Circus news from 2023

29 December 2023

The Danish circus year 2023 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 are 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.

In 2022, one of the industry's biggest challenges was a lack of so-called circus specialists. A term that covers what were previously called tent workers and props. In particular, there was a shortage of people with a truck driving licence. In 2023, luckily, things went a little better with getting circus specialists.

However, it would still be a help for the Danish circuses if the Danish legislation did not prevent them from getting circus specialists from countries outside the EU.

Visitor numbers were reasonable throughout the season for most circuses, but perhaps not quite as high as in 2022, when many Danes needed to see live entertainment after two years of corona shutdowns.

The Danish circuses do not, like the children's theater performance Circus Summarum, get free advertising on DR tv. Apart from TV2 Charlie, which broadcasts the performances from Zirkus Nemo, there are unfortunately no Danish TV channels that has circus-related broadcasts.

The year's performances

During the school childrens winter holidays in February, CIRCUS MASCOT had performances in the Herning Centre. CIRCUS BALDONI performed in Ishøj city centre. JIMMY ENOCH produced a performance for Rosengaardcentret in Odense. CIRCUS TRAPEZ presented winter circus in 17 Jutland halls. BENNY SCHUMANN offered a mini circus performance in Vestsjællandscentret in Slagelse. CIRCUS PANIK had performances in their circus building in Vanløse, Copenhagen. THE CIRCUS MUSEUM AT HVIDOVRE, COPENHAGEN offered performances first with Kalle Matthiesen and then with Mugge. CIRCUS OF TORMENT presented horror circus performances in Vejle and Aalborg in February. In the autumn they were back with performances in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Odense.

Circus Arena

Circus Arena opened the season at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on April 3.

This year's performance, which was called Circus according to Julie and Bubber 3, was just like last year presented by the singer Julie Berthelsen and the TV host and entertainer Bubber.

The first act was a slightly unconventional an illusion number, presented by the Italian magician Jimmy Saylon and his 3 assistants. A traditional act where the assistants disappeared into or emerged from various boxes. In the end, it was Jimmy himself who disappeared into a box, only to later appear at the top of the grandstand.

In Jimmy Saylon's final trick, he enters a box that is hoisted under the circus dome. The box later turns out to be empty, and Jimmy appears at the top of the grandstand.

Next, welcome by the two hosts, who sang Circus Arena's well-known song "Circus, circus, circus is in town".

The first artist act was the elegant young tight wire dancer Steven Ferreri, who masters all the tricks a skilled tight wire dancer must be able to do including the forward somersault, which is much more difficult than the backward one, because you can't see the wire before landing, as well as jumping through a ring with knives.

Jump through ring with knives. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

After this, there was a short comic magic entrée with the house clown Jimmy Folco assisted by Mrs. Claudia.

Then there was action: the knife thrower and crossbowman Giacomo Sterza and his wife Elena Busnelli, who, under the name The Jaster, presented a great number ending with Giacomo safely placing knives around Elena, who was strapped to a rapidly rotating turntable. Great!

The Jasters. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Now we met the young Swedish aerial artist David Hammarberg, who did a nice act in tissue with many "rolling down”. Extra spectacular in a tent with such a large tent height as Arenas. While he presented his number, Julie Berthelsen sang League of light, which brought her 2nd place at the Danish Melody Grand Prix in 2019.

David Hammarberg. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Next, we saw a clown entrée which I haven't seen for the last many years: the candy cooking entrée, where you make candy in a hat borrowed from a visitor. Probably one of the late August Miehe's entrées. At Arena it was performed by Jimmy Folco with Bubber and Julie. Excellent that you in this way experienced a clown trio, and wonderful to see a nice entrée which is not shown every now and then.

Nice to see the old candy cooking entrée. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The last act before the interval was a number in the wheel of death, performed by two members of the Ortiz troupe. It was with very high speed on the wheel! As always, the number ended with one artist being the "motor", while the other ran on the outside of his wheel and both jumped, skipped and ran blindfolded. The act ended with many wildly high jumps.

Los Ortiz. Press photo from Circus Arena

First number after the interval was horses: 6 handsome white Arabians presented by Karsten Berdino. The entrée ended with ponies in the ring, something that always arouses cheers from the younger part of the audience.

Karsten Berdino with horses. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Now Jimmy Folco came into the ring with 4 volunteer children from the audience. The 4 children had a great time. The same does not always apply to adults who are dragged into the ring! The entrée was the well-known chair game, where Jimmy chased the losers with a foam rubber club and, of course, ended up as a loser himself and being chased by the last boy.

Now it was time for old acquaintances: Vita and Leonardo Costache. We have previously seen them both with an aerial act and an act with a perch. This year they were showing an aerial act where Leo holds Vita with his teeth. The climax was when Leo carried Vita while she was sitting on a motorbike! Spectacular! And impressive with such teeth strength. The act ends with a trick where it was Vita, who carried Leonardo by her teeth.

It takes strong teeth to carry your wife like this! Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

After a brief entrée with Jimmy Folco, who was too shy to say he was in love with Julie and was assisted by a singing Bubber (Julie sings better than Bubber!), it was time for a juggling act.

Circus owner Benny Berdino himself is a former juggler, and there have always been jugglers in his performances. This year Michael Ferrari. Where last year's top name Alan Sulc bounced the balls down into a podium, Michael threw them into the air and ended up with 10 balls in the air. Fantastic! And something that has got him entered in the Guinness Book of Records. As something new and original, the balls fell as Michael had to use them from a box high under the circus dome. Good idea! Usually, it is an assistant who throws them to the juggler. Michael Ferreri is the older brother of the tight wire acrobat Steven Ferreri.

The world class juggler Michael Ferreri. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The last act in the performance was the 7-man high wire troupe Los Ortiz. High wire acts are considered among the most dangerous circus acts. It was nice to see a huge inflatable rubber pad was placed in the ring under the wire. The final trick was the famous and dangerous 7-man pyramid, which we have not seen before in Denmark. Several of the troupe’s members were new in the troupe and seemed a little nervous at the start of the season. But things quickly rectified, and Los Ortiz was named the best act of the year by the Danish Circus Award.

The difficult and dangerous 7-man pyramid. Press photo from Circus Arena

Just like in 2022, the performance was accompanied by a well-playing 6-piece band from Poland.

Circus Arena closed the season on August 5 in Slagelse.

From 12 to 22 October, Circus Arena, just like in 2022, offered Halloween Circus in the tent at Bellahoj in Copenhagen. It was a themed performance with almost no circus elements. It was produced in co-operation between Jackie Berdino/Circus Arena and the rapper Clemens (Clemens Telling). The latter was responsible for both the script and direction. The attendance figures for the Halloween performances were probably disappointing.

As in previous years, Circusland in Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Aarslev was open during the winter holidays, summer holidays and autumn holidays. Just like in 2022, Circusland offered a number of open-air concerts with well-known Danish orchestras and a single German pop singer: Hansi Hinterseer.

As something new, Circus Arena put up stationary unit in the holiday town of Side in Turkey. The city is located between Alanya and Antalya. There was premiere on Saturday 1 April, and it was a big production with, among other things, The Diorios motorbikes in The Globe of Death, wheel of death, the juggler Alan Sulc, José Michel Clowns, cannon king, aerial number, handstand etc. The tent was the old red/yellow Arena tent, which they used until 2019. Unfortunately, the tourists failed Turkey this year, so the Berdino family chose to stop after a few weeks, as far too few spectators came. Hard to predict as there were plenty of tourists in 2022.

​Circus Arli

Circus Arli opened the season on 2 April. It was the 43rd time that the small circus had its national premiere at the lot next to the Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Fløng. And 40 years after Bettina Arli made her circus debut on this very lot. Not in the role of ringmistress, which she has been for the past many years, but standing in front of the shooting target in a knife-throwing act where Martin Arli placed the knives – fortunately without hitting her.

This year's Arli performance was one of their very best. As always with elegant costumes and performed with a flow so that no one got bored or leaved the tent before the performance was over.

The performance started with the well-known clap entrée in form of a competition between Alexander Arli and Francesco Fratellini. Good idea, and fortunately not as long as you experience with other versions of this entrée.

Alexander and Francesco. Photo: Ole Simonsen

It turned into a glorious charivari with all the artist apart from Martin and Bettina Arli. We experienced i.e., formation juggling with large rings, tug-of-war and a skipping entrée.

Charivari. Photos: Ole Simonsen

Next, Martin Arli welcomed and introduced the show's ringmistress Bettina Arli, who was wearing an elegant and brand-new suit with sequins. As always, Bettina managed what is the task of a ringmaster: to present and support the artists. In some circuses you find that the ringmaster makes more of introducing himself!

Bettina and Martin Arli. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

After a short gag where Martin placed an apple under a hat and removed it without touching the hat, came a magic act, performed by the dancing Jelena Vasiljeva. For many years, it was Martin who was responsible for Arli's magic entrées. But Jelena did it very charming, even if several tricks was known from Martin's entrées, e.g., the trick with the inexhaustible water jar.

Magic Jelena. Photos Ole Simonsen and Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Now a large trunk came on stage. It contained a rag doll, which Francesco tried to make perform with more or less success. A delightful comic stunt number. Unbelievable what he, at the end of the act assisted by Alexander, could get the doll to do. The doll eventually turned out to be live: Francesco's partner Sarah Floress.

The rag doll. Photo: Ole Simonsen

They were followed by Adrian and Jennifer Ramos in a beautiful number in aerial straps, where it sometimes was Jennifer who carried her husband. In most other strap duos, it is the man who is the supporting force.

Duo Ramos in aerial straps. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

This was followed by a short run-in with Francesco, who wanted to play the radio – his version of the well-known you must not play here entrée.

The last act before the interval was a number that has never been seen at Arli before: an impressive and spectacular laser show performed by Sergejs Populans. In Denmark this kind of act has only been presented at Benneweis in the Copenhagen Circus Building in 1990 and in Circus Arena in 2017.

Photos: Ole Simonsen

The first act after the interval was Skating Ramos (Adrian and Jennifer) with a roller-skating act which offers everything that a good skating number should have. It earned them a nomination for the award for the best act of the year.

Skating Ramos. Photo: Ole Simonsen

"Do you want to see clowns," asked Martin Arli. And of course, we wanted to see clowns! Francesco and Alexandro (alias Alexander Ari) with an updated version of the boxing entrée they had great success with in 2020. A season which, due to the corona, was somewhat shortened and with a ceiling on the number of spectators.

Francesco with the boxing ball. Photo: Ole Simonsen

The next act bought us back into the air: Sarah Florees showed her skills in what is technically called an aerial ring.

After this came a short magical entrée with Jelena Vasiljeva, where she magically entered and exit the "cage" of rings.

The last act in the show was the versatile Francesco, now riding a unicycle. The number ended with him using his left foot hurling plates, cups and a teaspoon onto a flat hat he carried on his head. You fully understood why the clown and multi-acrobat Francesco last year got the Talent Prize from the Danish Circus Award!

The super talent Francesco Fratellini. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

For the tenth year in a row, the Arli family presented Hans Christian Andersen Christmas market in Copenhagen. Just like last year, the location was on Nytorv in front of the Court House.

Circus Baldoni

Circus Baldoni opened the season in Hillerød on 12 April.

"Hit med Sangen" (Hit with the Song) was a popular television program that DR broadcast in the years 2000 to 2004 with the Danish actor and stand-up comedian Amin Jensen as host. It was based on the English TV-program The Lyrics Board. This year, Circus Baldoni has Amin Jensen as ringmaster. They have chosen to call this year's show Hit med Cirkus (‘Hit with the Circus’), even though there may not be many children who have heard of the old TV show.

