwin Frankello with one of his sea lions

Joulia Tchakinova

Jimmy and his team

14 February 2012

PRESS RELEASE from the European Circus Association (ECA); GREECE: COMPLETE BAN OF PERFORMING ANIMALS. On 31 January 2012 and after some months of stand-by, the Commission for Production and Commerce of the Greek Parliament passed a law banning the use of all animal species in any form of show business, thus also and above all in the circus. So far, this is a unique measure in Europe, which bans the keeping of animals if the purpose is to make them participate in any form of entertainment in front of an audience.

Obviously, the regulation concerns all forms – also minimal ones – of a show with animals in front of an audience. Zoos, aquariums, pet shops etc., however, are allowed on condition they do not provide any performance in front of spectators. The law appears even more unusual if you take into consideration that Greece has no national circus of its own but that so far only companies from abroad have performed in this country.

Obviously, this is a very severe decision which interferes with the right and the

freedom of movement of European circuses.

The ECA is considering which actions to take against this decision.

11 February 2012

Circus during the winter holiday. In Denmark schools are closed in either week 7 or week 8. Due to this you can see several circus performances in shopping centres etc.

ON ZEALAND:

In AMAGERCENTRET in Copenhagen you can 13 and 14 meet the Circus Theatre with the performance Aladdin. Admission is free.

At the CIRCUS MUSEUM IN HVIDOVRE, COPENHAGEN, you can from 13 to 17 February see a show with the bike acrobat Jimmy Enoch. Ticket price 50 DKK for adults and free for children. The ticket also gives access to the museum.

Jimmy Enoch. Photo from Circus Dannebrog’s 2011-performance

In ELSINORE CITY CENTRE you can from 13 to 18 February see Benny Schumann's Mini Circus with Benny himself and the sea lion trainer Patrick Burke and his sea lions. Admission is free.

In WEST ZEALAND CENTRE in Slagelse you can from 13 to 18 February meet Benny Schumann's Mini Circus with John Burke's sea lion show, Josephine & Daniel Igen’s Dog Show & The Thur Sisters.

John Burke and his sea lions. Photo from performance at ‘Bakken’ in 2009

Circusland (Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Aarslev at Slagelse) is in week 7 & 8 open daily from 10 to 16.  All the circus animals are at home during the winter holiday: zebras, alpacas, dromedaries, cows, pigs, goats, horses, ponies and elephants. You can see training of circus animals in the training rain, sea lion show, training of elephants etc. At the playground there is a children’s railway, a small Ferris wheel, carousels, football games, air hockey and Funballz. You can get a clown makeup and try circus costumes in the Arena Circus Museum. Entrance to Circus Country costs 149 DKK

FUNEN AND JUTLAND

From 11 to 17 February, you can meet Circus Krone at the Gellerup Stage near Aarhus. Besides circus owner Irene Thierry and the clown Allando and his horses you can meet Irene’s son, Frank, and the jugglers Duo Rapoli (Antionio and Helena Rapolli), who for the summer season will tour with the large Austrian Circus Louis Knie. Ticket price: Adults: 85 DKK, children: 65 DKK.

Allando and the dangerous panda bear. Photo from Circus Krone's 2011-performance

From 13 to 18 February, you can meet Circus Mascot in HERNING SHOPPING CENTRE. The following week, from 20 to 26 February they are at the AALBORG SHOPPING MALL. The performers are members of the Deleuran family and the clown Gulio.

Marianne Deleuran with her dogs. Photo from performance in the Herning Shopping Centre in 2011. Photo: Elly and Kurt Stær

From 20 to 26 February you can enjoy circus performances in Odense Congress Centre as part of the indoor amusement park Slaraffenland (‘Eldorado’), which is open every day from 10.00 to 17.00. The performance is produced by Isabella Enoch and you will meet:

Bernhard Kasselowski with zebras, camels and horses. Furthermore, the elephant Ramboline, presented by Bernard and his daughter Josi (Josephine)

Josi in the cloud wing

The juggler David Sosman

Freddy Anthony with his hunk horn entrée

Miss Martina with hula hop

Martina and Freddy with magic show

In addition, a clown.

