Circus news from Denmark 2021

23 December 2020

The Danish circus year 2021 in review

The Danish 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.

Introduction

It is not easy to run a circus. The cost of live entertainment such as a circus and a theatre is high. Due to this ticket prices cannot compete with the cost of a ticket to a cinema. Many adults unfortunately believe that visit with their kids to a circus should be much cheaper than when mom and dad are going to a concert or in the theater.

At the same time, the increasing bureaucratization makes it hard to run a circus. There are rules that give both the industry and municipalities a number of useless but time-consuming tasks.

However, it was not these things that became the industry's biggest challenge in 2021. It was as in 2020 the corona, which resulted in a lockdown of circuses theatres, cinemas etc. until 6 May.

From 6 May, it was allowed to open up for spectators with coronapas, if they were seated in sections of a maximum of 500. The spectators had to essentially sit down in fixed seats facing the ring, area requirements of 2m2 per spectator, distance requirement of 1 meter (an empty chair) between spectators who were not close contacts, as well as the use of face masks when not sitting down. In practice, the m2 requirement meant that only about half as many spectators could be taken into the tent as usual.

Due to the mentioned requirements, Circus Arena, Danish Circus Krone and Zirkus Nemo gave up touring in 2021. They believed that costs would be higher than income when one had to meet the above mentioned conditions.

Circus Mascot took a break during the summer season, but had an indoor tour from September 3rd to October 3rd + during the autumn holidays in week 42. Circus Trapez presented over the summer Circus Open Air (an outdoor circus show). Later they presented autumn circus in a number of Jutland arenas.

Only Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni went on a tented tour.

Circus Baldoni

As the first circus in the Nordic countries, Circus Baldoni started the season in Hillerod on 6 May. With a good and well-composed performance which was staged by Kim Kenneth.

At the same time a bit of a change of Baldoni’s usual concept: the ventriloquist Peter Norgaard has replaced René Baldoni as ringmaster and the task as clown has been taken over by the poetic clown Allando. A new name on Zealand, where Baldoni spends most of the season, but well-known in Jutland from the small Danish Circus Krone.

The show's recurring characters were the ringmaster and ventriloquist Peter Norgaard and the clown Allando.

The warm-hearted clown Allando began the show with his entrée with the mischievous rabbits. The poetic entrée ended with him juggling plastic bags.

Then Peter Norgaard opened the performance with swinging gospel music. Assisted by Allando and 5 other of the performers, Peter Norgaard ended up taking a swing in a rope that hung down from the circus dome.

A festive way to start the show, although some may miss Circus Baldoni's traditional welcome song.

The first artist act was Duo Ferrandino with a nice and fast-paced roller skating entrée which offered everything that such an act has to offer. However, without involving spectators - that is not possible in these corona times.

Duo Ferrandino - Michele Giovanni Ferrandino and his wife Marina Curci

The next act was couple Maria and Eddie Janacek in a fine act with a prop that I do not remember having seen before: a quadrant. A square construction that Eddie tunes up against his legs and with a chain around his neck. Maria swings around in a pole on the prop with tricks known from an aerial act. See photo.

Maria and Eddie Janacek

Then Allando was back in the ring with an entrée with a beach ball and a hula hoop.

There are many jugglers, but not many who juggle hats. But that the young Italian Sage Maccaggi did so with both talent and charisma.

Sage Maccaggi

The last act before the break was a ventriloquist act with Peter Norgaard who is one of the best and most entertaining ventriloquists in Denmark. It featured both his own dog Charlie and the Baldoni mascot the lion Leonardo. The latter had a slightly less prominent role in the performance than in previous years.

The first act after the break was Allando with a short version of the well-known entrée with 3 buckets and a head moving under the buckets. Such an entrée makes happiness. Peter Norgaard put his head under the buckets.

Allando and Peter Norgaard's entrée with the 3 buckets

They were followed by the contortionist Sheyen Caroli, who is one of the few who masters to tighten a bow with her feet and hit a balloon.

Sheyen Caroli

One of the top acts at Baldoni in 2018 was the young rola bola acrobat Kaya Janacek, who that year was among the nominees for that year's talent award. Now he is 14 years old and masters even more tricks than in 2018. He can develop into a star of international format.

Kaya Janacek

Next, Allando entered the ring with his entrée with a dangerous animal - a panda with a prop man inside.

Then Peter Norgaard was back with another ventriloquist entrée where Leonardo came up with several of his well-known remarks. Like "I love children - with gravy and potatoes" and "the adults taste better - they are fatter". Peter Norgaard was best, however, with his own ventriloquist’s doll Charlie, who can both speak and sing Rock'n'roll.

Eddie Janacek now presented together with the children Kaya and his little brother Rudi, a distinguished and fast-paced juggler entrée with clubs, balls and rings. Talented Kaya also mastered juggling ping-pong balls with his mouth.

The last artist act was a beautiful act with Duo Ferrandino in aerial cradle, accompanied by evocative singing with Peter Norgaard with the Danish lyrics from A whole new world from the Disney movie Aladdin.

Next, Peter Norgaard led to the festive finale, where Baldoni's normal farewell song was replaced by a song to the tunes of Barry Manylow's Copacabana ("Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl…"). A glorious end to a show that drawed many children and adults throughout the season.

The tented season ended on September 7 in the winter quarter in Tureby. After that, Cirkus Baldoni played a couple of indoor performances before they toured in arenas at the Faroe Islands from 13 to 22 September.

Circus Arli

Circus Arli opened the season at the Mill Hill in Fløng on 22 May.

The Danish journalist and theater critic Jørgen Siegumfeldt compared some years ago Circus Arli with the German Circus Roncalli and believed that Circus Arli was inspired by the German cult circus. As Circus Arli was founded in 1971 and Roncalli in 1976, one can discuss who is inspired by whom. But the two circuses have in common that they always present elegant and well-composed performances and can be said to be in a class of their own.

Circus Arli next to the Mill Hill in Floeng

This year's show is no exception. This year, the Arli family has chosen to present it as a themed performance under the title Fun at the Seaside Hotel. A title that fitted very well.

The recurring characters in the performance were the multi-artists Alexander Arli and Francesco Fratellini, who, as in previous years, have a formidable interplay. In this year's performance, they have clown make-up with red noses, but have the part as waiters who get jobs at the Seaside Hotel.

Alexander Arli, like Francesco, is painted as a clown with a red nose

The performance began with a bubbly charivari, where all the show's artists were on stage and did a few tricks. Jennifer and Anthony Ramos, for example, show a couple of the tricks from their roller skating act which thrilled the audiences in 2020, and Alexander and Francesco juggled. The culmination of the opening act was when Bettina Arli was conjured out of some suitcases stacked on top of each other. As a hostess at Seaside Hotel she then guides us through the performance.

Duo Ramos

Hostess Bettina Arli has just been conjured out of her suitcases.

The next act on stage was Duo Polupans with a funny entrée with buckets.

Duo Polupans

Bettina Arli had trouble getting a bell to ring. It leaded to the entrée where Francesco plaid the bells.

Bettina and Francesco

The show's first aerial act was a number in double tissue, performed by Sarah Floores and Jennifer Ramos.

Synchronous act in tissue with Sarah and Jennifer

Then Martin Arli entered the ring (which with Arli is a circular stage) with an entrée with soap bubbles and a little magic.

The next act began as the classic entrée where a fine lady (Sarah Florees) was going to a restaurant. However, the waiters Alexander and Francesco have added a lot of new gags to the entrée so it's not just the familiar act with spaghetti - in fact, spaghetti was not included in the entrée at all.

Did they get tips?

Now Jennifer Ramos came into the ring to show what she could do in trapeze. Unfortunately, she could not reach the trapeze, so Anthony Ramos must help her. It turned out to be a terrific comic trapeze act, a bit like what we've seen the Wolff brothers do before. An act which the brothers actually had their debut with at Arli 2011, and which later brought them to the circus festival in Monte Carlo.

Duo Ramos in their comic trapeze number

They were followed by Martin Arli in an act where he makes a standard lamp fly. A bit in in style with the well-known flying table.

Jelena Vasiljeva now entered the stage with a hula-hoop entrée where several of the tricks are performed while she is up in the air. Unlike many others who allow themselves to be hoisted up under such an act, she can actually do something in the air.

Hula hoop in the air with Jelena Vasiljeva

After Jelena, Alexander and Francescos had a short run-in with a bottle conjured up from a pipe.

Now Sergeis Polupans came into the arena with a suitcase, which he used as a podium for his handstand act where he finally came up high under the circus dome.

High up under the dome with Sergeis Polupans

The last act on the performance was a festive entrée where Alexander and Francesco are at the bar and juggling dishes, bottles and plates.

Party at the bar

The season ended September 6 in Sengeløse.

Circus Mascot

After giving up the tented tour, Cirkus Mascot had plans for summer performances at their winter quarter in Roslev. But problems in obtaining work permits for their Ukrainian clown Gulio meant that they abandoned the summer concept.

Instead, after the corona restrictions were lifted, they had a successful tour to a number of Jutland arenas from 3 September to 3 October + during the autumn holidays in week 42. Jorgen Lorenzen saw the performance and wrote:

Juliya and Husik opened the performance with an act where they juggled with big triangles. And then Daniel Deleuran welcomed before the clown Gulio came in for the first time. That was lucky enough, because a package had just arrived for him. The package was leaking, so liquid ran out of it. Both Gulio and Daniel tasted the liquid - and offered the audience a tear. When they then opened the package, it turned out that it contained a small dog. The children responded: addr - or something like that, they shouted.

Husik and his sister Juliya. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

It continued with dogs. Marianne Deleuran and her dog show. Many dogs and many tricks. Really versatile and kid-friendly. Marianne's concern was well understood, because the dogs have not been in the ring for a long time. But it did not hurt the act that she occasionally had to wait a bit for them until they did what they were told to do. It was felt that it is and must be a play and that surprises can suddenly become part of the play.

Marianne and her playful dogs

A beautiful glass balance act was presented by Miss Eva. The ability to balance and the degree of difficulty were emphasized as she lay down and got up again with the balance stick in her mouth and the glass standing on it. Or when she with the stick grabbed the glass, which stand on top of a balloon that broke, so the glass landed on the stick and stayed there.

Miss Eva Vitzo

Gulio now entered the ring once again. Now he wanted to play golf with imaginary golf balls, which have the property that they return in the same way as a boomerang. And when they land in a paper bag he catches them with, it gives a little bang. Several men from the audience had to come in to help him, and eventually disaster strikes when one of the balls hit the light board so all the light goes out.

Fortunately, the light can be quickly recalled so that everyone could see Lui Nereus, who had a handstand act, where he transformed the prop into a human figure, who became a “trinka” in his handstand balances.

Lui Nereus

Then Husik entered, disguised as an alien. But soon it became a robust diabolo act.

Husik

After the break, Gulio came in with a statue, which turned into a living slapstick doll as the act goes on. The doll began to mingle and tease, and eventually it striked the hat of Gulio. The doll is the same as Tetyana, who is married to Gulio.

Gulio with his doll

And now it was the animals' turn again. Marianne had a tame goose that could cuddle on its tail down a board. And great cheers arouse the pig Sille, which could do many things - encouraged by Marianne. A wonderful children's act. What they can hear when their adults read goodnight fairy tales to them suddenly becomes true: animals behave as if they had human reason. Sille put the flag to the top before tugging it out.

The flag must be hoisted!

Gulio did not give up. Now he would try to walk on tight wire. It only became an attempt, because the wire is on the floor. He called in two spectators so that they could hold the wire, but suddenly he discovered that it could be used as a skipping rope, and he had two helpers on hand who can hold the rope. But the roles are reversed so that they became the ones who jump over the rope.

Lui had used the break to get drunk - or at least he pretended. He did the act: The Man in the Lamp post. Up in the lamp post he came in spite of his intoxicated condition. Unbelievable that a 70 year old man has retained agility and strength and vitality to this act. The children loved it.

The man in lamp post.

The performance ended about as it began: Gulio and Daniel. Daniel wants to shoot balloons to pieces. Gulio had to hold them over his head, but they jump to pieces one by one before Daniel gets ready. In the end, however, it succeeds - and the balloon is filled with water, which Gulio got over himself

Circus Trapez

Due to the corona restrictions, Circus Trapez abandoned a traditional tour with tent. Instead, they presented approx. 1 hour long performances "open air", i.e. with the use of round sails, but without top on the tent, see photo. This meant that they could manage without tent workers and did not need the many heavy trucks to transport tents and poles. On weekdays, the performances were as often sold to nursing homes, etc. On the weekends there were "open" performances, for which you could buy a ticket.

The audience sat partly on ringside chairs and partly on 2 seatings with benches.

The performance started with a large box being pulled in right in front of the backdrop. Bernhard Kaselowsky and a prop showed that the box was empty. However, you could later see that it contained both the show's ringmaster David Sosman and the circus princesses Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen and Simone Rhodin.

Next Welsh goats entered the ring, presented by Nynne with the assistance of Bernhard Kaselowsky.

The next act is was humorously presented juggling entrée with David Sosman, who with charm and elegance juggled first with balls, then with a knife and a pair of axes and finally with a ball, a bowling ball and an apple, which he eat during the juggling. He also showed how he could take off his jacket while juggling.

A version of the illusion substitution trunk conjured up Simone Rhodin from the small Swedish Circus Rhodin, which wasn’t on tour in 2021 due to the Swedish corona restrictions. She presented a nice act in an aerial ring set on pole. The entrée ended with her getting down into a box and being conjured away.

Now David Sosman came back. He first played on bottles. Then he juggled and balanced with Malibu bottles and balanced with glasses on a stick in his mouth.

The next act was the young Dutch diabolo juggler Michael Betrian in an elegant and fast-paced track, where he juggles with up to 4 diabolos. Later in the season he was replaced by the Danish juggler Lasse Hasager.

Michael was followed by Simone Rhodin with a spectacular hula hoop act.

Then David introduced his 8-year-old cousin Joseph, who did some tremendous somersaults and other jumps. In some jumps assisted by Nynne.

Then David was back with his bouncing juggler entrée.

The last act in the performance was the horse act Big and Little, presented by Bernhard Kaselowsky.

Christmas Circuses

Both Circus Baldoni and Circus Trapez presented Christmas circuses, as for Trapez for part of the season as Kolding Christmas Circus in a tent next to the Castle Lake in Kolding.

Baldoni's Christmas Circus opened the season on November 13 and was to tour in arenas on Zealand until December 19. However, due to corona restrictions, the very last performance had to be canceled. The performers were the Janacek family with quadrant and a knockabout table act, Michail Mudrak with juggling basketballs and handstand and Duo Focus with partner acrobatics and spinning wheel. In the very last week Duo Focus was replaced by Jan and Wilma Navratil with their cowboy number and Jan's foot juggling entrée.

In addition to the mentioned artists, the audience also met Nissenova, Santa Claus and Nisseline. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Cirkus Trapez ’Christmas circus opened the season in Krusaa on 23 November. After another couple of arena performances, it was presented in a tent net to the Castle Lake in Kolding from 10 December under the title Kolding Christmas Circus. They managed to have 8 performances before coronary restrictions forced them to cancel the rest of the season, which should have lasted until January 2nd. Sad for Isabella Enoch Sosman and her team. The participating artists were the pixie Lasse Hasager, the multi-artist and aerial acrobat Nynne Samuelsen, Duo Gancho with a knockabout table act, a musical entrance entrée where one played on and with the other and an entrée with one of the artists on Cyr Wheel, the Veselka Metodieva and Nedyalko Vaskov family with their daughter Yana in various entrées, Joseph Enoch with diabolo and in an acrobat entrée with Gabriel and Bernhard Kaselowsky with big and little.

Circus Trapez next to the Castle Lake. Smartphone photo, taken by Jorgen Lorenzen

Other performances

The theme park Circusland is located in Circus Arena's winter quarters in Aarslev. This year they had acquired a number of new rides. They opened at Easter time, but due to restrictions without the usual shows. From May 22 was it possible to present shows. From then they were open every weekend until the summer holidays, during the summer holidays and during the autumn holidays.

The summer season featured magic shows with Kim Kenneth and assistants, horse training with Rudi Althoff, children's shows with Kim Kenneth and Jimmy Folco as well as performances in Circus Landino. Here the audience met Kelly & Rudolf Janecek with perch. Rudolf also had a juggling entrée and Kelly an act in tissue. Jessica Caveagna performed with sword balance just as she along with Kim Kenneth showed illusions. Rudi Althoff presented liberty horses. The running character of the show was the clown Jimmy Folco.

From the finale in Circus Landino. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Katja Schumann has a circus farm just outside the seaside resort Løkken, where she had performances during the summer months.

The passionate Brian Behrendt invited to a late summer circus at Frederikshøj Amphitheater in Slagelse on 18 September. It became a huge success for Brian and his team.

The performance was opened by Professor Briano, who with tail coat, a cane, and a pointer sang a newly written welcome song. He was accompanied by all the performers and dancers from Dansegulvet in Slagelse. A festive way to start the show.

Professor Briano with high hat and pointer bar. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. Click here to watch a video clip with the opening song.

The performers were in addition to the Briano the clown and multi-artist Benny Schumann, Suzanne Berdino with geese and a mini pig, the tight wire dancer Miss Ida, the ventriloquist Preben Palsgård, Charmaine Berdino with horses and hula hoops, Slagelse Garden and dancers from Dansegulvet in Slagelse.

During the autumn holidays, Kolding Shopping Mall offered as it has been a tradition a performance produced by Circus Arena. Benny Schumann had a couple of performances in Hvidovre C, and Cirkus Big showed a 2-man performance in Broen in Esbjerg. The Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, hosted performances with the clown Lasse “Bonbon” Nørager and his family.

With a corona-affected circus and artist world and only two circuses on tour, the board of the Danish Circus Award decided as in 2020 that no prizes should be awarded.

Obituaries

Erik Christgau. On January 7, Erik Christgau passed quietly away after a long illness. He would have turned 90 in February. In 1972, he married Vivi Schmidt who assisted by Erik from 1963 to 1967 run Danish Circus Vivi. After Circus Vivi was closed Erik and Vivi kept their interest in the circus and had especially close relationships with the Berdino family from Circus Arena. Vivi passed away in 2015, but Erik Christgau maintained his close connection to Circus Arena.

Belita Fossett Kaye passed away on May 25 after some time of illness. She was 95 year old. She came from the famous English artist family Fossett. Charley Kaye met her during an engagement a variety and dance restaurant and immediately fell in love with the beautiful red-haired girl. Charley and Belita decided to do an act together - and they did so both in private and as artists. For many years they toured Europe with a comic knockabout table act, and Charley simultaneously jumped around among the spectators acting as a monkey (chimpanzee). In 1988, Charley restarted with the assistance of Belita Amager’s old Red Inn Theater in a gymnasium at a closed school at Amager, Copenhagen. The theater quickly became a success and offered, among other things, revues with artist performances instead of the usual chorus girls. In November 2006, the board of the theater thought it was time for a generational change and sent the couple to retirement.

17 December 2021

Corona and circuses. The daily infection rates are increasing, including the number of those infected with the omikron variant. Until now, the only restrictions which have affected circuses, theaters and cinemas have been coronapas requirements. However, in view of the serious situation, the Epidemic Commission has recommended a number of new restrictions, which the Government supports and for which there has been broad political support. The new restrictions take effect on Sunday morning at 8 am and last for 4 weeks. They mean that, among other things theaters, circuses, cinemas and museums must close. This means that Cirkus Baldoni must cancel the last performance of the year, which should have been played on Sunday, and that Kolding Christmas Circus (Circus Trapez) must cancel the performances from and including Sunday. The circus museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, is also closed from Sunday. The museum in Rold is as usual closed for the winter until 1 May.

17 December 2021

Ban on wild animals. In all Nordic countries there is a ban on wild animal in circuses. Many other countries are considering a similar ban.

On 16th December 2022, the European Commission declined to introduce a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses in the European Union, in response to an oral question posed by MEPs. The Greens/EFA Group has long been calling for a Europe-wide ban on the use of wild animals in circuses. The EU Commission, however, sticks to its former decision not to deal with such bans but leave it to the Member States to make the laws concerning animal welfare in circuses. Actually, the Commission was very clear in its answer: “The Commission is not currently considering any legislative initiatives which would specifically cover the welfare of circus animals.“

In France the second house of the French Parliament, stopped the ban on “wild” animals that was part of a new animals welfare act. The new law had been adopted almost unanimously by the “Assemblée nationale“ in January 2021. However, the second house could stop the legislative process altogether. The law was further discussed in a committee representing both houses of the French Parliament. Finally, on 18 November 2021 the second house did agree to the law including the ban. The list of those species that shall not be allowed in travelling circus any longer remains to be seen. According to the law, these species will have to leave the circus rings in France within a period of five years.

14 December 2021

Kolding Christmas Circus (Circus Trapez).  Jorgen Lorenzen saw the performance 12 December at 15 and writes (my translation):

Both Christmas and circus are associated with adventure and romance. This may be the explanation why Christmas circuses are common south of the Danish/German border - or were common. For here, too, the corona has left its destructive mark.

In Denmark, there is no long tradition of Christmas circuses. Circus Baldoni has presented Christmas circus for some years. The 2021 edition was reviewed on this page on 17 November. Circus Mascot has short performances during the Christmas month in Plantorama’s garden centres.

But this year Circus Trapez offers a Christmas show in Kolding. The beautiful tent is set up below the castle Koldinghus, and when you come on foot along the path called Lovers Lane it is located at the end of the castle lake - completely romantic and in the twilight with an enticing and festive lighting on the tent.

Circus Trapez next to the Castle Lake. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are smartphone photos, taken by Jorgen Lorenzen

If you enter the front tent there are Christmas trees with presents underneath. There are stalls and a sofa arrangement so you can sit down and enjoy the atmosphere. And both the front tent and the main tent have wooden floors, so you avoid moisture and freezing cold from the earth. It's romantic - the conditions for Christmas spirit are present.

Isabella Enoch Sosman and Nynne Samuelsen in the front tent

The performance itself is a story about a Christmas Eve. Children and adults gather for Christmas dinner at a table in the middle of the ring. But a teaser will constantly destroy the idyll and intervene with disturbing elements - e.g. he is juggling with the bottles.

The teaser (Lasse Hasager) ruins the Christmas dinner by jumping up on the table

Later, a plate spinning juggler has to wash up the dishes. The plates are dried on rotating sticks. There are also gifts - large boxes. They are carried in by the teaser, and they are a little difficult to number, because the teaser does not know numbers. But eventually they get stacked up in the right order. And Nynne Samuelsen jumps out. And now as she is set free, she changes costume at lightning speed - in a quick change act with Lasse Hasager, before disappearing up the trapeze in her white suit - and floating like an angel between heaven and earth.

Floating like an angel. Press photo from Cirkus Trapez

Another gift is a doll. Stiff and stationary until she comes alive and shows that she has her own will.

The teaser and Yana

But the teaser, Lasse Hasager! There is not much classic pixie over him. He is dressed in a toxic green suit and has a small top belly. He looks like an orc - but he's not. Lasse has found him in the fictional universe that young people know, but which older people are unaware of. In the modern fantasy world, there is a character who teases - an updated version of the teaser. It's him, Lasse reproduces.

And during the performance, the audience is introduced to some really good circus acts. Duo Gancho has an excellent knock about table act. And they have another act where they play musical instruments: one plays on and with the other. Original - and fun. And one of them has a good act in the Cyr Wheel. And they can also throw with what in technical language are called water meteors. Two bowls, which sit at each end of a rope. The artist can then swing the rope around and juggle the bowls.

Duo Gancho

The Veselka Metodieva and Nedyalko Vaskov families have a classic, beautiful and aesthetic adagio number. It was part of Circus Trapez’s autumn show, but is definitely worth seeing again. It's Nedyalko who's the plate spinning juggler. And the daughter Yana is the doll that is unpacked. She is also a contortionist and together with her mother she has an act with hula hoops. It is linked to the number with Cyr Wheel - an excellent overlap.

The young Joseph, son of Katja Enoch, has a performance with diabolos together with Lasse Hasager. And an acrobat number together with Gabriel, who is a few years older than Joseph.

Of cause there is happy ending. Finally, Santa Claus aka Bernhard enter the ring - not in a sleigh or with a reindeer herd, because reindeer are probably forbidden in circuses. But with a black horse and a white pony.

Santa Claus aka Bernhard Kaselowsky with big and little. Facebook photo

It’s a pity that the corona has put its clammy hand over Kolding, so people do not dare go out where there are cultural experiences to pick up. But in circuses you never give up. One continues. And hopefully the upcoming Christmas will get people in the circus - of course with coronapas and face masks.

13 December 2021

The fantastic story about the girl who wanted to fly is the title of a documentary about the Danish-born trapeze star La Norma, which TV-channel DR2 shows on 20 December 2021 at 21:30. The film lasts approx. 60 minutes.

Norma Fox was born by poor parents, grew up in a backyard in Randers, was given away to a traveling artist and ended up becoming the most beautiful star in the world's largest circus, Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey. Today, Norma Fox is 95 years old and lives in a small house on the outskirts of the circus city of Sarasota in Florida. DR 2 tells the adventurous and tragic story of a real circus princess, who in Denmark today is best known from Aase Thomassen's book: La Norma, grief, loss and success. The book is written in Danish, but can be bought with a CD with page-to-page translation into English.

La Norma spent several seasons with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey and was in the movie The Greatest Show on Earth as a stuntman for Betty Hutton in several of the dangerous trapeze scenes. The photo is from Ringling's 1950 program. Click here to watch a video clip with some of the tricks that La Norma did.

12 December 2021

At Christmas time Circus Mascot usually present approx. 30-minute long Christmas performances at Plantorama's garden centers. The corona has meant that this year the artists was spread around the centres and doing a few circus tricks. Some of the centers have chosen instead of performances to have walkarounds with the clown Gulio and his wife Tatyna. The photos are from Plantorama in Hørsholm, which on the afternoon of 11 December was visited by Marianne Deleuran with 3 poodles, Gulio, Tatyana and Husik. Marianne was assisted by Juliya, daughter of Gulio of Tatyana and sister to Husik.

Gulio and Tetyana

To the left: Husik. Tp the right: Tetyana

11 December 2021

Small program change in Baldoni's Christmas Circus. In the last week of the Baldoni’ Christmas circus season, Duo Focus has been replaced by Jan and Wilma Navratil with their lasso and knife-throwing act and Jan's foot juggling act. The Navratils were for the first time in the performance in Farum on 10 December. They are well-known in Denmark where they have performed at the Red Inn Theatre as well as in Circus Benneweis, Circus Arena and in the theme park Circusland. The first time Jan Navratri was in Denmark was in 1992, when the Navratil family toured with Circus Arli.

11 December 2021

No Monte Carlo Circus festival in 2022. The Festival was scheduled to take place from 22nd to 30th of January 2022. However, on 10 December the Organizing Committee of the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, under the Presidency of H.S.H. Princesse Stéphanie, announced the postponement of the 45th Edition of the Circus Festival and the 10th Competition of young circus-artists “New Generation” to January 2023. They write:

In view of the actual sanitary and health conditions this decision has been taken in accordance with the Government of Monaco and also due to the fact that the biggest Circus-Event in the world presents more than 200 artists from over 20 countries and receives a very international public.

We sincerely regret this decision, but in view of the responsibility towards the health and security of everybody, we certainly may count on your understanding.

Let us meet again in January 2023 around the most famous Circus-ring in the world at a time free of sanitary restrictions and ready for a great Circus-Event !

Take care, stay healthy and safe !

Long live the Circus !

10 December 2021

Circus Arena 2022. Circus Arena could celebrate its 65th anniversary in 2020, but the corona meant they had to cancel the season. They had then chosen to celebrate the anniversary in 2021, but also in 2021 the corona blocked the way for a season to be completed. But hopefully third time lucky: They now plan to celebrate their 65th anniversary in 2022 with opening night at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on April 4 and dress rehearsals on April 2 and 3. They will stay in Copenhagen until 10 April. Then the tour goes to Jutland and Funen, until they 19th of June returns to Zealand and the islands.

The performance is called Circus according to Bubber 2. Bubber and Julie Berthelsen will be ringmaster and ringmistress.

Bubber is a well-known Danish TV-host. He was first time with Circus Arena in 1991. This is the 9th time he as ringmaster will be presenting a performance in Circus Arena.

Julie Berthelsen is a popular Danish-born Greenlandic pop singer and songwriter.

About the performance, Circus Arena writes (my translation):

"Together with Bubber and Julie, you will, among other artists, meet the fearless high wire dancers Danguir, who impress with their 7-man pyramid. It has never been seen before in Denmark.

The audience's favorite Duo Costache return to the anniversary season with wild aerial act where they demonstrate extreme muscle power and balance in the air on their perch.

Also experience jumping acrobats in beautiful formations, dancing girls and the cutest dogs in the ring.

There are 2.5 hours of impressive entertainment that brings the whole family together for a fun and life-affirming experience when Circus Arena visits your city in 2022.”

The performing artists are in addition to the high wire troupe Danguir and Leonardo and Vita Costache jumping acrobats from the Danguir troupe, Pat Harrison and his hot dogs, the rola bola acrobat Paulo Kaiser and Circus Arena's house clown Jimmy Folco, Laura Berdino will present Circus Arena's horses. You will also meet Circus Arena's show dancers.

The Mustafa Danguir troupe has never before been in Denmark. Duo Costace presented their perch act in Circus Arena in 2017 and another act in 2019. Pat Harrison and his playful dogs could be seen by the Danes in Benny Schumann's mini circus in 2009, 2010 and 2016, at Circus Benneweis in 2013, at Circus Arena in 2018 and in Circusland 2020. Paolo Kaiser was at Circus Arena in 2016 and in Circusland 2019.

Rola-bola acrobat Paulo Kaiser was at Arena in 2016. In 2019, he performed in Arena’s theme park Circusland. His specialty is jumping from board to board. Press photo from Circus Arena

Duo Costache toured with Arena in 2017 and 2019 with respectively a perch act and an aerial act. Press photo from Circus Arena

With a few exceptions, Jimmy Folco has been part of Circus Arena's performances since 1997. Press photo from Circus Arena

Laura Berdino is married to Benny and Hanne Berdino's son Jackie. Since 2010, she has presented Cirkus Arena's liberty horses.

8 December 2021

Circuses and corona restrictions. As in many other countries there is in Denmark a rising numbers of Covid-19 diseases. The new potential threat from the Omicron variant is adding to the concerns. Due to this Denmark has reinstated coronapas at events such as circus performances. Rules requiring the pass will apply to those over the age of 15. For the time being no further restrictions have been introduced such as a ceiling on the number of spectators or requirements for the use of face masks. Baldoni's Christmas Circus has its last performance on 19 December. Kolding Christmas Circus (Circus Trapez) has performances from 10 December to 2 January.

6 December 2021

Cirque du Soleil postpones visit to Copenhagen. The performance Corteo was originally scheduled to be shown in the Royal Arena in Copenhagen from 23 to 26 April 2020 and in Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning from 29 April to 2 May 2020. But this was impossible due to the corona. The performances in Jutland were cancelled, and the performances in Copenhagen were moved. First to 18 to 21 February 2021 and then to 13 to 16 January 2022. And now the visit to the Royal Arena has once again been postponed: This time to 3 to 6 November 2022.

3 December 2021

Kolding Christmas Circus (Circus Trapez). First performance is on December 10 next to the Castle Lake in Kolding, Jutland. Among the performing artists are Veselka Metodieva, Nedyalko Vaskov and their daughter Yana. They were also part of Circus Trapez's autumn performances

Yana and Lasse Hasager

You will also meet Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen, Lasse Hasager, Gabriel, Bernhard Kaselowsky, Joseph Enoch and Isabella Enoch Sosman, who the audience also met in Circus Trapez's autumn performances. But all the acts have been changed to suit the theme of Christmas, and the whole show is based on a story.

The young Danish aerial acrobat Nynne

Furthermore you will meet the Hungarian Duo Gancho with a knockabout table act, an act in in Cyr Wheel and a comic act. See a promo of one of their acts at www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzoFmKFDUgg The two artists were with Circus Trapez when they several years ago for the first time visited Madsby Legpark in Fredericia.

Duo Gancho

1 December 2021

Christmas Circus in Norway - Circus Arnardo

Due to the corona, Circus Arnardo did not have a nationwide tour this year. But in the period from 17 July to 31 October, they visited 7 cities in the southern part of Norway with an approx. 1 hour long performance.

Now they also offer Christmas circus. It takes place in Lillestrøm as part of the event Christmas in Viken. The performance run for approximately 45 minutes and can be seen 3 to 12 December. It is an indoor performance in the exhibition and congress centre Nova Spektrum (Norges Varemesse).

The main character in the performance is the Austrian clown Don Christian, who is one of the clowns who has had the greatest success in the Nordics in the last 10 years: In Denmark three seasons at Circus Benneweis and one in Circusland. In Sweden one season with Circus Maximum and one season with Circus Brazil Jack. In Norway: Two seasons with Circus Merano.

The other performing artists are the director couple's children Shannon Folco Arnardo and Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo with antipode and diabolo, respectively, Emi with hula hoop and the director couple Are and Paulina Arnardo themselves with magical surprises.

It the first time Circus Arnardo present a Christmas circus. But not for the first time, a Norwegian circus is trying its luck with Christmas circus: At Christmas 1962, Circus Berny presented a large Christmas circus in Messehallen in Oslo. Visitorly, it was no success, so they never repeated it.

28 November 2021

IT happened - not in Paris - BUT IN ABIDJAN !!! A MEMORABLE EVENING AND NIGHT !!!  

This little story may seem strange to Europeans, but it is true all the same.

It might seem somewhat out of the way of the usual topics, but it is show-biz related, proving as it were ... that anything can happen. 

Upon my arrival in Abidjan /the economic center of COTE D'IVOIRE/IVORY COAST/ in 1975, it was considered fairly safe, but alas !!!

Ivory Coast, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country located on the south coast of West Africa. It borders Guinea to the northwest, Liberia to the west, Mali to the northwest, Burkina Faso to the northeast, Ghana to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) to the south

Things changed for the worse, the economy grew downhill, people lost their jobs, and as an immediate result, criminality soared, hold ups at out door parties / the weather was nearly always pleasant/  became common, always the same scenario: thugs on bikes popped up, opening bags where the guests had to leave their valuable items, being  threated at gunpoint.

Private security companies were created to stop this scourge.

The watchmen sported bows and poisoned arrows, on top of pistols....

The many expatriates and the educated  Africans enjoyed entertainment very much, there was a market for events.

A French popular place, LE RESTO, announced a festive evening, I was asked to perform.

Security was meant to be on top.

LE RESTO was situated on the outskirts of ABIDJAN, a dangeous position near the bush from where mis-doers could easily pop up, - and disappear.

I hesitated  to take part, would the rather meagre pay by an economically stressed dinner spot - be worth the clear risks ? Eventually I did accept, because the female owner of the place was a former well known singer, sporting her own band, and she had hired me before - the name of the game was to - keep a good customer.

The festive evening arrived, so did about  200 guests - and I.

Aperitif - dinner and some dancing .... the ex-singer announced me, I was to do 20 miniutes ..... I finished,  people applauded ...  when a big noise was heard from outside - we could hear the whistling sound of the poisonous arrows that were shot , aiming at - apparently - some potential misdoers. 

The watchmen had seen right - the male part of the guests was experienced expatriates who drew their pistols, ready to shoot.

Fortunately that was not necessary, the robbers had left, leaving their wounded fellows, a bit later apprehended by the police.

I left the kitchen area where I had hidden with my props, and was ready to leave.

The robbers had thus experienced the very truth in the police warnings:

any criminal will be shot on sight - and if practicable - questioned afterwards !!

CLEAR ENOUGH !!!

But my evening/night was not yet finished .

On my way to my place, I was stopped by the police in a control, really a racket to make the drivers pay fines - for nothing - quite common in some countries, I did not go for that and stubbornly refused.

When I told them that  SWEDEN had moved its  EMBASSY from ACCRA

to ABIDJAN, and that a new AMBASSADOR was appointed, they gave in and up - allowing me to continue, after standing put for 3 hours.

Things do happen !

No real danger, just awkward and a loss of time.

The restaurant incident, could have finished awfully badly.

I came to my place unhurt - the contrary could have happened -

I like to think that I was saved by  BARRAKKA ...!!!

A MEMORABLE EVENING AND NIGHT !!!

IT HAPPENED ..... in ABIDJAN.

-------------------------------  reported by ZARRO ZARRO. Photo from 2020

26 November 2021

Arcade Delight vol. 3. DYNAMO Workspace for circus and Performing arts from Odense writes:

A derailed interactive roller skating party and a return visit to the 80s arcade halls with a performance by Svalbard Company and the cinema concept Trash Cinema by Den Røvsmalle Biograf

Arcade Delight is an acidic interactive theater and circus universe created by, and under continuous development of DYNAMO. The venue forms the framework for equal parts performance, concert and installation. A sensory bombardment of sound, light and smell, circus artistry and scenarios which unfold above, below, around and among the audience while wearing roller skates whizzing around the post-apocalyptic amusement park.