Already at the entrance to the tent, the audience met Amin Jensen, who checked tickets together with this year's clown Tøffe. Tøffe also carried out a security check, which i.e., revealed cell phones that have not been set to silent. A smart way to remind the audience about the phones!

The performance began with Tøffe coming on stage dressed in a security vest, and repeating it with the cell phones and having a gag with a nappy for adults. Shortly after, Amin also entered the stage and welcomed. (At Baldoni the ring is a raised circular stage).

Tøffe and Amin Jensen. All photos Jacob Boas Leitisstein unless otherwise mentioned

First artist act was the juggler Nandor Varadi. He comes from Hungary and juggled up to 7 clubs as well as balls and rings. The entrée ended with him juggling 3 torches with fire.

Nandor Varadi

Next, Tøffe came on stage in an entrée, built over the Little Per figure from the original Far til Fire movies and with playback songs from the films. Of course, he also had the elephant Bodil with him. Far til fire (‘Father of four’) was a popular Danish film family. 8 films were produced from 1953 to 1961. The youngest of the four children was Little Per. Since 2005 additional 11 films with the family has been produced, but not with the same actors as in the first 8 films.

From Tøffe’s Little Per-entrée

The next act was with an artist, who we had not seen before at Baldoni: Hungarian Georgina Szotko in a number in vertical rope, i.e., a rope hanging down from the circus dome. Nice to have such a number as a change from the all-too-often seen aerial acts, where the performer work in tissue (curtains). Amin Jensen sang during the act - his swift tenor suited the number very well.

Georgina Szotko

Georgiana was followed by Tøffe, this time in an entrée as Elvis, and again with playback music and slapstick comedy.

Tøffe as Elvis – the king of rock and roll

After a short run-in from the grandstand stage with Amin Jensen and the lion Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll), it was time for one of the show's absolute top acts: Martyn Chabry's musical quick-change act.

Not all quick-change numbers are fast, but Martyn manages her costume changes with lightning speed and play between the dress changes drums, saxophone, xylophone and bottles.

Martyn's entrée starts with her hitting drums in indirect lighting with liquid over the drumheads

Martyn plays on bottles

She says herself that she is Made in Denmark. 9 months before she was born, her parents, the clown Toto Chabri and his wife Norah, worked at Benneweis in the Circus building in Copenhagen. She has also spent many of her childhood and teenage years in Copenhagen, where Toto has 5 seasons in the circus building after Martyn was born. And furthermore, as a child and teenager, she was with her parents in Denmark, when they had two seasons with Circus Benneweis' tented show. She has also herself been with Benneweis several seasons.

Martyn's act was followed by an excellent adagio number, performed by Nandor Varadi and his wife Diana Boiachin.

Nandor and Diana

It is a tradition that Baldoni's ringmaster also has his own entrées. Thus, the first number after the interval was an act with a stand-up-like elements, where Amin Jensen song (he has an excellent voice), played guitar and harmonica. Especially the adult part of the audience enjoyed the entrée.

Amin Jensen

Next, Baldoni's house artists the Janacek family came on stage under the name Buffalo Family in a fast-paced entrée with whips, lassos and knife throwing.

Buffalo Family

A short run-in with Tøffe on horseback went into Diana Boiachin's act in hanging pole, also called aerial pole. The number was inventively opened with the tip of the pole resting on a sort of ball bearing in the middle of the stage, while Diana performed tricks on the tilted rotating pole. The fine act ended with tricks in the pole, which hung down from the tent dome without touching the floor.

Diana Boiachin in hanging pole

Now Tøffe entered the stage, this time in an entrée where he was on a picnic.

Tøffe on his way to picnic

He was followed by Amin Jensen with Circus Baldoni's mascot: the ventriloquist doll Leonardo. The entrée was somewhat shortened compared to previous years. Amin did not have the same experience as a ventriloquist and puppeteer as last year's ringmaster Peter Nørgaard.

Amin Jensen and Leonardo

The performance's last act was 16-year-old Kaya Janacek with rola bola. We have seen the number before, but he is clearly a super talent and the number is getting better and better. Very well deserved he deservedly received the year's talent prize at the circus awards ceremony.

Super talent Kaya Janacek. Photos Jacob Boas Leitisstein and Ole Simonsen

BALDONI'S CHRISTMAS CIRCUS had performances in November and December in a number of sport centres etc. on Zealand and Falster, including in the Fencing Hall next to the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen.

Circus Mascot

Circus Mascot opened the season on 2 April in Salling. This year they played in sport centres and other indoor arenas in Jutland and Funen and left the tent at home in the winter quarter in Roslev. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Ulstruphallen on 1 May at 17 and wrote (my translation):

Circus Mascot offered a mix of new and old. The performance was opened by Lorry Nereus. In a nice, white piccolo uniform, the stage was set to a hotel and he led the audience through a rola-bola act. No one doubted how difficult it is.

Lorry Nereus. Smartphone photo, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen

The ringmaster Daniel Deleuran introduced himself and Circus Mascot – completely “Glad I låget” (‘Happy Face’), which is the motto of this year's performance. Gulio took over the ring with a clapper, which exploded to thunderous applause. Then the dog Pepsi gave a concert on the piano before Marianne's poodles entered the ring. In the old days, horse numbers were common, because people were used to horses - meeting them everywhere in the street. That time is over, but many keep dogs, and therefore the audience appreciate a dog act. And everyone could enjoy the free, unforced dressage, which rests on rewarding the playful animals – never and under no circumstances punishment. The dogs play – and enjoy it.

Marianne Deleuran and her playful doggies. Press photo from Circus Mascot

Guliojaki wants to show a dangerous Chinese martial art, and he needs to have a male audience to be his partner and opponent.

Brand new was Tatyana's soap bubble number. In a beautiful glitter suit, she created a poetic, fairy-tale atmosphere. The children enjoyed it, especially when the bubbles dissolved into smoke, and most of all when she spun a girl from the audience into a giant soap bubble.

Eva Vitzo showed her classic, stylish glass balance act. After the performance, the small girls accompanying me agreed that this number was the best in the performance.

After the interval we saw Lui Nereus with his first act - handstand, where he built the number, using a doll as podium. A man from the audience was invited into the ring to help throwing the bricks up to him.

Lui Nereus with handstand on doll. Smartphone photo, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen

Mascot has many small animals. In the second part of the performance, we met Nemo the goose, Sille and Wilma the pigs and a pony.

Gulio had several entrées with the participation of the audience. And together with Tatyana, he had a magic trick which turned into a game of 3 buckets, where one party crawls under the table and appears at the wrong times in the wrong holes. An entrée which is always amusing.

Gulio. Press photo from Circus Mascot

The final act in the performance was the 73-year-old Lui Nereus, who acts as a drunk man in a lamppost. One remembers The Great Fattini's number in sway pole. Here the pole is not that high, but gags, intricacies with clothes and braces and a lot of stunts are not spared. Unbelievable at the age of 73. He last time presented the act in Mascots during their short autumn tour in 2021. (Due to the corona there was no summer tour in 2021). Thus, there were many spectators who had not previously seen the act.

The man in the lamppost – 73-year-old Lui Nereus. Press photos from Circus Mascot

Unfortunately, the 73-year-old Hungarian artist could for personal reasons not complete the season. He therefore went home to Hungary with his somewhat younger wife Eva Vitzo, who performed with glass balance, and son Lori, who performed with rola-nola. As a replacement, Circus Mascot engaged in the last month of the season Yuriy and Editha Mamchych, who had just finished the season in Swedish Circus Olympia. They did an adagio number, just as Editha showed her hula hoop entrée and Yuriy performed cube juggling.

Yuriy and Editha Mamchych. Photos: Daniel Deleuran

The season ended on October 22 in Roslev. There was a summer break from 23 June to 8 August. Circus Mascot is planning also in the future to perform in indoor arenas and not in a tent.

Zirkus Nemo

From 29 April, when there was a national premiere in Horsens, and until 17 September, Søren Østergaard visited a number of cities with his Zirkus Nemo, which he calls Denmark's only circus for adults. Where the other circuses have many one-day stands, Zirkus Nemo usually stays at a lot at least 5 days and never has a performance on Mondays and in most cities not on Tuesdays either. This makes the work of moving the tent and other equipment less stressful than in other circuses.

Zirkus Nemo is a combination of circus and comedy show, owned by the Danish actor and comedian Søren Østergaard. There is no doubt that the biggest draw in Zirkus Nemo is Søren Østergaard and his well-known comedy characters. The audience simply love him. Søren certainly does not disappointed those who visited Nemo this year. Neither when he is "just" Søren nor when they meet him as the man who can't whistle, the man with the world's longest left arm, the ventriloquist Oleg Olansky, the Backward Man, the rat trainer Marianne, the Smashing Man, the Measure Man, the Magician with clapped flowers or Jørgen the Baker. Often with flabby comments to the spectators.

But in addition to Søren himself Zirkus Nemo has world class artists in the performances.

This year's performance begins with Søren coming down from the grandstand. He welcomed and introduced the ring crew and sent one, Christian Mosbæk, out to change his clothes as he was not dressed up. Christian then returned in a girl guard outfit!

The ring crew, not least the former sea lion trainer Ingo Stiebner, are also active participants in the performance and not just props.

"You can't look like that when there is a performance. Out to put on your uniform”

The hand stand acrobat Hector Yzquierdo, from previous years known as the male partner of Duo Solys, had a number of run-ins during the performance. We first meet him in an illusion act, where he, assisted by Christian Mosbæk and Ingo Stiebner, climbed into a vertical box, which was both pierced and split in two, see photo.

Hector is inside the box!

Next came Søren Østergaard in his beloved entrée as the man who can’t whistle.

A World Star: The Man Who Can't Whistle.

The next number was Zorè Espana in a beautiful entrée in Cyr Wheel – a huge hoop that she swings around in. The entrée looked good in Zirkus Nemo's small ring which as Nemo connoisseurs know is an elevated stage.

Zorè Espana

After a brief entrée with the man with the world's longest left arm, Hector had a brief run-in as the dancing gypsy couple.

Then Søren was on stage. This time as the clumsy ventriloquist whose doll falls apart more and more during the entrance.

The clumsy ventriloquist

Hector then had another short dance before Backward Man, who is a member of DBU - Danish Backward Union - took over the stage.

The Backward Man

Then it was time for a top-class juggling act: Claudius Specht, who juggles both clubs and cups.

8 cups in the air and 2 in the hand

Next, we got a visit from Marianne, who, with the assistance of Ingo Stiebner, presented her trained rats. And they were real live rats. Finally, one of them climbed up a rope to an airplane, from which it jumped. (Don't worry: no animal cruelty, it was a doll falling from the plane.)

Marianne – she is done for!

The last phenomenon before the break was the man with the world's longest leg, where the leg was carried by the ring crew into the ring until it reaches the spectators in the ringside chairs!

The first act after the break was one of Søren's most beloved comedy entrées: The Smashing Man, who first plays heavy rock on his guitar and then starts smashing cream puffs and has to admit in frustration that there is a puff who doesn't want to play along.

The Smash Man

Hector now had a nice handstand entrée where he both jumped from hand to hand and ended with Encho's signature trick, where he pushes bricks to the side. More and more artists are doing this trick. But aside from Encho himself, I don't recall anyone doing it with greater elegance than Hector.

World class handstand!