Entrance to Slaraffenland including circus: 125 DKK

Freddy Anthony and his hunk horn car. Photo from performance in Circus Krone 2010

Odense's youth circus Circus Flik-Flak has performances for the whole family on Thursday 23 February at 14.00 and Friday 24 February at 11.00. Artists from Flik-Flak will do magic, juggling, perform at unicycles etc. After the performance there will be opportunity to try different circus disciplines. Tickets cost 50 DKK for adults and 30 DKK for children.

Rumours say that in addition to what is mentioned above a large shopping centre is considering presenting a circus performance in week 8.

10 February 2012

The large Norwegian Circus Merano begins the season on 2 March. As usual, they will present beautiful animals and international star performers. Circus owner Knut Dahl has kindly provided me with the following about this year Merano-performance (my translation from Norwegian):

ADRIANA FOLCO ALTHOFF. Charming Tinker-horses. From Swedish Circus Olympia, we have obtained six charming Tinker-horses. It is a very special and powerful breed of horse that was bred by Irish gypsies. The purpose was to draw their large mobile homes. The breed has thick mane and a very good temperament. There are approx. 500 registered Tinker-horses in Norway. They are used as family / all-round horse, and are suitable for therapy riding. In Merano they will be presented by Adriana Folco Althoff.

ADRIANA FOLCO ALTHOFF. A pleasant reunion with Baba. The elephant Baba is now approaching forty years and is of same age as her owner. Baba came to Adriana's family when she was two-three years old and they grew up together as playmates. Adriana took over Baba from her father 12 years ago. Together, they have performed in all the major European circuses.

AMEDEO FOLCO JR. Camels – ships of the desert. Amedeo Folco JR is a teenager (13), and can this year be considered as an "adult artist." He is the ninth generation of two of Europe's leading circus families – the Folco’s and the Althoff’s. This year, he will present four of the family's camels.

PAT CLARRISON’s "HOT - DOGS" ... Patrick Clarrison belongs to a renowned circus family. He grew up in London but has also lived in Sweden and Denmark. Comedy and acrobatics is in his blood, which he clearly demonstrates with his hilarious and naughty dogs. The dogs, he has picked up from a relocation centre in England. Instead of an uncertain fate, they now have a good home with Patrick.

Pat Clarrison and his hot dogs

DON CHRISTIAN is Merano's fun man. Christian Hofer of Graz in Austria was a graduated economist when he was bitten by the circus flea. Fortunately for the audience, he chose to replace the suit and briefcase with clown costumes. "I wanted to work with people, not figures," he says. Don Christian alternates between hilarious antics and a warm humour that makes him unique as a clown. In this year’s Merano-performance he is "the performance's main thread”....

Don Christian

ROBERT FOXALL - Beautiful and powerful aerial straps. An incredible body control combined with daring tricks and beautiful performance we'll see when the British Robert Foxall occupy the airspace over the ring. Aerial straps are actually more difficult than working in a trapeze - it takes great strength to accomplish this. Beautiful, powerful and daring are key words for this act.

THE GERASYMENKO BROTHERS- Impressive knockabout acrobats. I wish we had the same body control at the Ukrainian brothers Pavel and Evgeniy Gerasymenko! Knockabout acrobats are artists who live by falling, but these two do more than that: They also show a unique body control and demanding acrobatics. Impressive!

KARL RAMWELL - tempo juggler. Tennis balls, clubs and footballs are flying through the air at a furious speed while Hungarian Karl Ramwell is in the ring. All done with style, smile and a charming twinkle in his eye. An artist act based on old traditions, but in modern form and speed.

THE FEDOROVI TROUPE in horizontal bars. As monkeys the four acrobats from Ukraine enters the horizontal bars. They do somersaults with or without twist, jump and leap in breakneck speed. Power and flexibility are key words for this technically very demanding artist performance.

THE FEDOROVI FAMILY does comical on the trampoline. A good advice for those of you who have a trampoline in the garden or on the playground: do not try you on if the Fedorovi Family’s tricks! It takes years of training and in fact an incredible body control to do such tricks. Jumps, double and triple somersaults - with a comical and humorous twist.

ROBERT LAGRONI. Hand-stand on a motorbike performed by the young Robert Lagroni from Czech Republic. We will see power and athleticism. Hold your breath when he picks one after one  block down from a high position - it usually goes well! Robert, who is a real "circus child," addsa modern touch to the classic circus arts.