Arcade Delight is a long-standing tradition, and this year the baton has been given to the Svalbard Company – an international performance company with world renowned artists.

Svalbard has previously visited DYNAMO Circus Festival and transformed the raw warehouse on Byens Ø into a site-specific cabaret with artistry and live music.

For Arcade Delight, they will team up with the electronic music duo 50øre, which consists of Anders Bo Eriksen and Sven Dam Meinild, who’ll deliver a dreamy sound.

Later in the evening, the band YOSHI (UK) goes on with a concert that’ll you on your skates, on the dance floor AND on stage, where they invite you to a Tekken4 battle on PS2 controllers.

BRING YOUR OWN WHEELS! (Roller skates, skateboards, walkers, etc.)

AGE From 16 years

DURATION From kl. 17 to the late hours

Link to ticket ordering

26 November 2021

Copenhagen Magic Cup. Magisk Cirkel Danmark (Society of Danish Magicians) has in cooperation with Cafe Oasen, Copenhagen, invited a number of magicians to participate in the competition for the Copenhagen Magic Cup. Here is magic for both adults and children, young and old. There have been shows on September 23, October 21 and November 25. The final show takes place on December 16, 2021. At the show on November 26 you met the Swedish magician Anders Fox and the Danish magicians Mortenn and Anders Lassen. A great show with 3 skilled and very different magicians. Admission was free, but prior ticket reservation was required.

The Swedish magician Anders Fox. To the left the night's host.

Mortenn with won the night's competition and thus advanced to the final on 16 December. Click here to reserve a free ticket to the final.      

Anders Lassen presented impressive mental magic, where he could guess and predict what 2 from the audiences were thinking

During the break and after the show, there was close-up magic at the tables. Among the performers was veteran magician Joachim Solberg

25 November 2021

Five artists and magicians honored with the Truxa scholarship. The Danish Artist Association writes (my translation):

Magicians and artists are masters at tuning in to audiences and creating magical moments. Five of them have just been honored with the Truxa Memorial Scholarship.

To back the artists pressured by the Corona crisis, the number of scholarships this year has been expanded to five.

The Foundation has awarded scholarships to these remarkable artists and performing artists:

Magician Jesper Grønkjær - conveys magical experiences for all types of audiences, regardless of whether the stage is a family party on Funen or a monastery in Tibet.

Magician Helle Lyngholm - involves the disabled in the magic and puts the audience at the center.

Joker and clown Henrik Rasmussen - works to spread comedy, jokes and engage the audience without words. As the clown Tapé, Henrik is engaging audiences without words.

Handstand artist Signe Anderskov receives Truxa's Memorial Scholarship 2021 for her work in perfecting and communicating her circus special handstand. Signe is both artist, producer and leader of the contemporary circus company Cirkaros.

Magician Rasmus Ebild - uses the language of magic to make the individual spectator feel seen.

The magician and illusionist Truxa had his debut in 1939 and became especially known for his mind-reading act, which he performed with his partner, Gulli, but also blindfolded car driving and newspaper headline predictions attracted attention. Truxa, who for a lifetime was Denmark's great, international magician with more than 100 TV shows, chose to bequeath his money to his colleagues, and therefore the Truxa Foundation can appoint scholarship recipients.

21 November 2021

Circus weekend in Lund, Sweden, 20-21 November. Almost 20 Swedish and two Danish circus friends attended the Swedish Circus Academy's event at the museum Kulturen in Lund.

Initially, the director of the Circus Academy, Janne Näsström, gave a lecture on circus through the ages in Sweden. The first circus performance in Sweden took place in Stockholm in 1787. It was an English circus, run by Peter and Rosalia Price. There were 20 performers performing equestrian tricks, acrobatics and pantomime. Circus Bergman was the first circus to have a Swede as ringmaster and owner. Their first performance was in Landskrona in 1891. In the 1930s, the so-called “frisksportrörelse” (Movement for Sport and Health) was popular in Sweden. Strength training and acrobatics were important elements and several Swedes without a circus background became acrobats and performed in circuses and varieties.

Janne Näsström told about Swedish circuses through the ages. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

After the lecture, the guests saw Kulturen's fine special exhibition about the circus. It can be seen until the end of February 2022. Below are some photos from the exhibition.

Photos: Ole Simonsen

Some of the participants had dinner together Saturday evening and for those who stayed overnight, on Sunday there was the opportunity to look at a large collection of newspaper clippings with mention of circuses in Sweden as well as a large program collection. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

Martin Lasson Berglund, who was in charge of events, deserves great praise for his efforts. The corona was probably to blame for the fact that the number of participants wasn’t higher. Photo: Hans Lindgren

20 November 2021

Circus Baldoni. Click here to see Jacob Boas Leitisstein's many good photos from Baldoni's Christmas circus, which were reviewed on this page on 19 November. 

The director couple Camilla Frimann & René M. Baldoni write that Circus Baldoni in 2022 celebrates its 20th anniversary as they had their first season in 2002. “Our goal has always been to present the best show ever to you, which forms the foundation of our performance 2022, which will be the strongest show ever”.

Season 2022 starts in Hillerød north of Copenhagen on 18 April 2022 and lasts until 7 September. Circus Baldoni will visit pretty much the same cities as in 2021 on Zealand, Lolland, Falster and Bornholm.

19 November 2021

Christmas Circus in Plantorama. As previous years, the garden centre Plantorama has made an agreement with Circus Mascot to perform in Plantorama's centers for the next 3 weekends. In some centres you will meet the clown Gulio and the Santa acrobat Tanya. But in the centres in Sønderborg, Vejle, Tilst, Egå and Hørsholm, customers will be able to see an entire Christmas Circus performance with i.e. Marianne Deleuran's lovely doggies. Take a closer look in What’s on.

17 November 2021

Baldoni’s Christmas Circus 2021. Jacob Boas Leitisstein saw one of the performances in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum and writes:

Christmas is just around the corner - and due to this Baldoni's Christmas Circus can once again be found in arenas, theatres and cultural centres on Zealand, Lolland and Falster. True to tradition, there was opening night in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre on Saturday 13 November.

The performance consisted of a mix of old acquaintances and new faces - of course presented by Nisseline, Nissenova and Santa Claus.

Nissenova, Santa Claus and Nisseline. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Two beautiful acrobatic acts in the show were done by Duo Focus. The first act with the Duo Focus was in a classic partner acrobatics on the floor. Handstand, various formations and some dance. In the duo's second act a spinning wheel was used. Again a nice and powerful act.

Duo Focus with partner acrobatics and in their spinning wheel, respectively.

If you are a regular guest at Baldoni, you definitely know the Janecek family, who have been in the ring for the last many years. Of course, they also took part in this year's Christmas show, where they presented two act. First, Maria and Eddie presented their acrobatics and balance numbers in quadrant. The same act which you could see in this year's summer show at Baldoni.

Marie and Eddie Janecek with their quadrant act

As the last act in the show, Eddie came in the ring with the two sons Kaya and Rudi. Here there presented a new knockabout table act.

Eddie, Kaya and Rudi Janecek with their table act

Another old acquaintance from Baldoni's ring is Michail Mudrak. First with a juggling entrée with basketballs. In addition, Michail also presented his fine handstand act which ended with the impressive trick of handstand on bricks.

Michail Mudrak

As always, the show was nicely tied together by Nisseline, Nissenova and Santa Claus. Nisseline and Nissenova had a number of small cozy run ins between the artists' act - including a version of "you must not play here". This year, Santa Claus had brought his 12-string guitar with him and contributed to the Christmas mood by playing a number of Christmas songs.

All in all, a good, cozy and classic Baldoni performance. Baldoni’s Christmas Circus can be seen on selected days until 19 December. More info in What’s on

16 November 2021

Galimatias. Jorgen Lorenzen saw a comedy magic show at the theatre Svalegangen in Aarhus on 11 November at 20. Jorgen writes (my translation):

Christian Langballe is a popular and reputable senior master at Randers Upper Secondary School. He himself refers to his work there as his "human work". But his middle name Wilde reveals that he has other talents and desires than those belonging to a senior master and he is part of a circle of young magicians in East Jutland. They can hardly be called amateur magicians as their skills seem to be on a par with the best in the genre. As magician Christian Langballe use the artist name Christian de Wilde.

Christian spices up his tricks with storytelling. But it never becomes stand up - rather life-philosophical considerations about the strange and subtle course of life. His own life is woven into the narrative, and towards the end of the performance he spoke of his own midlife crisis. But it did not harm the show. On the contrary!

His flow of speech, jokes, puns, linguistic innovations and in general play with language and a lush imagination lead the mind to the late speed talker Johannes Møllehave (a Danish Lutheran priest, author and lecturer). Or perhaps even better: on Thierry, Trifolikom and Tribini – fair barkers who each should have had a prize for their linguistic knowledge and creativity in the spoken language.

He is also musical, which is why he begins with a self-composed song for guitar accompaniment. And he says in the introduction: when you are bitten by the magic bacterium, you never look back!

Christian Langballe began with singing to guitar accompaniment. All photos: Wenche Strömsnes / BetterMeetings

Then it goes forward – tearing along. He can do the trick of making a red handkerchief disappear into the blue air. And now he wants to lead the audience back in time. He has a magic machine. He uses wormhole energy in the atomic transformation box (or something like that - the imagination failed nothing!). It did not quite succeed, and smoke, sparks, minor explosions and light discharges led us back to reality and the present, for the wormhole radiation failed.

But it did not matter, because there was magic in the air anyway. Now he borrowed a hundred DKK bill from someone in the theatre. It was beaten and torn to pieces - and the banknote was transferred to an egg, which he broke. And there it was - in the same abused condition as when he curled it a moment ago and tore it in two. And it was wet from lying in the egg white.

And the many tricks came in row. It was also noticed that he had been visiting Pegani's magic shop. (Pegani is the leading Nordic dealer in everything that has to do with magic, juggling, balloons, artists- and santa equipment). And of course there were card tricks too - many! Amazing for the wondering audience. Deft with his fingers, art of seduction and technical knowledge of how to do it. No one knows, everyone can guess, but a magician never reveals his tricks, and the listener often knows that one is not asking about the secrets behind the individual manipulations. It becomes internal to the professional circles how and what to do.

And there he stood in the end of the show - after an hour of varied, exciting, imaginative and enriching entertainment! With a bowler hat that had glasses, so one thought of Motor Mille from DR tv. With a beard, he looked like Soren Huss from the rock band Saybia.

With bowler hat with glasses

And the next morning he was again the venerable senior master Christian Langballe at Randers Upper Secondary School. But he's still Wild (e)!

**

Jorgen Lorenzen himself has a past as a senior master at Randers Upper Secondary School.

14 November 2022

Christmas circus in Sweden. Cirkus Elvira writes (my translation)

Here comes a happy CHRISTMAS CIRCUS greeting!

Finally, we in Circus Elvira get the opportunity to present a new traditional Christmas Circus performance. After an involuntary break due to the corona, we are now taking new steps. We have gathered a skilled group of artists from Sweden, Finland and Germany. Premiere December 26! A total of 10 performances up to and including 2 January at the Concert Theater in Sundsvall. With 7 circus artists and specially written music, it offers a really wonderful Christmas performance for the whole family.

Performing artists:

Clown Daff-Daff (Thomas Jerbo)

Aerial artists Miranda Hedman, Manda Rydman,

Pole: Matilda Wiklund

Magician: Jonathan Seeing

Cyr Wheel / Icarian games: Aino Savolainen from Finland

Handstand / Icarian games: Imogen Huzel from Germany

Music: Kertsin Blomquist

Tickets: entresundsvall.se

Circus Elvira was founded in 1984 by Ann and Thomas Jerbo. They are both educated at ¨The Commedia School¨ in Copenhagen. Ann is also educated at the Nordic Scenography School in Skellefteå. It is an "independent theater group with head quarter in Sundsvall".

14 November 2021

Kim Kenneth as Pierrot in Tivoli Friheden. In season 2022 season, it is the Danish magician Kim Kenneth who has the part as Pierrot in Tivoli Friheden. Tivoli Friheden is an amusement park located in Aarhus, Denmark. Kim Kenneth replaces Hasse Hjorth, who has worked as Pierrot since 1991. Hasse is also known as magician Ricky with his ventriloquist doll Nancy.

The Danish audience knows first and foremost Kim Kenneth as a magician at Circus Dannebrog, Circus Arena, Circus Baldoni and Circus Benneweis. The latter place he was also ringmaster and staged the very last Benneweis performance in 2015. He has also staged performances for Baldoni and Circusland and outside Denmark's borders performed in many circuses and at varieties. An English reviewer named him the Dane in the fast Lane.

Kim Kenneth with assistants in Circusland summer 2021. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

But Kim has always had the courage to try something new. What few people know is that he has been working for Semler Group for some time in a project with self-driving buses and drones.

This summer, Kim could be seen in Circusland. But next summer, the Jutland audience will have the pleasure of seeing him. Not in his traditional role as a magician, but as Pierrot. A character which he for sure will give his very own twist. He was also Pierrot in Tivoli Friheden during the autumn holydays in week 42.

Pierrot is a stock character of pantomime and commedia dell'arte. In Denmark Pierrot has for more than 150 years been a fixture at Bakken, the oldest amusement park in the world, where he plays the nitwit talking to and entertaining children, and at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens where the Harlequin and Columbine act is performed as a pantomime and ballet. In the Jutland amusement park Tivoli Friheden Pierrot has entertained children and their families since sometime in the 1980’ties.

10 November 2021

Circuses and corona restrictions. With effect from 12 November 2021, coronapas must be shown if persons over 15 years of age want access to venues and events with over 200 spectators or participants indoors and 2,000 spectators or participants outdoors. This applies regardless of whether the persons are seated or standing.

This means that, for example, corona passes must be shown by anyone over the age of 15 who want to see Baldoni's Christmas circus. "This is not a new procedure for us as the situation was the same over the summer. So at Baldoni´s Christmas circus we are 100% geared for it,” Circus Baldoni writes.

Also at Wallmans in the Copenhagen Circus Building visitors will have to show a coronapas when arriving to the building.

The coronapas requirement also applies to museums if more than 200 people are present at the same time. Something that probably never occurs in relatively smaller museums like Denmark’s two circus museums. The museum in Rold is, as always, closed for the winter.

9 November 2021

Obituray: Karin Koch. The animal trainer Karin Koch passed away on 15 September after a long illness. She was 83 years old. For many years she worked with Lilian Daniels and among other things helped to train polar bears in Sweden in 1956, when Lilian Daniels stayed in Trolle Rhodin's winter quarters in Malmö. Karin Koch also took care of the sea lions and chimpanzees. Later, Karin Koch got other chimpanzees. She and Lilian Daniels bought a farm in Austria where they could have their animals when their circus life ended. In recent years, Karin Koch lived in Errindlev on Lolland.

8 November 2021

Zirkus Nemo Galla Extravaganza. On November 7, Zirkus Nemo opened the doors to a gala extravaganza at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen. Among the spectators was H.M. Queen Margrethe. Søren Østergaard presented a number of his own characters, both live on stage and on the big screen. In addition, Anders Lund Madsen participated. Peter Frödin should also have been present, but had resigned due to influenza. The performing circus artists were Captain Frodo and Duo Solys. The Danish Circus Award named them in 2016 and 2018 respectively the the best act of the year.

In connection with the performance, the audience got a flyer for Zirkus Nemo's 2022 performance. There you can see that Søren Østergaard will be assisted by ommy Kenter, who probably would also have been involved if it had not been necessary to cancel the 2021 performance. Tommy Kenter (born 15 April 1950 in Copenhagen) is a Danish actor and comedian. He had his debut already when he was 11 years old in the movie Circus Buster.

7 November 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - now after a trying situation,  CIRQUE D'HIVER BOUGLIONE proudly presents circus from October to March 2022.

The winter season's performance premiered on October 17 and can be seen until March 6, 2022. In part of the period, there are only performances on Saturdays and Sundays. The performance is called DINGUE and is artistically close to the performance, which premiered in October 2020, but after a few performances had to be canceled due to the corona. Also last year's performance, which was reviewed on this website 22 October 2020, had the title DINGUE = crazy and incredible.

About this year's performance:

It can't be done in a better way,although it is not particularly children-friendly, and practically without animals.

The program:

Adele Fame, aerial act

Adele Fame in aerial straps. All photos by courtesy of Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione

François Borie, tempo juggler

The French juggler François Borie.

Artem Luybanevych and Antonio Vargas, aerial stunts in hanging mast (aerial pole)

Ukrainian Artem Luybanevych in aerial pole.

Geraldine Philadelphia, hula hoop,

The Danish audience met Geraldine Philadelphia in Zirkus Nemo im 2018. Photo: Dominique Secher

Regina Bouglione, maxi/mini horses

Regina Bouglione. Photo : Dominique Seche

Sergi Buka, shadowgraphy on bike

The Spanish illusionist, hand shadow player, circus performer and magic lantern projectionist Sergi Buka. Photo : Dominique Secher

Skating Medini, roller skating

The Sieblings Dylan og Asia Medini perform a high speed roller skating act

Zore Espana, CYR wheel

Zore Espana. Previous she was member of the trapeze duo Les Farfardais. Photo: Dominique Secher

Fratelli Caveagna, hand to hand acrobatics (main à main)

Andrea Caveagna Huesca and Davide Caveagna are Italian

Navas, wheel of death

Navas Brothers (Ray and Rony Navas) got in 2013 a silver clown in Monte Carlo for their great act.

Clown TOTTI guides the audience thru the program, he is original, hilarious and excells in playing the trumpet.

The leading and main star is Totti Alexis, worldwide well known, also in the Nordic countries. Son of Toni Alexis he draws his talent from an ancient circus family so he has sawdust in his genes !

Pierre NOUVEAU, bandleader/maestro with an excellent orchestra, whereof a female violinist - rarely seen.

Pierre Nouveau and his large circus band

BOUGLIONE DANCERS do spice up the show , 6 female, 2 male dancers - Bravo !!

Ringmaster MICHEL PALMER , accompanies the show elegantly and with courtesy.

Michel Palmer is ringmaster (in France called Monsieur Loyal)

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venue: the CIRCUS BUILDING 110 rue AMELOT, 75011 PARIS.

Metro: Filles du calvaire/Oberkampf.

See more: www.cirquedhiver.com/en/

Located in the heart of Paris, between the Place de la République and the Place de la Bastille, at the edge of the historical Marais, the Cirque d’Hiver is the world’s oldest extant circus building. It is also the world’s oldest circus still in activity: It opened its doors in 1852. Its address, at 110 rue Amelot, may seem inconspicuous, but at that precise point, the rue Amelot opens onto the Boulevard du Temple through the small Place Pasdeloup: The Cirque d’Hiver is therefore quite noticeable, practically «on the Boulevards» .Click here to read more about the famous circus building.

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

5 November 2021

Baldoni’s Christmas Circus 2021. It premieres in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, on Saturday 13 November, where they will also be on 14 November. From then on and until 19 December, you can see the performance in a number of arenas on Zealand and Lolland-Falster.

Like last year, it is an artist performance where the performers wear their own costumes. But of course you also meet the elves Nisseline and Nissenova (Cindy Binau and her little sister Debbie) and Santa Claus.

Nisseline (Cindy Binau) and Nissenova (Debbie Binau) with Santa. Photo from 2020, taken by Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The performers are the Janacek family, (table act and quadrant), Michail Mudrak, (juggling and handstand) and a couple from Poland, Duo Focus (hand to hand and spinning wheel).

The versatile Janacek family are old acquaintances in Circus Baldoni, where they first time performed in 2010.

Maria and Eddie Janacek with their quadrant act, which you also could see this year in Baldoni's tent show.

Michail Mudrak is the male half of Duo Hands to Violin, which was with Baldoni in 2016. He was also featured in Baldoni's 2020 performance.

Michail Mudrak with handstand. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Duo Focus (Agnieszka Pajewska and Grzegorz Pajewski) have to my knowledge not previously been in Denmark. Click here to read more about them and see video clips from their acts.

Duo Focus in their spinning wheel

5 November 2021

The Arli family are once again in charge of Hans Christian Andersen's Christmas market in Copenhagen. The location is at Nytorv in central Copenhagen. From 12 November to 21 December, the market is open Sunday to Thursday 11 am - 7 pm and Friday + Saturday 11 am - 8 pm. See more at www.julemarked.co

Due to the corona there was no market in 2020.

2 November 2021

Kolding Christmas Circus. Last year, Cirkus Trapez had planned to present a Christmas circus in a tent next to the Castle Lake in Kolding. But the corona meant the plans had to be abandoned.

Hoping for better possibilities this year, they are planning to present Christmas Circus in a heated tent next to the Castle Lake in Kolding from 10 December to 2 January. Before then, they have Christmas performances in some Jutland arenas.

Poster from 2020

2 November 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - you visit concerts, theatre and circus, following an age old tradition from the time of MOLIERE, now THEATRE GYMNASE MARIE BELL proudly presents THE AUGUSTIN SHOW: CLOWNING AND MAGIC STUNTS.

AUGUSTIN wears a colorful costume and his gentle attitude gives him at once the audience's attention and appreciation - a pre-requisite for success! This show is geared to the smaller fry - and their parents !

After some clowning featuring many funny ideas, and which amuse the children well as much as the magic stunts, we were treated to a  BUBBLE SHOW, where giant soap bubbles were produced from a recipient containing water, then MAGIC STUNTS : all of them clear enough to  make the small ones follow the action: color changing hankies, the soft rope that stiffens, goldfish does appear in a glass of water, a cute little brown rabbit pops up out of a box - and BIG SURPRISE - a PANDA  BEAR, i.e. a partner wearing a PANDA outfit enters stage, singing and dancing with all the kids.

Augustin with the panda. Photo : Jean Blanc

GRANDE FINALE: a photo sequence is proposed: photos are shot by parents of their offspring - a glamourous finish very much appreciated by all. Everybody has a wonderful afternoon, certainly inspiring many to various games and plays later on.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS!!!

Venue: Theatre GYMNASE MARIE BELL, 38 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 75010 Paris.

Metro: Bonne Nouvelle.

More info : http://theatredugymnase.paris/les-aventures-daugustin-le-clown-magicien/

The theatre is partially handicap-friendly, but the performance is shown at the small stage located in the basement, a super narrow staircase leading down to it, this is a bother even for non-handicapped people, for the handicapped ones, the access is impossible.

The theatre informs honestly about this hurdle.

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

28 October 2021

Obituary: George Olsen. The Danish strongman George Olesen has suddenly left us, aged 60. He succumbed to a heart attack at his rural home in the Danish village Roost. His wife for  24 years, Jeanne, tried heart massage, but in vain.

During the nineties he was the strongest man in the world, scoring numerous records in  Guinness, as many as 199 of the kind, some still standing.

In 2007 he was hit in a road accident, but this didn't really end his career, in spite of being in 2009, declared unfit for work.

ZARRO ZARRO remembers him from  Bellahöj Kraemmermarked (a popular fun fair and jumble sale in Copenhagen) and writes:

BELLAHÖJ KRAEMMERMARKED, a popular spot for jumble sale and entertainment, near COPENHAGEN , where you find good and healthy fun !!

Strongman GEORGE OLESEN performed, featuring his stunts, I was very much impressed, about  25  years ago.

Unfortunately he recently passed away.

I have the best of memories of his show, a performance of stunts, lifting beer barrels with one hand, effects using ropes, chains and a nailbed!

The points of interest were many: the surroundings popular, festive and sympathetic, the atmosphere was pleasant , everything real as in circus, and - to my mind - a number of the male spectators got inspiration to further train their muscles !

Internet has a lot of text and photos.

R.I.P.

27 October 2021

Circuses in Sweden. Corona restrictions have meant that none of the three Swedish circuses came on tour in 2020 and 2021. But hopefully both Circus Brazil Jack, Circus Olympia and Circus Rhodin will be on the roads in 2022.

There are also plans to let Circus Scott revive with performances at Gärdet in Stockholm in the spring of 2022. Circus Scott has not toured since 2015. However, the owner Robert Bronett tried his luck in Stockholm for a few years with a Christmas show called MagicXmas.

Circus Scott's oblong tent at the Mill Square in Malmö in 2015. One half of the tent housed a circus park with the opportunity to try pony riding, juggling, magic, riding unicycles and trapeze. The other half of the tent housed the ring and seating. According Robert Bronett they had room for 2,000 spectators. When I saw the show, however, there were hardly more than 200 in the tent.

26 October 2021

Circus Arnardo. The Norwegian Circus Arnardo started the season on 17 July in Lilledal and has since visited Arendal, Porsgrunn, Sandvika, Drammen and Larvik. They close season 2021 with a visit to Kristiansand from 28 to 31 October.

Circus Arnardo this year uses Kevin Probst's tent, which has a diameter of 26 meters and is a little smaller than Arnardo's usual tent. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

26 October 2021

Obituary: Bo Rönnberg. The Swedish circus owner Bo Rönnberg passed away on June 15 after a some time of illness. He was 78 years old. He originally worked in the advertising industry. In 1982, Volvo celebrated its 150th anniversary and Bo Rönnberg helped them arranging a circus performance with the assistance of the Danish Circus M. Schumann, which visited Sweden that year. This gave Bo Rönnberg the idea of ​​selling circus performances to companies.

In 1984, Bo Rönnberg sent a circus on tour at his own expense under the name Circus Skogman. He chose the name because he had hired the popular Swedish singer and actor Thore Skogman as ringmaster. Tent and equipment were rented by Bo Rönnberg from the Danish Circus Arena, which also supplied most of the artists and simply stopped the tour in Denmark during the weeks that Cirkus Skogman was on tour.

The same model was used in 1985 and 1986. In the latter year, however, the name was changed to Circkus Skratt. Skratt is the Swedish word for laughter. From 1987 to 1993, Bo Rönnberg had Danish Circus Dannebrog as partner. Like Arena, they sent their tent, equipment and artists to Sweden, where they toured under the name Circus Skratt. In 1994, the contract went back to Circus Arena. Now, however, it was no longer Circus Arena which toured in Sweden under the Skratt name, but a completely different circus, for which Circus Arena provided tent, equipment and artists. Almost all performances were sold performances.

Times changed, and the financial crisis, etc. made it harder to sell performances to companies etc .. The coperation with Circus Arena stopped after the 2014 season. In 2015, Bo Rönnberg coperated with Manuella Scholl and Peer Jackson from Swedish/German Circus Madigan. Cirkus Skratt's last season was 2016. (Source: Cirkulära Notiser no. 5/2021 etc.)

In 2014, Circus Skratt celebrated its 30th anniversary. But it had started to go downhill for Circus Skratt, and the program was a bit weak.

26 October 2021

The theme park Circusland in Cirkus Arena's winter quarter in Aarslev near Slagelse was open during the autumn holidays. As usual, in addition to the rides, there were several shows. They were staged by Kim Kenneth, who however due to other work was not himswelf in Circusland during the autumn holidays.

Peter Nørgaard, who has toured with Circus Baldoni throughout the summer, made a 20-minute ventriloquist show. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Peter Nørgaard was also ringmaster for the performances in Circus Landino. The performers here were the clown Christian Folco and the Navratil family. Papa Jan with antipode, son Jimmy as juggler and inflatable strong man and Jan and Mrs. Vilma with cowboy act.

The clown Christian Folco

Left: Jimmy Navratil juggled with footballs and as shown in the photo  tennis rackets. Right: His father Jan Navratil juggled using his feet.

Jan Navratil and Mrs. Vilma had a cowboy act with whip and, as here, knife throwing.

A little unusually, there were no animals in the performance in Circus Landino. But in another show, Benny Berdino’s daughter in law Laura Berdino explained a bit about circus animal training. Click here to see more of Jacob Boas Leitisstein's photos from Circusland during the autumn holidays.

25 October 2021

Circus Big in Broen in Esbjerg. Finn Stendevad saw one of the autumn performances and writes (my translation):

Full house, many had to stand up. The overall theme was bullying and teasing. The performance took place in an empty shop. Mr. Big welcomed while Knud teased using the the drums. Later, they did small concerts on guitar and drums. Mr. Big juggled with hats, just as they played with stools in different ways. They cracked stones on Big's belly with a sledgehammer, then they ended up with Big's diabolo act. The performance lasted approx. 45 minutes.

Photos: Finn Stendevad

25 October 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS. LA SCALA, an old theater rich in traditions, declined to a ruin, is re-furbished and offers us: theater plays, dancing, concerts, and just  NOW: contemporaneous circus LA MACHINE DE CIRQUE, 6 male acrobats, QUEBEC, CANADA.

They perform partly par  terre, partly in/on/sideways a kind of rather tall /my estimate/ about 4 meters tall structure, that resembles -- nothing -- it reminds me of the Danish cartoonist and comic ROBERT STORM PETERSEN / 1882- 1949/ who excelled in drawing such imaginary but non-existing objects.

Everything combined with acrobatics and comic stunts : springboard/schleuderbrett/, Chinese pole, trapez. Juggling in formation with good choreography.

Copyright Machine de Cirque : Loup-William Théberge

But - why don't wear elegant costumes  ?? and not everyday rather dull clothing !

Grande finale with springboard and a comic sketch--  BRAVO !!

Well worth seeing for all, except for the smallest fry.

Click here for more information and ticket booking

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

Venue: LA SCALA, 13 BOULEVARD DE STRASBOURG, 75010 PARIS.

Metro: Strasbourg Saint Denis.

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

22 October 2021

Circus Arena's autumn performance. Jorgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Kolding Shopping Mall on 20 October at 13 and writes:

All buses and bus shelters in Kolding advertise for Circus Arena in Kolding Shopping Mall. Very good! And many families with children pay a visit to the event. But unfortunately, the mall has not provided a grandstand making it possible for everyone to get close and see something. With the result that hundreds of children either couldn’t see properly or did not see anything at all. Too bad, because the square in the mall is big enough to make it possible to put up a grandstand.

The performance was presented by Bettina Arli. The show started with 6 ponies, presented by Karsten Berdino.

Karsten Berdino with ponies. All photos: Sara Pawelec

The next act was the juggler Mister Tom. He juggled by throwing balls down against a platform - what's called bouncing. In this performance, however, he was plagued by quite a few “drops”. But it is known that when a juggler has lost a ball, the rhythm and concentration are broken, and one mistake is easily followed by several others.

Mr. Tom

And then it was time for the clown Martin Arli. He was to hold balloons, which Bettina was to shoot to pieces. It succeeded after Martin had inflated several balloons - with various excuses and mishaps - and a lot of cheerful talk. The clown must explain why the balloon broke this time too - and defend himself when Bettina blames him for his clumsiness. And the balloon that Bettina finally hit was - of course - filled with water. Big cheers!

Bettina and Martin Arli

The aerial act in the performance was performed by Miss Jenny. She is from the circus family van Gool, and her aunt was named Linda and did in her time a beautiful act in swing trapeze. Jenny performed acrobatics in the trapeze, so it reminded me a lot of a number in aerial rope. But in the end, she flew - and showed what such a trapeze is actually made for.

Jenny van Gool

Last act was the tempo juggler Rudy Janecek. He is an excellent and versatile juggler who can be studied on YouTube. Here he presented only part of his repertoire, but sufficiently to make one feel that one was in the company of a master of juggling.

Rudy Janecek

The performance ended - a little unexpectedly - without the artists being called in for another round of applause.

21 October 2021

Bonbon & co. at the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen. There was great enthusiasm for the performances with the clown Bonbon and his family, which the Circus Museum presented during the autumn holidays. Actually, father Lasse, mother Tiina and children Julia and Joakim should have performed at the museum during the autumn holidays in 2020, but it had to be cancelled due to the corona. They were then booked for the winter holidays of 2021, but at that time the museum was also closed due to corona. But the third time lucky: now they managed to present a performance that both in terms of content and artistically was of a high standard. And great that for once we could experience the Danish world class clown in his homeland.

Joakim and an assistant prepared the ring with a blanket, and then he and Julia presented the famous clown Bonbon. It took a while before he entered the ring, but then it was in as 5 x Bonbon, see photo.

5 x Bonbon

Bonbon's next entrée was the one with the "heavy" suitcase.

From Bonbon's mimic entrée with the suitcase

Next, Julia and Joakim presented the knockabout table act which Freddi Steckel has helped them make. A special twist is that the table is be used to reach a rope that hangs down from the ceiling. A great act.  Freddi (who was among the spectators) can be proud of his trainees. (So ​​is he!).

Julia and Joakim

Next, Bonbon entered the ring with his turtle. It cannot jump through a ring, but in return he can play music on its shell.

Watch out, there is fire in his thumb…

He was followed by Julia and Joakim with a fine juggling entrée.

Julia and Joakim

The performance ended with Bonbon's and Tiina's signature act: the badminton entrée, which always brings great happiness. However, Lasse says that he is not very good at playing badminton…

There was full house to the performance in the museum’s Fencing Hall.

18 October 2021

Circus Trapez’ autumn performance. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Forum, Bramdrupdam on 17 October at 3 pm and writes:

On their autumn tour, Trapez had reached Kolding. And the program was different from this summer's show. David Sosman, who was ringmaster, juggler and much more during the summer period, had travelled on to an engagement in Spain. Due to this it was his mother Isabella Enoch Sosman who presented the performance. She was wearing a beautiful suit in the colours dark red and blue, and these two colours were consistently also in the costumes of the other artists. It is a good idea to let colours help to connect the performance to a whole.

For this autumn tour was engaged a versatile artist family, the couple Veselka Metodieva and Nedyalko Vaskov and their daughter Yana.

Duo Metodieva (Veselka Metodieva and Nedyalko Vaskov). All photos: Sara Pawelec

But it was two young, Danish artists who attracted most attention. Lasse Hasager is a talent in strong development. We have seen him as a diabolo juggler, but in this performance he was also a tempo juggler - at an amazing level. He mastered up to 7 balls in the air and he could juggle while one ball rested on his neck while others were in play around him. And his attitude has evolved - so he has the professional artist's charisma: proud, but never arrogant. Self-conscious, but never boastful.

The clowns of the show were Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen and Lasse Hasager, who used the clown name Chino

That with great talent can also be said about Trapez’s house artist Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen. She is an aerial artist and has taken over the trapeze after Isabella Enoch Sosman. This afternoon, she did not swing in the trapeze, but presented acrobatics in the trapeze. Here, too, it was noticed that she - in spite of her young age - had acquired the characteristics of the thoroughbred artist: it looks playfully easy and effortless, though it is very difficult.

Nynne with grace in the trapeze

And then there was a surprise - a debut? Katja Enoch's son Josef participated in the diabolo act together with Lasse Hasager, and together with an 11-year-old jumping gymnast from Skive he also had an acrobat entrée. The couple Nedyalko had a good adagio number. Mother and daughter worked with hula hoop. The daughter, Yana, was also a contortionist. She wore glasses, and it is probably the first time in circus history that an artist wears glasses! (Editors comment: I have seen a few other artist with glasses).

Yana. The bottom photo shows Isabella Enoch Sosman in the background

The clown presented Bernhard Kaselowski's 4 goats. Sympathetic as he walked around the ringside giving children popcorn which they could then give to the goats that followed. To many people, animals belong to circuses belong. Here not just goats, but also a pony. The act is called big and little ie. a horse and a pony, but the floor of the arena had been spared for the horse.

Real circus! Audience-friendly and true to the classic circus - with animals! Alive, honest, something for both young and old.. And the dark red and blue colours kept appearing, as on the way home one would remember what one had experienced.

14 October 2021

A birthday with a round figure: Conny Hende Lidal. The former trapeze artist Conny Hende, who from 1991 to 1995 together with Jorgen Hansen ran the small Danish Cirkus Scandinavia, turns 90 on 14 October. Before her time as a circus owner, she had worked as an aerial acrobat, among other places in the Belgian Vienna Circus. She also performed at markets and at amusement parks.

11 October 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - now and always - NOW a great piece of news for all who love theatre, dance, concerts and - new circus, certainly of the greatest interest for followers of CIRCUS IN DENMARK.

Being promotors of all kinds of cultural events, MELANIE &  FREDERIC BIESSY bought the premises of an old theater, rich in traditions, built in 1873, having had a successful period up to 1935, being one of the leading "café concert", featuring revues where the cream of French artists appeared.

In 1936 the premises were converted to a cinema "art deco", in 1977 new conversion to -a porno cinema.

After a short period of religious activities, these premises remained empty until they were bought by MELANIE & FREDERIC BIESSY, the aim was to create a place for  - CREATION!!

Premiere in 2018.

Big problems linked to the pandemic situation.

So far great success with all initiatives, a mix of everything that is labelled ART, 900 seats in a modulated local.

La Scala – the Auditorium © Studio ORJ

Together with this success, a new one is on its way: LA SCALA PROVENCE, situated in  AVIGNON, Southern France, a center for theatre, particularly during the international theatre festival, each July.