Now it was time for the Measure Man. And he finally succeeds in making a measurement with a brand-new super measuring tape, which his assistant Laura Kvist Poulsen brought him.

The Measure Man

After a short feature with the ring crew as girl guards, we meet the slightly awkward magician with lots of fold-up flowers from Pegani. (Pegani is the leading Nordic dealer in magic effects)

Now it was the turn of the comic acrobats Duo Flash. There were lots of slapstick and stunt elements in their number.

Duo Flash

When the orchestra tunes in with the Danish song "There's a baker", we know what's coming: Baker Jørgen, who can probably compete with the Smash Man as to who is Søren Østergaard's most beloved character. The entrée ended with dancing tartlets.

Ready to dance with tartlets

Next came the show's top artistic act: Duo Stauberti with perch. The duo today consists of Dimitri Stauberti and his niece Nancy. First trick was Nancy in a handstand on top of a perch, which Dimitri balanced on his forehead while climbing up two ladders.

In the next trick, Dimitri again balanced a perch on his forehead, while Nancy stood upside down on top of the perch while she rotated a kind of barbell with her feet. Later she stood on her head while Dimitri sat down and turned around.

Duo Stauberti

In the final trick, Dimitri rode a tall unicycle while balancing a perch on his forehead. At the top of the perch, Nancy stood in handstand with her legs in splits.

An impressive final trick that brought the couple a silver clown in Monte Carlo in 2018. The act was one of the 3 acts which The Danish Circus Award nominated for the prize for the year's best act.

The performance ended with Søren entering the ring as the poetic clown who first blows some soap bubbles and then has a giant head placed on top. "There is what I had in my head here today," says Søren before the grand finale, where the performance almost every day was rewarded with a well-deserved standing ovation.

Søren Østergaard with his giant head

Circus Trapez

Circus Trapez opened the season on 8 April in Kolding and toured during the season Jutland and Funen. During the season they performed both in indoor arenas, in tent and as open-air performances. In certain periods had two units, both showing approx. 1-hour long performances. They also had several short nursing home performances, also at

Zealand. The season ended on October 21 in Galten.

Where other Danish circuses engage artists for the entire season, Circus Trapez changed artists several times during the season.

When they spent 3 weeks in Madsby Play Park in Fredericia in July, Isabella Enoch Sosman welcomed but was interrupted by Ursula, who told her that the artists had not come. Katja Tomasevic Olsen is the person behind the comic character Ursula. She had several brief run-ins during the performance.

Ursula tells Isabella that the artists have not come

The first artist number was Katja’s 14-year-old daughter Rasmine. She did a fine act in tissue (aerial silks) 

Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen

The next act was the comic acrobats Duo Gancho, which we saw several times during the performance. Their first entrée ended with juggling champagne bottles.

Duo Gancho

Ursula now had a short comic entrée balancing on her head. Then came Isabella's 10-year-old nephew Joseph, who showed his skills with diabolo.

Joseph is son of Isabella's younger sister Katja

Duo Gancho now came back with a fine entrée where one used the other as musical instruments: piano, guitar, drum, etc.

Duo Gancho

They were followed by Ursula with a bicycle helmet and a spectacular red and white dress. She ended up standing on her head and spinning around, and the dress now changed appearance, see photo.

The next number was the show's top act: Rasmine in trapeze. Last year's grant from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation was given to her in recognition of her talent and as an encouragement to continue to improve as a circus performer. And she has done that to the highest degree. Her trapeze act was impressive. Rasmine is a rising star who will also do well in one of the big circuses.

Rasmine – a rising star!

Duo Gancho now came back with a knock about table act that also contained elements from the well-known spaghetti entrée.

The performance next act was with horses: first a pony presented by 5-year-old Nikolaj and then Big and Little presented by his mother Stine-Marie Greisen.

Nikolaj with pony

The last number of the performance was Ursula, who now showed her skills in a low-hanging Washington trapeze and thus proved that she can do something else than being a comedian.

Ursula alias Katja Tomasevic Olsen in Washington-trapeze.

Below are some photos from this summer's Open-air show:

The Open-air performances were presented by the former Dannebrog ringmistress Agnete Louise Enoch

The central character of the performance was the Hungarian reprise clown Gabor. He is 52 years old and has performed in a large number of circuses, including for several seasons at Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey in the USA

Several times during the performance, the audience met a troupe from Morocco with either 3 or 5 members. It was presented under different names. The circus director Isabella Enoch Sosman called them The Said Amazigh troupe

A number with 2 Swiss goats was presented by Bernhard Kaselowsky, assisted by the clown Gabor

Bernhard Kaselowsky with a liberty horse

The talented young Danish aerial acrobat Jasmin Nørgård first performed in tissue and then in the aerial ring.

In 2022, Circus Trapez tried their luck with a Christmas circus in Kolding. The visitor numbers were disappointing, so they did not repeat the experiment in 2023.

Other performances

Years ago, you could see artist performances in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens and other amusement parks. But unfortunately, that is history.

Katja Schumann has set up a circus farm just outside the Danish seaside resort Løkken, where she had performances from the end of May to the end of August and during the autumn holidays.

In July, a new circus, Circus Solvej, visited a number of Jutland campsites. There were 2 performers: Zora Nikodemova and Victor Høeg Abrahamsen.

Circus Solvej

During the school's autumn holidays, as in previous years, CIRCUS ARENA produced a performance for Kolding Storcenter, this year as a Halloween-inspired performance.

Enoch's Circus Show offered a Christmas circus in a tent on Bispetorvet in Aarhus from 8 to 17 December. It was a nice and fast-running performance lasting about 1 hour.

The season for Wallman's Dinner Show in Copenhagen's Circus Building runs from September to June. In September 2023, they premiered a new show CAKE, which can be seen until June 2023.

As always, in addition to singers and dancers, there were circus performers in the performance. This year, muscular Dmitriy Karpenko from Ukraine and the Swedish twins Duo Vilja.

Dmitriy first performed a number in tissue (black cloth bands hang down from the circus dome). Later he had a short entrée in aerial ring.

Dmitry Karpenko. Press photos from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

Most impressed, however, was Duo Vilja, which consists of the Swedish twin sisters Jenny and Sara Haglund. Last year, the Danes experienced them in Zirkus Nemo, where they showed an impressive contortion act. It earned them a nomination for the Talent Prize from the Danish Circus Award. At Wallmans, they first presented a nice act in aerial ring and then their contortion entrée.

Jenny and Sara Haglund were born in 1984. At the age of 13, they caught the circus bug and joined a children's and youth circus. Later they went to circus school. First in Sweden, then in Montreal. Since then, they have appeared in a large number of varieties shows and circuses. Press photos from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

The Danish Circus Award

The Danish Circus Award was this year given to a Jutland circus director: Marianne Deleuran from Circus Mascot. The talent award prize to Kaya Janeček from Circus Baldoni. The prize for best act went to the high wire troupe Los Ortiz from Circus Arena. The special effort prize was given to the Circus Museum in Hvidovre. The foundation after the late Nelly Jane Benneweis gave travel grants to the siblings Julia and Joakim Myllykangas.

The honorary prize consisted of a painting created by the clown's master Viggo Salting. The photo shows Marianne Deleuran with the painting, surrounded by Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt and Viggo Salting. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Obituaries

The sea lion trainer Addie Jepsen passed away on June 9. She was 81 years old. Addie was born into a circus family: Her grandmother was married to director Joseph Bruun from the Danish Circus Royal and had from the time before she met Joseph a daughter Rosa, who was Addie's mother. Addie was attracted to life in the circus and worked e.g. as tightrope acrobat in Circus Royal. However, her desire was to work with animals and in 1963 she joined the newly established Circus Vivi. The owner Vivi Schmidt was a well-known and talented sea lion trainer. Circus Vivi closed at the end of season 1968, and Vivi Schmidt took in 1969 engagement elsewhere with her sea lions and offered Addie to follow her as her assistant. Thus, Addie debut as sea lion trainer was in 1969. The following Addie presented Vivi's sea lions in the Norwegian Circus Berny. In 1971 she toured with the act with the Norwegian Circus Arnardo and in 1972 with the Swedish Circus Scott. From 1973 to 1975 Addie presented sea lions in the large German Circus Barum. In the following years she had engagements in many parts of Europe. In 1981 she presented the act in Circus Benneweis in the Copenhagen Circus Building and in 1987 in Circus Arena.

At one time Addie Jepsen bought her own sea lions, which she later sold to the large Swiss amusement and animal park Conny-Land. At the same time Addie got a job in Conny-Land, where she presented the sea lions, which had been her own.

In 2003 Benny Berdino of Circus Arena persuaded Addie to return to Denmark to present sea lions in the amusement park Bonbonland which from 2003 to 2008 rented sea lion acts from Benny Berdino. After Benny Berdino expanded his winter quarters in Circusland in Slagelse with a huge sea lion pool Addie has lived in Denmark where you until she retired could see her and the Berdino-family’s sea lions when Circusland was open. After retirement she still helped Berdino family with advice about sea lions until a ban against sea lions in Danish circuses forced Circus Arena to sell their sea lions.

The big cat trainer Carl Mundeling passed away 24 July. He was 54 years old. He was son of Viola Mundeling and the Norwegian bandmaster Odd Buvik. Carl grew up in Arhus and had his A-levels from Aarhus Cathedral School in 1986. Actually, he would have been a helicopter pilot, but he chose the circus life and thus followed in the footsteps that his family had followed before him. "Circus life is my backbone and my whole life", he said himself.

For 6 years he travelled with the Norwegian Circus Merano, and then with Danish Circus Arena - a total of 3 years. In both circuses he worked on the administrative side. In the autumn of 2000, he became an apprentice of the English big cat trainer Dick Chipperfield, and he quickly took over a group of big cats which at one point consisted of 14 tigers. Carl thus became the last Danish big cat trainer. For 3 years he travelled with Circus Busch-Roland in Germany before switching to Italian circuses. In 2004 he was in the Italian Circus Darin Togni. He later dropped the big cats. In 2013 he was an administrative employee first at Danish Circus Baldoni and then at Danish Circus Dannebrog.

After this season, he went back to Italy with his mother and his girlfriend Clorinda Varrichio to resume his career as tiger trainer. For a year and a half, he worked for Circus Wonderland in Spain, where he presented the circus's six tigers and a mixed big cat group. Later he bought five tigers, which he presented Circus Delle Stelle in Italy. In December 2016, he married Clorinda, who had success in a comic act with a large pig. In recent times it is probably Clorinda who has presented the tigers. In addition to Clorinda, Carl Mundeling is survived by his 85-year-old mother Viola.

Carl Mundeling was born in Norway, where his mother, together with her mother Erna and his aunt, who was also called Viola, were involved in the operation of Circus Löwe. He therefore, like his father Odd Buvik, became a Norwegian citizen and retained this citizenship, even though he grew up in Denmark.

21 December 2023

Enoch's Circus show. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the Christmas Circus at Bispetorvet, Aarhus, on Saturday 16 December at 12 and writes (my translation):

The beautiful red tent wat put up at Bispetorvet - right between the theater and the cathedral. There was performance in the weekends - and only then. Flying Superkids Junior was among the performers, and it is children who have to attend to their school and keep their bedtime, so weekend performances are best. But an extra performance was necessary on Sunday the 16th.

In his description Jimmy Enoch consistently avoids the term: performance. Instead, he talks about show. And he is probably right to do so. There was a lot of show - in a positive way. There was room for 400 spectators - so everyone could sit close to the artists and follow them. There was no ring but an elongated stage – so Superkids Junior could have plenty of space for their jumping acrobatics.