9th February 2012

The Circus Festival in Budapest - Silver Pierrot to Sweden. It was the 9^th time that Budapest hosted the International Circus Festival of Budapest. Many people from the circus world had recommended the festival as a festival with a high artistic level and a good chance to see acts you hadn’t seen before. The festival was this year held in from 2 to 6 February at the same time as the new New Generation Festival in Monte Carlo, whose major festival might consider the Budapest Festival as its most serious competitor.

The Budapest Circus Building. The current circus building was built in 1971 and has room for 1,850 spectators

The bankruptcy of the Hungarian airline Malev on 3 February made a bit more complicated than usual to go to Budapest but almost all of the guests managed in one way or another to get to Budapest.  Myself I had to go by flight to Vienna and then by bus to Budapest.

The arduous journey proved worthwhile. We saw some excellent performances, and the artistic level was fully equal to the level in Monte Carlo, perhaps with slightly more variety theatre acts than in Monaco. And the festival's loyal guests from the world of circus had not forsaken it in favour of the New Generation Festival in Monte Carlo. All major circuses and several smaller ones were represented in Budapest. Many of the visitors had two weeks before visited the circus festival in Monte Carlo.

Isabella Enoch, Circus Dannebrog, together with Irene Thierry from the Danish Circus Krone

Ulla Steckel with an old friend: Guillaume Dufresnoy from New York's Big Apple Circus. Guillaume was president of the Jury

Shortly before the festival the Hungarian government decided that time had come for the festival's founder and director for many years István Kristof to retire. Well deserved tribute was paid to the great circus man in connection with the closing gala

As in Monte Carlo, there were two selection performances. Added to this was a performance by Hungarian artists.

From performance A there is special reason to mention: THE HABANA-TROUPE from Cuba with an impressive act with Russian bare. LEONID BELJAKOV from Germany with a wonderful comic entrée with a ‘drowsy’ boxer dog. A fantastic interaction between dog and master, who very well deserved brought Leonid one of the festival's special prices. ROLLING WHEEL from Hungary - 3 people in a beautiful act with German wheel. SEBASTIEN NICAISE from Belgium with one of the best diabolo acts I ever have seen - the pace of the number varied with the fiery Hungarian music from the well playing circus band. For his performance he received the festival's Bronze Pierrot. The 4 ROKASHKOV'S from Russia (one girl and three men) showed a beautiful and poetic act in horizontal bars. They got the festival's finest award, the Golden Pierrot. EMILY & MENNO VAN DYKE of Holland had a juggler entrée, where he juggled while he danced the tango with Emily in a beautiful choreography. ELISA KHACHTRYAN from Armenia got a well deserved Bronze Pierrot for her tip toe dancing on the high wire. The big cat acts which closed the performance were presented by Russian ANDREY & NATALY SHIROKALOFF who presented 5 tigers, 2 leopards and 2 panthers. It was spectacular, but rather long (25 minutes) and without the same charm as Lacey brothers big cat acts. Click here to see a video clip from the act.

To the left: Elisa Khachtryan got a Bronze Pierrot for her tip toe dancing on high wire. To the right: Sebastien Nicaise got a Bronze Pierrot for his diabolo entrée

One of the numbers that you met in the performance A, was somewhat below the standard you would expect to meet at such a festival. It was the musical clowns from the Italian STERZA FAMILY with the same entrée, which Danes saw in the Bonbonland amusement park in 2010. They fit better in a small family circus or in a children's amusement park than at an international festival.

Performance B presented MELESHIN BROTHERS from Russia with an impressive rola-bola-act of which some was done in the "two levels" (see photo).

Meleshin Brothers

CHILLY & FLY from Canada showed an impressive number in standing cradle with jumps more difficult and dangerous than I ever have seen before. It brought them very well deserved the festival's finest, the Golden Pierrot. STARBUGS from Switzerland showed some refreshing new clown run-ins. DARKAN from Kazakhstan had a wonderful act in aerial straps. It earned him a well deserved Silver Pierrot. SORELLAS did their famous trapeze act - no trapeze duo makes it better than them! Swedish Johan Wellton did a formidable comical juggler entrée, which earned him a well deserved Silver Pierrot. Johan has probably never before appeared in a circus, and the act is probably more a variety theatre act than a circus act.