This adventure is sponsored by numerous bodies, wanting to support  CULTURE !!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

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

Next update: 23 October

8 October 2021

Patrick Berdino turns 30. On Tuesday 19 October, circus artist Patrick Berdino, Slagelse, can celebrate his 30 years birthday. As Benny Berdino's eldest grandson, it was obvious that he should have a life in the circus. For many years he was part of Circus Arena's performances. The documentary The Circus Dynasty made Patrick nationally known after it was shown on television. The fame was expanded in 2015, when Patrick together with Jenna Bagge participated in the Danish version of Strictly come dancing. They did well, but did not reach the final. In 2016 and 2018, Patrick was co ringmaster in Circus Arena. After the latter season, he agreed with the family that it was wise to try life outside the circus for a while, and he has since worked among other things with kitchen fitting and as a driver.

Patrick Berdino

8 October 2021

Circus during the autumn holidays. Danish schools are by tradition closed for autumn holidays in week 42. You can see circus or artist performances several places in Denmark during the autumn holidays.

The Copenhagen area

At the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, you can 18 to 22 October at 11 meet the award-winning clown Bonbon, who together with his family gives a performance in the Fencing Hall. It was not in the cards that the teacher's son Lasse Nørager-Nielsen aka the clown Bonbon should choose circus life, but as a 16-year-old he made his international debut as a circus artist when he was employed in the small Swedish Circus Regal. He is today one of the most famous Danish clowns in the international circus arena. Bonbon is known for his creative and unique acts such as when he transforms from a clown badminton player to a star player or when he acts as the clumsy cannon king with severely limited flying skills. Tickets to the performance costs DKK 20 for both children and adults.

5 x Bonbon. Press photo from the Circus Museum

The Circus Museum is open Monday to Friday in week 42 from 10-15.

Benny Schumann in the shopping center Hvidovre C in Copenhagen. Performances Friday 22 October at 15:00 & Saturday 23 October at 11:00 & Sunday 24 October at 11:00 performances with Benny Schuman.15 min before the performance, a videofilm is shown on a large screen, where Benny Schumann tells about his life in Circus Schumann 1945-1967. Then Benny performs with his solo performance for approx. 40 minutes. Following that there is circus workshop for children. Free admission.

In the shopping mall Hvidovre C you can meet Benny Schumann, who here is seen with his ventriloquist’s doll Hunni.

Region Zealand

Circusland in Aarslev near Slagelse is open from 16 to 24 October. During the day you can see the ventriloquist

Peter Nørgaard's children's show with the dragon Dennis, the dog Charlie and magic - all the laughter muscles will be touched. Christian Folco entertains with fun for young and old on the small show stage in playland. Kl. 14 there is a performance in Circus Landino with Peter Nørgaard as ringmaster.

Circusland is situated in Cirkus Arena's winter quarter in Aarslev near Slagelse. Driving directions: If you get off the highway turn off at exit 39. Take road 225 towards Jyderup. In Sonderup, turn left towards Aarslev. Then follow the signs. All activities and shows are free when the entrance to Circusland is paid. It is possible to buy food and drink in the park bistro. Circusland is open every day during the autumn holidays from 10 to 16.

In Circusland there are both shows and amusement rides. One of the shows is with the ventriloquist Peter Nørgaard, who has toured with Circus Baldoni during the summer season. Press photo from Circusland.

Jutland

Cicus Big in Broen Shopping in Esbjerg. From Monday 18 October to Saturday 23 October thee daily performances with Circus Big. The cast is Mr. Big and the clown Knud. Free admission.

In the shopping center Broen in Esbjerg you meet as several previous years Mr. Big and the clown Knud.

Circus Arena in Kolding Shopping Center. From Monday 18 October to and including Sunday 24 October, you can see performances produced by Circus Arena every day at 11, 13 & 15. Free admission.

True to tradition, the Arli family is among the performers in the performance which Circus Arena present in Kolding Shopping center. Photo from 2018, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen.

Circus Mascot continues their late summer tour to a number of arenas in Jutland.

The performance is presented by Daniel Deleruan. The performers are Marianne Deleuran with dogs, geese and pigs, the clown Gulio and his family, Lui Nereus with handstand and as the man in the lantern and Miss Eva with glass balance. The performance was reviewed on this website September 8, where Jørgen Lorenzen called it "a good children's show, where parents and grandparents can rejoice - over the children's reactions and good circus entertainment."

In Cirkus Mascot you meet, among others, the clown Gulio, here with his wife Tatiana as a "slap doll". Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Circus Trapez also offers performances in a number of Jutland arenas.

The performance is presented by Isabella Enoch Sosman. In the performance, you meet Nedyalko and Veselka (Duo Metodieva) and their now 13-year-old daughter Yana. She is a talented artist, who does contortion and hula hoops together with her mother Veselka. Nedyalko and Veselka have an adagio act and Nedyalko also cube juggling. They have previously performed at Circus Baldoni, Danish Circus Krone and in the holiday center Lalandia. Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen from Frederikshavn works in a trapeze or rotating ring if the isn’t room for a trapeze act. She is also in the magic boxes together with Yana. Lasse Hasager performs with juggling and comedy. Isabella's nephew Joseph Enoch performs with diabolo and together with Gabriel Pedersen with jumping acrobatics. Bernhard Kaselowsky presents his goats as well as a pony and a horse as Mini / Maxi.

Among the performers in Circus Trapez' autumn performance is Duo Metodieva (Nedyalko Vaskov and Veselka Metodieva). They have in previously years toured with Circus Baldoni and Danish Circus Krone. The photo is from Circus Krone 2016.

The Circus Museum in Rold is open on Monday 18 October, where Katja Schumann takes over the ring in the Riding House. She presents her playful dogs, well-trained goats and the goose Wise.

Katja with the goose Wise, who had the role as the goose in the movie Gooseboy. Photo: Jens Chr. Sørensen

Flying Superkids visit a number of Jutland arenas with their great show.

Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus is open from 9 to 24 October. You can every day at 16:30 experience cozy performances with Pjerrot on stage in Pjerrot’s garden, where he entertains with magic and crazy stories.

From 16 to 24 October, Tivoli Friheden also offers Circus Dystopia, which is presented as follows (my translation):

Experience Denmark's biggest horror ride when we open the doors to 1,500 sqm. pure horror in Circus DYSTOPIA! Here you can join a dark journey behind the bloody curtain, where 25 scary actors are ready to give you the thrill of your life.

Anything can happen in Circus DYSTOPIA, where international circus artists from Dark Thrills Entertainment will present hair-raising circus acts. In the circus you can e.g. experience the two brand new haunts: Horror Cabinet and Freakshow! The two haunts can be experienced separately and have two different scare levels. Recommended minimum age 10 years for Freakshow and 12 years for the Horror Cabinet. In addition, there is also an activity area, with 4 performances daily, as well as actors moving around among the guests.

Circus Dystpioa. Press photo from Tivoli Friheden

Circus Dystopia is possibly inspired by the English Circus of Horrors.

3 October 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS. In more and more countries, under pressure from various animal welfare bodies there are proposals to ban the appearance of wild animals in circuses, including big cats, sea lions and elephants. Such prohibitions are e.g. implemented in the Nordic countries. In France, too, such a ban has been proposed in the ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE. Here is a brief summary of the situation:

The proposed ban on wild animals in circuses part of new French animal welfare legislation has been 'dropped' for the time being. Suggestions from diverse animal welfare bodies, were thoroughly scrutinized and then watered out or plainly refused, depending on failing real arguments and based on emotions only.

However the battle is far from over as the circus situation is to be reviewed by a cross party committee but the delay is a small victory indeed.

All of us do want the best possible welfare - also for animals !!

Agriculture and industrial food production are criticized; CIRCUS is the target of unjust and untrue complaints !!

Should acts like this be banned? Martin Lacey Jr. and his big cats in German Circus Krone 2019.

The issue will be treated again, sporting a probable permission to have domesticated animals in CIRCUS, camels are the essential force of life for the desert people , and this has been so for thousands of years, including transport of people and goods, they support well the promenades with children on their back, in CIRCUS !!

Quote: THE DOGS KEEP BARKING----  THE CARAVAN PASSES !!

Respect for other opinions - but thanks for an objective and realistic debate !!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

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

1 October 2021

Circus Mascot - now also during the autumn holidays. Both in terms of visits and quality, Cirkus Mascot's late summer tour have been a success. They started on 3 September, and the tour to Jutland's arenas was scheduled to stop on 3 October. Daniel and Marianne Deleuran have now also decided to have performances during the school children’s autumn holidays from 16 to 24 October. The performers are the same as on the late summer tour. Take a closer look in What’s on.

Circus Mascot's late summer performance can now also be seen during the autumn holidays

1 October 2021

Circus Trapez autumn circus. They write (my translation): In October, Circus Trapez visit a number of Jutland arenas with a completely new performance for the whole family. You can see acrobatics with Duo Metodieva from Bulgaria, the contortionist Yana who is known from Motor Mille on Circus Tour from DR tv’s Ramasjang, where she was to help Motor Mille learning to do hula hoops in Danish Circus Krone, something you will also see Yana do in our show. From Frederikshavn comes 15-year-old Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen in trapeze. Lasse Hasager juggles both diabolos and balls high above the ring. In addition, see a cube act, magic and of course some lovely animals, Bernhard Kaselowsky present his lovely goats and horses. Duration: 1 hour. Take a closer look in What’s on.

30 September 2021

Circus Bella Donna at Bellahoj Fair. Bellahoj Fair is the largest fair in Copenhagen, and after the corona closure, it is now possible to complete the market for the first time in almost two years. It happens in the days 1 to 3 October. Among the many things you can see at the market is the tiny Circus Bella Donna. Friday at 15 and 17. Circus workshop at 16. Saturday at 13 and 16. Circus workshops at 13:30 & 17. Sunday at 12 and 15. Circus workshop at 12:30 & 15:30. Admission to the fair 25 DKK. Circus is free when the entrance to the fair is paid.

Circus owner Karsten Mathiasen, also called Karsten Clown, together with two of his artists.

29 September 2021

Circus Arnardo. The Norwegian Circus Arnardo, which started the season on 17 July in Lilledal and since has visited Arendal, Porsgrunn and Sandvika, continues the tour to Drammen, where they have performances from 30 September to 10 October. Among the performers in the approx. 1 hour long performance is the comedian and multi-artist Victor Rossi. Click here to see video clips from his entrees in Circus Arnardo.

Victor Rossi together with Frank, who for many years has worked for Arnardo as tent worker, ticket collector and props. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

28 September 2021

Circus in Lund, Sweden. The small Swedish Circus Rhodin states that they participate in the Culture Night in Lund on October 2, where you can meet Simona Rhodin. The circus' dogs and the clown Dimo are also part of the show. The mini-performance takes place in the Auditorium at Kulturen. There are performances

18.15-18.45

19.15-19.45

20.15-20.45

21.15-21.45

Tickets for the 4 mini shows are free, but must be reserved on Kulturen's website www.kulturen.com

During the culture night there are from 18 to 22 free admission to Kulturen, which currently has an exhibition about the circus.

Neither Cirkus Rhodin nor the 2 other Swedish circuses, Brazil Jack and Olympia, have been on tour this year. Simona Rhodin has performed in Danish Circus Trapez 'Open Air Performances.

27 September 2021

Monte Carlo Circus festival. The Organizing Committee of the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo is pleased to announce that the 45th edition of the Festival and the 10th New Generation will take place from 22nd to 30th of January 2022.

The Festival New Generation will be combined with the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo for common shows from 22nd to 30th January 2022.

The Festival and New Generation together in one ring for great Jubilee shows!

Due to Covid-19 there was no festival in 2021.

25 September 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - elsewhere as well: one of the most public-friendly ACT is: the DOG ACTS, sometimes in combination with a donkey, a pony or smaller animals like pigs or geese.

Acts with animals fresh from the farm are likewise popular, coming mainly from GERMANY, "aus dem Bauernhof" as they rightly are labelled. 

Below you will find a non - exhaustive sampling of those acts, you can find more if you surf on YouTube.

Here we go: ROSI HOCHEGGER, also with a comedy horse/, JOSEFINE & DANIEL IGEN, also goats/, PAT CLARRISSON with female partner PIP and his hot dogs/, SANDRO MONTEZ, also horses and exotic animals/, MARIANNE DELEURAN, also pigs and other smaller animals, Cirkus MASCOT, DK/, REGINA BOUGLIONE, also horses and pigs and various small animals/, WOLFGANG LAUENBURGER and daughter ALEXA/, OLD REGNAS, also with a donkey and female partner/. FAMILY SAABEL, sledge-husky-dogs in a winter setting/, MARQUIS POWELL always had a small dog in his appearances in his circus, SUZANNE BERDINO also with a Canadian minipig and thre duck.

Rosi Hochegger with the trick where she pump up the dog. Photo from Circus Benneweis 2015

Josefine and Daniel Igen with their dogs in Circus Baldoni 2013. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Pat aka Patrick Harrison with his girlfriend Pip and his Hot Dogs – an act he took over from his father Pete Harrison. Photo from Circusland 2020. Photographer: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

Sandro Montez with his dogs in Monte Carlo 2020 where he got the junior jury’s award. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Marianne Deleuran and her dog is an indispensable part of a performance in Circus Mascot. Photo from 2016

Wolfgang Lauenburger in Circus Arena 2015. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Old Regnas aka English Peter Freemann with his comical act in Circus Kenny 2006

The Saabel family’s dogs in Circus Trapez 2019. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Suzanne Berdino and her dogs. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

These ACTS are indeed very sympathetic, always having success, producing hilarious reactions from any audience. 

Nowadays they perform stunts that are natural for dogs: jumping obstacles, rolling around, pushing the performer, dancing around, inter-acting with the other dogs - all NATURAL, all PLAYING !!

Long gone are the days when dogs were dressed as people, acting as such, sitting at tables etc. - everything is for the better!!

An important point of view: CIRCUS and similar entertainment should be - joy and laughter only - nothing that might scare the young audience -or the adults - should be allowed - / quote ANNIE FRATELLINI/. Thus - feel free to enjoy those sympathetic and hilarious shows - all of them great achievements !!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - and elsewhere !!!

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

21 September 2021

Briano's late summer circus in Slagelse. On Saturday 18 September, the passionate Brian "Briano" Behrendt presented late summer circus at Frederikshoj open-air theater in Slagelse. Close to 1,000 guests enjoyed the nice and entertaining performance.

Briano welcomed at the entrance to the open-air theater. Photo: Ole Simonsen

When I approx. 20 years ago first met Brian, he worked at Lyngby Agricultural School. Brian also had a part-time job as a stable master for Benny Schumann, who at the time often had ponies in his performances. The meeting with Benny Schumann made Brian extra interested in the circus and show world. In August 2004, he arranged a bus trip for 22 Danish and Swedish circus enthusiasts to Circus Barum in Flensburg, and since then, under the name "Briano's circus tours", he has helped those interested with trips to foreign circuses, including to the circus festivals in Budapest and Monte Carlo.

In recent years, it has been possible to see him in Circusland in Slagelse, where he worked closely together with the former park manager Suzanne Berdino. In Circusland, he was seen as the Indian Talking Waterfall, the pirate Kalle Canonball, the fairy tale character Mister Tik Tak and Professor Briano.

The cooperation with Suzanne Berdino has continued after Suzanne was replaced as park manager by her brother and sister-in-law and went out with her own performances under the name Circus Berdino.

Due to the corona, 2020 and 2021 have been difficult years for all live entertainment, including for artists.

Under the Danish Agency for Palaces and Culture, the Ministry of Culture has a number of pools for the purpose of kick-starting cultural life. Brian got the idea to seek support from one of these pools. And he succeeded: he got funds to arrange a free late summer performance in Slagelse with Danish artists.

The performance was presented on 18 September at the Frederikshoj amphitheater in Slagelse and was a huge success for Brian and his team.

Frederikshoj open-air theater. Photo taken by Jacob Boas Leitisstein approx. 10 minutes before the show started, where many spectators had not yet found their seats.

Before the performance, the Slagelse Guard was in the ring and proved that they are one of Denmark’s best city guards. Their drum corps was also involved in the performance itself. Photo: Ole Simonsen. Click here to watch a video clip with one of the guard’s numbers.

The performance lasted almost 2½ hours, incl. break. It was opened by Professor Briano, who with tail coat, a cane, and a pointer sang a newly written welcome song. He was accompanied by all the performers and dancers from Dansegulvet in Slagelse. A festive way to start the show.

Professor Briano with high hat and pointer bar. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. Click here to watch a video clip with the opening song.

The first artist act was 3 trained ducks in liberty dressage, presented with charm and elegance by Madame Betty aka Suzanne Berdino.

Ducks in liberty dressage. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

She was followed by the Danish circus world's grand old man Benny Schumann with balance tricks and comic magic. It's impressive to see how well 76-year-old Benny Schumann captures children and their accompanying adults in the audience. There are no others who do is as good as Benny! Benny Schumann finished the entrée with his ventriloquist doll Hunni.

Despite being 76 years old Benny Schumann can still do the split. While balancing a shoe on his forehead. "That's why they call me Schumann." Schumann is pronounced like shoe man. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Then Briano paid tribute to the guest of honor, Agnete Louise Enoch from the now closed Circus Dannebrog. It is from the Dannebrog performances that Brian got the idea to let talented dancers be part of his performance.

Tribute and flowers to the guest of honor Agnete Louise Enoch. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Circus Kæphøj in Holbæk is one of Denmark's best youth circuses. From them came the young Miss Ida, who showed her skills on tight wire.

The tight wire dancer Miss Ida comes from Holbæk. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Then Briano had a short magic entrée with a changer bag, assisted by Madame Betty, who ended the entrée by conjuring lots of wine bottles.

The time was now coming to Denmark's best ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard, who was accompanied by the vulture Galle, who fell in love with a girl from the audience. Like Benny Schumann, Preben has a fantastic contact with his audience.

Preben Palsgaard and Galle. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Preben and Galle were followed by Benny Schumann with his beloved entrée with the inflatable rock singer.

Rocking Benny Schumann. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Briano now explained how the circus had started with horses in the ring and proudly introduced Charmaine Berdino, who a few years ago received the talent prize from the Danish Circus Award. Charmaine first rode high school, then jumped off the horse to advance it on foot and ended the entrée with a small pony. She has a formidable contact with her horses – she is probably together with Katja Schumann Denmark’s best "horse whisperer".

Charmaine Berdino. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Next the Slagelse Guard’s 5 piece large drum corps entered the arena.

Now it was time for another animal act: Madame Betty with the Canadian mini pig Gullig. A very charming entrée. Madame Betty (Suzanne Berdino) was followed by her daughter Charmaine with a hula hoop act.

Charmaine with hula hoop. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

After approx. 30 minutes break, Briano had changed dress and appeared in the rest of the show as Mr. Tik Tak. He started the 2nd section with the song with the clock dancers, who then took over the arena as the skilled show dancers from Dansegulvet in Slagelse.

Mr. Tik Tak and the show dancers from Dansegulvet with the clock song. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Next came Mr. Tik Tak’s own entrée with giant soap bubbles.

Huge soap bubbles. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Time had now come for Preben Palsgaard's next entrée: a short run in with the dog Poppe, who went on to present real live dogs: 5 dogs of mixed breeds presented by Madame Betty in a way that showed that the dogs also thought it was fun .

Suzanne Berdino and her dogs. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Preben Palsgaard now took over the ring once again and got a gentleman from the audience to act as a ventriloquist’s doll. The entrée, where the "doll" must open his mouth every time the ventriloquist press his hand, always makes great happiness.

The show's last act was what for many years was Benny Schumann's signature act: plate spinning. The entree ended with Benny having 11 plates in spin on table and sticks.

Benny Schumann and his dancing plates. Photo: Ole Simonsen

Now was the time for The Grand Finale, where Brian presented the performers thanked sponsors and helpers who had helped to put the great show on its feet.

From the final. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. Clik here to see more of Jacob’s photos from the performance.

Brian hopes that next year again it will also be possible to present a late summer circus at Frederikshoj in Slagelse.

Among the many guests at the performance was the circus queen Agnete Louise Enoch, who in the top photo is seen with another circus queen: Irene Thierry, and in the bottom photo with Ulla Rønde Steckel, who has a past as a circus queen in Finland and later worked for Circus Arena. Photos: Ole Simonsen

20 September 2021

Rising Stars. Rising Stars was the title of the 40-minute performance, which the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, presented on 19 September with 3 young Danish artists: Ylva Maia Havndrup, Jonathan "Gentleman Johnny" Bendtsen and Anna Emilie Pedersen.

Ylva Maia Havndrup, Jonathan Bendtsen and Anna Emilie Pedersen.

Ylva Maia Havndrup is educated at the now closed artist school AMoC in Copenhagen and was among the artists who in 2017 brought AMoC the talent prize from the Danish Circus Award. For part of the 2018/2019 season, she performed at Wallmans in the Circus Building in Copenhagen. You can meet Ylva on video in the museum's exhibition, where you can learn more about her path into artistry. Anna Emilie Lauge Pedersen is educated at the artist school Codarts in the Netherlands. She works daily at the Aarhus School of Music and Theater. Jonathan Bendtsen has attended the Gøglerskolen in Aarhus and the artist school Codarts in the Netherlands. He is part of the contemporary circus company Volantes. Jonathan participated under the artist name Johnny in the Danish version of the TV show Got Talent in 2019, where he reached the final. He was also the best of the 3 performers in Rising Stars.

He opened the performance with a mimic / comic entrée with an umbrella and a hat. He was followed Anna Emilie Pedersen with a juggling entrée with 3 clubs. The entrée also involved some acrobatics.

Gentleman Johnny with hat and umbrella

Anna Emilie Pedersen

Next act was a fine diabolo entrée with Gentleman Johnny aka Jonathan Bendtsen. The act was inventively started with the gag with the heavy suitcase, which among other things clowns Bonbon are known for. The suitcase contained 3 diabolos and with elegance and talent he got first one, then two and finally all three diabolos in the air. An entrée which also would do well in a classic circus or at Wallmans in the Copenhagen Circus Building.

Gentleman Johnny with suitcase and diabolos

The next act was an act where Gentleman Johnny - now wearing a black wig - together with Anna Emilie Pedersen got "help" from an egg yolk, which "crawled" up Anna's left arm and then with an intermediate station in her mouth crawled down her right arm. It was what I will call a funny street performer entrée.

Egg yolk on the go

Now time had come for Ylva Maia, who partly showed some contortion and partly a fine entrée in trapeze. It is my impression that today she concentrates on the trapeze, which is hardly as hard on the back and body as acting as contortionist. Health wise a clever decision.

Ylva Maia

Gentleman Johnny was now in the ring again, this time with a good act with cyr wheel. Also a number that could be used in a classic circus, although he as the other performers seems more interested in contemporary circus.

The performance was possible thanks to a grant from the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces.

17 September 2021

OPEN BIRTHDAY LETTER TO THE ALWAYS CULTURALLY ACTIVE MASTER HAIRDRESSER CHRISTER NILSSON, town of NYKÖPING,  SWEDEN -- aka MASTER MAGICIAN CHRISTER EL RICCO.

Dear  CHRISTER –

Lots of well wishes and congratulations on this your D-DAY - turning 90 ! It is a privilege to have attained this venerable age, being still fairly fit.

Christer Nilsson turns 90 on 22 September. He has the website https://magiarkivet.se/ with news from the Scandinavian Magic World

Behind each and every famous man, there is a strong and courageous woman - you have been lucky, always having  had your wife GERTRUD to lean on for comfort and inspiration.

Most of our contacts have occurred by paper letters, particularly between ABIDJAN and NYKÖPING, 1975 thru 1985, later on by mail, during my travels I had the advantage of visiting you at SKOGSVÄGEN, your residence in Nyköping.

We were born on different planets, thus having different backgrounds, and rather different attitudes and points of view - in spite of this - you displayed tolerance and respect for my numerous licenciae poeticae, that popped up in my write - ups for TROLLKARLEN // magazine for Swedish Magic Circle// - and this during about 23 years, where you acted as Editor in an extraordinary way, never equalled, we all keep a deeply felt memory of it !!

We human beings are like ships that meet at night time - all different - but aiming at having good relationships.

Possibly without aiming at that goal, you continued the thoughts and teachings of French philosopher VOLTAIRE / 1694 - 1778 / : I will combat your opinions, but always also fight for your total right to express your convictions and personal views !!

We could, both of us, enjoy and appreciate mutual tolerance and respect in a civilized conversation !!

Your great interest in  circus arts have benefitted many, as have your  magnificent achievements: MAGIARKIVET / magic archives in Swedish/, several expositions, radio and TV appearances, and The MAGIC MUSEUM in the neighbourhood of Nyköping, a monument that we wish a long life.

Your great collection of honorary awards are mentioned elsewhere.

From my café and waterhole in Paris, I take pleasure in sending you virtually a bottle of bubbly - that you will enjoy with your wife and other family !!!

Many happy  returns of the day - and lots of BARAKKA !!!

Your friend and colleague ROLF R. WOLLERT - aka ZARRO ZARRO .

17 September 2021

The historical corner

Small, funny circus silent films on STUMFILM.DK. Per Tofte Nielsen writes:

Keep an eye out for small, funny silent circus films on STUMFILM.DK

For example, the silent movie The Magic Sack from 1907, where two clowns perform acrobatic tricks on and with each other until they suddenly come up to fight. A large canvas sack, which one finds and hides in, turns out to have magical properties.

The magic sack

Among the many other silent films you can find at stumfilm.dk is Løvejagten (the lion hunt) from 1908. Two hunters are on a big game hunt in the jungle with a native servant as a pathfinder. They see zebras, an ostrich and a hippopotamus and catch a little monkey that they are playing with. They camp, but are awakened by a lion killing a kid. The lion also kills the hunters' horse. The hunters shoot the lion, which stands at the water's edge on a beach. They spot another lion and shoot it too. The lions are skinned and the skins appear. The hunters smoke a cigarette and also offer their black servants. The film was produced by Nordisk Films Kompagni and directed by Viggo Larsen after a script by Ole Olsen. The film became a worldwide success. It was sold in a total of 259 copies, which was a lot at the time. The recordings took place in August 1907 on the island of Elleore in Roskilde fjord in Denmark. Along the way, the Danish minister of justice Alberti banned the recording after an animal welfare association filed a complaint of animal cruelty. However, the producer managed to complete the filming and smuggle the film to Sweden, from where it was distributed. The two participating lions were purchased from Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg. They really should have been killed because of their advanced age. In addition, an old horse and a goat were purchased.

The lion hunt

14 September 2021

Photos and video clips from Circus Mascot's late summer tour. Photographer Per ”Mr. Sputnik” Krogh Petersen visited Cirkus Mascot when they had a performance on Friday 10 September at Efterskole. Click here to see his photos and video clips from the show.

8 September 2021

Circus Mascot’s late summer tour

A good show for children where parents and grandparents can rejoice - over the children's reactions and good circus entertainment. And wonderful that there is now once again a circus coming to town - to the lucky arenas which are allowed to give room for the jokes

Jorgen Lorenzen was to the national premiere on the autumn tour on September 3 at 17 in Arena Midt in Kjellerup, Jutland. Jorgen writes (my translation):

There were 600 expectant children and adults present. Close to the ring there were blankets and stools making it possible for children to get very close to the ring.

Juliya and Husik opened the performance with an act where they juggled with big triangles. And then Daniel Deleuran welcomed before the clown Gulio came in for the first time. That was lucky enough, because a package had just arrived for him. The package was leaking, so liquid ran out of it. Both Gulio and Daniel tasted the liquid - and offered the audience a tear. When they then opened the package, it turned out that it contained a small dog. The children responded: addr - or something like that, they shouted.

Husik and his sister Juliya. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

It continued with dogs. Marianne Deleuran and her dog show. Many dogs and many tricks. Really versatile and kid-friendly. Marianne's concern was well understood, because the dogs have not been in the ring for a long time. But it did not hurt the act that she occasionally had to wait a bit for them until they did what they were told to do. It was felt that it is and must be a play and that surprises can suddenly become part of the play.

Marianne and her playful dogs

A beautiful glass balance act was presented by Miss Eva. The ability to balance and the degree of difficulty were emphasized as she lay down and got up again with the balance stick in her mouth and the glass standing on it. Or when she with the stick grabs the glass, which stands on top of a balloon that breaks, so the glass must search down on the stick and stay there.

Miss Eva Vitzo

Gulio now enter the ring once again. Now he wants to play golf with imaginary golf balls, which have the property that they return in the same way as a boomerang. And when they land in a paper bag he catches them with, it gives a little bang. Several men from the audience have to come in to help him, and eventually disaster strikes when one of the balls hits the light board so all the light goes out.

Fortunately, the light can be quickly recalled so that everyone can see Lui Nereus, who has a handstand act, where he transforms the prop into a human figure, who becomes a subordinate in his handstand balances.

Lui Nereus

Then Husik enters, disguised as an alien. But soon it becomes a robust diabolo act.

Husik

After the break, Gulio comes in with a statue, which turns into a living slapstick doll as the act goes on. The doll begins to mingle and tease, and eventually it strikes the hat of Gulio. The doll is the same as Tatyana, who is married to Gulio.

Gulio with his doll

And now it's the animals' turn again. Marianne has a tame goose that can cuddle on its tail down a board. And great cheers arouse the pig Sille, which can do many things - encouraged by Marianne. A wonderful children's act. What they can hear when their adults read goodnight fairy tales to them suddenly becomes true: animals behave as if they had human reason. Sille puts the flag to the top before tugging it out.

The flag must be hoisted!

Gulio does not give up. Now he will try to walk on tight wire. It only becomes an attempt, because the wire is on the floor. He calls in two spectators so that they can hold the wire, but suddenly he discovers that it can be used as a skipping rope, and he has two helpers on hand who can hold the rope. But the roles are reversed so that they become the ones who jump over the rope.

Lui has used the break to get drunk - or at least he pretends. He does the act: The Man in the Lamp post. Up in the lamp post he comes in spite of his intoxicated condition. Unbelievable that a 70 year old man has retained agility and strength and vitality to this act. The children loved it.

The man in lamp post. Click here to see more of Jacob Boas Leitisstein's photo from the performance.

The performance ends about as it began: Gulio and Daniel. Daniel wants to shoot balloons to pieces. Gulio has to hold them over his head, but they jump to pieces one by one before Daniel gets ready. In the end, however, it succeeds - and the balloon is filled with water, which Gulio gets over himself.

The performance can be seen until 3 October in a number of arenas in Jytland.

6 September 2021

Zirkus Nemo Galla - One Night Only! On November 7at 7.30 pm, Zirkus Nemo opens the doors to a gala extravaganza in the Royal Arena in Copenhagen. Due to the corona Zirkus Nemo hasn’t been on tour in 2021.

Soren Østergaard presents a completely unique show, where we will see highlights from the last 20 years, both live on stage and on the big screen. You will meet big stars such as Soren Østergaard, Anders Lund Madsen, Peter Frödin, Bager Jørgen, Målermanden, Lesley Boye Møller, Smadremanden and Duo Solys with handstand. The performance is accompanied by the Zirkus Nemo's band under the expert guidance of bandmaster Øyvind Ougaard.

Bager Jørgen (Baker Jorgen), Målermanden (The measure man), Lesley Boye Møller, Smadremanden (the smash man) are all aka the comedian and circus owner Soren Østergaard.

5 September 2021

Honorary award to Soren Østergaard. The Danish actor, comedian and owner of Zirkus Nemo Soren Østergaard received the ZULU Comedy Gala honorary award on 2 September. This is the third time that the honorary award has been presented at the ZULU Comedy Galla. The first time was in 2010, when the popular actor Ulf Pilgaard received the honorary award and the last time was in 2015, when the standup comedian Casper Christensen could go home with the award. It was Anders Lund Madsen who, after a tribute speech, presented the award to Soren Østergaard. And the two in particular have a long history behind them. They started Zirkus Nemo back in 1999 and were regular partners over three seasons.

The Queen has previously made Soren Østergaard a knight of Dannebrog. In 2017, he received the Danish circus and artist world's most prestigious award, the Danish Circus Award. Here, too, he was in distinguished company: the prize had previously been awarded only to Albert Schumann, Eli Benneweis, and Benny Berdino.

In 2017, Soren Østergaard received the Danish Circus Award. Here he is seen together with the then Minister of Culture Mette Bock with the visible proof of the honorary award: a painting by Viggo Salting. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

2 September 2021

Majestique. Majestique present themselves as a uniquely fresh evening of circus and cabaret bound to amaze you. A balance of larger-than-life, physically daring acts and cabaret...  – See more at www.majestiquetheshow.com/

Jorgen Lorenzen saw their new performance in Spiegeltent Paradiso at Skraaen by Nordkraft, Aalborg, 29 August at 20 and writes (my translation):

There was a real nightclub atmosphere - when 13 international artists had gathered in Aalborg. Together they presented a show called Majestique, which this year once again had found its way to Aalborg

The nightclubs are today replaced by the discos. But the oldest of us remember the old variety theaters that most provincial towns had. There was dancing, live music - and artist performances during the evening.

Majestique seeks back to that time. And there is so much entertainment in variety and cabaret that it must soon come to a renaissance.

At one end of the stage was an elevator door. The artists disappeared into it - or they emerged from it and stepped out to present their skills. There was tradition - but certainly also renewals and a shift towards the sensual, sometimes also erotic.

There was e.g. a quick change act, Darededevil Chicken, where the two artists change costumes - like lightning and thunder, without making it possible for us to understand how it can be done. But the act surprises not only in the various costumes, but also with a deliberate "accident", where the male artist suddenly is naked. He runs around confused until he finds a sock that he uses to cover his precious parts with.

There is an act in aerial rope where a female artist, Katharine Arnold, climbs up and down while showing acrobatic skills. Such acts are shown in different versions, but are almost always unavoidable in a circus performance. Here is the surprise that the floodgates of heaven suddenly open so that it rains on the artist. The act gets a sensual expression at once - and becomes completely different. Before, it was the acrobat's skills that mattered. Now it suddenly becomes a soaked woman who is at the center.

And then there's Ursula Martinez. She probably won't be happy if you call her a stripper, and she doesn't have the sometimes vulgar expression of the stripper either. Ursula is wearing a gray walking suit, and she finds red scarves around her dress, which she conjures away. And all the while, the garments disappear one by one. She has a twinkle in her eye and the number is not vulgar, for the magic overpowers the stripper.

Surprising and different is also a puppet act, where the two actors themselves are dolls. They enter into many different disguises and erect small tableaux, often with adventurous and variegated figures, which live their own, colorful lives in a fantasy world. Both dolls and the two actors who hide behind masks and disguise.

The puppet act with Canadian Cabaret Decadanse, who many Danes remember from Zirkus Nemo 2018.  Photo: Pia Kirstine Foto / Skråen

And then there was a sword-swallower. It is quite strange to look at, and in the second part of the performance she came in again and swallowed a sword in which there was light. And yes, you could see the light, which gave a gleam in her stomach skin.

The Sword Swallower uses the artist name Lucky Hell. Photo: Pia Kirstine Foto / Skråen

There was also news. A combination of an aerial act and what is called par terre acrobatics. A man and a woman work together in a trapeze, which hangs a few meters above the stage floor, but not higher than the woman can reach a third man, who is standing on the floor. The number thus alternates between air and floor, between trapeze and stage, where handstand is made and various forms of lifting technique. A good combination that gives both disciplines new opportunities for expression.

The aerial act Trio Vertex offers an innovation by combining an aerial act and a parterre act. The participating artists are Isis, Nathan and Cornelius, who also has other acts in the show. Nathan and Isis can be seen on the roller skates and Cornelius in the aerial strap act. Photo: Pia Kirstine Foto / Skråen

There's a nice guy, Cornelius Atkinson, with hair like a savage. He does exercises in what in the artist subject is called aerial straps - a further development of the gymnastics discipline: rings. The new thing is that he can twist up and down the straps which hang down from the ceiling. You cannot do that in the gym's rings.

There was a roller skate act, there was an act in what is called an aerial hoop, and there was a diabolo player, Michael Betrian. who, however, was clearly limited by the fact that he did not have a large air space above him that he could throw the diabolos up in.

The roller skating artists Nathan and Isis came from England. Photo: Pia Kirstine Foto / Skråen

There was a female motorcyclist with a formidable appearance. She stopped the engine and made a handstand, standing on the motorcycle.

An old acquaintance from Circus Benneweis was the handstand acrobat Melanie Chy (Chy Mey Ling), who uses a motorcycle as a podium. Photo: Pia Kirstine Foto / Skråen

To chain it all together, there was a talented singer. The music was on tape, and for some seniors, live music would make the pleasure greater. But probably not for young people.

Many stars to Skraaen which insist on presenting the real variety / cabaret. And hopefully more people will realize that we are sorely lacking in this distinguished and sovereign genre in the Danish entertainment Parnassus.