The juggler José Rameros. All photos by courtesy of Enoch's Circus Show.

Flying Superkids Junior as jumping Christmas pixies

The performance was run with pace but never became hectic, but something was happening all the time. There was dynamism, nerve and all the time intensity. There was no ringmaster who could slow down the individual features. There were no "weak" numbers to drag out the time. There was a fine flow and timing, where the ideas lined up and time and time again surprised the audience. There was consistency - Santa, who came in with a fake beard, which was revealed - until it finally stuck. It was the clown Berty Balder who made use of his eminent clowning experience.

Berty Balder loses his beard.

But as the skilled circus man that Jimmy is, he knows that the individual artist numbers must be at the centre. In the circus, the artistic performance is the main part of the performance, and the many antics and tricks were kept on a leash when the talented artists were allowed to present their acts. And as the audience sat so close, it gave an extra, strong experience, which is sometimes missing in the large tents. Flying Superkids Junior are children who perform in their spare time. But with a passion and joy that is contagious - and with a professional touch.

The audience was thrilled. Here - together with Circus of Torment, which visited Aarhus in October, is an innovation - a way the circus can develop. And the Christmas circus may have come to Jutland to become a fixed, good tradition - as it is in Germany, and as it has been in Zealand for several years thanks to Cirkus Baldoni.

Jimmy Enoch has given me the names of the performers:

Berty Balder - comedian

Otilia Kristina Gasca - foot juggler

Jimmy Enoch - Bicycle

Emily Enoch - pixie

Jeremy Enoch – Bicycle

Sophie Alton - handstand

José Rameros - Juggler and roller skates with his sister

Edi Laforte - Dogs

Flying Superkids junior jump, hula hoop and jump.

Skating Rameros

Sophie Alton

Otilia Kristina Gasca

Edi Laforte and his four-legged friends

Berty Balder

20 December 2023

The Garcia rocket at Cirkus Arena anyway. On November 17, I wrote that Arena’s 2024 performance would feature, among other acts, Pablo and Vicki Garcia with their space rocket and the couple's two sons with handstands. The information was based on text on Circus Arena's website and on their Facebook page. Shortly afterwards, Circus Arena deleted the mention of the two acts what I mentioned on 19 November. Now, however, Circus Arena has managed to get an agreement with Pablo, Vicki and the boys, and the mention of their acts is back on Arena's website.

Pablo and Vicki Garcia and the rocket will be with Arena for the upcoming season. Photo from Circus Krone in Munich 2018

15 December 2023

Danish Circus Trapez writes: "We are in the process of putting up our tent in Leiden in the Netherlands, where it will be used by the Leiden Christmas Circus (Groot Kerstcircus Leiden), which has performances from 23 December". Last year Circus Trapez presented Christmas circus in Kolding, but the visitor numbers were disappointing. The people of Jutland were not used to going to the circus at Christmas time. In both the Netherlands and Germany there are many Christmas circuses. In the Netherlands, the total number of spectators at the Christmas circus is probably higher than the number of spectators at the circuses in the summer season.

15 December 2023

Two birthdays with a round figure

Jacki Steckel turns 70 on 18 December. On Monday 18 December the Danish artist and former circus owner Jacki Steckel can celebrate his 70^th year’s birthday. Jacki Steckel is born in Hedehusene, Denmark. His parents were the circus owner Frederik Schmidt, better known as the clown Gugele, and his wife Dina. Until 1952 Frederik Schmidt ran Circus Schmidt Brothers together with his brother Arnold. In 1953, Frederik helped Arnold with start of the season. But after that he, Mrs. Dina and their 4 children went to Norway, where they worked for Circus Empress in 1953, 1954 and 1955. After the engagement in Norway Frederik Schmidt continued for many years with his clown act Gugele & Co., assisted by Mrs. Dina and the children Randi, Freddi, Jacki and Heidi.

Jacki Steckel

The four siblings also did their own acts, e.g. using the name 4 Steckels. They did an excellent act which ended up with each of the boys climbing up at a high ladder balancing a sister head to head. Without a safety longe! The premiere of the act was in Germany on 10 October 1968. The last time the 4 siblings did the act was 31 December 1979 in Lille France.

Jacki then continued his career as artist for some years. In 1983 he started together with his wife Ulla, daughter of Danish magician Spinoza, a circus in Finland, Sirkus Stella Nova. Sirkus Stella Nova was a nice, medium-sized business and it did for many years fair business. In the early 1990s an economic crisis hit Finland and the number of spectators fell. For that reason, Jacki and Ulla decided in 1993 to take their circus to Denmark. However, also Denmark has economic crisis and they had a few months later to close Sirkus Stella Nova.

Since then, both Jacki Steckel and his spouse worked for the Berdino family. For several seasons, Jacki was daily manager of the now closed Swedish Circus Skratt, whose performances were produced by the Berdino family, who also owned the tent and equipment. In the spring of this year, Jacki and Ulla spent a few months in Turkey, where they assisted the Berdino family with the establishment of a stationary unit of Circus Arena in the seaside resort Side in Turkey. Unfortunately, the tourists failed to visit Turkey this year. For this reason, the Berdino family chose to stop after some weeks, as there were far too few spectators. Hard to predict as there were plenty of tourists in 2022.

Michael Frederiksen 50 years. On Monday 18 December, the Danish magician Michael Frederiksen, Copenhagen, turns 50. Most professional magicians say that they already started doing magic as children. But even though Trylle-Michael watched David Copperfield's magic show on TV and did some card tricks at his grandparents' house, it wasn't until 1997 that he really threw himself into magic. 5 years later, he quit a job as a salesman and has since made a living by being what he calls a magical entertainer. Because he does a lot more than just conjuring.

Michael Frederiksen

He has written several books, including am excellent biography in Danish of the magician Truxa and the book Listen to Us! - showbiz interviews in English. He is an entertaining lecturer who always spices up the lectures with a few magic tricks.

Michael has published a number of educational DVDs on conjuring, juggling and diabolo.

And he has made a large number of podcasts about magical legends, e.g. Truxa and Professor Tribini. He has been in charge of the event with magic and artist performances, among others at the Culture House at Islands Brygge in Copenhagen – Michael himself lives on Islands Brygge. And he performs magic in hotels, at company events and private events at home and abroad, at the Circus Museum and in hospitals for children and young people, as well as online - with original interactive mind reading and magic shows. In 2006 and 2007 he won 1st prize in Close-up Magic in Magic Circle Denmark. In 2008, he became 3rd at the Nordic Championships in Oslo in the Close-up Magic category. In 2019, he received Truxa's memorial grant.

Michael Frederiksen in action

8 December 2023

This is what it looks like right now on Bispetorv in central Aarhus right next to Aarhus Theatre, where the team behind Flying Superkids is getting ready for Enoch's Circus Show's Christmas show. They promise a top modern Christmas circus with artists from all over Europe. High tempo, lots of great music and maximum of cozy Christmas atmosphere in the heated tent. The performance lasts approx. 1 hour. There is dress rehearsal on December 8 and a premiere the following day. There will be a total of 6 performances with the last performance on Sunday 17 December. The organizers are excited to see how the ticket sales go - this is the first time there is a Christmas circus in Aarhus. "We run according to the slogan "It's better to get off to a bad start than not to get off at all", and we probably lose a lot of money, but that's how it is when you try something new," Jimmy Enoch says to migogaarhus (my translation). Photos from the team behind the show. You can find a link to order tickets at What's On. – Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city with an estimated population of 360,000.

30 November 2023               

Norwegian Circus Arnardo's Christmas show. As previously mentioned, the large Norwegian circus present a Christmas performance, “Snøkrystallen” (the snow crystal). The premiere takes place in Risørhuset in Risør on December 10 and 11. Then the Christmas tour continues to Vennesla cultural center on the 15th and 16th, before visiting the eTeateret in Lillesand on the 17th of December. From 25 to 31 December there are performances at the theater in Kristiansand.

“Snøkrystallen” is a Christmas show in two sections with artists from Circus Arnardo. The performance lasts approx. 95 minutes including interval.

Circus director Are Arnardo has the part as himself, while in the part as Bumbull we meet Victor Rossi, who is also responsible for the script and putting on stage. Photo: Gunstein Myre.

25 November 2023

Tipping Point - Balancing in a Time of Change. That is the title of a new performance which the Swedish Cirkus Cikör is sending on tour in February. Cirkus Cikör is the leading Swedish contemporary circus company. They write:

We meet five circus artists and a musician in a raw world built of trusses, metal pipes and wires. Through acrobatics, aerial acrobatics, hair hanging and contortionism, they move with, against and despite the structures. What does it take to keep the balance when what seems stable can suddenly collapse?

"Tipping Point - Balancing in a Time of Change" is a circus show about structures – our human structures and what holds our societies and democracies together. Why do they look the way they do? What keeps them in balance?

In a tensegrity structure, the form is held together by tension, balance and forces that pull in different directions. The slightest change can cause the entire building to fall. What happens when the most fundamental collapses? Who gets trapped, and who finds freedom? Tipping Point serves as a reminder that nothing is inevitable and that change is possible.

Actually, it's pretty simple. Regardless of size, every action can be part of a larger change.

February 16, 2024, Tipping Point will have its world premiere at the Riksteatern in Hallunda within the framework of CirkusExpo and CirkusMania.

Running time: 90 minutes.

Recommended age: Tipping Point is created with an adult audience in mind. Still, we know that Cirkör's performances are well-visited by a happy and enthusiastic child audience. Therefore, we have no recommended age – you know your child best.

Press photo from Cirkus Cikör

After Hallunda, the performance visits in 12 other Swedish cities. The plan is also to tour outside of Sweden. The performers are the Swiss artists Sébastien Klink and Morgane Stäheli, who specialize in trapeze, as well as Italian Delia Ceruti, who is an Italian circus artist specialising in hair suspension and rope. Furthermore, Kalle Pikkuharju from Finland with contortion & foot juggling, French Quentin Dubot with Chinese Pole and the percussionist and musician Axel Fagerberg who comes from Sweden.

22 November 2023

Baldoni's Christmas Circus 2023. Jacob Boas Leitisstein writes (my translation):

At Circus Baldoni, it has long time ago become a tradition to present a Christmas show in November and December: Baldoni's Christmas Circus. And this year is of course no exception. In the weekend 8 and 19 November, the Christmas tour kicked off with three performances in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. Baldoni's Christmas Circus will visit 24 sport centres, theatres and cultural centres on Zealand, the islands and Bornholm this year - the last performance will take place on 17 December in Birkerød.

As in previous years, the show's three main characters are Nisseline, Nis and Santa Claus. This year, Nisseline is played by Helena Neumann, and René Baldoni has the part as Nis and Santa Claus.

Nis and Nisseline. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Nis and Nisseline nicely tie the performance together with various small run-ins between the artists' acts: magic, pixie cheerleading and ventriloquism with the Christmas pig Anton Antonius. In addition, Nisseline also sings a number of Christmas carols during the performance.

Nis with Anton Antonius

The well-singing Nisseline aka Helena Neumann

This year's artist team featured a number of completely new faces in Baldoni's Christmas ring. Among other things, Christmas Pierrot was a consistent figure in this year's performance. He appeared several times along the way with little magic Christmas tricks to the delight of especially the little ones in the audience. The part as Christmas Pierrot was performed by Hasse Hjort, who for many years was Pierot in Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus - in addition, the regular Baldoni audience will also be able to remember Hasse from the magic show "Crazy about magic" in 2016.