To the left: The young Swede Johan Wellton won a well deserved Silver Pierrot for his comedy juggling act. To the right: Duo Sorellas excellent trapeze act which Swedes can enjoy in Circus Maximum in the upcoming season

At the gala on Monday night we met, in addition to some of the above mentioned artists as guest stars the clown HOUSCH-MA HOUSCH, who currently has large and well-deserved success at the Lido in Paris, the clown David Larible’s juggling son DAVID LARIBLE JR and the dancer and juggler NATHALIE ENTERLINE. I was shocked when Isabella Enoch after the show told me that the elegant Nathalie is 52 years old!

Also the special performance with Hungarian artists featured many great acts. SZULITA & DENNIS had an impressive entrée in aerial rope. HENRIK VERES who shortly before Christmas could be seen in Denmark in Baldoni's Christmas Circus, made an impressive juggling act, where he "bounced" with his balls. He has great charm - I would offer him a contract if I were a circus owner! THE MURAI SISTERS showed a great power balancing acts with tricks that usually only are done by men. 4 girls from CLAIR DE LUNE showed a spectacular synchronized trapeze act.

The 4 girls from the Clair de Lune

To the left: Henrik Veres. To the right: Murai Sisters. Click here to see some more photos from the Budapest Festival.

7 February 2012

Bonbon and Tiina goes to Circus Finlandia. The Danish / Finnish clown couple who for the time being can be seen at Circus Krone in Munich will this season as in 2010 and 2011 tour with the large Finnish Circus Finlandia which always offer one of the Nordic countries’best performances. Bonbon and Tiina has several entrées which they have not yet shown in Finland, and Bonbon says that he is working on a new run-in entrée.

6 February 2012

Great success for Casselly-Berdino in Monte Carlo. Rud Kofoed writes about the New Generation Festival 4th-5th February in Monte Carlo (my translation from Danish):

Besides coming home with the International Monte Carlo festival's most coveted prize, The Golden Clown, the Danish Circus Arena’s Casselly-Berdino family's youngest members are also got a new Junior Gold Clown.

It was with together with the silver and bronze awards launched at the first 'New Generation' festival following the original festival, which this year was held for the 36th time. At both festivals, Circus Arena put a powerful ‘fingerprint’ on the performances - and at both festivals, they was not just awarded the Golden Clown, but also the audience price and several special awards.

Although it after the first 'New Generation' festival may seem a bit unclear, what the age limits for performers are it was in crystal clear that the quality level was very high. There were a number of good acts which gave reasons for filling the tent with a little less than 4,000 spectators at each of the three performances over the February weekend.

New Generation reflected the for circus enthusiasts positive fact that there is no shortage of talents in the years to come.

Benny Berdino’s successor, Jackie Berdino-Olsen paid a quick visit to the first New Generation show Saturday, 4 February. He was as many others impressed by the young, excellent diabolo artist Pranay Werner, 19, from Germany, so do not be surprised if he is can be seen in Circus Arena in the future. Pranay got a well deserved Junior Silver Clown for his diabolo act with up to three diabolos on the loose thread at the same time.

Monte Carlo, New Generation: Pranay Werner, 19, is an impressive diabolo-acrobat - here with three diabolos and a Junior Silver Clown ahead (Photo Rud Kofoed)

In the bronze class it was a couple of Ukrainian, elegant handstand-acrobats who, together with the two well trimmed, Russian equilibrists from Duo Istomini  ran with the metal.

The Casselly-Berdino family got the Monaco royal family, including Prince Albert II, joined on the podium together to hand over the award and cheer. It is no secret that both jury presidents, Princess Stéphanie of the 'adult' and her 17-year-old daughter Pauline at New Generation, were equally enthusiastic about the Arena artists. Besides all the formal, they popped up on unannounced visit to Casselly wagon to praise their efforts over a cup of coffee.

The rain of awards to the Arena families began when Merry-Lu Casselly and Patrick Berdino, both 20, were awarded the 'Prix you Groupe Boss' for their roller skate act. The super  talent Rene Jr. received then the audience prize for his truly breathtaking and Mowgli entrée with the four playful elephants - and on top he got for the same reason also the prestigious "Prix de la Federation Mondiale you Cirque '.