1 September 2021

Circus Xanti. From Norway, Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo writes:

Circus Xanti is out with their Circus Village and has been in Sandvika in BI park 28 -29 August and is in Oslo in Torshovparken for the 13 time from 3 to September. See www.cirkusxanti.no for artist program.

In Sandvika on a hot summer Sunday I saw the Norwegian Captain Frodos Magical Circus, E-Minor and Gangwifre from Finland + In your Face from Austria.

Captain Frodo performed in the small 2-master tent. All photos: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

Full house in relation to corona rules in the red 2 pole tent for Captain Frodo's show, great atmosphere here. In the large tent were the two last mentioned performances, possibly the heat was the cause of smaller number of spectators here.

From performance in the large tent

Cirkus Xanti is the Norwegian contemporary new circus that has been most successful and built up a tent park with public support. The tents are built via Rune Berny Løken's tent rental company Maxi tent.

1 September 2021

Swedish Circus Olympia has not been on tour this year due to corona restrictions. But now they have started presenting short performances at nursing homes. They write (my translation): “We finally get to meet the audience again! An audience we usually do always reach. We present circus acts and our dogs in nursing homes around the country. Henrika and Natascha tour in Halmstad & David Hammarberg in Gävle. It is much appreciated and we are so happy for this! ”

David Hammarberg is also part of the circus show "Circus On The Top" at Sundsvall's theater together with Circus Elvira and Sundsvall's city circus. It will be an hour-long circus show "THE SHOW HAS JUST BEGAN" with music by Sundsvall's pride YOHIO. The performances can be seen on September 17, 18, and 19.

30 August 2021

Circus Flik-Flak - gala performance on Friday 27 August at 20. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance and writes (my translation):

Odense’s youth circus Circus Flik-Flak has an excellent framework for the children and youth. In the center of the disused factory building there is a large theater room with ring and seating. At the front of the building there are cafeteria and kitchen facilities. At the back there are many rehearsal and cloakrooms. Ideal conditions.

From 27 - 29 August there was a youth circus festival. 170 children and young people from Circus O’laiski, Circus Kæphøj, Circus Tværs, Salling Circus Kids, Circus Sceneskræk and of course also from circus Flik-Flak participated.

As a start to the festival, a gala performance was held with professional artists. The performance became possible because the Agency for Culture and Palaces had given a grant. The performance was presented by ringmaster Bjarne, who took over the microphone after Tommy Hardam's welcome.

First artist was Jimmy Enoch. And it's running for Jimmy - it's running around. A myriad of difficult balancing acts and a lot of cycling acrobatics challenge the centrifugal force and the law of gravity. But Jimmy masters his bike and plays his way through the difficult repertoire. He does it with smiles on his lips, and he has an ear out among the audience, whose response he responds to with a cheerful remark or another ride the ring around.

After Jimmy came the juggler Mads Jorgensen. He started his career in Flik-Flak and is on his way to becoming a champion. His entrée began differently than one usually sees: it was as if there was lightning and thunder, and the balls were snowballs and small globes, almost electric in the sonic storm. But soon the act became a traditional but versatile juggler act, and the audience experienced a cavalcade of the juggler's props and routines. There were 6 balls in the air. 5 clubs smoked the same way and he could throw the clubs behind his back and grab them with the other hand. He also mastered rings, shown 6 when it culminated. And he could put rings in rotation with his foot if one was lost and lying on the floor. Then he showed devil sticks and he finished with 3 cigar boxes.

Mads Jorgensen. All photos: Lise Kokholm

Then came Sonja and Alfred. Sonia last name is Maros. Alfred is called von Kriegbaum. They are trained at AFUK, and they are thoroughbred handstand and parterre acrobats. Their approach to the many tricks and positions took the form of a kind of struggle - the struggle of the sexes? - where they slowly and circularly approached each other before uniting in an acrobatic symbiosis. And then followed a string of handstand positions and balances and difficult lifts, with one acrobat lifting the other. What aroused the greatest applause - and probably rightly so - is the exercise in which the woman stands in a split on the subordinate's spread legs. There is only contact with the feet, and it must be unbelievably difficult. One of those moments in a good circus show where the spectator thinks: that is impossible!

Sonja and Alfred

The magician Henning Nielsen comes from the southern part of Jutland. He presented his fast-paced and versatile show, where the manipulations and disappearance tricks stood in line and were well led by his festive and witty comments. He arrived at Flik-Flak in something that to me looked like everyday clothes - but which he wore during his performance: a tight, tight-fitting black shirt and a pair of black trousers, which were certainly not too large for him.

Henning Nielsen

Diabolo player Alexis Levillon is excellent. It goes fast, up and down and out and in, and one of the most difficult tricks is that he lets the rope with the diabolos fly freely around space before grabbing the handles again and continuing the act.

Alex Levillon

The final act was Jimmy Enoch, who presented his glass balance act. 20 layers with 4 glasses in each layer are balanced as he rides around on the unicycle. Great routine, safe skill and a nice combination of balance and movement.

Jimmy Enoch with glass balance

The audience acknowledged with great enthusiasm when the artists were presented in the finale.

28 August 2021

Jessica Caveagna instructor at Circus O’laiski. Italian artist Jessica Caveagna is best known as assistant to Kim Kenneth and for her sword balancing act. Kim and Jessica live today in Denmark in Store Fuglede, and Jessica has spent the last year going to language school to learn Danish. The language school is located in the same building as Kalundborg's youth circus Cirkus O’laiski. That how Circus O’laiski and Jessica got to know each other. Click here to watch a short interview with Jessica. Impressive how well she speaks Danish!

Jessica and Kim continue to perform with their own acts. Over the summer, they have been performing at Circusland in Slagelse. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

27 August 2021

Danish Circus Mascot cancelled their tented summer tour due to Covid-19 restrictions. But from 3 September to 3 October they will tour arenas in Jutland with an indoor performance called "DU MILDE MANEGE" (Oh what a Ring), Circus Mascot writes (my translation):

Children's circus for the whole family! Live entertainment with talented artists, lovely animals and the funniest clown…

As the covid-19 situation not yet has made it possible for us to go on a tented tour, we have decided to move all the performances into local sports arenas etc. This year, we just visit 29 cities and have a total of 32 performances from September 3 to October 3. So there will great demand for the tickets!

See which cities we visit in What’s on.

If you have circus blood in your vain you cannot imagine anything but a summer in the ring, so of course there is now the possibility to see circus in the late summer sun! Circus Mascot is going on the road - and there is good reason to rejoice, because their tour brings them around most of Jutland.

They could not wait any longer, the circus family, which has recently “dusted” the acts to unprecedented perfection - the longing for the audience, children and their adults, became too great, and therefore they will now present 14 perfect and amazing circus acts. In sports arenas around the country, which can easily accommodate the usual number of spectators and the associated enthusiasm.

The season opens in Arena Midt Kjellerup on 3 September and close in Salling Hallerne, Roslev, 3 October. A short, intense and entertaining tour where only 18 of the performances go on open sale. The rest of the performances are sold to local grocery stores where you can buy your ticket. Circus is true to tradition, and it's exactly the same magical ring you step into. You forget time and place once the clown Gulio plays with the muscles. This year's show is just as daring as it used to be – playful poodles, a balance art, clowning, two pigs and a goose, a young guy who has more balls in the air than the prime minister and a circus director with (lime) light in his eyes - finally, it's time for circus.

A most charming act - Marianne Deleuran and her playful dogs. All photos are press photos from Circus Mascot

A total of 8,640 tickets are for sale and every single one of them becomes a little magical memory. If you are easily provoked to laughter you have missed the clown Gulio - and if this is the first time you meet him, it will not be the last. This year's Circus Mascot performance is fabulous. Come, let's share the joy and the moment.

Gulio and ringmaster and circus director Daniel Deleuran

The performance lasts as usual 80 minutes plus a break. The sound and the light are the same, the popcorn tastes as it should, the candy floss melts in your mouth and you are surprised when you hear that the show's oldest artist has turned 70. He has got a bright idea and balances on the edge of the possible. It's part of the magic; that they cannot let go. You know it; the joy of recognition. Everything is as it once was - such a circus…

One of the absolute highlights of the show is the comedian and acrobat, Lui Nereus, from Hungary. Lui is a fresh young man of 70+ and climbs all the way to the top of a lamppost in his own comical way. Many Danes will probably remember him from Mascot's 2016 performance

25 August 2021

The Norwegian Circus Arnardo has decided to extend the season with a visit to Sandvika from 10 to 26 September. Sandvika is located close to the Norwegian capital Oslo, which no longer has a circus lot.

Circus Arnardo in Porsgrunn. Facebookphoto from Circus Arnardo

24 August 2021

Wallmans dinnershows in the Copenhagen Circus Building has, like everywhere else with live entertainment, been hit hard by the corona. The performance, which premiered in September 2019, should have played until June 2020, but had to be canceled from March 2020. The performances were resumed in September 2020 with a few changes, but now with a limited number of spectators and no nightclub after the performance. It lasted until December 10, when coronary restrictions meant that one had to shut down completely. Wallmans had hoped to be able to resume performances during the spring, but that was due to Covid-19 restrictions not possible.

But from 27 August, you can once again see Wallman's dinner show. Creative Director Johan Espeland says that it is, by and large, a resumption of the 2020 performance. However, they have created a new number called Scandinavian Song Contest. The participating artists in the performance apart from singers and dancers are Duo Pile of Face with their fine acts in sway pole and Cyr Wheel, the Swedish comedian and multi-artist David Eriksson and the drag queen Megan Moore.

The language in the show is English.

Duo Pile ou Face in Cyr Wheel. Press photo from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

Duo Pile ou Face in sway pole. Press photo from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

There has been a single change in the management of Wallmans in the Copenhagen Circus Building: after 9 years, Dorthe Fryd Ekelin has stopped as CEO and been replaced by Christian Sunn.

20 August 2021

Large free circus show at Frederikshøj in Slagelse on 18 September 2021

The fiery soul Brian Behrendt, formerly known from Circusland near Slagelse, has raised funds from the The Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces for a fantastic show with Danish circus artists and animals. A press release states (my translation):

Top class circus

The show will be filled with some of Denmark's most well-known circus artists. Together with ringmaster Briano you will i.e. meet the Danish circus world's grand old man, the clown and multi-artist Benny Schumann. He grew up in Cirkus Schumann and traveled as a young man around the world with his plate spinning act. For the last many years, he has traveled all over Denmark with his multi-artist show.

Three of Benny Schumann's beloved entrées. Photo from performance September 2020 in Ridehuset by the Circus Museum in Rold. Photos Jens Chr. Sørensen and Ole Simonsen

In a circus show, of course, there must also be animals, and you can experience this with the charming Charmaine Berdino with her lovely horses and other acts. For her act, Charmaine has received the talent prize from the Danish Circus Award. The ventriloquist Preben Palsgaard performs with funny acts and Suzanne Berdino will present her beautiful ducks, dogs and her pig. We has also a guest star who loves circus; Miss Ida from the youth circus Circus Kæphøj in Holbæk. The dance floor's fantastic dancers from Slagelse. And one of Denmark's best music guards, namely our local Slagelse Guard.

Suzanne Berdino and Briano. Photo from performance in Suzanne's Circus Berdino

You can see the show at Frederikshøj Amphitheater (an open air theatre) on Saturday 18 September at 13. Admission to the lot from 12 noon. In case of very bad weather, the event will be moved to Nordhallen, Nørrevangstorvet 8, 4200 Slagelse.

To participate, you have to order ticket at billetto.dk (They will charge you a small ticket fee)                

The posters for the show are created by Mogens Simonsen and Christopher Trung respectively.

18 August 2021

Circus days in Esbjerg. The Esbjerg City Trade Association offered from 29 to 31 July circus days with circus parades and short performances in Circus Trapez, circus workshops with Kai Jørgensen from Fugl Føniks, the make-up clown Victoria, Mr. Big from Cirkus Big, the multi-artist Kasper Jensen, the clown Don Carlos and Circus Skunk.

Finn Stendevad has sent me the following photos from the circus days in Esbjerg. An excellent initiative of the city's trade association - something other trade associations can learn from.

16 August 2021

RISING STARS. Sunday 19/9 at 12.30 you can have a unique experience at the circus museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, when they present the performance Rising Stars with three of the most talented young professional circus artists Denmark has to offer.

You will meet the contortionist and trapeze artist Ylva Maia Havndrup, the juggler and aerial acrobat Anna Emilie Pedersen and the multi-artist Jonathan Bendtsen in a terrific performance.

The three artists are trained in the genre of contemporary circus, but their work spans a wide range, and you may have experienced them in everything from street performances to TV shows, where Jonathan Bendtsen, among others has been in the final of Denmark’s Got Talent.  Tickets for the show can be purchased at https://www.place2book.com/da/sw2/sales/dn7ugf78bg

15 August 2021

As mentioned on this website the 23rd of July, the Norwegian Circus Arnardo opened the season in Lillesand on the 17th of July. At that time it was unknown whether it would be the only city of the season. However, the number of visitors was so good that after Lillesand they continued to Arendal, and from 19 to 29 August they are in Porsgrunn. Thus the concept of staying longer time in a city rather than playing in many one-day cities and with a performance that only lasts an hour is perhaps not that crazy. They can manage with quite a few tent workers, props and artists and thus have much lower costs than with a usual tour. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

13 August 2021

In connection with a performance on 12 August in Circus Arli, the chairman of the Danish Circus Award Ole Simonsen, was unexpectedly for himself presented with the Danish Circus Directors' Association's Effort Prize by the association's chairman Martin Arli. The effort prize is usually awarded at the same time as the other circus prizes, which, however, due to the corona, have not been awarded in 2020 or 2021. The effort prize consists of a painting by the Funen painter Viggo Salting, also known as the clown's master. Viggo Salting is seen to the left on the photo. To right the author and circus historian Jorgen Lorenzen. - In addition to being chairman of the Danish Circus Award the prize recipient is vice chairman of Danish Circus Friends Association and long-time editor of www.cirkus-dk.dk

12 August 2021

Danish Covid 19 related distance and area requirements are abolished. As of Saturday 14 August 2021, there will no longer be distance requirements for events with seated audiences or area requirements in cultural, sports and association life.

Thus, from 14 August 2021 it will no longer be a requirement that there must be at least 2 m² per spectator. Furthermore, the requirement that there must be at least 1 meter or an empty seat between each seated spectator for indoor cultural and sporting events with seated audiences is abolished.

This means that Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni from 14 August are allowed to sell all the seats they have in the tent. Until now, they had only permission sell approx. 2/3 of the seats. Due to this they have had to reject spectators several times during the season. Circus Arli started the season on May 22 and has the last performance of the year on September 6. Circus Baldoni started the season on May 6 and has the last tented show of the year on September 6. Then they have a couple of arena performances before visiting the Faroe Islands from 13 to 22 September.

Neither Circus Arena nor Circus Krone or Zirkus Nemo has been on tour in 2021. The same goes for Circus Mascot, which however plan an indoor tour to arenas from 3 September to 3 October. Circus Trapez has only had short open air performances.

10 August 2021

Kick-Ass Cabaret. Jorgen Lorenzen saw the performance at the Port of Odense on 7 August at 21. It marked the end of the Dynamo Circus Festival, which took place August 4-7. Jorgen writes (my translation):

In the afternoon, there was life and small tableaux in an open lot close to Dynamo's circus building. There was an open air stage, market performers, stalls and heavy music. The mood pointed in the direction of hippie culture, hip-hop, freak, Archaos - and good, old-fashioned fun.

The performance in the evening took place in a beautiful, white tent with 4 poles. The tent came from Germany. There was high to the dome and a steep, 7-row seating. The tent was about 34 meters in diameter. Maybe a little more.

All photos: Lise Kokholm

For the gala performance, there was full house - approx. 5-700 spectators. The mood was positive and agreeable. The artists felt at home! And the show? Definitely innovative and different. But even if one missed a real juggler and a real clown, there was no doubt: we were in a circus!

Although Jorgen Lorenzen missed a traditional juggler, the audience met Swedish Petter Wadsted, who among other things did a balance act.

There are many who miss the animals, but that's how it is in a contemporary circus. Animals are banned. But one felt a willingness to be different and innovative - to break boundaries and artist wanting to do more than just the presentation of an artistic skill.

But is it new? The "old" circus has also, to a large extent, put the performance into a theme and created a performance where the artist disciplines are bound together by an idea or a story. Think of the titles Party in Sct. Petersburg, Classic & New Wave, Supergirls, Dynamic Youth, Amazing Africa and The Hunt for the Lost Tear. In the performance here, there is not an overall common thread, but the individual numbers are inserted in a frame that leads the mind to theater.

Two examples can be mentioned - one successful, the other problematic. The successful: it's exciting - and new - that a female aerial artist comes staggering in, dressed as an old, decrepit bitch. But suddenly she throws off her old-fashioned costume and changes him and shines in her colorful costume - and rises into the air and is now a real aerial artist in solo trapeze.

The aerial acrobat

The second example: two skilled parterre acrobats - one of each sex - start their number with a sketch from a toilet visit. It's funny - but not at all related to the following, where they show a long series of difficult tricks, where the man balances with the woman and she performs balance on him. They tricks come as pearls on a string, e.g. she can stand on one hand on his head. The act ends with her lying still - lifeless, dead, asleep? Why is she lying down, one must ask. But perhaps that is the point that the audience must be challenged and even interprets what is happening?

Artist in vertical rope

There is an act with Roman rings and rope tricks. There is glass balance combined with sword swallowing.

Sword swallowing - wild and hair-raising. Eventually, the man swings his partner around while she has a sword in her throat. And as here stands on hands.

There is a female contortionist who puts on make-up and smokes a cigarette held with her feet. And she can twist around her own axis.

Contortionist.

There's an ingenious strange act with soap bubbles that are conjured into glass balls - and vice versa. The final act is a large aerial act with 6 acrobats swinging with each other. One artist stands on a bridge and throws his partners around, who he grabs and catches with his hands. The act begins with all the artists lying on the pillows, as if they are sleeping or dreaming. They wake up - slowly - one by one, and the act develops into violent movement and powerful turns with soon one, soon another of those who at the beginning of the number lay as if asleep.

From the finale

There was almost live music - a young guy standing at a mixer behind the artists. He was very much involved in controlling the mood,

Unfortunately, the artists were anonymous. But the applause in the end was not to be mistaken. There was joy and excitement on both sides of the piste. And it was circus - real circus. Different, but genuine.

Perhaps a contemporary circus can be compared to a teenager who rebels against his parents (= the "old" circus) only to find out later in life that the old ones are actually good enough. One could sense the urge to rebel, but there were no wild excesses. It was just a successful attempt to renew and build on. And in a circus the artistic performance must always be at the centre. This was also the case here. The artists knew their subjects - mastered the classical disciplines - but gave them a twist.

It then remains to understand the truth of the wording attributed to circus connoisseur Jorgen Siegumfeldt. He said: Circus is the messageless message. Or put a little differently, apparently formulated by the clown and actor Arne "Jody" Bjørk: circus is meaningless, but at the same time bursting with meaning. After all, these formulations are a paradox, almost absurd - a mystery. After all, a message cannot be without a message, and something that is meaningless cannot at the same time radiate meaning. This is the riddle the contemporary circus is trying to solve. By going new ways, by challenging and maybe (but not in the show here!) also by provoking, the contemporary circus takes up the paradox.

One thing is for sure: you never become tired of circus.

The photographer Lise Kokholm also saw the performance and writes (my translation):

Rarely have I been so well entertained. The tent was a 4 master tent borrowed from a German festival and approved for use in Denmark.

Gry Lambertsen and Rune Vadstrøm Andersen have again created 4 days filled with different and fantastic good entertainment. All performances have been almost sold out. Impressive when you consider that many of the audience have not been able to imagine what they was going to see.

From the square

I take my hat off as there was nothing in the 8 different performances I saw which wasn’t fantastic and beautifully performed. And the atmosphere was unique. Friday night I saw the Finnish show for the 2nd time and now with my 2 cousins ​​with their acquaintances. They laughed and amused themselves and this is not the last time they will come even though they did not before know about this art form.

Below are a few more of Lise Kokholm's photos from Dynamo's festival.

5 August 2021

Free contemporary circus in Landskrona, Sweden. From 12-15 August, Slottsparken in Landskrona will be visited by Cirkus I Love You with performances and try-out circus for children and young people. Circus I Love You is a contemporary circus with live music and the performance "Circus I Love You" has been much talked about and loved by audiences throughout Europe. Now they are back with the new energetic and powerful performance "Utopia". Acrobatics at an international level, which amuses, touches and amazes the audience. Suitable for all ages! Tickets for Cirkus I Love You are free and can be booked at https://ilandskrona.se/besoka/evenemang/cirkus-i-love-you

Circus I Love You is ”a circus without animals spreading enthusiasm and joy around Europe”. It was established in the spring of 2016 by Sade Kamppila and Julien Auger. After a longer residency in Stockholm, Circus I love you came to meet the audience for the first time in January 2018. Summer 2018 was the first tour for Circus I love you, travelling from France to Lithuania and Sweden. In 2019 the company toured in The Netherlands, Belgium and France. Until today the performance has been seen by around 30 000 people during 86 performances in 18 cities.

4 August 2021

The Fair Performer Cross to Benny Berdino. In connection with Benny's 75th birthday on August 3, he received the Danish Tivoli Association's Medal of Honor Gøglerkorset (The Fair Performer Cross). The picture shows Benny together with Philip Rasmussen, who is vice chairman of the Danish Tivoli Association, and the association's chairman Kjeld Christensen. The only circus man who has previously received Gøglerkorset is the late Eli Benneweis. Other recipients include the late Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik.

Gøglerkorset is designed by the goldsmiths Helga and Bent Exner. The initiators were the tent holder association's former and then chairman Otto Krüger and Valdemar Jessen. It is awarded by the Danish Tivoli Association. The Danish Tivoli Association was founded in 1920 as the "Association for Danish Market Travelers" by people who traveled to markets with performances, gingerbread etc. When the large carousel and ride owners, and soon also the circus directors, became members in the mid-1930s, the association changed its name to "Danmarks Teltholderforeing” (Danish Tent Holder Association). In 1985, the association changed its name to the Danish Tivoli Association after a general assessment of the knowledge of the term "tent holder".

The photo shows Benny Berdino with one of the days many congratulators, Irene Thierry from Circus Krone. Benny and Irene he knew each other right from when they were kids.

Benny Berdino's old friend, the singer Dario Campeotto sang for the birthday boy. First Bent Fabricius-Bjerre's "A single melody for you" and then "It's fun as time suddenly spans" - a song that Rasmus Krogsgaard wrote to Dario a couple of years ago when he turned 80. For the sake of KODA and Gramex, you settle for the above photo instead of video clips with the songs.

Kim Kenneth and Jessica Caveagna had a fun feature with the lady sawed in half trick, where they were assisted by both the Social Democratic MP Anders Kronborg and Arena's former public relation manager Christian Warrer. Click here to watch video of the rest of the trick.

Kim Kenneth, Benny Berdino, Jessica Caveagna and Dario Campeotto

Behind every successful man stands a woman. In the case of Benny Berdino, his wife Hanne, who here is seen together with the Danish Tivoli Association's chairman Kjeld Christensen

2 August 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - forever and ever ....please find a little sunshine story: funny, nice, and sympathetic - without any social misery!!

THE EIFFEL TOWER is the best possible representation of PARIS !!!

I am traveling in Paris' METRO, when a little lady, elegantly dressed, about  50, and clearly in a good mood enters the wagon holding a kind of scooter that she attaches to the center pole, using a piece of rope, she speaks French, conveys a sympathetic impression, - and takes from her pocket - 3 balls that she juggles, rather skillfully and precisely, she manages this stunt quite well in spite of the shaking wagon.

The trick lasted  about 2 minutes.

The passengers /PAX/ were greatly astonished, not being used to this kind of entertainment - in the  METRO !!

When passing the hat, she was rather successful, the passengers did find her sympathetic and - funny !!

I myself take it that she had had some kind of performing career, maybe she had picked up some juggling in another context - the future gym teachers and monitors do quite often have to learn basic juggling.

Never had I seen a juggler in a METRO  wagon, but sometimes a puppet player, musicians to play in the long corridors, as a rule they have a licence

The little lady beamed of joy and happiness, when doing this kind of BUSKING - it was positive and - it made my day!!

DAVID SOSMAN ENOCH / born in a DANISH-FRENCH circus family, carrying on the traditions/ juggles 3 balls, called the CASCADE -- impossible to shoot pics in the Metro wagon, this very photo is representative of the little lady's impromptu performance.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS  - forever and always -- some fun and points of INTEREST!!!

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

30 July 2021

A circus king turns 75

Tuesday, August 3, Benny Berdino, Circus Arena, turns 75. His hometown is Aarslev near Slagelse. Both last year and this year, the corona has meant that Benny has spent most of his time in Aarslev, where Circus Arena has its winter quarter, which also houses the theme park Circusland. Usually, the busy circus director spends much of the year touring with his circus or hunting around the world for good artists.

Benny Berdino is son of Arne "Berdino" Olsen and Mrs. Lydia. Arne Berdino founded Circus Arena in 1955 after several years as a market traveller. In its first years of life, Circus Arena was able to market itself as Denmark's smallest circus. The staff consisted of the director, his son Benny, his daughter Jytte and the strongman Abdullah. Later, the clown Larno joined. When Arne Berdino died in 1976, Circus Arena had become a nice medium-sized business. But the new director Benny Berdino did not just want to run a medium-sized business. His dream was to have the largest circus in the Nordic countries and to be part of the super league among circus owners in Europe. He has long time ago succeeded in realizing that dream with good help from his wife Hanne, who comes from an old artist family.

Although Benny Berdino is today the owner of the Nordic region's largest circus, he has also experienced something other than success. The circus industry has always been an industry where it goes up and down. But every time it has looked difficult Benny Berdino has managed to find solutions making it possible for Circus Arena to continue.

In 2020, he had been looking forward to celebrating Circus Arena's 65th anniversary. This was due to the corona impossible, and the celebration was postponed until 2021. But again this year, the corona blocked the way. The restrictions that applied made it simply impossible to carry out a financially sound tour with a large circus as Circus Arena. "But in 2022, we will celebrate the anniversary with a bang of a show," promises the always optimistic Benny Berdino.

In addition to the Danish tent tour, Circus Arena and Benny Berdino have been visiting Greenland every autumn for more than 30 years. But here too the corona blocked the way in 2020. Circus Arena has also visited Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland, the Shetland Islands and the Faroe Islands.

The expansion of the winter quarter in Aarslev near Slagelse into a theme-based experience park, Circusland, had a slow start, but in recent years has developed into a sensible business, which now has Benny's son and daughter-in-law Jackie and Laura Berdino as daily managers. The Berdino family plans to expand Circusland into a holiday and event venue with holiday accommodation for 600 overnight guests, an 8,000 m2 water park and a concert and event venue with room for up to 3,000 guests.

Benny Berdino is known as an outgoing person with a lot of show. After a double bypass operation a few years ago, however, he was forced to slow down a bit and has left an increasing share of the operational responsibility to his son and daughter-in-law Jackie and Laura, who are also co-owners of the circus empire.

As mentioned, Benny Berdino is today the owner of the Nordic region's largest circus. In 2008, the Queen made him a Knight of Dannebrog, an honour that in the circus world had previously only accrued to Albert Schumann. In 2016, he received the Danish Circus Award and also came here in distinguished company: the award previously just given to Albert Schumann and Eli Benneweis.

On the director's birthday family, friends & business associates are invited to a reception in Circusland from kl. 12 to 17.

26 July 2021

Circus Jesper 2021. Lasse "Bonbon" Nørager has sent me the following photos from this year's performance in Circus Jesper in Kristiansand Zoo in Norway. Lasse is creative producer of the performance. As in previous years, the performance is a themed performance based on the character gallery from Thorbjørn Egner's When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town. The book is a 1955 Norwegian children's book written and illustrated by Thorbjørn Egner. It is considered one of the most important works in Norwegian children's literature. The book is about the peaceful town of Kardemomme and the people there, as well as the only characters which stir up serious trouble. They are the three robbers, Casper, Jesper and Jonathan who live outside the town and regularly enter to steal the things they need. The robbers get arrested and are treated well in jail. In the end they are reformed, and in the final chapter, they become the heroes of the day when they extinguish a fire in the tower of the town. Finally, Casper becomes the town's fireman, Jesper becomes the town's circus manager and Jonathan becomes a baker.

In Circus Jesper there are professional artists among the performers. And this year with new acts - only Bonbon and Tiina's badminton act have been allowed to consist from previous productions.

Lasse and Tiina's children Julia and Joakim show their very own table act which Freddi Steckel has helped them with the training for.

Together with Freddi and Finnish Nelma Pietela, Joakim and Julia make a one-wheeled bicycle at, with built-in surprises...

Trio Csaszar from Hungary makes springboard act. They have been with Circus Roncalli and various Bernhard Paul varieties for many years.

Circus Jesper's fine elephant Mimo (not a live elephant) is also part of the performance. Here seen with Aunt Sofie.

Circus director Jesper together with the lion - a brand new animatronic lion, which Lasse and his family we have spent the Corona winter producing at their home in Slangerup, Denmark.

Captain Frodo is also in the show, here with his tennis racket act in a slightly more family-friendly version than we know from La Clique and Zirkus Nemo.

Circus Jesper will close the season on August 15th.

In addition to Sirkus Jesper, you have in Norway since 17 July been able to experience Circus Arnardo in Lillesand with approx. 1 hour long performances. After Lillesand, they continue to Arendal, where they will be from 5 to 15 August.

23 July 2021

Norwegian Circus Arnardo summer show 2021. Due to the corona Circus Arnardo was not on tour in 2020. One season without Circus Arnardo is enough for circus director Are Arnardo. Therefore, this year he invites to three weeks of summer circus in his hometown Lillesand, where Circus Arnardo premiered July 17.

Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo saw the performance on July 18 and writes (my translation):

After the corona outbreak just before the start of the season 2020 Circus Arnardo had to stay home in Arendal / Lillesand in 2020 without having any performances.

This year they open the season with 23 performances from 17 July to 1 August 2021 in Lillesand next to the climbing tower by the E18.

A little over an hour show with good artists and animals in classic form. They use a smaller tent than usual from Kevin Probst with a diameter of 26 meters. There are infection control restrictions, good distance and hand sanitizer.

Circus Arnardo this year uses Kevin Probst's tent, which has a diameter of 26 meters and is a little smaller than Arnardo's usual tent. All photos: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

The program consists of comedian / clown Victor Rossi, this year's debutant Shannon Folco Arnardo (4 generation Arnardo) with foot juggling, Kevin Probst with 8 donkeys in liberty dressage. Paola and Are Arnardo with magic, Victor Rossi and Frank in cooperation, Kevin Probst - solo horse, Luigi Folco Arnardo - diabolo, Victor Rossi and Frank, Tünde Szabo – aerial straps , Victor Rossi comic juggler, grand finale.

Shannon Folco Arnardo is 18 years old and debuts with her own act where she juggles with carpets with both hands and feet at the same time.

Kevin Probst and his 8 donkeys

Are Arnardo and his partner and spouse Paola with a magic and illusion act. Are has brought the illusion and magic tradition from Grandfather Arne back into the arena. The circus king Arne Arnardo was Norway's most famous magician of all time.

Victor Rosi and Frank. Frank is Norwegian. He worked for many years at Arnardo as a tent worker, ticket collector and props. He is a good friend of Fumagalli and participated in his entrées as a clown at Arnardo. Here he is seen in cooperation with Victor Rossi more as a prop, slightly comical.

Kevin Probst with a single horse

21 year old Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo with diabolos.

Tünde Szabo in aerial straps

Victor Rossi as juggler

From left: Shannon Folco Arnardo, Tünde Szabo, Luigi Folco Arnardo, Victor Rossi and Kevin Probst

With possible reinforcement of the program and if there will be less Norwegian corona restrictions there might after Lillesand be a tour in southern part of Norway. Arendal and Sandvika is mentioned and possible Stavanger. Unknown when the season will close. I hope the best for the circus as the situation is now and that the audience also in Norway want to go to the circus.

The other Norwegian circus Circus Agora is at home and will probably not come on tour until 2022.

21 July 2021

In Circus Trapez Open Air performances, there are some changes among the performers over the summer. The Dutch diabolo juggler Michael Betrian has continued to other engagements and been replaced by Danish Lasse Hasager. Photo: Jens Chr. Sorensen.

In Madsbyparken, where there is a roof on the tent, Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen has performed in trapeze. Photo: Jens Chr. Sørensen.

18 July 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS ---- I risk my hide telling my international followers: long time no show, long time no see - / disrespectful licencia poetica often used .../

But, but there is light at the end of this horrible lockdown.

Restrictions have been largely eased in Paris: my write up on CIRQUE GONTELLI was published on 12 July.

CIRQUE D’HIVER BOUGLIONE hopes to start the winter season on 23 October.

CIRQUE ALEXIS GRUSS hopes to be able to put up their tent in the Bois de Boulogne Park in Paris from 18 September till 6 mars 2021 using the brand LES FOLLIES GRUSS.

The following establishment has spread word that they will land in Paris before X-MAS: CIRQUE ARLETTE GRUSS from 3 to 12 December.

THEATRE LA SCALA features a contemporary circus in October/ OPERA MAGIQUE performs at theatre COMEDIE SAINT MICHEL/ OPERA + MAGIC STUNTS.

L'OFFICIEL DES SPECTACLES = a publicity paper on ALL events in Paris- announces the re-start of activities on September 1st - this is where I fish out and up all my infos.

I do hope that all of you are well alive and kicking !!!

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

------------------------------------------------------ZARRO ZARRO.

13 July 2021

The Circus Farm in Løkken 2021. Jens Christian Sorensen has visited Katja Schumann's circus farm in the Danish seaside resort Løkken and sent me a number of photos, see below.

Jens Christian writes that the first part of this year's show is about training the animals, while the second part is a performance. Apart from the fact that Katja Schumann and her friend Luffe Bøgh take a little waltz as an extra number, all the acts are animal acts. Victor Høeg Abrahamsen, who in previous seasons performed with diabolo and magic, has become a reasonably good horse trainer. In addition to working at the Circus Farm, he has for a period worked for Circus Mascot which due to corona restrictions isn’t on tour in 2021. He also works with ponies. The last performer is a girl who rides a pair of horses.

Katja Schumann and one of her horses

Luffe Bøgh rides high school

Victor with one of the ponies

Katja with 4 beautiful horses

Luffe with a dog

Victor with geese

12 July 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - CIRQUE GONTELLI performs in a recently refurbished SMALL BIG TOP, thus offering comfortable seats in different sizes, as CIRQUE GONTELLI is geared mainly to the smallest fry, who always are accompanied by parents or other followers, to this cultural event.

Line up at Einlass. All photos: Noufou Ouedraogo

The unique image of this little circus is that the programs /they do sport a number of them/ are composed for the joy of the smallest ones , aged  2 to 7- they have but little competition using this concept.

The program is super child-friendly, which means happy kids in an atmosphere of joy and trust, nothing that might scare them.

At the premiere we enjoyed a nice presentation by SERGE GONTELLI, assisted by wife FABIOLA, a good lasso act by youngest son CLINTON, a funny and amazing version of the spinning plates, by son CHRISTIAN, and a beautiful and well timed hula hoop act by daughter MARY, then it was time for intermission including the traditional sale of candies and funny toys.

Serge Gontelli acts as MC (ringmaster)

Clinton already a champion with lasso swinging 

Christian comedy with spinning  plates

Then MARY was back performing her SOAP BUBBLE ACT, where some kids were invited into the ring - to be clad in giant bubbles - a stunt seldom seen today.

Mary with giant bubbles

After a clown act that produced much laughter - LOL - followed the GRANDE FINALE, the entire troupe in beautiful costumes.

Gontelli clowns

Grande finale

A great entertainment for children and, in fact, for their parents as well, who are happy seeing their offspring having a good time!

Zarro Zarro

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

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

9 July 2021

Norway's largest circus Circus Arnardo opens the season on 17 July in Lillesand, where they until 1 August present approx. 1 hour long summer performances without an intermission. They put up their tent next to the Over Climbing and Viewing Tower. They promise “A real circus show with quality, romance, exciting and surprises !!! Let yourself be speechless !!!”

The show's clown, who can be seen at the photo and who prefers to call himself a comedian, is Victor Rossi. He is the 8th generation of the well-known French-Italian circus artist family. He is son of Hector Rossi from the clown duo Les Rossyan. Kevin Probst presents 8 beautiful asses. In addition, the audience meets the director couple Are and Paola Arnardo with magic illusions and their 19-year-old son Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo with diabolo.

It has not yet been decided whether the season will continue after the 2 weeks in Lillesand. It depends, among other things, on how the pandemic develops. Lillesand is located in southern Norway, not far from Kristiansand, where Sirkus Jesper can be seen in Kristiansand Zoo.