Hasse Hjort was for many years a beloved Pierrot in Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus. Before that he had an international career as the magician Rikki with the ventriloquist doll Nancy

A happy reunion from Baldoni's summer performance last year also passed by. Daniella and Lénárd Matos showed their fast-paced bike act. A strong act where Lénard rides a unicycle while jumping and jumping: both over Daniella, from podium to podium, up and down stairs, on a trampoline and over a burning rope.

Lénárd and Daniella Matos

From Italy we met Roberto Saba and Giorgia Giani, who presented three acts. Roberto occupied the ring with his cyr wheel, which spun at full speed with Roberto inside. Giorgia presented a fine hula hoop act, where the discipline was combined with dance, rhythm and comedy. Together, Roberto and Giorgia showed classic partner acrobatics, where strength and balance came to the fore.

Roberto in his cyr wheel

Roberto and Giorgia

Last but not least, the audience could experience the duo Hands to Violin consisting of Michal Mudrak and Daniella Vittova. Michal showed his beautiful handstand act with power and elegance, while Daniella played her violin beautifully. In addition, Michal also entered the arena with a comical chair balancing act, where he ended up standing on his hands on top of four chairs.

Many Danes will probably remember Michal Mudrak and Daniella Vittova's number Hands to Violin from Baldoni's 2016 performance

Michal Mudrak

The performance ended with a festive Christmas finale. Here, Nisseline sang a potpourri of well-known Christmas songs, after which all the artists and Santa Claus danced around the Christmas tree. All in all, a classic Christmas performance in the well-known Baldoni style, full of good circus acts, cozy Christmas atmosphere and lots of smiles and good mood.

From the final. Click here to see more of Jacob's photos from the performance

20 November 2023

Horse show in Royal Arena, Copenhagen. In the old days, there were many horse acts in a circus performance: liberty horses, high school riding, jockey riding, Cossack riding, etc. Today, several circuses are "all human", i.e., completely without animals. If there are horses or ponies in a performance, it is usually only a single act. Some miss the animals, not least the horses. Others find these kinds of acts, especially liberty horses and high school riding deadly boring.

Of the Danish circuses, today only the small circuses Mascot and Trapez have their own animals. Circus Baldoni has completely opted out of having animals in the performance. Circus Arena has so far presented their own horses. In the 2024 performance, there are dogs and donkeys in the ring but no horses.

Those who miss the horses might enjoy watching the horse show CAVALLUNA – LAND OF A THOUSAND DREAMS, which has performances in the Royal Arena in

Copenhagen on January 20 and 21.

Click here to read more.

19 November 2023

Program change at Circus Arena. On November 17, I wrote that this year's show featured, among other acts, Pablo and Vicki Garcia with their space rocket and the couple's two sons with handstand. The information was based on text on Circus Arena's website and on their Facebook page. But Circus Arena has obviously been a little too fast when they presented the Garcia family as artists in the 2024 performance. At least now the mention of the Garcias has disappeared both from the website and from the Facebook page.

By the way, did you know that Garcia's rocket is manufactured in Denmark for use by Gerry 'Sebastian' Russell for his Supernova Rocket act? Gerry later sold the rocket to Pablo Garcia.

17 November 2023

Circus Arena 2024.

Circus Arena writes (my translation).

REAL WORLD-CLASS CIRCUS 2024

Give the family an experience of a special class when Circus Arena comes to your city with the new super show 'Circus according to Bubber and Malene Qvist'.

In 2023 Circus Arena was the best reviewed circus performance in Denmark, and in 2024 we will continue the success with the year's most spectacular and magnificent circus performance - a magical experience that brings together all generations.

Together with Bubber and Malene, you will experience award-winning world class artists, cute animals and the smell of sawdust - it's a real circus!

Bubber is back as ringmaster, in 2024 together with Malene Qvist, who is in the ring for the first time.

Malene Qvist is known from the Danish pop trio Sukkerchok, who had big hits in Denmark with the songs "Det' Det" and "Hvor Som Helst - Når Som Helst". Malene is known as a children's host from e.g., TV Ramasjang and Rasmus Klump's Christmas calendar and she is behind the children's universe "Malene fra Villa Violvej", where she entertains with beautiful songs.

THE MOST SPECTACULAR SHOW OF THE YEAR

Be amazed by aerial artist Moreva's enchanting movements as she swings in her silks high under the circus dome. In the ring aesthetics are paramount when the world-famous handstand artist Izossimov takes the most incredible body positions - while constantly balancing on his hands.

Also experience nerve-wracking bungee acrobatics in jumps from the top of the tent. The Garcia couple perform dizzying acrobatics under their flying space rocket, and the circus world's strongest couple Duo Costache impresses in their newly invented balancing act, where they carry each other in the most impossible ways - and stop the clock!

In 2024, Circus Arena's beloved house clown Jimmy Folco is back in the ring with new enchanting comedy for children and adults. Look forward to, among other things, to experience magic, dangerous action and charming dogs with wagging tails playing pranks on their dog sitters as well as the silly donkeys who also have a few tricks up their sleeves as long as they get a carrot. There will be plenty to talk about afterwards!

Up to 2.5 hours of impressive entertainment is planned, bringing the whole family together for a fun and life-affirming experience when Circus Arena visits your city in 2024.

There is season opening at ‘Bellahøj’ in Copenhagen on Monday 25 March with dress rehearsals from 22 March. The season ends on 17 August in Sorø.

It is Bubber's 13th season as ringmaster in Circus Arena. They have chosen to maintain the model with two to present the performance. Two who make a lot of small talk and tease each. Malene Qvist is, as mentioned, new in the circus context.

Russian Olga Moreva appears in tissue: She has previously worked for e.g., Cirque du Soleil and in Circus Krone's circus building in Munich.

Olga Moreva in Circus Krone in March 2017

Considered the greatest classic hand balancer of his generation, Oleg Zosimus was born in Chelyabinsk in Russia in 1965. He was also with Arena in 2019. He received a silver clown in Monte Carlo in 1996. One of the highlights of his career, however, was in 2006, when he was invited by the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo to participate in an all-star tribute to the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco, in a show that will probably be remembered as the greatest circus performance of all times.

Oleg Izossimov at Arena in 2019

The bungee acrobatics are performed by David Hammarberg, who we saw in tissue last year. The Swedish audience knows his Bungee acts from several seasons in Circus Olympia.

Swedish David Hammarberg with Norwegian Circus Arnardo in 2019. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

Pablo and Vicki Garcia's space rocket was at Cirkus Arena in 2001. Later, the Danes saw them at Circus Dannebrog in 2008 and 2014. We saw a slightly moodier version of the act with an airplane and Victoria as Mary Poppins at Benneweis in 2013. However, Pablo himself prefers the number with the space rocket.

Vicki Garcia and the Rocket. Photo from Circus Dannebrog 2014.

It is Leonardo and Vita Costache's 5th season in Circus Arena. Last year in a number with mouth bite, the year before with perch. For this year's performance, they have developed a brand-new act.

Some circuses choose to change clowns from year to year to create variety. Others stick to the same clown. Italian Jimmy Folco has since 1997 spent most seasons in Circus Arena. In addition to people from the audience, his spouse often features in his acts. He is also, together with Jackie Berdino, artist agent for Circus Arena.

The dog number is presented by Jolanda Hoffman. She may also be the one to present the donkeys, which may be the same ones that the Norwegian audience has seen Kevin Probst present in Circus Arnardo for the past few seasons.

Pablo and Victoria Garcia's sons perform handstand under the name Garcia Brothers.

Robi Berousek performs with ladder balance. An act we last saw him present in 2022. He is also Circus Arena's chief props officer.

Robi Berousek can juggle while standing on a free-standing ladder!

In addition to those mentioned, the program offers an act called BMX Riders.

8 November 2023

Magical Christmas variety in Kristiansand Zoo, Norway. During the summer season you can see Circus Jesper in the zoo. But there are also artist performances up to Christmas, where guests can visit "Captain Sabeltann's Royal Pirate Theater" from 23 November to 9 December.

Lasse Nørager tells that it is a dinner show with a high-quality 3-course menu. There is entertainment before, between and after serving the food. The evening's host is magician and illusionist Roy Bjerke in the part as Impresario Grimaldi. Grimaldi presents artists he found on his way around the world:

Lajos Nagy, Platespinning

Julia Myllykangas, Hairhanging / Tightrope

Julia with hairhanging. Photo from Circus Krone in Munich 2018

Angie, Whip-act

Anton Monarstyrsky, hula hoop

Lord of the Rings Anton Monastyrsky. Photo from Helsingborg Christmas Circus 2014. In 2005 the Danes saw him in Circus Benneweis

Devine Dancers, Ballet

Jon Erik Myre, Actor and singer

Joakim Myllykangas, Comic stagehand

4 November 2023

Zirkus Nemo 2024. They write (my translation): "Next year we will celebrate the 25th anniversary with a bang of a performance that surpasses everything we have presented before!"

Zirkus Nemo is owned by the Danish actor and comedian Søren Østergaard. It is a combination of a circus and a comedy show. It was established in 1999 and was at that time mainly a comedy show with Søren as the main star. He is still the main star in the performance, but today also international top artists are part of the performance. Both in 2016, 2018 and 2022 the Danish Circus Awards prize for the best circus act of the year was given to artists working in Zirkus Nemo.

Apart from Søren Østergaard, the names of the performers have not yet been announced. But for years, it has mainly been the actor and comedian Søren Østergaard as Smadremanden, Bager Jørgen, etc., the Danish audience has have come to see. Photo from Nemo's Facebook page.

Season opening 29 April in Horsens.

3 November 2023

Christmas circus in Aarhus. Isabella Enoch Sosman has this year given up presenting Christmas circus in Kolding. But the people of Jutland do not miss a Christmas circus, as Isabella's nephew Jimmy Enoch and his team present Enoch's Circus Show in a heated tent on Bispetorvet in Aarhus. There are performances from 5 to 17 December.

Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark with an estimated population of 320,000.

They write (my translation):

In December, you will be able to see top-class artists in the heart of Aarhus when the team behind Flying Superkids presents a completely new circus concept.

The circus is undergoing a rebirth without ring, horses and camels, but with a focus on the core experience.

This is the vision behind the new circus show, which will be presented at Bispetorvet in December.

"The circus world has developed quite a bit in the past several years. The ring is circular and the horses run in a ring. We now want to change this in a modern attempt to give people a renewed circus experience - an experience where you are closer to what happens and where the old, familiar elements have been sorted out in favour of a unified and intensive experience. We don't want our audience to wait impatiently, but instead to experience a show full of action and pace," says Jimmy Enoch, one of the creators of Enoch's Circus Show.

Jimmy is the daily production manager for Flying Superkids and has worked with them since 2013.

Winter circuses are not unknown abroad, and especially in Germany, almost every town has its own winter edition of a classic circus. Although it has never before been attempted to put up a classic circus performance in Aarhus, the time has now come.

"We believe that we have an understanding of what families with children want. Flying Superkids has had 70,000 visitors in Denmark this year. This is not because we have invented something revolutionary, but because we really strive to deliver more than pure entertainment. Every element of our show is carefully considered for its relevance and entertainment value. This same principle we now transfer to the circus world. We want

to create an intense, inspiring and exciting experience with artists who are passionate about what they have practiced for years. We don't intend to bore the children with far too much talk in a far too long performance," says Lars Godbersen, who for 20 years has worked with keeping Flying Superkids "up to date".

The performance will take place in an intimate, heated, white circus tent on Bispetorvet. The artists come from all over Europe, and in front of the tent there will be a mini Christmas market to create an even more intimate atmosphere.