New Generation Monte Carlo: René Jr. won the audience award for his act with the four playful elephants - under the 'bridge' his father, René Casselly. (Photo Rud Kofoed)

On top of it then came the Junior Gold Clown for all three Casselly-Berdino acts, including high school riding with two of Berdino-triplets, Stephanie and Charmaine, both

18, and Anastazja, 15, Merry-Lu Caselly and guest jockey Summer Roberts - all presented by the magical talent Rene Jr. in head of head of the Andalusian thoroughbred. Earlier Denmark has only sporadically been noticed in Monte Carlo. It was the opposite this year, when it was close to look like an Arena Festival in Monte Carlo! According to Princess Stéphanie it has been decided that there also next year will be an International New Generation Festival.

New Generation of Monte Carlo: High school led by the 15-year-old Rene Casselly – riders on the five Andalusian seen from left: Stephanie Berdino, Summer Roberts, Charmaine Berdino, Anastazja Berdino and Merry-Lu Casselly. (Photo Rud Kofoed)

6 February 2012

"Variety Act of the Year 2012" to Niels Duinker. The juggler Niels Duinker writes: I am very pleased to announce that I will be receiving the Merlin Award for “Variety Act of the Year 2012” by the President of the International Magician’s Society, Tony Hassini. The ceremony takes place the 2nd week of March in Amsterdam.

The IMS is “The World's Largest Magic Society as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records with over 37,000 members worldwide. The Merlin Award is presented to those who have achieved the highest level in their craft, both on the national and international stage. The criteria that the voting members consider are talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and above all the rare ability to entertain under any conditions.”

2 February 2012

Circus Benneweis 2012. Circus Benneweis has published the names of the artists which you from 23 March and until the middle of September can meet in their 125th anniversary program. It is a very strong program with international star performers and many animals: horses, elephants, dogs, and sea lions. No big cat acts as such acts are forbidden in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

There will be a joyful reunion with the sympathetic elephant trainer LARS HÖLSCER with two elephants: the African elephant Sonja, who is 36 years, and the Indian elephant Vana Mana, who is 41 years old. Lars Hölscher and his elephants were also with Circus Benneweis in season 2011, but it's a brand new entree they will present this year.

YURY VOLODCHENKO is one of the artists which Diana Benneweis has looked most forward to present to the Danish circus audience. He rides high school. And nobody does it as Yury, who is able to get his horse to dance. My guess is that "dance school rider" has a good chance of being rewarded with standing ovations. There is his first appearance in Denmark. Currently, he tours with "Grosse Russische Staatscircus" in Germany which about his act writes: "Diese junge Gipsy-Reiter bring Temperament Grazie und in die Manege". The German circus ends their season 18th March, and Yury will then hurry to Hillerod to be ready for Benneweis opening night 23rd March.

Yury Volodchenko. Photo by courtesy of Circus Benneweis

MISS HELENA comes probably from Poland and presents a great act where she juggles with footballs. At the recent Circus Festival in Massy, ​​she was awarded the Piste de Bronze. It is her first appearance in Denmark.

DUO GUODI (Iana and Sacha Guodi) comes from Italy and does a Risley act, i.e. an act where one artist with his feet is juggling with the other. Normally that sort of acts is presented either by two young men or of a father (or mother) with a two children. In Duo Guodi one partner is a woman, and the act which is presented in tough contemporary style is excellent! It is the couple's first appearance in Denmark. In this year’s Benneweis-show you will also meet Iana in spectacular aerial act.

MR. DALMATIAN (Sergui Prostetsov), whose number includes both Dalmatian dogs and ponies was also with Circus Benneweis in 2004. Many circus guests have wanted to see the elegant act once again and Diana Benneweis now fulfil their wishes.

Mr. Dalmatian. Photo by courtesy of Circus Benneweis

The ESHIMBEKOVI troupe present world class Djzhighit/Cossack Riding. They were awarded a silver clown for their act in Monte Carlo in 2010. In season 2011 they toured with the Finnish Circus Finlandia. The season with Benneweis will be the troupe's first visit to Denmark. Click here to see a video clip from their act.