5 July 2021

The large Finnish Circus Finlandia hopes to start the season on August 7 in Karjaa (Karis). Among the performers are Vlad Olander and his cats, Oleg Izossimov (handstand), Maria Cordwell Ignatova & Ignat Ignatov (horses), the clowns Trio Without Socks, The Flying Wulber, Pat & Pip Harrison with their hot dogs, Lajos Nereus (plate spinning juggler), Elite Showgirls and Angelika Varga (whip). Sebastian is ringmaster and the artists are accompanied by Finlandia's 7 pieces big band.

Vlad Olander’s cat act is probably the best on the market. He has performed in several Scandinavian circuses, most recently in Danish Circus Arli in 2018. The Finns saw him in Circus Finlandia in 2012 and 2020. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Oleg Izossimov performed at the Open Air Stage in Copenhagen’s Tivoli gardens in 1996 and in Circus Arena in 2019. He was also with Circus Finlandia in 2020. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

This year's clowns are the Russian Trio Without Socks. They made their international breakthrough at the Budapest Circus Festival in 2018, where they won silver. At the Monte Carlo festival in January 2019, they got a bronze clown and subsequently toured with the large German Circus Krone. They have not previously performed in the Nordic countries

Flying Wulber during the double passage. The troupe was in Denmark with Circus Arena in 2019. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Pat Harrison and his hot dogs. An act he took over years ago from his from his father Pete Harrison. Pat Harrison is a well-known name in Scandinavian circuses. In 2020, he was together with his girlfriend Pip in Arena Circusland in Denmark. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Hungarian Angelika Varga was last year part of the ensemble in Norwegian Circus Jesper, where Lajos Nereus with great success made his plate spinning act in the part of Barber Sorensen. (Circus Jesper is a theme performance based on the characters from a popular Norwegian children’s book When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town). The photo of Angie and Lajos is from Angie's performance at the Newcomer Festival in Budapest in 2020.

4 July 2021

An old acquaintance has just given Benny Schumann this little wooden figure of his famous grandfather Charlie Rivel (1896-1983). The figure was made in 1978 by the sculptor Holger Chr. Pedersen. - Charlie Rivel was one of the world's most famous, popular and acclaimed clowns. He had his very own style. His trademark was a red jersey which was way too large for him. In Denmark he performed with Schumann in the Circus Building and in 1965 in Circus Moreno.

2 July 2021

Summer performances at the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen.

The Circus Museum offers a number of performances during the summer. The first performance took place on June 27 and was with magician Steen Pegani.

Steen Pegani in the museum’s Fencing Hall. The trick that Pegani shows at the bottom photo is an old trick from the 20th century that he has taken up. It has been called many different names over the years (The Selbit Blocks, Magic Bricks, Bewildering Blocks, Mathematical Mystery or Cube-Libre). The (Spanish) version that Pegani shows is simply called CUBES. Photos: Ole Simonsen

Here is an overview of the upcoming events:

Thursday, July 8 at 12:30: The magician Michael Frederiksen. Humor and magic at a high level

Michael Frederiksen. Photo from event for Danish Circus Friends in 2016

Thursday 15 July at 12:30 Circus Panic. A circus explosion in the ring with fun, gags and artistry

From a performance in Circus Panik. Photo: Per Krogh Petersen

Thursday 22 July at 12:30: Jon G. Lør. Denmark's probably funniest joker with a juggling talent beyond the usual.

The comedian and juggler Jon G Lør.

Thursday 29 July at 12_ 30: The ventriloquist Sine with her doll naughty Rikke. Known from Danish TV. Started her career as a 4-year-old in the company of his father the former Pierrot from Bakken Kurt Flemming.

Sine performed in the Fencing Hall in connection with World Circus Day in 2016

Sunday, August 8 at 12:30: Kasper Jensen, Known from i.a. the Danish Got Talent and with a pace and energy that will make most people breathless. Both last year and this year, it has also been possible to meet Kasper in various places at the amusement park Bakken. If are in Jutland, you can 6 July at 13 and 15 see him at the Circus Museum in Rold.

Kasper Jensen. Press photo

For all events, a ticket must be purchased on the Circus Museum's website www.cirkusmuseum.dk The ticket price is DKK 20 + entrance to the museum.

29 June 2021

Dynamo Circus Festival. DYNAMO, Workspace for circus and Performing arts in Odense writes:

Welcome to a performing arts festival that celebrates shared experiences! Free from taste judgment and arbitrary avant-garde tyranny, this is a life-affirming embrace of the general human: the empathy, the fear, the redemption, the joy, the euphoria, the tension and the loss of control. Together we explore circus!

The fourth edition of the International Contemporary Circus Festival is packed with music, community, parties, unpredictable experiences and, of course, contemporary circus. It is a tour de force in intensity, poetry, humour and magic. Between abandoned silos and harbour industry, cultural life meets faded concrete – here, in August, DYNAMO presents an intense festival displaying this circus genre from its best side.

A circus festival needs to entertain, but must also challenge status quo! That’s why this year’s program contains astonishing contemporary circus performances, thrilling live music that sets the floor on fire, open stage, and a film program presented in collaboration with Odense International Film Festival.

DYNAMO Circus Festival is supported by Nordic Council of Ministers, Odense Kommune, William Demant Fonden, Finlands Kulturinstitut i Danmark, Statens Kunstfond, and the Creative Europe program of the European Union.

Click here to see the performance program for the festival

28 June 2021

PASSAGE Festival is a living street theater festival in constant evolution and expansion, especially in relation to our surroundings. Urban areas, audiences and artists are all focal points in street theater in the public space.

PASSAGE Festival has a large program with international artists. 78 Tours by French La Meute takes the audience on a hypnotic and ritualistic journey as they explore the legendary Wheel of Death. The three fearless artists have been a huge success at many European festivals.

78 Tours. Press photo from Passage. Photographer Pierre Soissons

The same goes for Follow Me by the Belgian circus chameleons Be Flat, who transform Elsinore into a stage and invite the audience around among the scenography of the facades and the soundscape of the traffic.

Press photo from Passage. Photographer: Yngwie Scheerlinck

In 2021, PASSAGE Festival explores the cosmopolitan heart of Elsinore in Europe. More than 50 European performers, poets, artists will present their works in Elsinore accompanied by almost as many cordially invited youths from 10 European countries.

The festival will be happening 26 to 31 July. Click here to see more.

25 June 2021

Circuses in the Nordic countries 2021. Corona restrictions continue to mean that far fewer circuses are on tour than usual. Here is a brief overview:

Denmark: As the only ones, Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni are on tented tours. Circus Trapez present short Open Air performances. There are also short performances in Circusland in Slagelse. Katja Schumann has performances at The Circus Farm in the seaside resort Løkken.

Finland: So far, the large Circus Finlandia has not started touring. The medium-sized Circus Tähti has as far as I know been touring since 1 June. The performers are

Devid Adam, Hungary, chair balance

Sebastian Foray, aerial straps

Silvia Orlando Ross, Hungary, hula hoop

Samir and Frida, Finland, illusions. Samir Abdelmeguid, who owns the circus, is also the ringmaster

Di lello´s, Holland, clown

Yris Cardinali, Portugal, aerial act

Enzo Cardinali, Portugal, juggler

Norway: There are performances in the stationary Circus Jesper in Kristiansand Zoo. Uncertain whether it will be possible later in the season for the two Norwegian circuses, Agora and Arnardo, to tour.

Sweden: None of the 3 Swedish circuses, Brazil Jack, Olympia and Rhodin, are on tour. Uncertain whether it will be possible later in the season to complete a shorter tour.

Also elsewhere in the world, circuses are affected by corona. In Germany, none of the large circuses are on tour, whereas several small and medium-sized circuses are trying their luck. You can find an overview at http://www.circus-gastspiele.de/

22 June 2021

Majestique back to Aalborg. After the world premiere for a sold-out audience in Aalborg last summer, Majestique is now returning to Skraaen and Spiegeltent Paradiso in Aalborg from 25 August to 5 September.

More than ever before, we feel hungry for sheer excitement, nostalgic romance and a desire for an intoxicating experience to escape the realities of the world, even if it is only a few hours. Hunger is posed by Majestique's world - class artists who want to entertain, excite and surprise with amazing, dangerous and comic cabaret and contemporary circus for adults.

You can e.g. experience legendary Ursula Martinez with her comic magic. Among other things, she is known for the act Hanky ​​Panky, where a small red scarf is conjured away while she throws one piece of clothing after another. However, I do not know if she is still doing this act. Daredevil Chicken returns with their unbelievably funny raw slapsticks and Michael Betrian, who you can currently see in Circus Trapez Open Air Show, is one of the world's best diabolo artists.

Daredevil Chicken. Press photo from Skraaen from 2019, where the two artists were part of the show which  La Soiree presented in Aalborg.

Michael Betrian

It's just a small foretaste of this genuine international production, direct from Australia / London / Canada. It's nightclub atmosphere for full blown, fun, elegant adult circus inspired by the old variety.

“A wonderful evening. Real nightclub atmosphere and going with a swing - both on stage and with the audience," wrote an enthusiastic Jørgen Lorenzen about last year's performance.

20 June 2021

Aarhus Festival was canceled last year due to the corona. But this year from 27 August to 5 September you can once again experience the unique atmosphere of Aarhus Festival, when music, art and cultural events take over the city for 10 days. With the theme “In It Together”, the festival are celebrating togetherness and the magic we can create together – which is now more relevant than ever.

One of the highlights of the festival week is the night cabaret at Hermans in Tivoli Friheden. Comedians, magicians, acrobats and performers from all over the world is ready to take the stage in Hermans Theatre in Tivoli Friheden, and enchant the room with their unique shows, that you will never forget.

Before the show, you can choose to enjoy an aperitif and a three-course meal at Terrassen (restaurant in Tivoli Friheden). Wine and other drinks are available during the night.

Subject to changes you can in can in the performance meet:

ED ALONZO

The American is said to be one of the best comedic magicians there is. His shows don’t always go according to plan, but in the funniest and grotesque way, before it all miraculously solves itself. He has been on more than 100 tv-shows, and has performed with Britney Spears as his assistant.

Ed Alonzo. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

MIYOKA SHIDA RIGOLO

The focus of the Japanese performer is balance. Under deep concentration, he balances one palm branch after the other, on top of each other, to make it appear as a larger piece of art. Experience a performance that expresses peace of mind, equilibrium and vulnerability.

Sandorn balance with Miyoka Shida Rigolo.  Press photo from Aarhus Festival

MIKHAIL USOV

For the past nine years, The Ukrainian clown and comedian Mikhail Usov has performed with the world-famous Cirque du Soleil. Through his performances, he moves his audience, on top of making them laugh. Mikhail Usov is a clown by heart, and has won several circus awards.

Mikhail Usov. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

VICTOR MOISEEV 

The enchanting Ukrainian takes the art of joggling to a whole new level, as he joggles horizontally. Large balls come flying from everywhere, he catches them, and almost makes it look as if they’re levitating.

Victor Moiseev. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

DMITRIY & ANASTASIA

This passionate performance presents acrobatics, aesthetics and sensuality of the highest level. The Ukrainian/Russian duo almost flies around the room, while performing acrobatic moves. Their performance has won the prestigious Golden Clown at the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival.

Dmitriy og Anastasia. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

HANS DAVIS

Hans Davis is a Belgian shadow master, who can portray hundreds of characters – from animals to politicians and other celebrities – as hand shadows. The audience will experience his amazing skills on a big screen.

Hans Davis. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

MILA & YAROSLAVA

These two Ukrainian artists perform with their fantastic pole-show, which is a combination of strength, agility, acrobatics and beauty. It all comes together in aesthetic excellence – modern performance at its finest.

Mila og Yaroslava. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

HERMANS NATCABARET-TRIO

During the Night Cabaret, the music is provided by Marc Thierry’s trio, which consists of himself, Jesper Daus and Jesper Gruschy.

18 June 2021

Flying Superkids will visit Copenhagen in August. Like many other shows, Flying Superkids has not been on tour since the corona hit Denmark last spring. But in August 2021, the audience can once again experience world-class gymnastics, enchanting acrobatics and great entertainment for the whole family, when Flying Superkids comes to Copenhagen with this year's new show! They will be in Copenhagen from Sunday 1 August until and including Sunday 8 August. They write (my translation):

This year's show is getting even wilder than usual. We have spent the entire corona break developing a new show for 2021 and practicing our wildest tricks. The result is an entertaining and breath-taking show, and we cannot wait to show it to you! It's going to be a bang of a party!

17 June 2021

On Frederiksgade in the center of Denmark’ second largest city Aarhus you will find the cosy restaurant Brasserie Belli.

The owner is Trine Belli and she has roots back to the old circus family. In her very young days she was an aerial acrobat in Danish Circus Krone. Her father Leo Belli was also an aerial artist and considers the long-time owner of Danish Circus Belli Meta Belli (1888 - 1953) as his grandmother, even though she was not purely biological. Meta Belli behaved like a grandmother to several members of the Belli family – such thing is also known from other circus families. Meta Belli was married to Giovanni Belli, who died in 1929. Meta then took over the languishing circus, which with the help of Willy Borchardt and later Fredy Wachmann, became Denmark’s largest. When Meta died in 1953, the circus was sold to investors unrelated to the family. In 1955, the investors resold Cirkus Belli to Eli Benneweis. Circus Bellis' last season on the Danish roads was in 1957.

There are many posters and pictures from the circus era at Brasserie Belli. And the food and service are excellent. So the place can be recommended if you are looking for a good place to dine in Aarhus.

Trine Belli photographed together with The Danish Circus Friend’s chairman Kim Thanning Olsen

The poster shown is from 1954

13 June 2021

Circus Trapez Open Air. Due to the corona restrictions, Isabella Enoch Sosman’s Circus Trapez has given up having a traditional tour with tents. Instead, they present approx. 1 hour long performances "open air", i.e. with the use of sidewalls but without a big top, see photo. This means that they can do without tent workers and do not need the many heavy trucks that transport tents and poles around. Until now, they have chosen to drive home to their winter quarter Mølby in the evening, so they do not have caravans around either. On weekdays, the performances are usually sold to nursing homes, etc. During the weekends there are "open" performances, for which you can buy tickets.

The audience sits partly on ringside chairs and partly on 2 seatings with benches. Ticket prices are reasonable: DKK 110 (approximately 15 Euro) for a chair and DKK 90 for a seat on the benches.

The performance starts with a large box being pulled in right in front of the backdrop. Bernhard Kaselowsky and a prop show that the box is empty. However, you can later see that it contains both the show's ringmaster David Sosman and the circus princesses Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen and Simone Rhodin.

Next Welsh goats enter the ring, presented by Nynne with the assistance of Bernhard Kaselowsky.

The next act is a humorously presented juggling entrée with David Sosman, who with charm and elegance juggles first with balls, then with a knife and a pair of axes and finally with a ball, a bowling ball and an apple, which he eats during the juggling. He also shows how he can take off his jacket while juggling.

A version of the illusion trick substitution trunk conjures up Simone Rhodin from the small Swedish Circus Rhodin, which is currently isn’t on tour due to the Swedish corona restrictions. She present a nice act in an aerial ring set on pole. The entrée ends with her getting down into a box and being conjured away.

Now David Sosman is back. He first plays on bottles. Then he juggles and balances with Malibu bottles and balances with glasses on a stick in his mouth.

The next act is the young Dutch diabolo juggler Michael Betrian in an elegant and fast-paced track, where he juggles with up to 4 diabolos. Later in the season, you can see him as part of Majestique's performance in the mirror tent Paradiso at Nordkraft in Aalborg. Too bad for him that no Danish Circus Awards are handed out this year. He would have been a good bid for a nomination for the talent prize or the prize for best act of the year.

Michael was replaced by Simone Rhodin with a spectacular hula hoop act.

Then David introduced his 8-year-old cousin Joseph, who does some tremendous somersaults and other jumps. In some jumps assisted by Nynne.

Then David was back with his bouncing juggler entrée.

The last act in the performance was the horse act Big and Little, presented by Bernhard Kaselowsky.

No doubt that the approx. 75 people who, like me, saw the morning show on Sunday 13 June in Vamdrup, Jutland, felt that they had a good circus experience.

12 June 2021

As previously mentioned, Circus Mascot has abandoned its Denmark tour and summer opening in the winter quarter in Roslev due to Covid-19 restrictions and the authorities' unusually inflexible and slow processing of the application for a work permit for their longtime clown Gulio and his family. However, they are now planning a short tour in September. Daniel Deleuran writes on a Facebook page where circus is looking for artists and artists are looking for jobs:

”We are looking for an artist family from EU with MINIMUM 3 different acts to join our “20-day-tour” in September 2021. Please note that we do NOT need the following acts: clown, hula-hoop, aerial acts, silks, diabolo or juggling! Send us an e-mail with your videos and information to daniel@cirkus-mascot.dk. We are looking forward to hear from you.”

12 June 2021

Jacob Boas Leitisstein from Cirkusportalen visited Cirkus Arli in Frederiksberg. Click here to see his photos from the show.

11 June 2021

Not any longer requirement for face mask in circuses in Denmark. So far, the authorities have required everyone over the age of 12 to wear a face mask when moving around in the tent. When you sat in your seat, however, you were welcome to take off the face mask. With effect from Monday 14 June, the requirement for face masks has been dropped in all areas except for standing passengers in public transport. Thus, from Monday you do not have to wear a face mask when visiting a circus. However, until 1 August, it is still a requirement that everyone over the age of 15 presents coronapas and ID.

11 June 2021

Circus Berdino is not a traditional touring tent circus, but the name for a number of performances which Suzanne Berdino has produced for residential homes etc. in the last few years. About the current performances she writes (my translation):

In the performance, we take you back in time, to the marketplace with antics of the best kind, from the time when Grandpa was young. Experience the singing Professor Briano, who loves magic and soap bubbles, Denmark's smartest cuddly pig Gullig, Indian ducks in liberty dressage, and last but not least happy dogs with enjoyable tricks. It's all linked together by Circus Director Madame Betty. This performance is aimed at senior centers and last approx. 30 minutes or by appointment, possibly with several guest artists. To get in the right circus mood, popcorn can be purchased. If you want further information or prices, you are welcome to contact us, on telephone 40 33 12 13 or send an email to Suzanneberdino@gmail.co

About one of the performances, a senior center in Broendby Municipality writes: “On Thursday afternoon, 45 residents watched Cirkus Berdino. Circus Berdino had a magic act, a soap bubble act, a pig that could clean up and bowl as well as dogs that could do tricks. There were smiles on lips, twinkles in the eyes and laughter along the way. Everyone stayed seated for the 45 minutes the show lasted despite the icy wind, only heated by the hot cocoa (thanks to the kitchen J) and the warm smiles and laughter. ”

Lots of soap bubbles with Madame Betty aka Suzanne Berdino and Professor Briano aka Brian Behrendt. Both known and loved from i.a. Circusland, where they however not are this year,

8 June 2021

Since Easter, the theme park Cirkusland in Aarslev near Slagelse has been open on weekends and at public holidays. In the beginning only with rides, but since May 22 also with a number of shows. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

A magic show with Kim Kenneth and his assistants offers, among other things, Kim's very own version of the trick which in the magic industry is known as substitution trunk.

Laura Berdino shows how to train horses

On the small stage in the playground, you meet Kim Kenneth and the clown Jimmy Folco

There is a children's show, here with Peppa Pig. Kim Kenneth is compère. Other days, children's shows can be with, for example, Curious George or Paw Patrol.

In Cirkus Landino you meet, among others, Jessica Caveagna with sword balance over a flame-laden ladder.

Rudy Althoff presents 6 beautiful Arabian horses

From the final in Circus Landino. Click here to see more of Jacob Boas Leistisstein's photos from Circusland.

3 June 2021

Michaël Betrian to Circus Trapez Open Air. For a number of this summer's performances, Circus Trapez has booked the young Dutch diabolo talent Michaël Betrian. The Danes saw him in 2014, when he participated in Circus Dannebrog's performance Dynamic Youth and to a very high degree lived up to the show's title. At a time he had up to 4 diabolos in the air at the same time. In 2014, he also had a bronze clown from that year's Monte Carlo New Generation Festival in his luggage.

Michaël Betrian. Click here to see a number of photos from a guest appearance in 2016 in the Swedish Circus Brazil Jack

3 June 2021

Circus Days and Nights. Several Danish newspapers have published reviews of the circus opera Circus Days and Nights, which can be streamed for a fee from Malmö Opera in Sweden. Even though the same Danish newspapers have not reviewed any of this year's Danish circus performances. The Swedish circus friend Martin Lasson Berglund has sent me the following review of the performance:

“Circus Days and Nights is a newly written opera that is performed at Malmö Opera from 29 May to 13 June. Through livestreaming you could buy tickets and see the show at home on the booked show day. This Circus Opera was art and in my opinion not a circus! Isn’t circus art? Of course, but if you have seen the opera you may understand what I am thinking of. Thanks to a text machine (Surtitles) you can follow the story which would elsewise been impossible. In short, it's about circus life and artists and that circuses move from city to city. Circus Cirkör is involved in setting up this opera, but I am not impressed.

The artistry is OK but not much more if you compare with the artists I have seen at the circus. The music has been composed by Philip Glass in cooperation with Circus Cirkör's circus director Thilde Björfors and I have a hard time understanding the choice of music as it feels like they are playing the same gloomy melody for two hours! Even if it is to be an opera, the music could have been happy because circus is and should be joy, but not here and that is probably the very art of this opera.

Fun with a circus opera but I had hoped for more joy and wonderful circus music.”

Click here to see a video teaser.

Until 12 June you can livestreame the performance at www.malmoopera.se/circus-days-and-nights-streaming . Language: English – surtitles both in Swedish and in English

2 June 2021

No circus awards this year. The jury of the Danish Circus Award has, after careful consideration, decided to skip this year's award ceremony. They write:

After the corona-related break in 2020, we had been looking forward to resuming the award ceremony this year. But since Covid-19 restrictions have meant that 5 out of the 7 Danish circuses have given up touring this year, we have chosen to take a break again this year. We believe and hope to see all the circuses on the roads again in the spring of 2021. We hope to return in August 2022 with a bang of an award ceremony: the awarding of the honorary award, the prize for best act of the year, the talent prize and the effort award.

Until then, we can highly recommend a visit to the two circuses that are on tour in Denmark: Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni. Or is a visit to Circusland in Aarslev near Slagelse, which offers short circus performances and other shows. Or a visit to one of the short Open Air performances which Circus Trapez present in Jutland. During the school holidays, you can also see performances at Katja Schumann's Circus Farm in the seaside resort Løkken in the northern part of Jutland.

From the award ceremony in 2019. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

2 June 2021

Circus Jesper 2021 - theme performances in Kristiansand Zoo, Norway. Again this year, Kristiansand Zoo will have performances in their stationary circus, Circus Jesper, throughout the summer. Lasse Nørager, also known as the clown Bonbon, writes (my translation):

The premiere is June 19 and with performances through August 15.

We do not hope that Corona will create further difficulties this season, with local shutdowns or whatever else one can imagine.

In order to meet the applicable requirements for distance, we currently only sell 50% of the seats in the tent. Due to this we have again this year planned double as many performances as usual for most of the season. The pre-sale is going much better than the previous years, so we hope that we are gaining a good reputation in Norway. With the limited number of seats, we have actually already fully booked to more half of all our performances. We do hope that the restrictions may loosen up a bit during the summer so we can get even more guests...

This year's performance is a completely new production. Only my wife Tiina and mine badminton act is allowed to consist from previous production, otherwise all acts are new, although many of the characters go again, including of course former robber and now circus director Jesper. Chief of Police Bastian from Cardamom City is also present. Jesper and the Chief of Police makes together a breakaway trick (in the form of the illusion Substitution trunk). I have polished my cannon, which has otherwise been collecting dust for a few years.

Bonbon and his cannon. Photo from 2004

Tiina’s and mine children Julia and Joakim will for the first time ever show their very own knockabout table act. They are trained by Freddi Steckel. In addition, together with Freddi and Finnish Nelma Pietela, they will make a unicycle act with built-in surprises ...

Trio Csaszar from Hungary does a springboard act. They have been with Circus Roncalli and the various Bernhard Paul varieties for many years.

Trio Csazar

Our fine elephant Mimo (not a live elephant) will be with us and will now be accompanied by a brand new animatronic lion, which we have used the Corona winter to construct at home in Slangerup. (Lasse and his family have their home in Slangerup, Denmark).

And last but not least, we have the pleasure of having Captain Frodo in the show, both with his bucket balance and with the tennis racket act in a slightly more family-friendly version than we might know from the cabaret/variety La Clique and from Danish Zircus Nemo, though without losing Frodo's crazy and funny way of performing.

Captain Frodos and his buckets. Photo from Danish Cirkus Barnly 2018

The tent is put up, and we are now going to finalize details and getting ready for the new production.

Looking forward to getting started after another very strange year for all of us....

29 May 2021

Circus Mascot skip this summer's performances at the circus farm in Roslev. Due to Covid-19 restrictions Circus Mascot decided about at moth ago not to tour in 2021. Instead they planned to have summer performances in their winter quarter in Roslev, Jutland. But they have now given up making such performances.

For many years, Daniel and Marianne Deleuran have had a good and close cooperation with the Ukrainian clown Gulio (Ulmas Gulyamo) and his family. They should have been part of the summer performances in Roslev. But problems with obtaining a work permit mean that Cickus Mascot so far has dropped their summer concept. In a press release, they write (my translation):

“Who in the world is the clown… who has not understood the system? Circus, like other parts of Danish cultural life, is challenged by both the covid pandemic and the handling of the same. Circus Mascot has again had to cancel already planned performances, workshops and tours of the circus farm - but this year because SIRI, the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration, does not see itself able to carry out an otherwise standardized procedure, and issue working permission to our house clown through 18 year.

Our Ukrainian clown family, the Gulyamov family, cannot travel to Denmark and participate in our summer events because - this year - a return permit cannot be granted to the family as long as SIRI is still looking at Gulio, our clown, application for extension of work and residence permit, which was applied for in October. It is, they say, landed at the bottom of the pile when first-time applications are handled first.

We have, in Circus Mascot, now employed the same clown for 18 years and cannot just replace him with another. Our audience expects to meet Gulio when we open the doors. We had hoped the same.

We have been shut down both last year and this year because the area requirement means that we will only be able to play for 127 people - and that is not profitable. Therefore, our season has not started as we usually do in the month of March. As an alternative - and financial foundation for our circus survival - we had planned 60 circus performances with accompanying workshop and tour, now that the aid packages are being phased out on 30 June. None of this can be accomplished.

We have a great understanding of a pandemic as a condition that no one can do anything about - but the handling that must support the survival of the small Danish companies, we think it is fair to make demands to! "

The Ukrainian clown Gulio could not get a work permit this year, even though he has performed in Denmark since 2003 and until now always has received the necessary permissions.

Artists who do not come from EU or EEA countries must have a work permit to perform in Denmark. It is well known that this is a cumbersome process, and the requirements of SIRI (the Agency for International Recruitment and Integration) are very cumbersome and sometimes impossible to meet. Many that the requirements act as bureaucracy for the sake of the bureaucracy itself.

The time frame for handling applications is long - currently it is reported to be more than 3 months - and there is no understanding that you cannot just wait until some weeks into the season to bring an artist to the show. This meant, for example, last year that Circus Arli had to replace a booked Russian artist with a pair of artists from an EU country at short notice. The fee for applications is currently DKK 4,295 (575 Euro), and there can be significant additional costs associated with obtaining a biometric face photo and fingerprints. Without such, SIRI will not even start looking at the application. And even if it ends in rejection, one gets neither the application fee nor the cost of biometrics reimbursed.

A new requirement is that the salary to the artist must be paid into a Danish bank account in a bank that operates a legal banking business in Denmark. The artist cannot have his salary paid in cash. The Danish bank account must be set up within 90 days after the residence permit being granted. For the first 90 days in Denmark, however, the salary may be paid to a foreign bank account.

The requirements are not made for tax purposes, as artists who stay less than 6 months in Denmark must be taxed in their home country and not in Denmark. And the requirement presents the problem that Danish banks are not interested in establishing an account for persons who are only on a short-term stay in Denmark. Duties to comply with the "know your customer rules" are far too extensive for there to be economics in creating such an account. The possibility of transfers to foreign accounts is hampered partly by fees for such transfers and partly by the fact that there are many countries where it is not common for citizens to have a bank account at all. Something that is difficult to understand for SIRI's employees who grew up in a country where even children have a bank account and salary payments in cash sound like something from a distant past.

Neither of the two circuses that are on tour this year, Arli and Baldoni, have artists from countries outside EU / EØS.

28 May 2021

BOOKED UP – BOOKED UP – BOOKED UP. These are the happy messages from the two circuses which are on tour in Denmark this year: Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni. Until now, most of the performances have been sold out, often several days before the day of the performance. However, sold out does not mean, as in the old days, a full tent, but only that you have sold the number of tickets that the Covid-19 restrictions allow you to sell. The many sold-out performances proves that there are many who want a trip to the circus, and that demands for corona passes and the use of face masks do not keep the audience away.

26 May 2021

Obituary: Belita Fossett Kaye. The retired artist Belita Kaye passed away on May 25 after some time of illness. She was 95 year old. She came from the famous English artist family Fossett. Charley Kaye, who together with a friend performed as Clifton Brothers, met her during an engagement at the variety and dance restaurant Bonbonnieren in Esbjerg, Denmark, and immediately fell in love with the beautiful red-haired girl. When Charley's partner in Clifton Brothers wanted to stop, Charley and Belita decided to do an act together - and they did so both in private and as artists. For many years they toured Europe with a comic knockabout table act, and Charley simultaneously jumped around among the spectators acting as a monkey (chimpanzee). The couple performed no less than 25 times at Hamburg's legendary Hansa Theater. The Englishmen met them at the Black and White Minstrel Show at London's Victoria Palace Theatre. The Danes met them, among other things, in Volmer Sørensen's Revykøbing revue in 1972. In 1988, Charley restarted with the assistance of Belita Amager's old Red Inn Theater in a gymnasium at a closed school at Amager, Copenhagen. The theater quickly became a success and offered, among other things, revues with artist performances instead of the usual chorus girls. In November 2006, the board of the theater thought it was time for a generational change and sent the couple to retirement. In recent years, the couple has lived in the Copenhagen suburb Dragør. Belita Kaye is survived by her husband Charley.

25 May 2021

Circus Arli 2021 – a charming visit to the Seaside Hotel. The Danish journalist and theater critic Jørgen Siegumfeldt compared some years ago Circus Arli with the German Circus Roncalli and believed that Circus Arli was inspired by the German cult circus. As Circus Arli was founded in 1971 and Roncalli in 1976, one can discuss who is inspired by whom. But the two circuses have in common that they always present elegant and well-composed performances and can be said to be in a class of their own.

Circus Arli next to the Mill Hill in Floeng

This year's show is no exception. This year, the Arli family has chosen to present it as a themed performance under the title Fun at the Seaside Hotel. A title that fits very well.

The recurring characters in the performance are the multi-artists Alexander Arli and Francesco Fratellini, who, as in previous years, have a formidable interplay. In this year's performance, they have clown make-up with red noses, but have the part as waiters who get jobs at the Seaside Hotel.

Alexander Arli, like Francesco, is painted as a clown with a red nose

The performance begins with a bubbly charivari, where all the show's artists are on stage and show a few tricks. Jennifer and Anthony Ramos, for example, show a couple of the tricks from their roller skating act which thrilled the audiences in 2020, and Alexander and Francesco juggle. The culmination of the opening act is when Bettina Arli is conjured out of some suitcases stacked on top of each other. As a hostess at Seaside Hotel she then guides us through the performance.

Duo Ramos

Hostess Bettina Arli has just been conjured out of her suitcases.

The next act on stage is Duo Polupans with a funny entrée with buckets.

Duo Polupans

Bettina Arli is having trouble getting a bell to ring. It leads the entrée where Francesco plays the bells.

Bettina and Francesco

The show's first aerial number is a number in double tissue, performed by Sarah Floores and Jennifer Ramos.

Synchronous act in tissue with Sarah and Jennifer

Then Martin Arli enters the ring (which with Arli is a circular stage) with an entrée with soap bubbles and a little magic.

The next act starts as the classic entrée where a fine lady (Sarah Florees) is going to a restaurant. However, the waiters Alexander and Francesco have added a lot of new gags to the entrée so it's not just the familiar act with spaghetti - in fact, spaghetti is not included in the entrée at all.

Did they get tips?

Now Jennifer Ramos comes into the ring to show what she can do in trapeze. Unfortunately, she cannot reach the trapeze, so Anthony Ramos must help her. It turns out to be a terrific comic trapeze act, a bit like what we've seen the Wolff brothers do before. An act which the brothers actually had their debut with at Arli 2011, and which later brought them to the circus festival in Monte Carlo.

Duo Ramos in their comic trapeze number

They are followed by Martin Arli in an act where he makes a standard lamp fly. A bit in in style with the well-known flying table.

Jelena Vasiljeva now enters the stage with a hula-hoop entrée where several of the tricks are performed while she is up in the air. Unlike many others who allow themselves to be hoisted up under such an act, she can actually do something in the air. And luckily we get rid of the eternal final trick in hula hoop acts where the artists have to handle hoops that her partner throws at her.

Hula hoop in the air with Jelena Vasiljeva

After Jelena, Alexander and Francescos have a short run-in with a bottle conjured up from a pipe.

Now Sergeis Polupans comes into the arena with a suitcase, which he uses as a podium for his handstand act where he finally comes up high under the circus dome.

High up under the dome with Sergeis Polupans

The last act on the performance is a festive entrée where Alexander and Francesco are at the bar and juggling dishes, bottles and plates.

Party at the bar

"Is it already over?" one thinks involuntarily when the almost 2 hour long performance is over. And it is far better than if you sit at the end of the show and think "Isn't it over soon?"

Congratulations to the Arli family with another good and child-friendly performance. It deserves to be as popular as Danish TV2’s Seaside Hotel ( a Danish drama and comedy series which has been running since 2013) But among other things, Covid-19 limitations in the number of spectators means that the hardly gets the same number of viewers as the TV drama! It hurts a little on Martin Arli when they repeatedly have to side: "Unfortunately, we are not allowed to let more in", even though under normal circumstances he would have room for more in the tent. So when you go to Arli it is definitely recommended to buy tickets online in advance.

22 May 2021

Successful circus day. The Danish celebration of World Circus Day took due to Covid-19 restrictions place with a 5 week delay. But fortunately, the day of May 22nd became a huge success when one takes into account the corona-related limitations.

Almost 50 persons listen to the retired artist Kurt Flemming when he with humour and many funny anecdotes told about the journey from being an artist and magician to first being Pierrot 5 years in Aalborg and then for 23 seasons at the amusement park Bakken north of Copenhagen. Kurt Flemming was born on Sydfyn in 1952 and was trained as a mechanic under pressure from his father, but immediately burned his apprenticeship letter to create a livelihood as an artist and magician.

Charlie and Binalto from Circus 3 were able to celebrate their 40th anniversary with a glorious performance in the Fencing Hall. The performance was fully booked and several had unfortunately to be turned away. The Danish clown group Circus 3 originally consisted of 3 members: Jan Maartensson (the white-faced clown Alfredo), Bo Bjerregaard (the clown Charlie) and Jan Kierulf (the clown Binalto). For the last two decades, however, it has only been Charlie and Binalto. The corona has meant they have not been able to perform for the past year. Great again to see them in activity! Photos: Lise Kokholm

This year, Circus Baldoni had put up their tent on the lawn at Fægtesalsvej. Here too everything was sold out and the atmosphere was in top.

21 May 2021

Circuses in Denmark 2021.

Just two of the Danish circuses are on a traditional tour this year: Circus Baldoni, which started the season on 6 May in Hillerød, and Cirkus Arli, which opens the season on 22 May at the Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Fløng.

Circus Baldoni will tour until 26 August on Zealand, Lolland, Falster and Møn. After that, the plan is to continue the tour with performances in a number of arenas on Bornholm, the Faroe Islands and in Jutland. This year's performance was reviewed on this page on May 7th.

From the finale of this year's performance in Circus Baldoni. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Circus Arli is touring on Zealand until mid-September. This year's performance will be reviewed on this page at the May 29 update.

The theme park Circusland in Circus Arena's winter quarter in Aarslev near Slagelse offers performances from 22 May in Circus Landino as well as a number of other shows, including magic shows. In addition, there are a large number of rides - many more than in previous years. Until the summer holidays, it is open on all weekends and public holidays from 10 to 17. From 26 June to 8 August, open every day from 10 - 17.

Kim Kenneth, known as the Dane in the fast lane, is in charge of magic shows etc. in Circusland. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Circus Krone has cancelled this year's tour, but offers as sold performances the clown show Trifolikom & Thierry.

The Circus Farm in the Jutland seaside resort Løkken is open during the school holidays. It is owned by Katja Schumann. As it looks now, there will from week 26 be performances every day at 16, however not on Mondays.