"Now we have to see if it will be a success. We are brave enough to try. We just hope that the people of Aarhus will support us, but let's see if it doesn't succeed," says Jimmy

Enoch with a smile.

The tent measures 15 x 25 metres. Tickets can be bought at www.circusshow.dk

3 November 2023

New ringmaster in Circus Baldoni. For many years it was circus owner René Mønster Baldoni who, together with his ventriloquist doll Leonardo the Lion presented the performances. In 2021 and 2022, he entrusted the task to the ventriloquist and actor Peter Nørgaard. In 2023, the task as ringmaster was handed over to the stand-up comedian Amin Jensen. In season 2024, the audience will meet a new ringmaster: Mickey Juel Prüssing. Mickey is trained as a Musical and Performance Artist at the Performing Arts School in Gothenburg, Sweden, and at Skuespillerakademiet in Copenhagen. Recently, he has worked as a show artist at a number of Sunwing's family hotels.

Season opening will be on April 6. Just like this year, it is Peter Nørgaard who put the performance on stage.

1 November 2023

Circus of Torment ends their tour in Denmark with performances up to and including November 5 in Ansgar Anlæg in Odense. In the 2-pole tent there is a small circular stage surrounded by 2 rows of ringside chairs and 6 rows of benches.

Before the performance the audience can outside the tent experiences the pre-show CarnEVIL! They are welcomed by a barker as well as by mysterious and terrifying characters that haunt in the shadows. Click here to see an approx. 1-minute-long video clip from CarnEVIL! The performers in CarnEVIL! comes from Dystopia in Vejle.

The author and lecturer Jørgen Lorenzen together with a horror clown.

Photography is not permitted during the performance. But when the performance is over, guests with R.I.P. tickets can be photographed together with the performers. Here Jørgen Lorenzen, who wrote an enthusiastic review of the show on this website on 14 February 2023. - Circus of Torment is considering visiting Denmark again in 2024.

31 October 2023

Clown Circus Music Album. Over the years, Benny Schumann has composed music for his performances. Including for the clown festivals at the amusement part Bakken north of Copenhagen. Festivals that Bakken unfortunately dropped after the 2012 season, even though they attracted tens of thousands of guests.

Together with the musician Andreas Vago, Benny Schumann has arranged and recorded the various musical numbers. A fantastically good creative collaboration, which Benny wanted to resume again this year, but was told that Andrea Vago unfortunately passed away in 2021. But now Benny has released an album with the music.

The cover of the album is a poster from 1996 made by Barbara Gress. The year Benny Schumann had the first real Clown Festival at Bakken. Furthermore, it was 100 years since his grandfather Charlie Ravel was born. For that occasion, Benny had composed and recorded Charlie's Guitar, which can be heard on the new album.

You can listen and buy / download the album at Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon and several other music service providers. Click here for the link to Spotify. You can also search for "Benny Schumann", and the name will appear on the various music services.

Benny Schumann hopes that the album will be well received. He plans to release another album with circus and variety music next year.

30 October 2023

New website for Kenny Quinn. The Danish gentleman thief Kenny Quinn has got a new website: https://kennyquinn.com/

It also contains a new edition of Kenny Quinn's article about his mentor Gentleman Jack: https://kennyquinn.com/tribute-gentleman-jack

26 October 2023

Baldoni's Christmas Circus. This year's performance premieres on 18 November in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. Until 17 December, the performance can be seen in indoor arenas on Zealand, the Lolland-Falster and Bornholm.

As something new, they have a Christmas Pierrot with them: Hasse Hjort. For many years he was Pierrot in Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus and before that had an international career as the magician Ricky with the ventriloquist doll Nancy.

In the part as Nisseline, you will as last year meet Helena Neumann.

The part as Nisseline was for many years performed by Cindy Binau. In 2022, Helena Neumann took over the part. She is a musical performer, dancer and actor and sings very well. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The performing circus artists are:

Handstand and chair balance with Michal Mudrak with his wife Daniella Vittova playing the violin during the chair balance. Michal Mudrak was part of Baldoni's summer performance in 2020 and the Christmas performance in 2021. Under the name Hands to Violin, Michal and Daniella were with Baldoni in 2016 and in their Christmas performance in 2017.

In the number Hands to Violin, Michal Mudrak and Daniella Vittova in Baldoni's 2016 performance told an almost contemporary-circus-like story about a couple who overslept and had to get up and get dressed. For their original act, they were nominated as one of three artist acts for the prize for the year's best act by the Danish Circus Award.

The unicycle artist Lenard Matós, whom many remember from Baldoni's summer performance in 2022.

Duo Matos. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

New at Baldoni are the Italian couple Roberto Saba and Giorgia Giani, who perform in cyrwheel, with hula hoop and with hand-to-hand acrobatics.

René Baldoni has the parts as Santa Claus and the mischievous Nis.

Baldoni's Christmas circus will this year be Denmark’s only Christmas circus. For the past few years, Circus Trapez has presented a Christmas circus in a tent in Kolding. But they are taking a break this year. "The ground was frozen last year when we entered the lot, but in the last two weeks we were there, there was so much rain that the lot became very soft and it cost a fortune to have it renovated. That's why we keep a year's break with the Christmas circus," circus owner Isabella Enoch Sosman tell.

24 October 2023

Norwegian Circus Arnardo offers Christmas theatre. The large Norwegian circus ends the summer season on October 29. But just like last year, they also offer a Christmas performance. Last year it was in Lillestrøm. This year it is in the Agder region, whose main cities are Kristiansand and Arendal. The Norwegian circus writes (my translation)

MAGIC SNOWBALL IN CIRCUS ARNARDO'S NEW CHRISTMAS SHOW

Cirkus Arnardo swaps sawdust for snowflakes and brings the circus magic indoors and onto the theater stage when the newly written Christmas show "Snøkrystallen" (the show crystal) is put on stage in their home county of Agder.

"Because when the very first snowflakes fall, Arnardo's magic snow globe must be used. A snow globe that has been looked after every year by Bumbull, Arnardo's friendly butler. But everything probably doesn't go according to plan...."

Circus Arnardo and circus director Are Arnardo can now finally realize their dream of being able to welcome their audience to the theater.

- My grandfather, Arne Arnardo, founder of Circus Arnardo, played himself the part as the clown Bumbull at Oslo Nye Teater in December 1970 in the circus comedy "August August August", Are says.

- We bring all of this to the stage, and that in combination with a content that fits in well with Christmas.

​It is the clown and comedian Victor Rossi, who has written the script and stages the show. Performance dates and venue have not yet been announced.

Arne Arnardo as the clown Bumbull in the circus comedy «August August August» at Oslo New Theatre in December 1970. Photo from Circus Arnardo

23 October 2023

A little about Dark Thrills Entertainment. The bounce ball juggler and entertainer David Sosman writes:

With my friend Michaël Betrian Diabolo-Artist as boss and founder, Dark Thrills Entertainment creates Halloween and horror-themed acts and show productions.

At this moment, Dark Thrills Entertainment is simultaneously involved in separate events in 3 different countries; with two originally created and produced shows – Circus of Torment / Circo Tormento touring Denmark and Spain, and Madhouse in Movie Park Germany + providing horror themed acts other places, such as Circus Dystopia from @dystopiadk in Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus, Denmark. Currently 37 performers and cast/crew members  are involved in projects of Dark Thrills Entertainment

I am so proud and happy that I can be part of this company and have been part of this crazy journey.

Circus of Torment has performances in Odense, Denmark, from 27 October to 5 November.

18 October 2023

Halloween Freak Show. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Kolding Shopping Center on 17 October and writes (my translation):

It was brand new. Gone was the ring. Gone was the ringmaster with his: Have you brought the good circus mood with you? I can't hear you! Gone was the classic "layer cake performance".

On the other hand, the square in the shopping center had been converted into a large maze, where children and adults could get lost. At the entrance stood the Icelandic witch Gryla, who eats small children. Inside the labyrinth there were skeletons, spiders and cobwebs, ghosts and apparently also a "scary" clown.

Outside the maze were two small stages. Two announcers, Lasse Nørager and Captain Frodo, competed to attract people's attention - with a myriad of linguistic quirks, as you remember the fair performers Professor Tribini and Regnar Thierry.

Wearing a busty admiral's uniform, Frodo looked as something between the admiral from Pinafore, a vagabond and a seedy nobleman.

Captain Frodo is introduced as The Great Santini. All photos are smartphone photos, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen

Lasse Nørager was wearing a mighty outfit with gallons and huge white riding breeches – or were it plus fours?

Lasse Nørager, also known as Bonbon the clown

David Hammarberg – Mr. Hammer – was made up like a zombie who had just returned home from the underworld, and Joakim Myllykangas raced around like a monkey in a cage, while Julia Myllykangas was something between a fine noblewoman and a frivolous cancan dancer.

No two performances were alike. The zombie David made his beautiful aerial act in tissues hanging down from the highest point of the square. Julia was hoisted up in what is known in the technical language as hair hanging.

Under the name Miss Julian, Julia Myllykangas appeared, among other things, with hair hanging. In connection with this year's distribution of circus prizes, she and her brother Joakim were honored with a grant from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation. They are the children of Lasse Nørager and his wife Tiina Myllykangas.

And on one stage, Captain Frodo resided – subtle, with a twinkle in his eye. He dislocated his arm, swallowed a sword and massacred a vegetarian meat sausage, which means a cucumber. And he sat on the barrel, or rather: on a tomato can. Real Halloween horror.

Captain Frodo as Sword Swallower

David danced with hula hoops and performed a classic handstand on blocks.

David Hammarberg

Bonbon backed up with his ton-heavy suitcase, which does not move out of place until a boy from the audience shows that it is feathered. Joakim was the man who suddenly loses his head. And Julia was beaten and tied and lowered into a large box, which was to be sent both to Billund and Copenhagen. Because "what is worse than being hung up by the hair? It is to be sent to Copenhagen". But she avoided it - and switched places with her father.

It was – in short – a freak show that has not been seen in recent times. Proof that the old jester is immortal. And at the same time new and refreshing. There were only a few actors, but it felt like an entire army. And the time flew by in the company of professional entertainers, artists and clowns who know their business and who love to perform. You could feel that - and register it in the audience's reactions.

17 October 2023

The Norwegian Circus Arnardo close the season with 16 performances in Arendal from 18 to 29 October. Season opened in in March, and it has been the longest season for many years for Circus Arnardo.

At the recent circus festival in Prague, Luigo Arnardo received the Circus Friends Award. He is son of Circus Arnardo’s owners Are and Paola Arnardo. Photo from this year's Arnardo performance. Photographer: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

The festival's gold medal went to another of the artists from Circus Arnardo: Sarita Macaggi. She is the female half of Duo Stellare, which shows both a rollerskating act and an act in aerial straps. In the last part of the season, Sarita has shown her solo number in aerial straps in some performances, and this is what brought her gold in Prague. Photo from this year's Arnardo performance. Photographer: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

15 October 2023

Silver medal to Kaya Janacek. Circus Baldoni writes (my translation):

We are so proud that our Kaya Janacek today won silver in a large international circus festival in Prague. Incidentally, it is the second award he has received this year, as in August he received the prize as talent of the year in the Danish circuses.

Kaya and his family have been with us for 8 years and we have followed him since he started. Every single year he has developed wildly, which the audience could see in this year’s performance. Unfortunately, the family will not be with us next year, partly because they have been given a different contract, but also because it is difficult to vary their acts year by year, but they will definitely come back in a later season. They are however with us in Ishøj Shopping Mall in Copenhagen, where we have performances during the winter holidays 2024. Congratulations from us to Kaya!