TRIO BOKAFI is springboard acrobats and is currently one of main attractions in the famous Cirque d'Hiver in Paris. As the name says, there are just three members in the troupe where many other teeterboard troupes have 6 to 12 members. But the troupe's leader Gábor Boros and his two partners are fabulously talented and perform tricks of a difficulty which nobody else can do. Among other tricks they master the 3-double somersault. It will be the trio's first performance in Denmark. Click here to see a clip from the act.

Trio Bokafi – world class springboard act.  Photo by courtesy of Cirque D'hiver Bouglione where the trio can be seen until 4 in March. Photographer: Dominique Secher

This year’s run-in clown comes from Mexico and his name is VERSACE. In 2004, he had great success in the Swedish Circus Maximum. Later, he appeared for several seasons in the German Circus Charles Knie. In 2012, time has come for the Danish audience to meet Versace, who never before have worked in Denmark.

A sea lion act is presented by Consuelo Berto Catala and Gabriel Arbona Moncho. The sea lions are California sea lions and named Mike, Paul and Mister Murdoch. They were born in 2005, 2004 and 1992 respectively. They are trained by BEATRIX HÖLSCER and come from the legendary German Circus Fliegenpilz, which for many years was one of the leading German circuses but some years ago stopped due to the crisis among German circuses. Beatrix is ​​ mother to the elephant trainer Lars Hölscher. The act has never before been shown in a Danish circus.

As in 2011, JUDY GLOSTED will be ringmistress and JAN HERTZ will put on stage.

As always when a program is published several months before the tour start there can be changes in the program.

2 February 2012

Circus Dannebrog 2012. Circus Dannebrog will start the season on 29th March in Vojens. They will this year present an exciting show, called Amazing Africa, with a number of super talented African artists. Both in Belgium, Holland and Germany such shows have had great success. And now the Enoch family will present such performance to the Danish circus audience.

26 January 2012

Photos from Monte Carlo. Rud Kofoed has sent me the following wonderful photos from Monte Carlo. About the festival Rud writes:

It was Casselly’s elephant act which triggered 'the great gold party' in Monte Carlo, although also the high school riding act with four elephants and four horses presented by the Casselly-Berdino-families’ eight beautiful girls got the big applause. It is one of the attractions in Circus Arena in the forthcoming season. I do not recall ever having seen such a focused and great ovation as the Casselly's got this year. Both at the two selection shows and at the and award-gala.

René Casselly Senior is also a persevering person. He was not satisfied with 'only' getting a silver clown in 2008, but went straight for the gold and has since worked hard for it - and clearly not in vain. It was quite an experience to witness. Although the Shanghai Troupe Acrobatique also got gold clown, they was almost overseen compared to the enthusiasm for the Casselly’s.

A Gold Clown to the Casselly family from Circus Arena. Prince Albert II was as enthusiastic as the jury president, Princess Stéphanie. Here the hand over the Gold Clown 2012 to the family who took the international audiences by storm. (Photo: Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

The excitement would not end - in the middle you can see tonight's heroes: René Jr., 15, and Mary-Lu, 20, from Arena’s Casselly family. (Photo: Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

It was René JR’s triple somersault to elephant back which was the sensation because it was another elephant that jumped up on the spring board and send René off like a rocket (Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

Rene JR doing his somersault ... (Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

It was the elephant number starring the siblings Rene Jr., 15, and Mary-Lu, 20, which resulted in the Golden Clown in Monte Carlo (Photo: Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

The Casselly-Berdino-families presented their new high school riding act with four elephants and four horses in Monte Carlo - it is also one of the main acts in the coming season in Circus Arena. The photo shows the 4 members of the Casselly family: René, Alexia, Mary-Lu and René JR, and 3 members of the Berdino-family: Charmaine, Stephanie and Anastazja. I do not know the names of the last two riders. (Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

The Casselly-Berdino families. (Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

Azzario Sister's - Quincy Santos, 18 & Katie, 23 - was awarded the Silver Clown by Princess Stephanie of Monte Carlo. In the coming season they can be seen in the Swedish Circus Brazil Jack. (Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

One of the Azzario Sisters, who were awarded a Silver Clown by Princess Stephanie of Monte Carlo, greets the gold winners Rene Jr. and Mary-Lu Casselly. (Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press)

25 January 2012

The Danish magician Kim Kenneth and his partner and girlfriend Jessica tour in the upcoming season as last year with John and Stephen Courtney’s Circus Vegas, which this year as in most of the 2011 season will tour in England. Kenneth Kim is ringmaster and presents a number of his marvellous illusions. In addition to assisting Kim in his act Jessica has an elegant sword balancing entrée.