Katja Schumann with the three white Arabs. Photo: Rikke Threms

Circus Trapez has given up their usual tour due to the Covid-19 restrictions. However, they present a number of short Open Air performances. Some performances are sold performances, for others tickets can be purchased.

Circus Trapez Open Air performance last approx. 1 hour and is shown as an outdoor performance in a tent without a top

Circus Arena and Zircus Nemo are both taking a break this year. The limited number of tickets that the Covid-19 restrictions allow them to sell simply does not provide enough money to cover the daily costs. However, the Berdino family is active in running their theme park Circusland, see above. Also Circus Mascot has cancelled their 2021 tour but is considering having summer performances in their winter quarter in Roslev, Jutland

As in 2020 the Smash Man (aka the circus owner, actor and comedian Soren Ostergaard) has not the opportunity to complain about everything in Zirkus Nemos' ring. But he promises to be strong back in 2022. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

20 May 2021

International clowns at the Circus Museum. The Circus Museum in Hvidovre writes (my translation):

Sunday 30 May at 12.30 you can see the performance The Clowns Show, where a troupe of sweet and sympathetic clowns will entertain with a number of different entrées.

The good clown makes fun of himself and primarily exhibits his own flaws and shortcomings. It's a trait the clowns in The Clowns Show specialize in throwing themselves into spectacular magic entrées, “dangerous” acrobatics or presenting real flying carpets.

The clown characters in the show have been developed over the past year by students at the internationally acclaimed Commedia School, which has students from all over the world.

The Commedia School is a 2 year actor training program founded by Ole Brekke and Carlo Mazzone in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since 1978, each September, a new group of students from around the world have been attracted to Northern Europe’s oldest physical theater school to develop themselves as performers. The school has started students on successful careers in many areas of performing including stage, street theater, circus, puppet theater, magic, children’s theater, performance, cabaret, and film. Because each class has students from many countries, the English language is used.

20 May 2021

Circusland. The latest reopening agreement allows for indoor facilities in amusement parks, zoos, etc. to be open from 21 May with requirements for coronapas. This allows Circusland to open the playground and the arenas and to present a number of shows.

Subject to change, the daily program looks like this:

Kl. 10:30: Pony riding

Kl. 11:00: Animal ABC. See how the circus animals are trained and get tricks to practice with your own animals. Laura Berdino is in charge of the show. Kim Kenneth speaks.

Kl. 11:30: Magic show with Kim Kenneth, who has miracles and tricks up his sleeve in the impressive family magic show on the big show stage. His assistants are Jessica Caveagna and Kelly Janecek.

Kl. 12:30: Show with guest stars, presented by the Danish tv host Bubber.

Kl. 13:15: Kim Kenneth and the clown Jimmy Folco entertain young and old on the small show stage in the indoor Playground.

With a few exceptions, then Italian clown Jimmy Folco has been part of Circus Arena's performances since 1997. Here he is seen in the well-known entrée with the shark in the bathtub. The entrée was "invented" by the Russian clown Andrei Nicolajew (known as Nico), who showed it as early as 1971, although with a crocodile as opponent. The version with a shark as an opponent probably originates from the Swiss clown André Broger.

Kl. 14.00: Circus Landino - a real circus performance. You meet Kelly & Rudolf Janecek with perch. Rudolf also has a juggling entrée and Kelly an aerial act. Jessica Caveagna performs with sword balance and she and Kim Kenneth present illusions. Rudi Althoff presents liberty horses. The running character of the show is the clown Jimmy Folco.

Jessica Caveagna shows impressive sword balance over a ladder with fire. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Kl. 15:15: Show with guest stars, presented by Bubber.

20 May 2021

Small Danish Circus Krone cancels season 2021. Frank Thierry writes (my translation)

Corona has had a hard grip throughout the entertainment industry and has cost many sleepless nights and it is unfortunately not over yet. Also Circus Krone has problems. We have fought a hard fight to keep our spirits up and tried to uncover all possible and impossible scenarios for season 2021. Time and lack of guidelines have been constant enemies. Rome was not built in one day and neither does a circus tour.

Now some guidelines have finally come and we have considered how to comply. Of course we could follow the guidelines, that's not the problem. It is just not possible for us to run a decent business under the current restrictions. These are the same challenges as last year and even with added demands on us and the audience.

We're a small circus and we love it. However restriction means that can in no way have enough spectators in the tent to cover our costs. Normally we can seat 220 spectators in the tent, now we can have a maximum of 78.

Unfortunately, the reality is that again this year, we must see ourselves beaten by the corona pandemic. It is with a bleeding heart that we must once again cancel our season.

How big consequences this has, we are investigating, but it is no secret that this is a very tough game both personally and businesswise.

That said, we are still continuing to work on alternatives for the summer. It is always possible to contact us with all kinds of inquiries. We can still offer sold performances, tent rentals and Denmark's best Circus workshops.

Just as in 2019 and 2020, the small Jutland Circus Krone has cancelled this year's tour. Photo: Per Krogh Petersen.

Circs Krone's cancellation of this year's tour provides an opportunity for a special offer, which they hope many will take advantage of: Trifolikom & Thierry - a terrific clown show for the whole family. The performers are Professor Trifolikom and the musician and multi-artist Frank Thierry. Click here to read more.

"Professor" Tonny Trifolikom and Frank Thierry

14 May 2021

World Circus Day 2021. Usually, World Circus Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in April. However, due to the corona, the Danish celebration of the day has this year by agreement with the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque been postponed to Whitsun Saturday 22 May.

As in previous years, the Danish celebration takes place at the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, and is arranged in cooperation between the museum, the Danish Circus Friends Association and Cirkus Baldoni.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and admission is free. Remember face mask and corona pass.

At 11:15 Kurt Flemming talks about being Pierrot and the journey that preceded as a magician and circus artist. The lecture takes place in the auditorium in Avedørelejren. There must be a maximum of 50 people in the auditorium. Free admission. During the lecture, wear a face mask when you are not sitting down and show coronapas.

Kurt Flemming, as hundreds of thousands of children and adults remember him from the amusement park Bakken north of Copenhagen

At 1 pm there is an clown show with Charlie & Binalto from Circus 3. The two clowns had their 40th anniversary in January this year which the corona prevented them from celebrating. So now it will be the performance on Circus Day that marks their 40th anniversary. In these corona times, there is a ceiling on how many people there can be in the Fencing Hall. If you want to secure a seat, click here to buy a ticket. Tickets cost DKK 20 + ticket fee.

Charlie & Binalto. Photo: Per Krogh Petersen

In connection with the clown show, wear a face mask when you are not sitting down and show coronapas.

At 14:15 there will be a gala performance in Cirkus Baldoni, which this year will put up their tent on the lawn at Avedøre Tværvej / Fægtesalsvej, a few minutes’ walk from the museum. Ticket price reduced by DKK 30. Also in Cirkus Baldoni, you must wear a face mask when you are not sitting down and show coronapas. If you want to secure a seat we recommend that you make a purchase or reservation at www.baldoni.dk - the corona means that Cirkus Baldoni is far from allowed to sell all their 483 seats.

Gør link aktivt

14 May 2021

New shows after the reopening in Circusland. Until now, all outdoor rides in Circusland have been open but there have been no indoor performances. But from 22 May, you can once again see circus and magic shows in Circusland.

It's Kim Kenneth and his assistants you will meet in the magic shows in Circusland. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

13 May 2021

Circus Trapez does not have a normal tour this year, but present a number of short open air performances. Here you can see the tent without a top at Hejlsminde camping.

11 May 2021

Circus Mascot cancels this year's tour of Denmark, but is planning summer events at the winter quarter in Roslev, Jutland

They write (my translation):

It is with great annoyance that we have to bring this sad message: Our entire planned tour of Denmark 2021 has been cancelled.

We had waited with hope in our hearts that the final guidelines for cultural life in Denmark this summer would allow us to get back on the roads.

Unfortunately, this will not be the case, as the area requirement for indoor cultural activities is 2 m² per seated member of the audience. In our small 18-meter circus tent which normally can accommodate 270 guests, this will only allow us to play for approx. 127 guests for each performance and that cannot at all cover our expenses.

BUT! Even though we had hoped that this year we would succeed in getting around Denmark and do what we are best at - then we had of course feared that it would not be possible and it obviously put a lot of thoughts on it…

And therefore we can now - after all - lift a little of the veil for a some good news that we have had considered for some time. At the end of June, we will open the doors to our new summer holiday format "AT HOME WITH CIRCUS MASCOT", which we expect to offer performances, guided tours and workshops here at our circus farm in Roslev. We cannot reveal more here and now, but stay tuned on our website, where we will continuously tell about the new format and what it will offer in terms of experiences for children!

The Circus farm in Roslev, winter quarter for Circus Mascot

The planned summer performances at the circus farm will feature Circus Mascot's many animals: dogs, goats, Canadian mini pigs and geese. As well as the ponies, including 2 newly purchased ponies. In addition to members of the Deleuran family, you can e.g. meet the clown Gulio and his family.

The cancellation of Circus Mascots summer tour means that guests in Summerland Zealand for the second year in a row must do without circus entertainment. Sad!

10 May 2021

In 2020 and again this year, it is Morten Eisner who has the role of Pierrot at the amusement part Bakken north of Copenhagen where he plays the nitwit talking to and entertaining children. Each Pierrot must have his own style, and Eisner’s differs i.e. from the style of his predecessor Kurt Flemming in that there is more singing and music and less magic. At the same time, the corona means that it is not possible to invite children on the stage. - In the old days, there were artist performances at Bakkens many varieties and at the open air stage. Today, Pierrot is the only performer who is left on Bakken as all the varieties are closed and the Open Air stage doesn’t any more present artist.

Morten Eisner was born and raised in Frederiksberg with his family: father and Bakken painter Ib Eisner, mother and painter Inger Larsen, older brother and Bakken painter Jeppe Eisner. He was trained as an actor at the School of Acting at Aarhus Theater in 1978. Among other things, he has been associated with the Betty Nansen Theater, where he played one of the robbers in When the Robbers came to Cardamom Town. In 2013, he was clown in Circus Arena. His predecessor as Pierrot Kurt Flemming had the task for 23 years.

9 May 2021

Jacob Boas Leitisstein, one of Denmark’s best circus photographers, was at Baldoni's premiere on May 6. Below you can see some of his photos. Click here to see more photos.

Peter Norgaard with Charlie

Allando and the panda

One of the show's top acts: the young Italian hat juggler Sage Maccaci

Kaya Janacek at just 14 years old. An upcoming world star?

8 May 2021

Zircus Nemo gives up touring in 2021. Circus owner Soren Ostergaard writes (my translation):

“I'm very sorry to have to announce that we've had to push this year's Zircus Nemo's tour to next year. We are coming to the same cities that we should have visited this year.

The government's latest guidelines for the reopening of cultural life impose on us a limit on the number of spectators we can have in our tents. Normally we can seat approx. 600 people, and with the new restrictions the number has been reduced to approx. 220 people. With such a low number of spectators income from ticket sale will be lower than our costs.”

7 May 2021

Circus Baldoni at the top. A performance I would give 5 out of 6 possible stars if I were a newspaper reviewer.

As the first circus in the Nordic countries, Circs Baldoni opened the season in Hillerød on 6 May. It was a good and well-composed performance, which is staged by Kim Kenneth.

At the same time a bit of a change of Baldoni’s usual concept: the ventriloquist Peter Norgaard has replaced René Baldoni as ringmaster and the task as clown has been taken over by the poetic clown Allando. A new name on Zealand, where Baldoni spends most of the season, but well-known in Jutland from the small Danish Circus Krone. Allando is a clown type who certainly does not scare anyone. The more vociferous clowns can sometimes make smaller children a little insecure.

The show's recurring characters are the ringmaster and ventriloquist Peter Norgaard and the clown Allando.

The warm-hearted clown Allando began the show with his entrée with the mischievous rabbits. The poetic entrée ended with him juggling plastic bags.

Then Peter Norgaard opened the performance with swinging gospel music. Assisted by Allando and 5 other of the performers, Peter Norgaard ended up taking a swing in a rope that hung down from the circus dome.

A festive way to start the show, although some may miss Circus Baldoni's traditional welcome song.

The first artist act was Duo Ferrandino with a nice and fast-paced roller skating entrée which offered everything that such an act has to offer. However, without involving spectators - that is not possible in these corona times.

Duo Ferrandino - Michele Giovanni Ferrandino and his wife Marina Curci

The next act was couple Maria and Eddie Janacek in a fine act with a prop that I do not remember having seen before: a quadrant. A square construction that Eddie tunes up against his legs and with a chain around his neck. Maria swings around in a pole on the prop with tricks known from an aerial act. See photo.

Maria and Eddie Janacek

Then Allando was back in the ring with an entrée with a beach ball and a hula hoop.

There are many jugglers, but not many who juggle hats. But that the young Italian Sage Maccaggi does so with both talent and charisma.

Sage Maccaggi

The last act before the break was a ventriloquist act with Peter Norgaard who is one of the best and most entertaining ventriloquists in Denmark. It featured both his own dog Charlie and the Baldoni mascot the lion Leonardo. The latter had a slightly less prominent role in the performance than in previous years.

The first act after the break was Allando with a short version of the well-known entrée with 3 buckets and a head moving under the buckets. Such an entrée makes happiness. Peter Norgaard put his head under the buckets.

Allando and Peter Norgaard's entrée with the 3 buckets

They were followed by the contortionist Sheyen Caroli, who is one of the few who masters to tighten a bow with her feet and hit a balloon.

Sheyen Caroli

One of the top acts at Baldoni in 2018 was the young rola bola acrobat Kaya Janacek, who that year was among the nominees for that year's talent award. Now he is 14 years old and masters even more tricks than in 2018. He can develop into a star of international format.

Kaya Janacek

Next, Allando entered the ring with his entrée with a dangerous animal - a panda with a prop man inside.

Then Peter Norgaard was back with another ventriloquist entrée where Leonardo came up with several of his well-known remarks. Like "I love children - with gravy and potatoes" and "the adults taste better - they are fatter". Peter Norgaard was best, however, with his own doll Charlie, who can both speak and sing Rock'n'roll.

Eddie Janacek now presented together with the children Kaya and his little brother Rudi, a distinguished and fast-paced juggler entrée with clubs, balls and rings. Talented Kaya also mastered juggling ping-pong balls with his mouth.

The last artist act was a beautiful number with Duo Ferrandino in aerial cradle, accompanied by evocative song with Peter Norgaard with the Danish lyrics from A whole new world from the Disney movie Aladdin.

Next, Peter Norgaard led to the festive finale, where Baldoni's normal farewell song was replaced by a song to the tunes of Barry Manylow's Copacabana ("Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl…"). A glorious end to a show that will hopefully draw many children and adults throughout the season. After the winter lockdown all of us need real live entertainment!

The circus director René Baldoni, who is staying away from the ring this year, told that ticket sales and pre-sales was clearly better than last year and that they have full house for all performances in Hillerød. So luckily enough it does not look as the requirement for coronapas keeps people away.

6 May 2021

Circus Arena, being the largest circus in the Nordic countries, gives up touring in 2021. They write (my translation)

The new reopening plan contains a wide range of restrictions that do not allow us to give our audience the full experience in the circus tent. We have examined each option, but with the limitations that the reopening plan places in relation to assembly sizes as well as access and area requirements, we unfortunately realize that at present it is not possible to carry out the performances in the quality we want to present to our audience. Therefore, we must unfortunately accept that this year's performances cannot run as planned.

Normally, our circus tent can seat 1750, but the assembly ban and area requirements mean that it is only possible to sell approximately one third of the tickets. The limited ticket revenues due to the assembly ban are not enough to cover the costs associated with such a large circus production, the daily movement of the entire circus from town to town and the extra covid-19 initiatives that the reopening plan prescribes that cultural life must provide. We would therefore have to change significantly in the performance and tour schedule. In addition, there is a risk that the tour may be stranded in regional parish lockdowns, where city activities and cultural life may be required to shut down just prior to the performance.

Furthermore many performances in March, April and May has been cancelled due to the lockdown. The large number of cancelled cities does not make it possible to merge the performances in these cities into the existing tour schedule. These performances can therefore first be played in 2022.

The cancellation of this year's tour make us very sad, and we look forward to being able to fill the tent again and let the world's best artists perform for you in 2022. At that time it must be expected that we are on the other side of the vaccination program.

The cancellation does not affect Circus Arena’s theme park Circusland in Aarslev near Slagelse, which is open on all weekends until the summer holidays - Saturday and Sunday at 10 - 17. From 26 June to 8 August open every day from 10 - 17. All outdoor rides and activities are open while the indoor arenas with shows have been closed. Circusland hopes however from May 22 again to be able to present their many shows.

Open in Circusland, which has got many new rides and expects soon to be able to offer shows.

5 May 2021

Circus Arli opens the season on 22 and 23 May at 15. As usual at the Mill Hill in Floeng (a Copenhagen suburb). This year's performance is called Fun at the beach hotel. Among the cast are, in addition to members of the Arli family, the clown and multi-artist Francesco Fratellini and the aerial acrobat Sarah Florees.

The clown and multi-artist Francesco Fratellini. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

4 May 2021

Tonight the majority of political parties in the Danish Parliament agreed on further reopening which seems to mean the following for the Danish circuses: 

Possibility of reopening from 6 May with coronapas and up to 2,000 spectators in sections of 500 according to the same model, which was valid before the lock down in December 2020: the spectators must essentially sit down in fixed places facing the ring, area requirement of 2 m² per spectator, distance requirement of 1 meter (an empty chair) between spectators who are not close contacts, protective equipment and requirements for health plan for events with more than 500 participants. In practice, the m² requirement means that a circus only can have approx. half as many spectators in the tent as usual.

3 May 2021

CIRKUSFABRIKKEN - THE CIRCUS FACTORY - in LINDUM, small location in Jutand, Denmark

The travellig circus shows suffer a lot from the pandemic restrictions, but at the CIRCUS FACTORY there are many activities, maybe a sign that CIRCUS sees the light at the end of the tunnel and will perform normally. All the summer activities at the CIRCUS FACTORY are fairly scheduled and sold out, and this is in pace with what is called a center for experiences and events.

On top of the usual circus performances, there are plenty of musical and other cultural events.

Summer always brings weekly circus courses.

These events are a mix of the very special Danish FOLK HIGH SCHOOL, that has the aim of spreading culture to the people -  and holidays with the family.

Everyone who is participating has the possibility to reach a personal summit - and even beyond !

This means to attain the ability to get a better knowledge of oneself - and to exercise personal talents.

This concept includes a means to expose already known talents - and the same that were always there - only hidden !

It all happens in a festive and positive environment: circus wagons, a circus ring, there are possibilties to rehearse both outdoors and indoors, there are furthermore stage facilities, wardrobes and a coffee shop - where the performers can gain new strength. Part of the exercises, as well as the final show/s/ do take place in CIRCUS CHARLIE's welcoming and beautiful chapiteau, shaped as a skittle.

Circus Charlie's chapiteau shaped as a skittle is raised nearby of the CIRCUS FACTORY

THE CIRCUS FACTORY in 2015.

From the gala show in 2017. Photo : LISE SORENSEN.

The transformation from a closed down diary to a center for circus arts and a cultural monument is in constant development:

EINAR TRIE is the personality who gets the ideas and acts as a promotor and coach.

Actually the following bodies are active on the premises:

THE CIRCUS FACTORY/ SALLING CIRCUS CLUB/ THE ASSOCIATION DUBAL i.e. association of Danish youth circuses / , some festivals sporting concerts, artistry and family events, THE SOCIETY FURSUNDEEGNEN, acting to increase the spirit of solidarity between the local inhabitants.

EINAR TRIE, former manager of CIRCUS CHARLIE, enthusiastically leads the activities. caption: CIRCUS CHARLIE was on tour 1988 thru 2007. Photo from 2015.

This lively place is both local and national, but also international: every year some non-Danish instructors come to work, thus backing up the in situ monitors, proving that CIRCUS ARTS are international, being understood by all and sundry.

Photo from 2019, 10 years jubilee by THE CIRCUS FACTORY.

There are projects to renew and re-construct these old dairy premises. In the pipeline: a new roof, a new heating system, new thermo window panes, a modern insulation. This requires a substantial budget:  2.5 million DKK. Participation from diverse funds and state support are being asked for.

See more: www.cirkusfabrikken.dk hands out more info, in Danish, but try GOOGLE translation.

Danish text by JORGEN LORENZEN, PHD, freely interpreted by ZARRO ZARRO,PHD, Paris.

3 May 2021

DUBAL – national association of Danish youth circuses.

Summer 2021:  European Circus Camp for young artists. Week 26/ Fee: DKK 1.500 / inclusive catering and night accommodation, in a circus wagon.

Start: 26 JUNE thru 3 JULY,  2021.

See more at http://www.cirkusfabrikken.dk/european-circus-camp/english.html

30 April 2021

Guidelines for circuses etc. The final version of the guidelines, which will apply from 6 May, is not yet ready. This is the reason why Circus Arena has postponed the start of the season until 6 June, and that’s why several other circuses are waiting to announce the start of the season. As it looks now, Circus Baldoni expects to start the season on May 6 and Circus Nemo on May 12.

The guidelines will undoubtedly stipulate that anyone over the age of 15 for the time being must show a coronapas. Experience from the museum and zoos shows that the requirement for coronapas limits the number of visitors considerably, as everyone who has not been fully vaccinated (2 weeks after the vaccination) has to go around a test centre to get a negative test. Circus directors fear they too will notice a drop in the number of spectators.

It must be assumed that everyone over the age of 12 must wear a face mask in the tent when they are not sitting down.

It is also certain that there can be a maximum of 1 spectator per. 2 m² floor area in the tent. The floor area is calculated wall to wall regardless of furniture, etc. The number of people present in relation to the floor area is calculated excluding staff and performers.

In addition, it must be expected that special requirements apply if more than 500 spectators are to be allowed into the tent. Of the Danish circuses, only Arena and Nemo have room for more than 500. The above-mentioned limit of 1 spectator per 2 m² means that the legal number of spectators for Nemo for the time being is less than 500. Dueto this the special requirements for large gatherings only have practical significance for Circus Arena. If they want to let in more than 500 people, they must sit in separate sections with max. 500 spectators per. section and with separate entrance, and a number of additional conditions apply.

The National Board of Health recommends that there should be at least 1 meter or an empty chair seat between each spectator. The distance recommendation can be deviated from between people who are close contacts. It is recommended to keep a distance of 2 meters for activities with strong exhalation, where drops are formed and thrown farther away from the person than in normal speech, e.g. singing, shouting, lecturing, acting, physical exertion. This will mean that there have to be a distance of 2 meters between the performers and the spectators in the first row of ringside chairs.

The guidelines will also apply to theatres, cinemas and revues.

Of course, guidelines limiting the number of spectators also limit revenue. Due to this some of the Danish circuses might not find it profitable to go on tour.

29 April 2021

The circus museums open. For the Circus Museum in Rold, Jutland, it is quite usual that the season does not begin until 1 May. From this date until the end of September, it is open Tuesday-Sunday at 12.00-16.00. The museum is closed on Monday. The address is Østerled 1, Rold, 9510 Arden.

The Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, is usually open all year round. However due to the corona it has been closed since the beginning of December. The museum could not like the other museums in Denmark reopen on 21 April because they are located in Avedøre Parish, which has been locked down due to a high number of Covid-19 infections. But from 2 May, it should be possible to visit the museum again. They present a completely new exhibition concept.

29 April 2021

Circus Arena postpone season opening to June 6th. Originally, Circus Arena should have premiered at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on March 24. Covid-19 restrictions meant that the premiere had to be postponed until May 6 in Nykøbing M. Although circuses in principle are allowed to open the season on May 6, there are still so many demands and restrictions and uncertainty about what applies that Cirkus Arena has now postponed the premiere until 6 June in Esbjerg.

This year, Cirkus Arena will first time put up the tent in Esbjerg with its first performance on 6 June. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

They write (my translation)

We have been very much looking forward to present circus for you again, but we unfortunately have to announce that all performances until 5 June have been cancelled, as we still lack clear guidelines for holding of major events.

Although the Danish society has gradually begun to open up, it has not yet been politically decided what restrictions cultural life must be subject to from 6 May. This means that we do not yet know for sure how large audiences we are allowed to play for, how the performances are to be conducted, etc. At the end of last week, an expert group presented a number of long-awaited recommendations for the reopening of cultural life. Recommendations that promise well in relation to making it possible to gather the audience in the circus again. We just do not yet know exactly what the detailed guidelines will be. The political parties which have to agree on the final restrictions have been convened for negotiations at the end of this week.

We have been waiting for over a month for the final restrictions that cultural life must be subject to, and we must now unfortunately announce that the first performance will not be ready to take place as originally planned on 6 May.

Our many foreign artists and employees who together create the circus performance have not come to Denmark yet due to the global Covid-19 lockdown and the uncertainty about the restrictions' continued influence on such a large production as Circus Arena is. They are still in their home countries and must when coming to Denmark in isolation before we can begin rehearsals for the show.

In order to have the opportunity to fulfil to the upcoming restrictions and at the same time create a good performance for our audience, we therefore feel compelled to cancel all performances until 5 June. As it looks now, the first performance can take place no earlier than June 6 in Esbjerg, but we will continuously keep you updated via Facebook and our website.

Thank you for your patience and see you in the circus tent!

29 April 2021

Cirkusbladet 2021. Danish Circus Friends Association and Cirkusmuseet have just published this year's edition of their joint yearbook Cirkusbladet. 28 pages in A4 format with lots of photos, also in colour. Due to the many photos it can also be on interest for persons which cannot read Danish. This year's articles include an interview with Irene Thierry of Danish Circus Krone, where she very openly talks about an exciting, but not always quite easy life. Additionally, there is an article about Borra, King of the Pocket Thieves and his son Charley Borra. There is a look back at the dental athlete Pierre Hoffland and electrician man Roberto Bengaly. From the present, you can read about Karsten Mathiasen's small Circus Bella Donna's summer tour with a horse-drawn prairie wagon. The magazine has been sent to all members of Danish Circus Friends Association. For further information send a mail to info@danskecirkusvenner.dk

23 April 2021

Guidelines for circus visits in a corona time. Although there are less than 14 days to the circuses in Denmark after the latest decisions can start the season, the Ministry of Culture's guidelines for circuses and other performances with seated audiences are not yet ready. Well enough, there were some guidelines late Friday, but it says that both the general and special guidelines for cultural productions and cultural events with seated audiences at the moment apply only to a limited extent. It does not make planning easy for the circus directors, theatre directors and cinema directors!

However, it is certain that all guests who have reached the age of 15 must present a corona passport at the entrance, which either shows a max. 72-hour-old negative Covid-19 test or that the guest is fully vaccinated (minimum 14 days since last bite). In addition, the guest must be able to present a health insurance card, passport, driver's license or other publicly issued ID card that matches the name of the corona passport.

Most likely guest who has reached the age of 12 has to use mouthpieces inside the tent until they sit down.

The guidelines, which came late Friday, state that access must be allowed for 1 visitor per. 2 m² floor area. The floor area is calculated wall to wall regardless of furniture etc. The number of people present in relation to the floor area is calculated excluding staff and performers. But it is added as mentioned that the guidelines pt. only applies to a limited extent! So it is not easy to know what will actually apply, including what additional requirements there will be!

An expert group set up by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Business and with representatives from the culture and health area, came Friday afternoon with their recommendations on how this summer's events can be carried out. The recommendations will on Monday 26 April be discussed on with the political parties behind the framework agreement for the reopening of Denmark. Thus, clarification of what applies from May 6 is hardly ready until the middle of next week at the earliest.

The expert group's recommendations are mostly about larger events and especially those with over 500 participants.

For such events the experts recommend that the organizers prepare a health plan for a health-sound conduct of their event. The plan must contain a description of the infection-reducing measures that will be implemented in connection with the event. Participants must be placed in "essentially seated at fixed seats", and if the number is over 500, they must sit in separate sections with a separate entrance. In phase 1, there must be a distance of 1 meter (“an empty chair”) between participants, but not between spectators from the same household and corresponding close contacts. There is an area requirement of 2 m² per seated participant and a requirement to use protective equipment indoors when you are not sitting on your seat.

23 April 2021

Henrik Krogsgaard turns 70. On Tuesday 27 April, the pianist and bandmaster Henrik Krogsgaard turns 70. In 1969, just being 17 years old, he became the youngest bandmaster ever for the band in Circus Schumann in the Copenhagen Circus Building. He continued as bandmaster when Cirkus Benneweis took over the operation of the building the following year. He stayed with Benneweis in the Circus Building until 1972 and was back again from 1976 to 1980. He had a long-term revue cooperation with Volmer-Sørensen, first in Nykøbing Falster and then in Cirkusrevyen where he was conductor for several years. Cirkusrevyen is the biggest revue in Denmark located in Dyrehavsbakken north of Copenhagen.

It is many years since Henrik Krogsgaard last time worked in a circus. But he played organ/piano both at Nelly Jane Benneweis' funeral in 2009 and with Lotte Arli's funeral in 2019.

Henrik Krogsgaard. Photo from the Benneweis years

In 1976, the music from that year's performance in the Circus Building was recorded on record and cassette tapes.

22 April 2021

Wallmans cancels all dinnershows in May and June in the Copenhagen Circus Building. All performances in May and June have been cancelled. July is always the holiday month at Wallmans. They write (my translation): The reopening plan for May and June contains a number of restrictions that do not allow us to give you the full Wallmans experience. You only deserve the best - and when we reopen on August 27, we will do EVERYTHING to give you and your company a bang of a party!

20 April 2021

The circus museum postpones the reopening. The Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, had hoped as other museums in Denmark to be able to reopen on Wednesday 21 April. But on 18 April, Ishøj parish, in which the museum is located, was forcibly locked down due to high Covid-19 infection rates. This means that schools, clubs and cultural and association life in the parish is closed until at least Sunday 25 April.

When the museum reopens, it is with brand new exhibition which they are looking forward to present to the visitors. Among other things there is a completely new introduction to circus history and the museum experience, which is radically different. At the same time, they display some of the most iconic items from their collection and items that have never been displayed before, such as an impressive circus poster from Cirkus Renz from 1868.

The German Circus Renz was then one of Europe's leading circuses. They had visited Copenhagen with great success in 1860 and played in a wooden building built for the occasion at Gyldenløves Bastion. The visit was repeated in 1877, where they built a building in the extension of Nørregade. It was Cirkus Renz who in 1886 was the very first circus to play in the newly built Copenhagen Circus building.

Poster for performance May 13, 1860 in Circus Renz. The poster is not from the visit in Copenhagen, where they first premiered at the end of May or the beginning of June.

The Circus Museum’s collection is among the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. It consists of more than 100,000 different artefacts, including many thousands of photos and posters, costumes and props, personal notebooks, programs and newspaper clippings. The Circus Museum’s collection contains material relating to acrobats, jugglers, animal trainers, clowns, magicians, illusionists, workers, musicians, actors and dancers. While it focuses on Danish artists, the collection also contains quite a lot of international material.

The large majority of the museum’s artefacts come from the artist Ølund Barlys’ large circus- and artistcollection, on which the Circus Museum is based. Later on Truxa the magician’s collection was added, along with a large number of other artefacts which have been donated by individuals, artists, various circuses and other museums and archives.

19 April 2021

"I just want to tell you that Cirkus Kæphøj has put its circus tent up on April 15," Uffe Neise from Holbæk's children and youth circus writes. He continues: “We hope to be able to do a show in this June, but in the first instance the tent will be used so that the young people in Cirkus Kæphøj can practice in different disciplines and otherwise just be together, but with distance. At the moment, there are 54 young people between the ages of 10 and 16 who go to Cirkus Kæphøj, which is a municipally run club ”. - The photo, which is from 2017, was taken by Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

16 April 2021

Still no updated guidelines. The guidelines for cultural productions and cultural events in Denmark with seated audiences, including circuses, which are to apply from 6 May, are still unknown.

15 April 2021

The Danish Circus Award - new jury member. Lars Wallenberg has joined as a member of the board / jury for the Danish Circus Award. The Board of Directors now consists of Ole Simonsen (Chairman), Jan Hertz, Niels Christian Hansen and Lars Wallenberg. Lars Wallenberg was born in 1960 and has a master's degree in theater studies. He is a theater and culture reviewer for the newspaper Børsen and has also made a large number of cultural features for DR (the public Danish Radio). He is chairman of the jury in Revyernes Revy and author and co-author of a large number of books, including Gyldendal's Theater Lexicon. He has been appointed to the circus award’s board by the Association of Danish Theater Journalists.

Lars Wallenberg

The Danish Circus Award was established in 1957. I 1958 the award was given to Albert Schumann and in 1959 to Eli Benneweis. There was no prize-giving from 1959 to 2015.

In 2016 The Danish Circus Friends Association took jointly with the Circus House Museum Association (support group for Circus Museum in Rold), a group of former artists and persons with special interest in circus initiative to reestablish the Danish Circus Award.

The "new" circus award was first time handed out on 23 August 2016, when the Danish Minister of Culture Bertel Haarder presented the award to Benny Berdino from Circus Arena. In August 2017, the award was presented to Søren Østergaard from Zirkus Nemo and in 2018 to Martin Arli from Circus Arli. Both times it was the Minister of Culture Mette Bock who was in charge of the award ceremony. In 2019, the Minister of Culture was Joy Mogensen, and it was she who presented the award to the clown and multi artist Benny Schumann. Due to the corona, there was no award ceremony in 2020.

In addition to the honorary award The Danish Circus Award has a talent prize, a prize for the best act of the year and an effort prize.

The talent award went in 2016 to Alexander Arli (Circus Arli), in 2017 to the now closed AMoC (Academy of Modern Circus), in 2018 to Charmaine Berdino (Circus Arena) and in 2019 to Kolev Sisters (Circus Arena). The award for best act of the year went in 2016 to Captain Frodo (Zirkus Nemo), in 2017 to Rafaella Honden (Circus Mascot), in 2018 to Duo Solys (Zirkus Nemo) and in 2019 to Andrejs Fjodorovs (Circus Arena).

The effort prize, which was first awarded in 2017, went to Bertel Haarder that year. At that time he had retired as minister of culture. In 2018 it went to Mayor Anders Gerner Frost from Gribskov municipality and in 2019 to Mayor Helle Adelborg from Hvidovre municipality.

From the award ceremony in 2019. On the stage is seen the two Kolev Sisters. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

The Danish Circus Award believes and hopes that the corona will come under so much control that the Danish circuses will be on the roads again during May. The board of the Circus Award hopes to be able to return in August 2021 with a bang of an award ceremony: the awarding of the honorary award, the prize for the best act of the year, the talent prize and the effort prize.

14 April 2021

Circus exhibition in Lund, Sweden. Martin Lasson Berglund writes (my translation):

The Culture in Lund Museum right now has a nice exhibition about the circus. Posters, costumes and beautiful photos are displayed to the public. There are also film sequences from the film "The Last Circus Princess" which is a documentary about Circus Rhodin. Don’t miss a visit! On November 20-21, a circus meeting is planned for all circus friends, in Lund with a visit to the exhibition and dinner. The exhibition can be seen until 27 February 2022!

The Culture in Lund Museum is currently open Tuesday - Friday from 12 to 16 and Saturday - Sunday from 10 to 16. The museum is located at Tegnérsplatsen in central Lund, a stone's throw from the cathedral and approx. 10 minutes’ walk from the central railway station. The address is Tegnérsplatsen 6, 223 50 Lund.

“It is a beautiful exhibition and they have lots of interesting and beautiful costumes and props. So it is definitely worth a visit ", the Danish juggler David Sosman says. The exhibit also features some of his grandfather Pipo Sosman Sr.’s costumes. In the picture to the left at the top David is seen in his grandfather's costume. The other photos show David's grandfather in the same costume and David and his uncle Pipo Sosman in the children's version of the same costume. Picture bottom center is of David and his mother Isabella Enoch Sosman.

11 April 2021

Obituary: Enrique Romero. The excellent Spanish rola bola acrobat Enrique Romero (Salvador Enrique Riquelme Romero) has passed away. He was 82 years old. As a half-grown kid, he acted as a clown together with his father. From 1966 he presented the rola bola act which later earned him international fame. He first met the Norwegians in 1976 in Circus Merano, where he was back again in 1983. The Danes saw the little temperamental Spaniard at Benneweis in 1990 and 1992. Nelly Jane presented Enrique, who only reached her shoulders, as the balance phenomenon from Spain. In 1998 he was in Norway and performed at the Zoo in Kristiansand. He was back in Norway in 2006, this time at Circus Agora. In 1996 and 2005 he was with Circus Finlandia in Finland. Click here to watch a video with his act.

Enrique Romero in Cirkus Benneweis in 1990

10 April 2021

Peter Nørgaard on a circus tour. One of Denmark's best ventriloquists Peter Nørgaard, will soon be touring with Circus Baldoni as ringmaster. But he will not live in a circus wagon.