On October 14, Kaya Janacek received a silver medal at the circus festival Cirkus Cirkus in Prague. In August, he received the year's talent prize from the Danish Circus Award.

14 October 2023

Arena's Halloween circus – innovative children's theatre. Where last year's Halloween performance was a mixture of children's theater and circus with both performers and artists, this year's performance Dracula Goes West is pure children's theater with no other circus artist elements than Patrick Berdino doing a few handsprings. There are a total of 11 performers with Patrick Berdino, Camilla Frederikke, Mattias Hundebøll and Ataf Khawaja in the leading parts.

As last year, the artist entrance is a giant pumpkin

Patrick Berdino plays the part as Count Dracula, who thirsts for blood and is very unhappy when his servant Igor gives him a Bloody Mary and he discovers that it contains no blood.

Count Dracula, played by Patrick Berdino

The fat peasant that Igor gets him turns out to be just a skeleton. Dracula therefore goes to London, which has changed much since he was there 130 years ago. A couple he wants to suck blood from ends up beating him.

He has no better luck with another couple, where the girl is apparently a YouTuber and the man is trying to make a breakthrough as a musician.

The musician, played by Mattias Hundebøll. The influencer, who is upset that she has a wrinkle and would like more SoMe likes, is played by Camilla Frederikke

Finally, the musician burns his guitar in desperation. And Dracula must, for lack of anything else, suck blood from his servant Igor.

The burning guitar. In the background the influencer with a flamethrower.

Dracula sucks blood!

The performance is presented by a compere with green make-up. He is a politician in search of votes

The politician who wants more votes

Dracula says that as a vampire you have eternal life and proves it by surviving being sawed through in a box like the one you know from the sawing illusion.

See, I'm immortal and survived being sawed through!

When the others are told that they will get eternal life if Dracula is allowed to suck their blood, they all allow themselves to be "sucked" in order to have an eternal career. The performance ends with all of them jumping around the audience like vampires to suck blood.

The sound is much better than last year, but it is difficult to follow the fast-talking Camila Fredrikke. The music is modern and the chorus to the title tune Dracula la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la is almost an ear hanger.

If you expect a circus performance with artists, you will be disappointed. If you want to see a cute and well-staged classic children's theater performance with a romantic plot, you should go to the Tivoli Gardens and see the Adventure Theatre’s performance in the Glass Stage. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a more innovative children's theater performance with performers who may be known to the younger generation, I can recommend a visit to Arena's Halloween circ.

About the cast: Patrick Berdino is circus owner Benny Berdino’s grandson. Camilla Frederikke is an influencer and beauty geek with over 400,000 followers on her social media. Mattias Hundebøll is a singer and musician. Ataf Khawaja is a Danish rapper who is also known in hip-hop circles under the name Sorte Slyngel.

From the finale, where Patrick/Dacula is hoisted up under the circus doom

14 October 2023

Circusland in Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Aarslev, Slagelse offers every day up to and including 22 October at 11 show with Suzanne Berdino and her four-legged friends. At 13 there is a mini-show with clowning and magic on the small stage in the indoor playground. At 16:15 there is a performance in Circus Landino. The performance is presented by Suzanne Berdino. The artists are the clown Danny Rivelinos, Sergejs Polupans and Jelena Vasiljeva, both known from several seasons with Circus Arli, and Karsten Berdino with liberty ponies.

11 October 2023

The circus museum's new special exhibition

A few months ago, the former artist Janos Paul Dubsky donated a number of costumes and other effects that belonged to the Dubsky family to the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. Janos is son of Joseph Dubsky (1926 – 2016) and Josette Dubsky, née Rivel (1931 - 2022). The couple was, among other things, known as Dubsky-Rivel clowns. Janos was for a period a white-faced clown in their entrées. Janos Dubsky also presented an act with football playing dogs. His last appearance with the dogs in Denmark was at Circus Benneweis in 2006. Today, Janos has left the artist world and works as a bus driver.

One of the acts of the Dubsky family was known for is the comic taxi

The Circus Museum has made a small special exhibition about the Dubsky family. The family originally came from Hungary and have circus roots that can be traced all the way back to around 1800. But the family developed a fondness for Denmark, which ended up becoming their home base. The museum has produced a short film about the Dubsky family. The film is shown in the exhibition.

To the left: The clown costume has been used both by Joseph Dubsky and later by his son Janos as white-faced clowns. To the right: The mirror costume was used by Joseph Dubsky. The mirrors reflected the limelight so that he could light up the entire ring when he played the concertina.

5 October 2023

Circuses in the autumn holidays - and the rest of October

Danish schools are closed for autumn holidays in week 42.

The American phenomenon of Halloween with costumed monsters has now supplanted Mardi Gras in Denmark, and several of the autumn circus performances are Halloween performances.

Arena Halloween Circus. At Bellahoj in Copenhagen, Circus Arena presents the performance Dracula goes West - Halloween Circus 2023 from 12 to 22 October. It is the Danish rapper Clemens, who has rewritten the old vampire story and created a huge total show for the whole family with circus artists, singers, actors, influencers and dancers. Benny Berdino's grandson Patrick has the part as the world's greatest vampire Dracula, and he is surrounded by, among others, the influencer Camilla Frederikke, the singer and musician Mattias Hundebøll and the rapper Ataf Khawaja.

Kolding Storcenter usually offers traditional circus performances produced by Cirkus Arena during the autumn holidays. This year, the circus performances are scary fun shows every day during the holidays at 11, 13 and 15. Kolding Storcenteret writes (my translation): These shows are a feast for the senses, where the audience can see circus artists performing their most impressive acts. The frighteningly funny elements in the performances ensure that there is a lot of smiles, while at the same time there is a touch of creepiness and mystery that fits perfectly with the autumn season.

Odense's children's and youth’s Circus Flik-Flak has offered a Halloween show for several years. They do it again this year and write (my translation):

Circus Flik-Flak invites you to a scary afternoon full of magic and experiences with Halloween circus for the whole family. The event takes place at Circus Flik-Flik, Herluf Trolles Vej 138, Sunday 29 October 2023 at 2 pm.

An enchanting show, where the theme is "The Flying Dutchman", awaits the visitors. Here, pirates, acrobats, sailors and the strangest creatures will entertain with their colourful performances, all in Halloween style.

The artists, who come from children's and youth’s circuses from all over Denmark, will conjure, juggle and perform on unicycles. The entire performance is accompanied with musical gags and served with a touch of excitement.

Children can participate in the event for DKK 40, while the adult ticket costs DKK 60. Tickets can be bought on Cirkus Flik-Flak's website www.cirkusflikflak.dk

Some of the performers in Flik-Flak's Halloween show

Circus of Torment has performances at Ansgar Anlæg in Odense from 27 October to 5 November at 18:30 and 21. No performances 30/10. Circus of Torment is a unique spectacular and international live horror show experience created by Dark Thrills Entertainment. They write:

” Prepare to travel back to a dark time of mysterious fortunetellers, terrifying freaks, psychopathic acrobats and murderous clowns. This show is not for the faint of heart and is a guaranteed hair-raising experience!”

The juggler on the Circus of Torment flyer is David Sosman

You can also see more traditional performances during the autumn holidays.

The Circus farm in Løkken. Monday 16 to Sunday 22 October at 16 Katja Schumann and her team offer performances in Cirkusgaarden at Vrenstedvej 287 in Løkken.

Circus Big with circus director Mr. Big and Knud the clown has 3 daily shows in the Broen Shopping Center in Esbjerg, Monday to Saturday during the autumn holidays. In the performances, you can experience artistry, magic, fun and trouble with laughter - and then there is a guarantee of giggles. There is performances Monday – Friday at 11, 13:30 and 16 and Saturday at 11, 13 and at 15.

Circus Mascot and Circus Trapez are both on tour in Jutland arenas up to and including Sunday 22 October.

There are also artist performances at Denmark’s two circus museums.

At the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, the versatile artist Jonathan Bendtsen performs at 11 Monday-Friday in week 42. He is, among other things, known from Denmark Got Talent. Jonathan likes to try diabolo, acrobatics, teeterboard, juggling and the so-called CYR wheel, which is a large ring the size of a person.

Jonathan Bendtsen in Cyr Wheel. Press photo from the Circus Museum

The circus museum in Rold is open on Wednesday 18 October and Thursday 19 October from 12 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. you can see the magician Stig Rantzau from Aalborg Magic Club in a terrific show. He specializes in masterful tricks with playing cards, ropes and rubber bands - and he can read your mind. It will be a show full of unexpected things and impressive tricks.

Aalborg magician Stig Rantzau. Press photo from the Circus Museum in Rold. You can read more about him at www.ukm.dk

Thursday at 13 there is a family performance with aerial acrobatics and subsequent circus training when the artists from Aalborg Circus Club come to the Circus Museum in Rold. Here you will experience terrific acrobatic acts, juggling, fun with hula hoops and, not least, get high into the air with our aerial acrobats in fabric and trapeze. You can look forward to a wonderful and funny performance.

On both days, a ticket gives access to the performance, subsequent circus training and the exhibitions at the museum

3 October 202 

Circus Arena on Greenland with Julie Berthelsen and Bubber from 3 – 8 October.

It is a long-standing tradition for Circus Arena to visit Greenland. They are doing that this year too. They write (my translation):

It is the 38th time that Benny Berdino and his circus troupe visit Greenland with a show that unites children and adults in circus magic with the combination of music, adventure and world-class artistry.

Julie Bertelsen and Bubber, two of Denmark's most beloved entertainers, will act as hosts for this fantastic journey into the circus world. Their charisma and energy will lead the audience through an unforgettable experience.

International artists such as Jelena Vasiljeva and David Hammarberg will amaze the audience with their skills in magic and aerial acrobatics. Their performance is full of excitement and elegance and is a true tribute to the beauty of circus art. Bonbon and the clown Martino (Martin Arli, assisted by Mrs. Bettina) will bring laughter to both children and adults with their funny and heartwarming entrées. Their comedic timing and crazy inventions will bring a smile to everyone's face. Siblings Julia and Joakim Myllykangas, award recipients at this year's circus awards, will leave the audience wide-eyed at their talent and skill.

Circus Arena visits:

3 October Ilulissat - Sports hall at 18.30

4 October Aasiaat - Sports hall at 18.30

5 October Maniitsoq - Sports hall at 18.30

6 October Sisimiut - Sports hall at 18.30

8 October Nuuk - Inussivik at 13 and 16

Among the performers in Greenland are Julia and Joakim Myllykangas. Their parents are Lasse "Bonbon" Nørager and Mrs. Tiina. In connection with this year's distribution of circus prizes, Julia and Joakim received bursaries from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation.

27 September 2023

New exhibition from 8 October at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen – Dubsky's football dogs

It's no secret that dogs like balls, but very few people know that you can actually get them to play football against other dogs. However, that is what the Dubsky family got their bulldogs to do in a world-famous circus act. You can see the story behind the act and the family in the Circus Museum's new exhibition, which opens on 8 October.

The act with the dogs took the family all around the world, bringing laughter and excitement to everything from Danish Circus Benneweis to Holiday on Ice. The family, which originally came from Hungary, has circus roots that can be traced all the way back to around 1800. But they developed a fondness for Denmark, which ended up becoming their home base. Museum curator Mikkel Knudsen says: "The Dubsky family is one of the families whose circus roots can be traced longest back in time. At the same time, it has a classic circus story in it, namely the story of a circus family that has travelled from job to job all over the world, and where circus life has been passed down from generation to generation.” The Circus Museum has produced a film for the exhibition, which includes clips from the dog show, and you can also see beautiful costumes used by several generations and other effects that document the family's work. You can see the exhibition from 8/10.