Kim Kenneth and Jessica with one of the fabulous illusions.

Jessica with sword balancing. Both photos by courtesy of Kim Kenneth and Jessica

23 January 2012

A golden clown awarded to the Casselly family. At the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo the jury has awarded a golden clown, a silver clown or a bronze clown to the following artists:

A GOLDEN CLOWN - CLOWN D'OR

Troupe Acrobatique de Shanghai (China) for their act on springboard and Cai Yong's equilibrist act

René Casselly (Germany), African Elephants & springboard/ High School on elephants and horses. Danes know the Casselly family from Circus Arena, owned by the Berdino family. Apart from the golden clown the Casselly's also won PRIX DU PUBLIC and a number of other special awards.

A SILVER CLOWN - CLOWN D'ARGEN

Viadislav Gonchaerov - Lions

Troupe Vorobiev (Russia), russian swing

Azzario Sisters (Spain), hand to hand. Azzario Sisters are daughters of the clown José Mitchel and his wife Julia. In the coming season José, Julia and their two talented daughters will tour with Circus Brazil Jack in Sweden.

BRONZE CLOWN - CLOWN DE BRONZE

Flying to the Stars (Ukraine), horizontal bars

Duo Israfilov (Russia), Aerial Straps

Skating Pilar (Frankrig), rulleskøjter

Skating Pilar (France), Roller skate

Flying Zuniga (Argentina, Brazil), Flying Trapeze

Duo Stipka (Czech Republic), Pas de Deux on horses

Troupe Khadgaa de Mongolie - strong men / human pyramids

THE JURY's SPECIAL AWARD- MENTION SPECIALE DU JURY

Troupe Bingo (Ukraine)

THE AWARD FOR YOUNG ARTISTS - COUPE DE S.A.S. LA PRINCESSE ANTOINETTE DESTINEE AU PLUS JEUNE ARTISTE

Ty Tojo (Japan), juggler. Ty is 13 year old and trained by former silver clown winner Dick Franco.

The panel of judges, under the Presidency of H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and composed of celebrities from the world of the circus, will award the famous Gold, Silver and Bronze Clowns. The 2012 panel includes Ms Jessica Hentoff, Director of the «Circus Harmony » (social Circus), U.S.A., Ms Tatsiana Bandarchuk, Director of the Circus of Belarus from Minsk, Mr Emil Steinberger, Comedian,  Switzerland, Mr Bian Faji, President of China's Association of Acrobats, Mr Alexandre Ogurtsov, Vice-President of the Nikulin Circus, Russia and Mr Benny Berdino Director of Circus Arena, Denmark.

Apart from the awards mentioned below there was a usual several special awards:

TROPHEE LOUIS MERLIN: Ty Tojo - Jongleur

PRIX DE LA VILLE DE MONACO: Infernal Varanne - Les globes infernaux

PRIX DE L'ASSOCIATION MONEGASQUE DES AMIS DU CIRQUE: Erika Lemay

PRIX DU JOURNAL NICE MATIN: Skating Pilar - Acrobates sur patins à roulettes

PRIX JEAN-LOUIS MARSAN: Troupe Bingo

PRIX TMC MONTE-CARLO: Cai Yong - Equilibriste

PRIX SPECIAL DU BLACKPOOL TOWER CIRCUS: Steve Eleky - Comique parodiste

PRIX DE LA REVUE « LE CIRQUE DANS L'UNIVERS »: Duo Stipka - Pas de deux à cheval

PRIX DE LA SOCIETE DES BAINS DE MER: Les Rubsov - Jongleurs

PRIX DE LA SACEM: Clowns Michel - Entrée clownesque

PRIX SPECIAL SPENCER HODGE: Clowns en folie

PRIX ERICH ROZEWICZ: Troupe Khadgaa de Mongolie - Hommes forts et voltige acrobatique

PRIX SPECIAL Z.P.R. DE VARSOVIE: Vladislav Goncharov - Lions

PRIX DU FAIRMONT MONTE-CARLO: Marc Métral - Ventriloque