"I go home every night. I have two small children and a lovely wife that I am going home to. I  cannot say goodnight to the children, but I will be there in the morning,” he tells a local weekly newspaper and adds:" But when we hit Rødvig, it may well be that I spend the night in the circus."

In Circus Baldoni you will see Peter Nørgaard both with the lion Leonardo and his own dog Charlie (both are ventriloquist’s dolls).

Peter Nørgaard. Press photo from Cirkus Baldoni

10 April 2021

THE CLOWN/ CIRCUS/MAGIC/MUSIC/ CABIN. Circus commentator Jorgen Lorenzen, Ph.D, writes:

Near AARHUS, 2nd largest town of Denmark, close to Tirstrup airport, you find the village of FELDBALLE, and nearby FRILAND compound/concession, sporting a non - traditional architecture, representative of its residents, original and full of imagination.

In the very center we encounter THE CABIN, as above, here Professor TRIFOLIKOM and his partner SOFFI do live!

Tonny Trifolikom. Photo: Ulla Traedmark Jensen

Tonny Trifolikom in front of the Cabin. Photo: Ulla Tindal Hjorth

TONNY TRIFOLIKOM, although mainly known in Denmark, might be one of the most creative people in popular entertainment. He manages to perform comedy, magic, music, acrobatics and clown acts. He is performing in the circus, at festivals and everywhere. He is a combination of a street performer, a teacher, a fairy tale teller, he is a creator of joy, laughters, wonders and wonderings - all that is welcome within the framework of the traditional Danish show business, as well as other cultural and pedagogical events.

His rather philosophical approaches and views on: the clown, street performances and every kind of popular entertainment deserve to be written down for the benefit of coming generations.

However, actually TRIFOLIKOM is shaving down on his activities, thus selling out of his props, costumes and other items - to circus people, collectors, circus friends and everybody interested in entertainment.

On the photo to the right you can see Jorgen Lorenzen together with Tonny Trifolikom. Both of them with mouthpieces. Photos: Ulla Tindal Hjorth

On Facebook he now and then displays his talents, his sharp look at our society and his linguistic knowledge, when sprawling on various philosophical thoughts. E.g.: “The community is getting more and more complex and we are gaining more and more influence, but we want to decide more than we can figure out. We make more rules than we are able to comply with. I am a camp follower in something being too difficult to understand. We become the silent majority, although only few are speaking for us. We are limited in our opportunities for development. I miss my freedom.”

It is a statement applying to the circus, but also to community in general!

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Danish text by JORGEN LORENZEN, Ph.D, interpreted and with some comments by ZARRO ZARRO. Ph.D, Paris

9 April 2021

Danish Guidelines for cultural productions and cultural events with seated audiences. In principle circuses in Denmark can open the season on 6 May. However the have to follow the above mentioned guidelines. An updated version of the guidelines, which will be prepared by the Ministry of Culture after discussion with the sectoral partnership for seated entertainment, will hopefully be ready during the coming week. The guidelines are expected to include both a limitation of the total number of spectators and a certain square meter requirements per spectator. They guidelines can be crucial for the possibility for a circus to come on tour in 2021. If the max income in the box office due to the guidelines are less than the daily costs is doesn’t make sense to go on tour.

Here are the premiere plans as they look right now:

Circus Arena: 6 May in Nykøbing Mors

Circus Arli: awaiting the guidelines

Circus Baldoni: 6 May in Hillerød

Circus Krone: awaiting the guidelines

Circus Mascot: awaiting the guidelines

Circus Nemo: 12 May in Herning

Circus Trapez: no tour in 2021

7 April 2021

Circus Days and Nights. Circus Days and Nights is a circus opera in three acts, written by the composer Philip Glass. Its inspiration is Robert Lax’s Circus Days and Nights, a collection of poems that draws us into the poet’s fascination with acrobats and the circus lifestyle and takes us on the road with him when he “runs away” and joins a circus in 1940s America. For Lax, the circus becomes a metaphor for life itself – the cycle of life and death – and for human yearning and striving. Circus Days and Nights will be a boundary-crossing performance that brings the circus ring into the opera house. 

Circus Days and Nights is a co-production between Swedish Circus Cirkör and Malmö Opera. Swedish Circus Cirkör is considered by many to be Scandinavia's leading contemporary circus company.

The performance should have had its world premiere on May 29 at Malmö Opera and play until June 13. But due to the corona, the opera in Malmö has no performances in the spring with the audience in the opera. Instead, the performance is now launched as a performance, which for a fee of 100 SEK can be livestreamed on Thursday 29 May at 18, so you can see it at home. The language is English, but it is subtitled in both English and Swedish. It lasts approx. 2 hours.

See more at https://www.malmoopera.se/in-english (text in English)

4 April 2021

Swedish TV broadcast about the youngest generation in Circus Olympia. Martin Lasson Berglund writes (my translation)

Swedish Television has made a very good and interesting broadcast about Simon Bengtsson, son of Niklas and Natascha of Swedish Circus Olympia!

A broadcast about growing up in a circus from a children's perspective. Simon usually tour Sweden with his family and Circus Olympia, which consists of both people and animals from all over the world. But he also goes to a Swedish school just like all other children in Sweden!

Right now it's a pandemic and unfortunately Olympia cannot tour but we all hope that they can soon open the season and once again entertain Sweden!

Follow the link below to see the program which can be seen all over the world!

https://www.svtplay.se/video/30757890/sa-lever-jag/sa-lever-jag-sasong-1-simon

Just like the other Swedish circuses, Circus Olympia due to the corona break didn’t have a tour in in 2020. This photo shot by Linda Himsel, is from the grand finale 2019. Circus Olympia hopes that it will be possible to complete a tour this year.

2 April 2021

The circus princess from Viborg. On Friday 9 April, Laura Berdino, Aarslev at Slagelse, turns 40. As daughter of the Jutland business matador John Staaling from Viborg, it was not written in the stars that she would become a circus princess. But already as a little girl she loved horses, and one of the highlights of the year was when Circus Arena visited Viborg. "I wish it was me," she thought when she saw with what elegance, trainers presented liberty horses.

Laura Berdino

In 1992, the Berdino family invited her to be a holiday visitor. Day after day she saw day how Alexia and René Cassely trained their horses and elephants and performance after performance got great applause for their great act. Also in the following years she was a holiday visitor at Circus Arena. Later, education and work came first, and the holidays with Circus Arena were put on hold. However, Laura was still a regular guest at the circus lot in Viborg when Circus Arena visited her hometown. Every year she was invited once again to be spending her holiday with Circus Arena. In 2007, Laura said yes to be a holiday visitor when Circus Arena toured Bornholm. And at Bornholm she and Benny and Hanne Berdino's son Jackie fell in love. They got engaged in December 2008 in Paris at Restaurant Le Jules Vernes in the Eiffel Tower and got married in 2009.

Since 2010 season, it is Laura who has presented Circus Arena's beautiful horses. In 2011, Laura and Jackie got a daughter, Scarlet, who made her debut in the ring with ponies in 2019. Laura Berdino is chairman of the holding company behind Circus Arena, Berdino Holding. In the autumn of 2020, Laura and Jackie also took over the day-to-day management of the theme park Circusland in Aarslev. The corona meant that Circus Arena did not come on tour in 2020, and that the 2021 season could not as planned start in March. "I'm looking forward to being on the road again," Laura says. And I am sure that there is hundreds of thousands of Danes who are looking forward to seeing the pretty Viborg girl and her beautiful horses in Circus Arena's ring again.

30 March 2021

World Circus Day is usually celebrated every year on the 3rd Saturday in April. For many years, Danish Circus Friends Association has celebrated the day in cooperation with the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, and Circus Baldoni. However, the corona meant that the day could not be celebrated in 2020. Neither in Denmark nor in other countries.

3rd Saturday in April is this year April 17th. But according to the latest Danish Covid-19-restrictions, museums cannot open until 21 April, and the Danish circuses cannot start the season earlier than 6 May.

Due to this Danish Circus Friends, the Museum and Circus Baldoni have decided to postpone the celebration of the World Circus Day until Saturday 22 May. Subject to possible new restrictions.

The Circus Museum will be open from 10 to 14. This day free admission

At 11:15 Kurt Flemming tells about his life as Pierrot at ‘Bakken’. Free admission

At 13 there is an artist performance in the Fencing Hall. Free admission.

At 14:15 there will be a gala performance in Cirkus Baldoni, which as in previous years has pitched the tent at the lot behind the Circus Museum. Ticket price this day reduced by DKK 30

30 March 2021

Kenny Quinn to Holland. In the Netherlands, there are more visitors to the Christmas circuses than in the circuses that tour during the summer season. For the 2020/21 season, the Danish gentleman thief Kenny Quinn was engaged to Kerstcircus Haarlem. But due to the corona the season was cancelled. The Dutch Christmas circuses expect the corona to come so much under control that there will be performances in the 2021/22 season. They have already engaged several of the artists. Kenny Quinn and Mrs. Joan are engaged to Wintercirkus Apeldoorn. Apeldoorn is a town in Gelderland in the central part of the Netherlands with a population of 160,000

29 March 2021

Circus Agora 2021. Jan Ketil from the Norwegian Circus Agora writes (my translation):

Circus should be an experience of joy, humour and excitement. However, Covid-19 has given circus people a little too much excitement! We're still wondering when we can get on tour. The circus' management has now made a decision. For the sake of the public, employees and partners, Cirkus Agora will look at the progression in the vaccine program and the development of infection before starting a tour in Norway. Due to this we have decided to postpone the premiere, which usually takes place in mid-March. But if the vaccination goes according to plan, we are ready to go on the road again sometimes during the spring. We hope it will be as soon as possible!

Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

28 March 2021

The large Swedish Circus Maximum, which was one of the leading circuses in the Nordic region, closed their 2017 season in September at Heden in Gothenburg. And it became their last season. For 35 seasons, Bengt Källquist had toured with his circus. The first years under the name Circus Minimum, but the last many years under the name Circus Maximum.

The April issue of the Swedish circus magazine Cirkuläre Notiser contains an interview with Bengt Källquist, who is now 62 years old.

He says that everything went well for Cirkus Maximum until the 2015 season. But suddenly something happened. The newspapers stopped writing about circuses TV stopped broadcasting circus performances. Many companies that used to buy tickets stopped buying tickets, and animal rights activists promised to run Circus Maximum down. All this affected the number of visitors and the economy. Bengt Källquist went in with personal capital to avoid bankruptcy. But the 2017 season was a pure disaster: reasonable visitor numbers in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, but far too few in the rest of Sweden.

Today, Bengt Källquist run Källquist Equestrian AB, a wholesale store with riding equipment etc.

Dark clouds over Cirkus Maximum in 2017, which was the last season for the large Swedish circus.

Circus Maximum is not the only large Scandinavian circus which is closed. Norwegian Circus Merano closed after season 2014. Danish Circus Benneweis closed after season 2015. Swedish Circus Scott stopper touring after season 2015. Danish Circus Dannebrog closed after season 2016.

26 March 2021

Season opening in Denmark - updated overview.

Circus Arena should have premiered at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on March 24. Time and place have now been changed to 6 May in Nykøbing Mors in the northern part of Jutland. They write (my translation):

The government's reopening plan was presented the day before yesterday, and here a date was presented for when Denmark's cultural institutions and venues may once again have an audience. The date is May 6th.

We are happy that a date has now been set for when the indoor culture can start to open up, but we are also sorry that the performances before this date can unfortunately not can take place as originally planned.

We are working on finding new dates on which we can play the cancelled performances. In the same way as the performances in Copenhagen, where we should have been in March and April, have now been moved to August and September 2021.

We are still anxiously awaiting the precise guidelines for how large an audience may be, as well as any restrictions that may apply in the Circus Arena after 6 May. The authorities expect to be able to present these in 2 weeks at the earliest, and we will return as soon as possible when we know more about how we can best gather around the ring in Circus Arena for this year's anniversary show.

Our winter quarter 'Circusland in Slagelse' is facing a reopening. The outdoor cultural institutions - including amusement parks - have been allowed to open now! From Saturday 27 March and throughout the Easter holidays, Circusland in Slagelse opens all outdoor rides and activities every day from 10 to 17. Circusland's indoor facilities with shows are still closed, but outdoors all carousels are in full swing.

We look forward to seeing you all again - we have missed you.

Circus Arli had planned to start the season at The Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Fløng on 27 March. They write (my translation):

We should have started our 51st season on March 27th. Unfortunately, the government's restrictions make this impossible. We are ready, so when we get the “green light” we will start. Take care of yourselves. We look forward to seeing you again.

With a little bit of luck, Martin Arli, who is seen here with his son Alexander, can take his circus on tour in May. But Martin Arli waits with an announcement until he has seen the guidelines for how large an audience may be etc.

Circus Baldoni had planned to start the season on April 4, but has postponed the start of the season to May 6, where they are in Hillerød (40 kilometres north of Copenhagen).

Circus Baldoni was established in 2002. Thus it's their season No. 20. They call this year's show It's too wild

Circus Mascot had planned to start the season in their hometown Roslev on 31 March. They have postponed season opening until further notice.

Marianne Deleuran and her playful doggies are looking forward to getting back in the ring. Undoubtedly, there are also many who look forward to meeting them again in Circus Mascot. Photo: Per ”Mr. Sputnik” Krogh Petersen

Zirkus Nemo had planned to start the season on April 11 in Horsens. As the restrictions looks now look, they cannot start earlier than May 6th.

Not sure when you can meet The Smash Man aka the circus owner and comedian Søren Østergaard and his assistant Laura in the ring again. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Circus Krone writes that a season 2021 is conditional on them being able to follow and comply with the guidelines, which have not yet is known. They are following the situation closely and hope they soon can take a decision.

Circus Trapez writes (my translation):

Unfortunately, we have decided to cancel our usual 2021 circus tour, due to the Corona restrictions. Instead, we present for the first time, Cirkus Open Air - a small compatible outdoor circus show that can be performed at home in your gardens! The show is suitable for parks, care centres, SFOs, birthday parties and much more. If you are interested in supporting us in these difficult times, while having a great experience, please contact us on telephone 40 10 39 39, or at Info@Cirkus-Trapez.dk

23 March 2021

Small change in program at Circus Baldoni. The season should have offered a reunion with the duo Hands to Violin (Daniella Virtova, who plays violin and handstand acrobat Michal Mudrak). They were the top act at Cirkus Baldoni in 2016, where they were among the nominees for the prize for the best act of the year from the Danish Circus Award. Unfortunately, Michal is injured during training, so it will not be until 2022 that you can meet them at Circus Baldoni.

Instead Circus Baldoni has engaged the Italian hat juggler Sage Macaggi. He won silver for his performance at the 21st International Circus Festival of Italy Latina in 2020. The prestigious festival is usually held every year in October as a physical festival. Due to the corona, it was in 2020 held as an online festival.

Sage Macaggi. Click here for video with clips from Sage Macaggi's entrée.

In addition, Circus Baldoni has engaged the contortionist Sheyen Caroli, who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for shooting with a bow and arrow with her feet. She calls herself Mistress of Contortion and is 25 years old. She comes from Italy.

22 March 2021

Circus and reopening. The framework agreement on a plan for the reopening of Denmark which a broad majority in the Danish Parliament agreed on last evening propose that venues, theatres and cinemas and the other premises where cultural activities are carried can open on 6 May. This also applies to circuses.

For all spectators over the age of 15, there is a requirement for showing a coronapas which show that the spectator has been vaccinated, has passed infection or has been tested negative within 72 hours (both PCR and antigen test).

Relevant infection prevention measures will apply. These will be discussed in the sectoral partnership for seated entertainment on the basis of proposals from the authorities. The Circus Directors' Association is represented in the sector partnership.

For example there will be square meter requirements, requirements and recommendations for the use of mouthpieces. limitation of the total number of spectators and guidelines will apply regarding distance, hygiene, etc. The Ministry of Culture states that it is unknown when the guidelines will be ready.

Due to this it is difficult to know how the conditions will be for the Danish circuses. The development in the corona epidemic may also result in the mentioned start date of 6 May.

The public aid packages will be extended in the light of the gradual reopening in the coming months now being valid until 30 June 2021. Companies that have been subject to closure as a circus will be able to assess that it is not appropriate to open. In such situation, they can receive up to 90 percent in compensation for the fixed costs.

21 March 2021

The floor i lava, Cirkör style! The Swedish contemporary circus Cirkus Cirkör writes:

This is the circus artist Aaron Hakala’s contribution to Cirkus Cirkör’s 25th anniversary!

Aaron Hakala applied to Cirkus Cirkör’s upper secondary school so he could carry on with his greatest passion, parkour, but he quickly fell in love with contemporary circus. Now he works as a professional circus artist.

Cirkus Cirkör has spent 25 years pushing boundaries and changing society with circus art by making the impossible possible. Through hard work, facing our fears, using every failure as a lesson, stubbornly continuing to see the next opportunity round the corner and being the best version of ourselves every day. Life is an obstacle course and every day is a wonderful challenge.

Click here to watch the clip.

19 March 2021

Season opening for Circus Baldoni. René Baldoni and Camilla Frimann have decided to start the season on April 6 at the circus lot at Firskovvej in Lyngby. Unless there are restrictions that prohibit it or make it impossible. They will open the season even if there should be a slightly lower cap of spectator than in 2020, where you had to have 1 spectator per 2 square meter area of ​​the tent. The Ministry of Culture's guidelines for cultural productions and cultural events with seated audience suggests that the requirement in 2021 may be 7½ square meter per spectator.

Circus Baldoni will also start if there will be a requirement to present a negative Covid-19 certificate.

Assuming that Cirkus Baldoni can get started as mentioned, they are at the lot next to the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, on World Circus Day 17 April.

World Circus Day is usually celebrated at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre in cooperation between the museum, Danish Circus Friends Association and Circus Baldoni. Doubtful if it will be possible this year. But Circus Baldoni is planning to have performance on the square behind the museum on April 17.

This year's Baldoni performance is staged by the magician Kim Kenneth. He has previously with great skill staged circus performances both in Denmark and abroad. For example performances in English/Irish Circus Vegas and the 2015 performance in Danish Circus Benneweis. He has also had a hand in the game at recent years' Baldoni performances. And this year he is engaged to put the performance on stage. Kim Kenneth himself are not among the performers.

18 March 2021

Just as in 2020 Circus Trapez hopes to be able to sell some outdoor performances to nursing homes, parks, etc.

17 March 2021

Retired circus tigers to Knuthenborg Safari Park. Last year, Knuthenborg Safari Park and Animal Protection Denmark built Europe's largest elephant facility for four retired circus elephants. Three of them came from Circus Arena and one from Circus Trapez.

Now Knuthenborg Safari Park is working together with Animal Protection Denmark and with support from the QATO Foundation on establishing a facility that will house retired circus tigers and in the long run other so-called 'rescue tigers'. The facility will be the largest of its kind in Europe, where tigers can be out all year round. The first new resident will be a retired circus tiger from Spain.

Photo by courtesy of Animal Protection Denmark

None of the circus tigers will come from Denmark, as there since 1963 have been a ban against presenting predators in Danish circuses. In the wild, a tiger turns 12-20 years old. In zoos up to 26 years. Thus the tigers which have performed in Danish circuses have died many years ago. The tigers that you can see today in circuses in a number of countries are all born in "captivity" and are cubs of tigers which also were born in "captivity".

You have not been able to see lions and tigers in the Danish circuses since 1962. In Germany, there are big cat acts in several of the large circuses, and the animals have far better conditions than the circus and zoos offered them in the old days.

The tiger is a so-called endangered animal, and there are probably more tigers in "captivity", including in zoos, than in nature.

The QATO Foundation is non-profit and was founded in 2012 by Signe and Thomas Kirk Kristiansen. The QATO Foundation supports projects that contribute to promoting and ensuring animal welfare.

12 March 2021

Arne Björk aka the clown Jody turns 80. Today Arne Björk can celebrate his 80 year birthday. He has for many years been associated with Odense Theatre. But he is also known as the clown Jody. Arne Björk was educated at Odense Theatre's Dramatic Arts School in 1970. In 1971 he had under the stage name Jody his debut as a clown in Circus Benneweis. From 1983 - 1987 he was with Benneweis the Copenhagen Circus Building and on tour with their tented outfit. He has also toured Sweden, Germany, Hungary and Japan. In recent years, Arne Björk has worked with his poetic one-man-show "The Smallest Circus".

In the autumn of 2020, the audience could see him at Odense Theater with the performance “Den stille klovn” (The Silent Clown), built on Arne Björk’s critically acclaimed book “Den stille klovn”. Arne Björk and his wife hope that the performance on the other side of the corona can be shown in selected theaters and in smaller contexts.

12 March 2021

Postponed circus premieres. All the Danish circuses which had planned to open the season in March or early April have now pushed the season opening due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Circus Arena should have premiered at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on March 24 with dress rehearsals from March 19. They should have been at Bellahoj until 11 April. But corona restrictions force them to change plans. About the performances in Copenhagen they are writing the following (my translation):

Circus Arena's upcoming national premiere and tour has like all other indoor culture activities been temporarily shut down due to the authorities' extended COVID19 restrictions and the assembly ban. We have to be patient and we are looking forward to welcoming the audience to this year's circus show. The restrictions currently have consequences for our performances in Copenhagen until 11 April.

We are currently working on moving these performances in Copenhagen to August.

Take good care of yourselves until we can meet again.

As it looks now Circus Arena’s first performance in 2021 will be on 13 April in Holbæk.

Circus Arli had planned to start the season at the Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Fløng on 27 March. They write (my translation):

We should have started our 51st season on March 27th. Unfortunately, the government's restrictions at the moment make this impossible. We are ready, so when we get the green light we start. Take care of yourselves. We look forward to seeing you again.

Circus Baldoni had planned to start the season on April 4th. They write (my translation):

We are counting down to the start of the season this year. Pt. we expect it to be Tuesday, April 6. Due to the uncertainty, it is not possible for us to open up for ticket sales, as the guidelines are expected to be revised during March. We are working on a solution so that we can at least disclose our planned tour schedule. However, there will not be the big changes compared to previous years, so if you usually come to Baldoni during the summer holidays, we will be there at about the same time as last year.

Cirkus Mascot had planned to start the season in their hometown Roslev on 31 March. They write (my translation):

As it still not is known when cultural institutions, such as the circus, will be allowed to open we are temporarily postponing our premiere and tour of Denmark. We will be back with new dates as soon as we know more!

Circus Mascot's house clown Gulio and his family were looking forward to open the 2021 season in the Deleuran family's Circus Mascot on March 31st. But due to the corona pandemic the start of the season has been postponed.

Zircus Nemo still hopes to be able to start the season as planned on April 11 in Horsens.

Circus Krone and Circus Trapez have not yet announced premiere dates.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced that on 23 March she will present a plan for reopening of Denmark, subject to the Covid-19 pandemic still being under control. A so-called script that will make it possible for everyone to know when Danes again can go to a restaurant, to a concert or visit the hairdresser. The government is now convening the political parties for negotiations. Hopefully on March 23 we will get an indication of when the Danish circuses can start their season 2021.

10 March 2021

New clown in Circus Baldoni. When Cirkus Baldoni starts the season, it's with a new clown in the ring. At least new to persons from Zealand. The clown is Alando (Jan Allan Hansen), who for many years was a recurring figure in the performances in the small Jutland Circus Krone.

About the other performers Cirkus Baldoni writes (my translation): “You will meet a number of top artists, among others the Italian Ferrandino's who have a breath-taking roller skating act and a bold aerial act on the program. From the Czech Republic you will meet the super talent Kaja Janacek with the balancing art Rola-Bola and his parents Eddie and Maria in a whole new acrobatic discipline that has never been seen before. Duo Hands to Violin in a new and modern composition with violinist Daniella, who plays up to the super strong handstand artist Michal. As ringmaster we have the ventriloquist and musical star Peter Nørgaard, who leads the audience through the performance, of course accompanied by the lion Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll).”

Ferrandinos toured Denmark in 2011 with Circus Arli. The versatile Janacek family has been house artists with Baldoni since 2016. Hands to Violin was with Baldoni in 2016.

In 2021 circus owner René Baldoni will not be responsible for the performance himself but has passed the duty over to Peter Nørgaard. Cirkus Baldoni writes (my translation): “René has many projects up his sleeve in addition to Cirkus Baldoni. Thus he takes a year away from the spotlight to explore and try new things, and of course there must also be room for that in Baldoni, so he has handed over the director role to his partner Camilla Frimann. However, René still has a finger in the pie when it comes to Circus Baldoni, and of course you will still be able to meet him around the country. The new projects and adventures he is going to embark on are something René has wanted for many years, and NOW it shall be. ”

In 2021 it is not as in the former years circus owner René Baldoni who is ringmaster in Circus Baldoni

9 March 2021

Big plans for Circusland. Benny Berdino has big plans for expanding the theme park Circusland in Circus Arena's winter quarter in Aarslev near Slagelse. He wants to turn it into a holiday and event venue with holiday accommodation for 600 overnight guests, an 8,000 m2 water park and a concert and event venue with room for up to 3,000 guests. Already last year, Benny told friends and acquaintances about his plans.

According to TV2 Øst Slagelse Municipality has now given the green light for the first step on the road for Circus Arena, which has applied for permission to build a holiday and event venue.

- We want to make even more out of Circusland. This must be a “lighthouse” for Slagelse, Benny Berdino says to TV2 Øst. He continues:

- Now we have had a break from thinking during Covid-19 and all of a sudden have been in a situation where we have had to think about what we should do if the circus cannot be basis for our income in the future. And then we thought that Circusland could be expanded and be something for the benefit of the region and for ourselves.

TV2 Øst quotes the chairman of Slagelse municipality's Environment, Planning and Rural Affairs Committee Jørgen Grüner for saying that they are generally positive about the idea, even though there are some things which shall be investigated before the municipality possibly approves a local plan.

Circus Arena does not know what exactly it will cost to expand, but according to Benny Berdino, the costs quickly run up to 50 million DKK (6.7 million Euros). It may take up to a year before a local plan permitting the expansions is approved.

Circusland opened in November 2006.

Until sea lions in 2020 were banned from circuses there was performing sea lions in Circusland. This photo from 2007 shows sea lions with their trainer Addie Jepsen.

Tim Delbosq with a pony. Photo from 2007.

Circusland always offers performances in Circus Landino. Here photo from 2011 where Charmaine and Stephanie Berdino rode high school.

During the autumn holidays of 2012, guests could see the Berdino family's own elephants. As there is a ban against performing elephants in circus the elephants are now in Knuthenborg Safari Park.

In 2015 you met Chief Taking Waterfall aka Brian "Briano" Behrendt on horseback.

Jan Navratil who the audience remembers from Circus Benneweis and Circus Arena. In 2016 he performed at Circusland.

In the summer of 2017, the Austrian clown Don Christian was among the performers. The audience remembered him from several seasons in Circus Benneweis.

In 2018, the theme in Circusland was "The pirates are coming"

Suzanne Berdino and Mr. Tik Tak (Brian Behrendt) in 2019. Press photo from Cirkusland

Since opening in 2006 Circusland has usually been open during the winter holidays, summer holidays and autumn holidays. For some years, Finn Bendixen was the general manager. Since then, the task was taken over by Suzanne Berdino assisted by her husband Daniel Koscik and the dynamic Brian "Briano" Behrendt. In the summer of 2020, there were several new mechanical rides, and from the fall of 2020, Laura and Jackie Berdino took over the management. In addition to artist performances, there were now shows with Bubber as host, just as the budget for artist performances and thus the artists' quality was increased.

An innovation in the fall of 2020 was shows hosted by Bubber. Here he is seen with Silja Okking. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

Circusland was supposed to have stayed open during the 2021 winter holidays but that prevented Covid-19 restrictions. The Berdino family now hopes that Circusland can be open on all weekends from 22 May - 20 June and every day during the summer holidays from 26 June - 8 August as well as on all weekends from 14 August - 12 September. They have expanded with brand new rides, carousels and new shows and concerts.

The entrance to Circusland 2020. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

8 March 2021

Female circus directors. Today on the International Women's Day, there may be reason to mention that the circus industry is one of the industries where we over the years have seen many female managing directors.

When the founder of Circus Dannebrog Theodor Enoch died in 1909, it was his wife Wilhelmine Enoch who took over the management of Circus Dannebrog. It was probably even before Theodor's death Wilhelmine, who was the “main force” behind Circus Dannebrog. She ran Circus Dannebrog until her death in 1922.

From 1902, Heinrich Miehe handed over responsibility for the operation of Circus Miehe to his wife Louise and daughter Dora Miehe. However, it was soon Dora who became the managing director. Until her death in 1945, she was the director of Cirkus Miehe. 

Dora Miehe. Although Cirkus Miehe never became Denmark’s largest circus it was for many years one of the leading Danish circuses

When Giovanni Belli died in 1929, his wife Meta Belli took over the management of Circus Belli, which during her time as owner became Denmark's largest circus. She was the director of Cirkus Belli until her death in 1953.

Meta Belli was daughter of a rag dealer from Grenaa, but ended up as director of Denmark's largest circus

When Eli Benneweis died in 1993, his daughter Diana Benneweis became owner of Circus Benneweis. Benneweis stopped touring by the end of the 2015 season after for some years, like other major circuses in Denmark and abroad, having experienced a significant decline in the number of spectators.

Diana Benneweis. The beautiful blue dress can now be seen at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre

From 1984 to 2017, the small Jutland Circus Krone was run by Irene Thierry

Irene Thierry. The costume is a gift from Thyra Miehe

Click here to read more about the mentioned Danish circus families.

Also outside Denmark we have met prominent female circus directors. Europe's largest circus, the German Circus Krone, was run by Christel Sembach Krone from 1995 until her death in 2017. From 1984 to 1995, it was run by Christel together with her mother Frida.

From 1952 to 1991, the now closed Swedish Circus Scott, which for many seasons could fight with Circus Benneweis over which was the largest in the Nordic region, was led by Käte Bronett. From 1982 assisted by her son Francois.

As you can see there have certainly been strong women in the circus industry. In addition to those mentioned there have also been a number of spouses to male directors, which has been an absolutely invaluable help to the individual circus.

Of course, there have also been men who have been an invaluable help to female circus directors.

8 March 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS - but also in LEBANON and IRAQ, where particularly the children suffer from a cruel and dangerous environment.

LEBANESE CLOWN FARHAN tries his best to bring relief, joy and happiness to the kids in the sinister and dangerous refugee camps.

Here is the story: THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY is threatened in IRAQ. CLOWN FARHAN/ the name means JOY / performs in front of children to make them feel happy, relieved and experiencing good feelings, like in normal life. While performing, CLOWN FARHAN has eased the lives of thousands of children in LEBANON and IRAQ.

He achieves good results in a region where the Christians are under pressure.

It is sad to follow the development of Christianity in IRAQ that is several thousands of years old.

Ten years ago more than a million of Christians lived in IRAQ. Today we count about 300,000, who for the greatest part are pushed into the Kurdish area in the north, ERBIL.

Here is where the Lebanese clown FARHAN performs his one-man-show.

The situation in IRAQ:  oil-related problems and local warlords mix with religious problems, between sunnie and shiite Muslims where radicalized groups attack Christians.

A number has left for US, CANADA, EUROPE and AUSTRALIA, i.e. those who could do so.

The modern history of LEBANON and IRAQ is tainted by war, terror, corruption and instability, affecting daily life. Local demonstrations have occurred in the streets.

CLOWN FARHAN says: Throw your worries into the bag - thus promising that GOD will care for the oppressed.

By his performances FARHAN has invited thousands of refugee kids to get rid of their fear, both in LEBANON and IRAQ.

FARHAN is a clever young man and a professionally trained entertainer/clown, nursing the belief that by having faith in GOD, can make man /in the sense of human beings/ support spiritual hardship.

FARHAN grew up during the civil war in LEBANON and got to know only too well - about fear when hearing the noise of shelling getting nearer.

But how do you convey ethical values and the faith in a loving GOD - to refugee kids who are impatient and hardly remain quiet for more than a few minutes ?

FARHAN succeeds - offering a mixture of ventriloquism, dolls and dummies, easily understandable stunts and selected stories from the BIBLE.

Clown FARHAN entertains using serious topics that make the message of the Bible clear. Sometimes biblical texts are handed out after the show. Photo from the Danish Bible Society. Click here to see more photos.

The juvenile audience roars with laughter !!! When performing on a large scale, he can easily play for more than 500 children.

Christians are exposed to danger in IRAQ.

Clown FARHAN invites the children to get rid of their sorrows.

Throw your worries into the bag, he says, while promising that GOD will certainly receive them and protect the kids.

FARHAN: ”I do try to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness by introducing the message of the BIBLE, in a simple and creative way, Give your worries to JESUS !"

On stage FARHAN inflates a heart-shaped balloon.

A boy is invited up on stage and is asked to hold the balloon.

FARHAN is holding a brown paper bag - everybody is following the scenario, all are deeply concentrated!

A moment later FARHAN seizes the balloon, making it burst and a big noise is heard!

Such things do happen, he explains. We are hit by sorrows in our hearts. FARHAN makes another balloon burst to visualize when something terrible happens in our lives.

Now he seizes the brown bag, putting short questions, each time met by loud cries.

The church echoes from the loud YES, followed by attentive looks, the children are eagerly waiting.

FARHAN distributes his own worries by hand, to the children.

THROW MY WORRIES DOWN INTO THE BAG - DO IT !!

The boy gets the worries, putting them down into the bag, several children come up on stage putting down theirs, FARHAN says: now I throw all our worries up to JESUS -

one-two-three --- now they are all gone !!!

All the children clap their hands and shout for joy.

After the show FARHAN explains: the kids can concentrate only for a few minutes.

He chooses a new topic for each year.

This year it deals with worries, made by other people, it is about forgiveness and GOD'S LOVE.

It is a remedy for broken hearts.

This topic is very important as many children in our region have been exposed to violence.

As a child, I suffered and was very afraid, but I felt better - believing in GOD'S protection.

JESUS gave me the strength to love even the people who had made me suffer earlier.

Wise of his own experiences, FARHAN tries to help refugee children in LEBANON and IRAQ.

The small ones need not only food, medical care and a safe place they can call home; they need as well a clown like FARHAN to heal psychological disorders, learning from one of the world's most inspiring stories - the BIBLE.

FARHAN succeeds entirely, using his humour and charming and likeable character.

IRAQ is one of the busiest oil-producing states that should be able to allow people to live a happy life.

Alas, it is not so.

There are some peaceful pockets, but the majority of people suffer from lack of stability.

Around ERBIL, Christians live in refugee camps, sporting but few facilities for a decent life.

Many children suffer from traumatic events.

Realizing that, the Lebanese BIBLE SOCIETY decided to organize events for the most vulnerable ones.

CLOWN FARHAN went to ERBIL, where he entertained and backed up the most exposed little ones.

Synne Garff of DANISH BIBLE SOCIETY saw a FARHAN show in BEIRUT, performed for Syrian refugee kids - never had she seen such an enthusiastic audience.

The Danish Bible Society continuously supports projects aimed at persecuted Christians, fugitives and bible translation- and distribution. Click here to read more.

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Text from the DANISH BIBLE SOCIETY, published in Danish at www.circus-dk.dk 

March 02, 2021,

Text in ENGLISH, somewhat a free version, not a word to word translation, by ZARRO ZARRO, Paris correspondent for www.circus-dk.dk  The text has been read and certified corresponding to the reality in the concerned region.

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5 March 2021

Circus and Covid-19 restrictions. As of 1 March most Danish shops could open again. However, there are still a number of restrictions. Among restrictions extended to April 5 is the ban on indoor cultural activities. Outdoor cultural institutions such as zoos had the opportunity to reopen from 1 March. However, visitors are required to present documentation for negative COVID-19 testing (maximum 72 hours old).

If there were circuses hoping that they could call themselves "outdoor cultural institutions" and be allowed to open the season, possibly after removing the sidewalls of the tent, they must change their mind. The Ministry of Culture has stated that the assembly ban of 5 also applies to cultural activities that are held outdoors. This means that not even open air performances can be presented. Unless the restrictions are eased the assembly ban of 5 applies up to and including 5 April (Easter Monday). It may be prolonged.

Circus Baldoni had planned to open the season on April 4 which is impossible due to the extended restrictions. Now they are hoping for a season opening on Tuesday, April 6th. However, they will not open up for ticket sales, as the guidelines for cultural activities are expected to be revised during March.

3 March 2021

Usually you meet the Danish ventriloquist Peter Nørgaard with the dragon Dennis. But in the coming season you will meet him in Circus Baldoni, where he replace circus owner René Moenster Baldoni as the lion Leonardo's “father” and will be this year's ringmaster. Photo: Lise Kokholm

25 February 2021

Circus and Covid-19 restrictions. Although the Danish lockdown was somewhat eased as from 1 March there is still a large number of restrictions. Among restrictions extended to April 5 is the ban on indoor cultural activities. This means e.g. that Wallmans has cancelled all dinner shows in the Copenhagen Circus Building during the period. They hope to be able to resume their shows on April 8th.

Outdoor cultural institutions have the opportunity to reopen from 1 March. However, visitors are required to present documentation for negative COVID-19 testing (maximum 72 hours old).

The Ministry of Culture has previously stated that they do not consider a circus tent as "outdoor". If that interpretation is maintained, those circuses that had planned to have performances before 6 April must cancel these performances, unless further easing of restrictions occurs. These are Circus Arena (scheduled for first performance on 19 March), Circus Arli (scheduled for first performance on 27 March), Circus Mascot (scheduled for first performance on 31 March) and Circus Baldoni (scheduled for first performance on 4 April).

Circus Arli has taken the consequence of the extended restrictions and writes (my translation): We should have started our 51st Season on March 27th. Unfortunately, the government's restrictions make this impossible. We are ready to open the season as soon as we get the green light. Until then take care of yourselves. We look forward to see you again. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

When last year’s restrictions were eased in June 2020, it became possible for cultural events with seated audiences such as circuses, cinemas and theatres to have performances if they lived up to the following requirements:

·         A maximum of 500 people for each event, including staff and performers.

·         Every 2nd seat empty or 1 meter distance between the members of the audience measured from the centre of the seat. Groups that already have close contact can sit by contiguous seats, even if there is less than 1 meter between them.

·         Maximum access for 1 visitor per 2 m2 floor area in the room / tent. This is exclusive staff and performers. The floor area is calculated wall to wall regardless of furniture, stage, etc.

Circus folks and other organizers of events for seated audiences were highly praised by the authorities for complying with the rules, and not a single case of infection was found that had occurred in connection with a performance with seated audiences.

When the current restrictions hopefully are eased with effect from 6 April, there may again be rules on the number of visitors in relation to the area and a cap on the total numbers of visitors. The rules might be stricter than in 2021. It may have an impact on whether it will be profitable for a circus to go on tour at all.

19 February 2021

The Danish lockdown. Some of the present restrictions, which for the time being make it impossible to take a circus on tour, will lapse by the end of February. However it seems likely that at least some restrictions will be prolonged. Is has to be seen if it as planned is possible for Circus Arena to open the season on 19 March and for the other circuses to open the season late March or in the beginning of April.

18 February 2021

A Finnish circus. January 29, 2021 I brought a list of circuses in Norway, Finland and Sweden. As far as Finland is concerned, Peter Lindfors has made me aware that also Sirkus Valentino had a 3-month tour in Finland in 2020.

Circus Valentino is a small circus that used to use the name Circus Caliba. It is owned by Ines Ullmann-Dimitrova, who also is ringmistress. She writes on Facebook that she hopes that there will be another tour in 2021.

14 February 2021

Europe's culture hard hit. A new study has been published, commissioned by GESAC (European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers): 'Rebuilding Europe: The cultural and creative economy before and after the COVID-19 crisis'.

According to the report, revenues in the sector – which includes TV, cinema, radio, music, publishing, video games and the performing and visual arts such as circuses – plunged by 31.2% last year compared with 2019. It was hit even harder than tourism, which lost 27% of its income.

• The total turnover of cultural and creative industries in the EU28 is reduced to €444 billion in 2020, a net drop of €199 billion from 2019.

• With a loss of 31% of its turnover, the cultural and creative economy is one of the most affected in Europe, slightly less than air transport but more than the tourism and automotive industries (-27% and -25% respectively).

• The shockwaves of the COVID-19 crisis are felt in all cultural and creative industries: performing arts (-90% between 2019 and 2020) and music (-76%) are the most impacted; visual arts, architecture, advertising, books, press and AV activities fell by 20% to 40% compared with 2019. The video games industry seems to be the only one to hold up (+9%).

• All sectors are affected: even those that seemed to be protected by home consumption faced a sharp drop in income, given the central role of physical experiences and sales

in their business models, as well as uncontrollable production and distribution costs.

The performing arts industry, which also includes circuses, is among the industries hardest hit by the effects of the corona pandemic. Since we in Denmark in 2020 only had 2 of the country's 7 circuses on tour, and even with a shortened season, the loss of turnover for the Danish circus industry has undoubtedly been more than 75%. Also keep in mind here that neither Circus Arena nor Zirkus Nemo, which usually has the highest turnover, were on tour in 2020.

The COVID-19 crisis will have a massive and lasting impact on the entire cultural and creative industries value chain, and the report mention 3 challenges:

Challenge 1 – “Finance”

Provide massive public funding and promote private investment in cultural and creative businesses,organizations, entrepreneurs and creators – two indispensable levers to support and accelerate their recovery and transformation.

Challenge 2 – “Empower”

Promote the EU's diversified cultural offering by ensuring a solid legal framework to allow

for the development of private investment in production and distribution, providing the

necessary conditions for an adequate return on investment for businesses and guaranteeing appropriate income for creators .

Challenge 3 – “Leverage”

Use the cultural and creative industries – and the multiplied power of their millions of individual and collective talents – as a major accelerator of social, societal and environmental transitions in Europe

Click here to read the report

12 February 2021

John Thur turns 75. Thursday, February 18, John Thur can celebrate his 75 years birthday. He is perhaps better known as JohnJohn Thurano. For 54 years he presented together with his father Konrad Thur the comic wire act Die Thuranos. Father and son did a formidable act, where they used the wire as a prop, while the wire by many other tight wire artists almost is the "main character". JohnJohn has told me that he and his father actually never needed to train together! Impressive when you think of the many years when Die Thuranos was one of the artist world's most demanded acts. (John John trained himself, of course).

JohnJohn and his father Konrad. Photo from the International Clown Festival 2004.

Last time the Danish audience met Die Thuranos was at the international clown festival at the amusement park Bakken in 2006, where Konrad was deservedly the audience's favorite. However, he could not get the festival's honorary award, the World Clown and Artist Reward as he had already received it in 2004! Konrad Thur passed away in 2007. After his father's death, John, who at that time was turned 61, chose to retire as an active artist. However, he continued to teach young people about juggling and wire numbers.

JohnJohn Thur. Photos: Lise Kokholm

JohnJohn is actually christened Johannes. The name JohnJohn was used as an artist name when performing as a plate spinning juggler. Many circuses and varieties wanted artists to have two acts. Also as a plate spinning juggler, he insisted that the plates were props and not the "main characters" in the entrée.

For many years he has lived in Svindinge on Funen, Denmark.

10 February 2021

The Circus Museum's annual poster 2021. Many circus enthusiasts have a weakness for circus posters. In recent years, there have not been many new posters because many circuses use the same poster year after year. For poster collectors, it is therefore great that the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, present a new poster every year. This year's poster has just arrived...

The artist behind this year's poster is Oliver Streich. Oliver Streich was born in 1968 in Bern, Switzerland. After a year at the school of arts and craft in Bern, he was trained as an illustrator and graphic artist at the school of arts and craft in Kolding. In 1990, he received a scholarship for a one-year stay at the Art Academy in Bratislava. Here he met his girlfriend / partner Els Cools from Belgium. In the following year, the couple lived in both Switzerland and Belgium, before moving to Faaborg in Denmark in 1992 and starting their drawing studio and a small gallery. Oliver has illustrated many books, teaches at Billedskolen and the high school in Faaborg and has participated in numerous exhibitions.

The poster can be ordered via email: info@cirkusmuseet.dk. It costs 50 DKK, - and 45 DKK in postage and 35 DKK in handling fee. The postage to other countries than Denmark will be somewhat higher than 45 DK.

When the museum reopens, the annual poster can of course also be purchased in their museum shop. In the museum shop, they have a wide selection of circus posters, including reprints of historical posters from old Danish circuses such as Benneweis, Moreno, Miehe, Dannebrog and Arena. In addition, they have for sale the museum's own annual posters since 2006 created by various Danish artists such as Leif Sylvester, Carl Quist Møller, Nelly Jane Benneweis and Adam O. See more at https://cirkusmuseet.dk/butik/plakat/

In the old days, circus posters were printed on paper and were, for example, put up on lampposts with crayons or staples, where they remained for a long time after the circus had left the city. Often the poster told something about program of the year. See e.g. this poster from Circus Renard 1955. It was by the way Cirkus Renard's only season - they went bankrupt after a few months. A copy of the poster can be purchased in the Circus Museum's shop.

Today, a circus has a duty to remove their posters shortly after the performance, and the posters are often printed on long-lasting plastic sheets. This makes the unit price much higher and means that posters can be used for several years, as long as they are affixed with a streamer with venue and date. And the idea of ​​mentioning the names of the performers does not quite work when a poster is just something you see from a fast passing car and not like in the old days on foot, by bike or from a horse-drawn carriage.

7 February 2021

Historical review of the music in Benneweis! Martin Lasson Berglund writes (my translation):

Stig Vognsen from Ringsted, Denmark, has a great interest in circus and circus music! He asked Diana Benneweis if he could be allowed to film the musicians during a performance, just to show how the musicians feel on the orchestra podium. A good and interesting idea that was realized in 2014 and 2015. You can see the result below.

Stig's father, Axel Johansen, played the trombone in Benneweis' band in the 1950s and worked in the circus for about 10 years. Axel borrowed a caravan from Eli Benneweis, and for four seasons Stig got the opportunity to travel with his father and get a real insight into circus life. During this time, one of his playmates was Diana Benneweis.

Stig Vognsen's father was a member of the Benneweis Orchestra in the 1950s, where the bandmaster was Orla Thomsen. The poster shown is from 1952

For many years, the Benneweis Orchestra was led by pianist Bogdan Szlachcic from Poland. Together with his musicians, he delivered wonderful circus music in Benneweis’ tents. Circus Benneweis stopped after the 2015 season, and now Bogdan plays in the Swing & Blues Jazz Orchestra in Poland.

Bogdan Szlachcic and his 6 pieces Benneweis Band. Photo from 2015. Bogdan is seen to the right. He became bandmaster at Benneweis in 1994. At that time he had 8 men in the orchestra. In 2001, he was replaced by an English bandmaster, as the Danish Musicians' Association had succeeded in preventing a work permit from being given to musicians from non-EU countries. However, it did not create jobs for Danish musicians: the 23 Polish musicians, who in 2000 had provided the music in Danish circuses, were replaced by 9 Englishmen. Several circuses switched to using taped music and Circus Arena and Circus Benneweis, who were the only ones to keep an orchestra, employed 4 and 5 English musicians respectively. Poland joined the EU in 2004, and the following year Bogdan was back in charge of the Benneweis Orchestra.

When circuses disappear or change, there are also more orchestras that disappear, and in the Nordics and Europe today it is quite rare with orchestras, if you compare with how it was 20-30 years ago. A piece of circus history worth remembering!

Below you will find the video clips with the orchestra, which Stig Vognsen made!

So turn up the volume and enjoy the music!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSFe5I2D54A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYx0W8vrMf8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErCz1NrW_tE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-nyD1oY6lI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKlukZ2iHJ8

5 February 2021

Josette Dubsky turns 90. On Thursday 11 February Josette Dubsky can celebrate her 90 year birthday. Josette Carmen Dubsky was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer on 11 February 1931 as daughter of Charlie Rivel’s brother Polo. Thus, she is cousin to Paulina Schumann and worked for many years as an August clown together with her spouse Joseph Dubsky and with their son Janos as white-faced clown. Joseph in Josette’s father’s Polo Rivel's costume with the little black nose, Josette as her uncle Charlie Rivel in the long red wool sweater with a red nose and red wig. She was good, with very beautiful feeling for the August-role. Josette and Joseph's last season as clowns were in 2000 when they toured Demark with Circus Dannebrog. However in the winter holidays in week 8 in 2004 they had a single week's comeback in Circus Kenny in Rosengaardcentret in Odense. Joseph Dubsky passed away in September 2016.

Josette and Joseph Dubsky in Circus Kenny in 2004. Photo: Lise Kokholm

3 February 2021

Circusland does not open during the winter holidays. Circusland is a theme park owned by the Berdino family and situated in Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Slagelse. They write (my translation):

Circusland is following the authorities' extended restrictions against covid-19. Due to this we can unfortunately not as planned open during the winter holidays in week 7 and 8.

We are sorry to disappoint you, but the most important thing in this situation is that we all listen to the authorities and take good care of each other.

We look forward to seeing you again in Circusland when we open again for the spring and summer months - this year from May 22 and on all weekends up to the summer holidays and every day during the summer holidays from June 26 - August 8 and on all weekends from 14 August to 12 September.

The entrance to Circusland. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Just as during the autumn holidays, Circusland had in addition to other activities during the winter holidays planned a large number of shows with the TV host Bubber as host. Among the guests in the autumn was the Danish singer, actor and TV host Silja Okking who in this photo from the autumn 2020 is can be seen together with Bubber. Other winter guests should have been other popular Danish singers and entertainers. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

2 February 2021

Save the art of circus from covid-19. The Swedish Circus Academy writes (my translation):

Swedish circuses take their responsibility and have cancelled their tours due to the corona pandemic.

The country's three remaining touring circuses (Brazil Jack, Olympia and Rhodin) are hardest hit as they do not receive any public grants or public commissions. Contemporary circuses which is largely financed by public support, is better equipped for this extreme situation.

The Circus Academy take note of the fact that the circuses meet all the requirements set for taking part in the SEK 500 million that the government has set aside in support of culture. In other grants, social values ​​are unfortunately taken into account, but this time we expect the support to be distributed on the basis of objective criteria. If that happens, the touring circus will survive the pandemic.

During April and May, to which the 5000 million grant applies, the three remaining circuses would have played 180 performances. Many of these in places where the event would be the year's only cultural visit with performing professional artists and musicians.

It is the circus that brings the whole of cultural Sweden to life.

29 January 2021

Circuses in Denmark 2021 – an update. The Danish lockdown has been extended until 28 February. Due to this it is not possible to have circus performances during the school children’s winter holidays in week 7 and 8. Most likely also theme park Circusland has to give up being open to the public during the winter holidays.

Only time will tell if it will be possible for the Danish circuses to open the season as planned. According to the plans, they will have their first 2021 performances as follows:

Circus Arena: March 19th

Circus Arli: March 27

Circus Mascot: March 31st

Circus Baldoni:  April 4th

Circus Nemo April 10th

Circus Krone: not stated

Circus Trapez: not stated

29 January 2020

Circuses in Norway, Finland and Sweden. There is great uncertainty about what will be possible this year.

2020

In 2020, neither of the two traditional Norwegian circuses toured. The stationary Circus Jesper in Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park had performances from 16 June to 9 August. The Norwegian contemporary Circus Xanti with the Circus Village had a mini tour in Sandvika and Oslo.

In Sweden, only the small German-owned Circus Bambino was on tour in 2021. The tour lasted almost 7 months, but there had to be a maximum of 50 spectators in the tent.

Things went better in Finland, where the large Circus Finlandia managed to complete an approx. 3 month long tour. The somewhat smaller Circus Tähti had a 4 month long tour.

2021

In Norway, both the large Circus Arnardo and the medium-sized Circus Agora hope that it will be possible to get on tour this year. Uncertainty about restrictions means that none of them have announced a date for season opening. Circus Jesper hopes to be able to complete the usual summer performances in Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park with a premiere on 19 June and then performances until 15 August.

Circus Arnardo in snow. Photo from March 10, 2018. Doubtful whether it this year will be possible to open the season as early as March. Photographer: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

Circus Agora 2018. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

In Sweden the large Circus Brazil Jack, the medium-sized Circus Olympia and the small Circus Rhodin are hoping it will be possible get on tour. But like their Norwegian colleagues, they are waiting to announce a premiere date. As Trolle Rhodin III from Cirkus Brazil Jack writes: "Until the government decides on opening for larger gatherings, we simply have to be patient and wait quietly." When the family Weisheit's small Circus Bambino closed the 2020 season, they wrote: "We hope that we can continue our tour (in Sweden) next year 2021".

Circus Brazil Jack at The Mill Hill in Malmö at the premiere on April 4, 2019

Circus Olympia is known for its many well-groomed animals: dogs, horses, ponies and camels. Photo from 2017

In Finland, Cirkus Finlandia has not yet announced the date for season opening. Their season usually starts in April. Circus Tähti hopes to be able to start the season on April 9 in Jalasjärvi. Only time can tell if it will be possible.

Circus Finlandia in Helsinki. Photo from 2013

The Magician and musician Samir Abdelmeguid in front of his Circus Tähti, which had its first season in 2015 or 2016.

21 January 2021

A circus prince is born! Tara Toya and Alexander Arli got on Saturday 16 January at 18:30 a little circus prince. The little boy measured 49 cm at birth and weighed about 3600 grams. "We are extremely happy now to be grandparents," Bettina and Martin Arli write. It is their first grandchild.

Congratulations to both the proud parents and the grandparents.

20 January 2021

Circus Mascot 2021. The corona meant that the only activity Circus Mascot had in 2020 was the winter holiday performances in February in shopping centres in Herning and Aalborg. The tented summer tour was abandoned.

Like the other Danish circuses, Circus Mascot hope that this year it will be both legal and justifiable to have a summer tours. The usual winter holiday performances in shopping centres in February have been abandoned. But they hope to be able to open the tented season in their hometown Roslev on 31 March and continue until 26 September. This year's performance is called FOR FULL EXHAUST.

Circus Mascot writes (my translation): “We still believe in the value of gathering around experiences that are taking place right here and now. We believe it is important to give children the opportunity to rejoice - and we know that something very special happens between people when they take a seat on the circus bench”.

Audience on their way into the two pole tent

Daniel Deleuran is ringmaster. He also presents the small circus' ponies. His mother and co-director Marianne presents the many other animals: dogs, goats, geese and pigs. Because in Circus Mascot, they believe that happy and well-groomed animals are an indispensable part of the show.

Daniel Deleuran and two of the ponies

Marianne Deleuran is an excellent dog trainer

The clown Gulio and his family have been associated with Circus Mascot since 2003. Also this year you will experience the beloved clown and his family: Mrs. Tetyana and the children Husik and Julia in the ring. Rumour tells that Gulio this year not will be the only clown in the ring!

Mascot's regular house clown, the colourful and happy wag Gulio.

The circus tent is 18 m in diameter and can accommodate 270 circus guests. As their tour in 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions season 2021 will be No. 27 and the purpose is just as from the start in 1994 to provide happy and lively entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together!

15 January 2021

Danish Circuses and Covid-19. The corona pandemic meant that only two Danish circuses were on tour in 2020: Circus Arli and Circus Baldoni. Both with a shorter season than usual and with a ceiling on the number of spectators. Baldoni had also in November started their usual Christmas performances, but had to cancel the last 12 performances due to new restrictions. Circus Trapez had planned to make a Christmas circus in Kolding. But it had to be cancelled due to the restrictions. The restrictions also meant that Wallmans had to cancel the last 6 Christmas dinner shows in the Circus Building in Copenhagen and that the Circus Museum in Hvidovre had to stay closed.

The prevalence of the more transmissible B.1.1.7 strain is increasing in Denmark. The health authorities find that there is a considerable risk that the number of infections with this virus strain will escalate. Accordingly, the extensive lockdown in Denmark will continue and both cultural events and museum visits are prohibited until and including 7 February. This means that both the Circus Museum and Wallmans are closed until and including the said date. If the restrictions are extended, they must extend the closing period.

The restrictions have also resulted in cancellation of other events. E.g. the contemporary circus performance Only Bones v.1.0 was supposed to be shown on a number of stages around the country in the second half of January, but it has been cancelled.

Circusland in Slagelse plans to be open from 15 to 28 February. If the restrictions are extended, they will this year have to give up their winter holiday opening in whole or in part.

Let’s hope it will be possible to visit the theme part Circusland in week 7 and 8. The Danish schools are closed for winter holidays either in week 7 or in week 8.

The Danish circuses plan to open the season by the end of March / beginning of April. With Circus Arena as the first with the first dress rehearsal on March 19 and Circus Arli as the next with dress rehearsal on March 27. All circuses hope that the Covid-19 situation at that time is such that it is both legal and justifiable to start as planned. Let's hope so. Until then take care!

Ringmaster Bubber and singer and ringmistress Julie Berthelsen hope to be able to welcome to the first circus performance in 2021 in Denmark on 19 March.

15 January 2021

Three birthdays with a round figure:

Jörgen Börsch 80 years. On January 18, Jörgen Börsch turns 80. Jörgen's father owned a large men's clothing store in Hillerød north of Copenhagen. But Jörgen wanted to do something else. Thus, it was his two older brothers who took over the business. Among other things, Jörgen has worked as a promoter and artist agent. In the latter capacity, he has e.g. booked artists for Danish circuses such as Baldoni, Krone and Mascot. In 1993, he was the producer and daily manager of Danish Circus Fantastico, which only toured this season. He also assisted Bossle Monster Truck Show for many years with their touring in Denmark. For many years he has been a regular guest at the Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, where he is one of the few Danes who have been in the ring. However, not as an artist, but as an audience participant in Fausto Scorpion's entrée. The year was 1989. Click here to watch a video clip.

Ordinary Jörgen spends his birthdays in Monte Carlo, where there usually is a circus festival in January. But this year's festival has been cancelled due to the corona, so he has to stay in Denmark.

Jörgen Börsch

Bernhard Kaselowsky 60 years. On January 19, Bernhard Kaselowsky, Mølby in the southern part of Jutland, turns 60. He was born in Germany, where his family ran their own circus, Circus Kaselowsky. Like other circus children, he was trained with everything possible in circus and artistry. The only thing he did not work with was animals! When Bernhard was 20 years old, the family began a  cooperation with another circus, Circus Hercules. Here Bernhard began working with animals. In 1983, he bought the elephant Ramboline, which he had until the ban on elephants in the Danish circuses in 2019 forced him to part with the elephant, which is now in Knuthenborg Safari Park. Ramboline was barely 2 years old when she came to Bernhard. Later he acquired horses, oxen and camels. With his animals he performed in the following years in a number of circuses: Arlette Gruss and Christiane Bouglione in France, Circus Agora in Norway (several seasons), Circus Americano in Ireland (several seasons), just as he performed at a number of galas. The Danes first time met him in 2001 in Circus Dannebrog, where he presented horses and elephants. He stayed at Circus Dannebrog until the 2006 season. In 2009 he performed at Circus Benneweis. From 2010 to 2015 he was back in Circus Dannebrog.

In 2016, he and his spouse Isabella Enoch Sosman established Circus Trapez, which tours in Jutland and on Funen. Due to the corona, Circus Trapez did not tour in 2020, but had just a few short performances in Madsby Playground in Fredericia, in nursing homes and during the autumn holidays in Arrild Ferieby. A Christmas circus in Kolding had to be abandoned due to the corona.

To the left: Bernhard Kaselowsky. To the right Bernhard and Isabella Enoch Sosman in front of their circus, which in 2019 featured the Indian performance Yakari.

Judy Glosted 60 years. When you see the elegant Judy, you can’t believe it! But the baptismal certificate dislose the truth: Judy is born in 1961 and turns 60 on January 21st. Judy Glosted became nationally known in Denmark 2006, where she became singing ringmistress in Circus Benneweis. She kept that position until 2008, when she wanted to get a few years break. She was back again with Benneweis in 2011 and stayed this time until the 2014 season. For a period in 2017, she was ringmistress in Danish Cirkus Trapez.

Judy’s mother was a circus performer and appeared as an acrobat and dancer, until she got children. Judy’s father was a musician. Her sister is the Danish actress Betty Glosted. The parents never lost their interest in circus, and both Judy and Betty were dragged along when Circus Benneweis visited in Funen. Judy took a business degree and had her first job as a host at a local TV channel TV Aarhus. Later she came to TV-Funen. After that she became marketing manager of Kolding Shopping Centre. As an artist Judy is autodidact. Besides the above jobs she travelled in around in Denmark and entertained with singing and music and cabaret. In 2003, Judy decided to put the uncertainty of nomad life on the shelf and said yes to a job as manager of Schur Conference Centre in Glud at Horsens. But when you have the fascination of the circus in your blood, you don’t say no to an offer from Diana Benneweis - and Judy said yes in 2006.

But today, Benneweis is closed, and Judy Glosted was not quite happy in the somewhat smaller Circus Trapez. So in 2018 she made another career change and became a singer in the Danish band Fat Finn & Funny Boyz. When the corona does not prevent it, she also has a number of jobs with senior entertainment in nursing homes, etc.

Judy Glosted in Benneweis’ ring. The beautiful blue dress, which was previously used by Diana Benneweis, can today be seen at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen.

11 January 2021

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS -- this pandemic has closed down all theatres and circuses /  the result is financial hardship,  but on the human side as well it has caused a number of people to develop psycho ailments, by distress and loneliness, in turn due to lack of interaction with peers and people. Some surgery interventions have been postponed, as the troubles caused by the pandemic have priority.

Theatres as well as CIRCUS, including MAGIC SHOWS/which indeed is a kind of theatre/ should have been allowed to open per JAN 07, a decision that was cancelled,  then JAN 20 was cancelled as well, the latest but sure enough not the last info says: end of JAN.

The famous Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione opened the season on October 17 (see my review here on this website dated 22 October, 2020), but restrictions meant they had to close after a few weeks. The season was supposed to last until the beginning of March, but it is doubtful whether they can resume the performances this winter.

The Cirque d'Hiver in Paris was opened by Emperor Napoleon III on 11 December 1852 as the Cirque Napoléon. The theatre was renamed Cirque d'Hiver in 1870. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec repeatedly found inspiration in rehearsals and performances at the Cirque d'Hiver. Photo by courtesy of Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione

CATASTROPHE for all ENTERTAINMENT, the smaller cafées/ outlets within CATERING BIZ - are closing down in numbers.

Apparently necessary, but bringing personal tragedies in numbers: Paris has lots of performers who are stuck without being paid - and thus having but little chance of getting home.

IT ALL HAPPENS IN PARIS !!!

-------------------------------------------Feedback/info by ZARRO ZARRO.

8 January 2021

Orbituary: Erik Christgau. On January 7, Erik Christgau passed quietly away after a long illness. He would have turned 90 in February. In 1972, he married Vivi Schmidt. She was daughter of Louis Schmidt from Circus Louis, which was closed after the 1960 season. In 1963, Vivi started with the assistance of Erik Christgau Cirkus Vivi, which toured Denmark until 1967. 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. Vivi Schmidt was known as a skilled sea lion trainer, and after 1967 she continued for a couple of seasons presenting her sea lions in other circuses, assisted by her assistant and niece Addie Jepsen. Later, Addie took over the act which continued to be presented as Vivi's sea lion. It was Vivi who owned the animals.

Also after Circus Vivi was closed and Mrs. Vivi had stopped with the sea lions, Erik and Vivi kept their interest in the circus and had especially close relationships with the Berdino family from Circus Arena. Vivi passed away in 2015, but Erik Christgau maintained his close connection to Circus Arena.

The Berdino family writes (my translation):

The friendship with Erik meant a lot for us in Circus Arena. As recently as the summer of 2020, Erik welcomes the audience, while checking tickets at the entrance to Circusland in Slagelse, just as he has for many years faithfully helped to welcome the audience during Cirkus Arena's Denmark tours. Despite his advanced age, Erik loved to travel around with us in his caravan and we always enjoyed having visits from him. R.I.P.

7 January 2021

Obituary: Yrsa Zidla. The former Danish trapeze artist Yrsa Zidla passed away on December 31, 2020. She was 93 years old. She was married to the Austrian master juggler Eric Zidla who in his acts was assisted by Yrsa. Eric Zidla passed away in 1984. In Denmark we saw him with Yrsa as assistant in Cirkus Moreno in 1959 and in the variety theatre Lorry in 1963. It was Yrsa Zidla years ago taught Bettina Arli of Danish Circus Arli to perform in trapeze.

5 January 2021

A birthday with a round figure: Violet Ørum turns 90. On January 6, the former trapeze artist Violet Ethel Ørum turns 90. As a young woman she wanted to become an acrobat and worked for a season with Professor Tribini at Danish funfair garden Bakken north og Copenhagen. But she was too heavy and inflexible in the bones and instead she became a trapeze artist. In 1949, she signed a contract with the Lazana sisters, who performed in Danish Circus Moreno with the act 3 Lazana. It was the start of a decade with lots of travel and experiences. She performed all over the Middle East. In connection with performances Lebanon, Iran and Iraq in 1958 and 1959, she met the bike artist couple Haddy and Solveig Enoch and has since maintained close contact with the Enoch family. Violet Ørum stopped as an artist in 1959 and went to Australia, where she married a childhood friend. However, the marriage did not last, and she returned to Denmark with her daughter. 45 years ago, she started practicing karate at Shotokan Karate Academy in Copenhagen, where she quickly became known as Mama San and where she is still active. They would have held a reception for her on Saturday, January 9, but it has been postponed due to the corona restrictions. For many years she was also a regular crew member with Jørgen Friland for the Oldboys sailings in Sundby Sailing Club.

3 January 2021

Large exhibition in Lund about classic circus. If possible due to corona restrictions Kulturen in Lund opens a large exhibition on circus on 10 April. It will be Kulturen's largest exhibition this year. According to the plan, it can be seen until the end of February 2022.

Older illustration of female trapeze artists. Unknown Artist.

Kulturen writes (my translation):

The next large exhibition at Kulturen in Lund is about the circus' exciting and enchanting world. We will present circus history from the 19th century to today.

Among other things, we borrow beautiful handmade costumes from Cirkus Rhodin, which is based in Scania and is one of the few traditional circuses left in Sweden. The owner Diana Rhodin's grandfather Brazil Jack and her father Trolle Rhodin were also two of Swedish circus world’s great personalities during the 20th century. For the exhibition we have also borrowed exciting items and costumes from other lenders.

We will also present the photographer Åsa Sjöström's magical circus pictures and parts of her documentary The Last Circus Princess.

For the exhibition, Kulturen has borrowed various effects from the Swedish Circus Academy, including from the Swedish Circus Museum in Ingelsträda.

The juggler David Sosman tells the exhibition features some of his grandfather Pipo Sosman Sr.'s costumes. David, who is the son of the late clown Eddy Sosman and Isabella Enoch Sosman, was in Lund a few months ago, where he was photographed in his grandfather's costume. The photo to the left shows David in the costume. Photos to the right: Pipo Sosman Sr. along with David's uncle Pipo Sosman Jr.

Kulturen (full name, Kulturhistoriska föreningen för södra Sverige) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1882 and currently has around 3,500 members. They curate Sweden’s largest collection of cultural objects from southern Sweden, major collections of comparative artefacts from around the world and the largest number of mediaeval archaeological finds in northern Europe. Kulturen runs museums in Lund and Sjöbo municipalities.

2 January 2021

IT ALL HAPPENED IN PARIS - and elsewhere - MAGICAL STUNTS & EFFECTS 5:

IT ALL HAPPENED IN PARIS -- but elsewhere as well -  viz. at a JUMBLE SALE , near the big circus lot in COPENHAGEN, I was hired to create a sympathetic atmosphere and put the people in a good mood - in a catering-and-beer tent, in fact not necessary as the local guests had already tasted the evil alcohol, happily enough there were a lot of foreign people, sober enough, who were expecting ENTERTAINMENT: I had chosen an old circus act: THE LADY WHO WALKS THRU SOLID MATERIAL, in this case, walking right through a circle of ropes. 

As my entré I made 2 playing cards disappear, one re-appeared in a photo frame, the appearance of the other one needed som ABSTRACT THINKING: using a pair of scissors and knowing a certain technique, you can by a simple cut make 3 diagonal holes, that are identified as THREE OF DIAMONDS - by adult people.

Zarro Zarro with Three of Diamonds. Photo : Marie Louise Djomguem

After show,  a little boy came up to me, asking in a broad Copenhagen dialect:

WHAT ABOUT THE THREE OF DIAMONDS ?

He seemed troubled and worried, I chose to explain the phenomenon to him, he became visibly relieved, leaving the spot having had a good time, so had I -

HAPPY ENDING -  ABSTRACT THINKING !!!

---------------------------------------------- ZARRO ZARRO.

1 January 2021

Danish circuses in 2021. Below find an overview in alphabetical order of the circuses which we hope to see on the Danish roads in 2021, as well as the planned opening dates. Of course, subject to corona-related changes and lockdowns.

Circus Arena: Season opening at ‘Bellahoej’ in Copenhagen on March 24. Ringmasters Bubber and Julie Berthelsen. The performing artists are Alex Porsing and his motocross team FMX Denmark, the Danguir troupe on the high wire, the rola-bola acrobat Paulo Kaiser, Wolfgang Lauenburger and his dogs, the Mustafa Danguir Tumbling Troupe, Laura Berdino with liberty horses, Duo Costace, Circus Arenas house clown Jimmy Folco and Circus Arena's dancers.

The rola-bola acrobat Paulo Kaiser was also at Arena in 2016. In 2019, he performed in Circusland. His specialty is jumping from board to board. Press photo from Circus Arena

Wolfgang Lauenburger was also at Arena in 2010 and 2015. In 2008, he performed in Benny Schumann's autumn performance. Press photo from Circus Arena.

Duo Costache was also at Arena in 2017 and 2019 with respectively a perch act and an aerial act. Press photo from Cirkcs Arena

With a few exceptions, Jimmy Folco has been part of Arena's performances since 1997. Press photo from Cirkus Arena

Circus Arli: season opening in Fløng (Copenhagen suburb) March 27. In addition to members of the Arli family, you can meet the clown and multi-artist Francisco Fratellini. The names of other performers have not yet been announced.

Martin Arli and his son Alexander are always among the performers in Circus Arli. Prior to the circus season, you can meet Alexander Arli in Jan Schous' REVY PICNIC SCHOU-TUR at Østergaard's hotel in Herning.

The Super talent Francesco Fratellini was also at Arli in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Press photo from Cirkus Arli.

Circus Baldoni: season opening in Lyngby (Copenhagen suburb) on 4 April. They write (my translation):

We are proud in 2021 to present our show no. 20. It will be a completely wild show so we rightly call it THAT TOO WILD !!!

You will meet a number of top artists, including the Italian Ferrandino´s who have a breath-taking roller skate act and a bold aerial act. From the Czech Republic, you will meet the super-talented Kaya Janacek with the balancing act rola-bola and his parents Eddie and Maria in a whole new acrobatic discipline that has never been seen before. The duo "Hands to Violin" in a new and modern composition with the violinist, Daniella, who plays up to the super strong handstand artist Michal and then of course we have lots of clowns and the lion Leo Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll)

Duo Ferrandino consists of Michele Ferrandino and Marina Curci. In addition to the roller skate act they have an act in aerial cradle. Click here and here to see video clips of the two acts. They toured Denmark with Circus Arli in 2012. Press photo from Circus Baldoni.

The duo Hands to Violin (Michal Mudrák and Daniella Vitová) were also with Baldoni in 2016, where they were among the nominees for the Danish Circus Award’s prize for best act of the year

This is the 6th season in a row that the versatile Czech Janacek family (father Eddie, mother Maria and sons Kaya and Rudy) perform in Circus Baldoni. In 2018, Kaya was among the nominees for the talent prize from the Danish Circus Award. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Circus Krone: no information.

Circus Mascot: if possible season opening in Roslev by the end of March. In addition to members of the Deleuran and Clown Gulio and his family, the names of the cast have not yet been released.

Marianne Deleuran and her playful doggies are an indispensable part of a Mascot show. Press photo from Cirkus Mascot

Zircus Nemo: season opening April 11 in Horsens. In addition to Søren Østergaard, the names of the participants have not yet been published. It is conceivable that to a greater or lesser extent it is those who were engaged for 2020 where the tour had to be abandoned: the Russian acrobat Vladimir Georgievsky in a comic trampoline act, the rola bola acrobats Meleshin Brothers, the super juggler Cladius Specht, the hula-hoop star Geraldine Philadelphia and the handstand acrobats Duo Solys.

Although Zirkus Nemo offers excellent artists, it is first and foremost Søren Østergaard himself that the audience comes to see. Here as Smadremanden, seen together with his assistant Laura Kvist Poulsen. Photo from 2019. Photographer: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

1 January 2021

Birthdays with a round figure in 2021. Several persons from the Danish circus and artist world can celebrate a birthday with a round figure in 2021.

18 January: Jörgen Börsch, artist agent etc., 80 years

19 January; Bernhard Kaselowsky, Circus Trapez, 60 years

18 February: John Thurano, artist, 75 years

9 April: Laura Berdino, Circus Arena, 40 years

3 August: Benny Berdino, Circus Arena, 75 years

19 October: Patrick Berdino, Circus Arena, 30 years

22 October: Michael Deutsch, magician, 60 years

1 January 2021

This website had approximately 27,000 visitors in 2020. The news section, being a weekly internet magazine and the tour list (“What’s on) are usually updated every Saturday. Apart from news and tour list the website has pages with facts about Danish circuses, Danish circus families etc. Links to those pages can be found at the bottom of the opening page

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