Josette Dubsky with the dogs. Photo from the Circus Museum archive

The last time we saw Dubsky's football dogs in a Danish ring was at Circus Benneweis in 2006. Previously, the Danes had e.g., seen Dubsky's football dogs at Schumann in the Copenhagen Circus building (1949 and 1964), at Circus Louis (1951), at Circus Vivi (1966), at Circus Dannebrog (1988 and 2000), on the Open-Air Stage in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens (1993) and at Circus Benneweis (1996).

Dubsky's Football Dogs. Photo reproduced from Cirkus Benneweis' 1996 programme

Incidentally, the Dubsky family are not the only ones who have presented football-playing dogs. For example, Benneweis presented Dogsis football dogs in the Copenhagen Circus building in 1971 and 1985 and in the tent circus in 1972. It was Circus Benneweis' longtime chief trainer Frantz Richard Althoff who together with his niece Aggi presented the act, where the dogs were trained by Aggi. Her football-playing dogs were bulldogs and boxers.

25 September 2023

New artists at Circus Mascot. As mentioned on September 21, the Czech artist couple Yuriy and Edita Mamchych have replaced the 73-year-old Hungarian artist Lui Nereus and his wife and son in Circus Mascot's performance. Both the audience and the management are enthusiastic about the young artists. Daniel Deleuran has sent me the photos shwn below from their acts.

24 September 2023

Alexander Arli and Jimmy Enoch took a short break from the ring and visited Mr. Plys in the tropical holiday centre Lalandia Rødby. Alexander is ready for the show SCHOUTUR 2023 in Herning. In October, Jimmy Enoch will in October tour with Flying Superkids visiting Sønderborg, Kolding, Randers and Frederikshavn. In November, Superkids will visit Holstebro, Esbjerg, Roskilde and Næstved.

22 September 2023

★★★★★★ Wallmans in top form

Since 1991 The Copenhagen Circus Building has only occasionally been used for the purpose for which it was built in 1886. Swedish owned Walllmans Nöjen took over the Circus Building in January 2003. Since the building has undergone a modernization. The old stables now function as restaurant kitchen and banqueting rooms respectively, while the elephant hallway has been turned into the artists’ wardrobe. Wallmans use the building for dinner shows with singers, dancers and artists. 

Apart from the corona years 2020 and 2021, every year since 2004, Wallmans has offered a new dinner show. All shows have been great and spectacular and played from the end of August to the middle of June. Every time they premiere a new show, you ask yourself: "Can they do it again?"

The answer is a clear yes, they can! All shows have deserved 5 reviewer stars. Last year, when the pre-recorded music was replaced by a live band, it gave an extra reviewer star. This also applies to their new show Cake, where the live music has been kept –

sometimes slightly supported by pre-recorded music.

The guests are welcomed by 3 singers who, using the canopy over the entrance as a stage, give a few numbers.

The well-playing live band with keyboard, drums, bass and guitar. Smartphone photo taken during the gala premiere on 20 September

As in recent seasons, the evening's hostess is the fast-talking Danish drag Quinn Megan Moore, who solves the task excellently. As always, the language at Wallman's is English, as there are always a number of foreign guests.

Megan Moore. Press photos from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

The team of singers and dancers put on a great show again this year. Last year it was built around Elvis and ABBA hits. This year it's Michael Jackson and George Michael songs as well as some of Danish/Norwegian Aqua's hits. With all due respect to those mentioned, there may not be as many ear hangers as last year.

As always, impressive lighting and performance on several different stages and around the hall. For people who have been to Cuba, it brings back memories of Havana's famous Tropicana Show. Some of the scenes seem a bit inspired by horror circuses, such as when ghosts with daggers chased Megan Moore and you come along on a creepy and rocky forest trip.

Some of the scenes seem inspired by horror circuses. Smartphone photo taken during the gala premiere on 20 September

A ghost chases Megan Moore into a large box, which is then pierced with swords. Smartphone photos taken during the gala premiere on 20 September

As always, there are circus performers in the performance. This year, muscular Dmitriy Karpenko from Ukraine and the Swedish twins Duo Vilja.

Dmitriy first shows a number in tissue (black silks hanging down from the circus dome). Later he has a short entrée in aerial ring.

Dmitry Karpenko. Press photos from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

Most impressive however, are Duo Vilja, which consists of the Swedish twin sisters Jenny and Sara Haglund. Last year, the Danes saw them in Zirkus Nemo, where they showed an impressive contortion act. It earned them a nomination for the Talent Prize from the Danish Circus Award. At Wallmans, they first present a fine act in aerial ring and later their contortion entrée. They might be considered when the Danish Circus Award next year nominates artists for the award for the year's best act.

Jenny and Sara Haglund were born in 1984. At the age of 13, they caught the circus bug and joined a children's and youth circus. Later they went to circus school. First in Sweden, then in Montreal. Since then, they have appeared in a large number of varieties shows and circuses. Press photos from Wallmans. Photographer: John Resborn

Duo Vilja – smartphone photo taken during the gala premiere on 20 September

As I wrote a great and well-staged show, where the waiters elegantly and quickly serve a delicious 4-course menu between the acts. The show lasts almost 4½ hours. Prices are from DKK 699 and up, depending on the choice of day of the week, location and menu.

Wallmans dinnershow is certainly worth a visit if you come to Copenhagen. And as I wrote: the language is English.

​

21 September 2023

Program change in Circus Mascot. The 73-year-old Hungarian artist Lui Nereus, who did handstand on a doll and performed as the man in the pole, has not been able to complete the tour for personal reasons. He has returned to his home country Hungary with his somewhat younger wife Eva Vitzo, who performed with glass balance, and son Lori, who performed with rola-bola. As a replacement, Cirkus Mascot has booked Yuriy and Editha Mamchych, who have just finished the season in Swedish Circus Olympia. There, under the name Duo Sunshine, they had a fine entrée in aerial straps, and Editha furthermore showed a hula-hoop act of a standard that is far above what you see elsewhere. Since Circus Mascot performs indoor in sport centers etc., they cannot show the act in aerial straps. But instead, the Machiko’s present their adagio act just as Editha shows her hula-hoop entrée and Yuriy performs with cube juggling. The people of Zealand experienced the couple in Circus Arli in 2019. And now it is the turn of the people of Jutland to see the 2 talented Czech artists. – Circus Mascot will close the 2023 season on 21 October.

Duo Mamchych. Archive photo

12 September 2023

Artists Appreciation to Line Vittrup. On 7 September Line Vittrup had received the Artists' Appreciation Award from the Artists' Association.

This is a completely new award, which was first awarded in connection with the Artists' Association's summer party on 7 September.

The award focuses on innovation, and the award recipients all have a renewed approach to the dissemination of music and performing arts. They have each been frontrunners in their field and used their platform to make art more diverse, accessible and sustainable.

Line Vittrup received the Artists' Appreciation for her work in communicating the circus profession at eye level. As a working artist at the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen, she gives visitors an understanding of what it takes to be a circus performer. She masters a wide range of disciplines, and uses the entire palette to involve users. Line Vittrup has performed with circuses in many different countries and is now one of Denmark’s few permanently employed circus teachers.

There were also awards for 4 others, though none connected to the circus world: drag performer Michael Bjerring, choreographer Sunniva Byvard Løvland, the band Lukas Graham and jazz guitarist Jakob Bro.

The prizes included DKK 20,000 and an original print by illustrator Pauline Drasbæk.

Line Vittrup with her prize. Photo: Rita Blue.

11 September 2023

Profile of Trolle Rhodin. The Swedish magazine Chef has published a profile of the 34-year-old Trolle Rhodin III, who is the director of the Swedish Circus Brazil Jack, being the largest circus in Sweden. A circus which today has neither animals nor clowns in the show, and which is cashless meaning that the visitors pay with credit cards and not with banknotes. And whose power supply for environmental reasons is primarily batteries and not a diesel generator. Trolle also reveals that the family has roots among the Romanies (what used to be called gypsies).

Trolle Rhodin welcomes you to this year's performance. Apart from his welcome and farewell there is almost no speak in the performance, and the artists are not introduced by name. There is no printed program.

About the decision in 2018 to make the circus animal-free, Trolle Rhodin tells that it was really only about domestic animals such as horses and dogs. Elephants and other wild animals had for several years not been presented in Swedish circuses.

Troll Rhodin acknowledges that there are places in the circus world where animals are treated well, even very well. But he also believes that there are places where they don't treat animals well. He did not want to be associated with animal husbandry. At the same time, he feels that today's audiences are not at all interested in seeing animals perform.

He never thought that clowns were funny. With their thick make-up and grotesque appearance, they frighten many children. That is why he has chosen to create comic figures who use their body language to make contact with the audience.

Click here to read the article. The language is Swedish!

In recent seasons, the comic feature in Circus Brazil Jack has been the Wolf brothers, whom the Danes e.g. has seen in Circus Arli. The tall and muscular David and his somewhat smaller older brother Richard.

11 September 2023

“Tipping Point – Balancing in a Time of Change". The Swedish contemporary Circus Cikör writes:

“Tipping Point – Balancing in a Time of Change" is a circus show that challenges and stretches structures – our human structures and what holds our societies and democracies together. Why do they look the way they do? What keeps them in balance?

In a tensegrity structure, the form is held together by tension, balance and forces that pull in different directions. The slightest change can cause the entire building to fall.

And what happens when the most fundamental collapses? Who gets trapped, and who finds freedom? Tipping Point serves as a reminder that nothing is inevitable and that change is possible. We can harness each other's power and build stronger together towards more inclusive and fair systems.

Actually, it's pretty simple. Regardless of size, every action can be part of a larger change.

Director is Alexander Weibel Weibel, a circus artist who has been involved in several productions with us directed by Tilde Björfors, such as Borders, Satyagraha, and Knitting Peace.

On February 16, 2024, the performance will have its world premiere in collaboration with Riksteatern as part of CirkusExpo and CirkusMania. Following that, there will be a Swedish tour during the spring, with a continuous performance period at venues such as Stora Teatern in Gothenburg, and then the production goes on tour internationally. Tickets and more information are to come in the fall.

Ensemble

Delia Ceruti: Hair hanging and Rope

Morgane Stäheli: Duo Trapeze

Sébastien Klink: Duo Trapeze

Kalle Pikkuharju: Contortion and Foot Juggling

Quentin Dubot: Chinese Pole

8 September 2023

The Danish 2023 circus season is closing. Circus Arena and Circus Arli have already finished the season. Circus Baldoni is at the Faroe Islands, where they end the summer season on September 12. Zirkus Nemo has performances in Charlottenlund in Copenhagen up to and including 9 September, before ending the season in Odense with performances from 13 to 17 September. Circus Mascot has performances in Jutland sports and cultural centres up to and including 22 October. Circus Trapez performs partly in sport centres and partly in a tent until 1 October. They also have a unit which visits a number of care homes etc. with short performances.

From Sweden, the Swedish Circus Academy writes (my translation):

A circus season in Sweden goes fast, very fast!

Therefore, the final performances of the season are approaching at our Swedish touring tent circuses. Here are the last performances:

CIRCUS RHODIN, Saturday 16 September at 16.00 at the sports field in Degerberga

CIRCUS BRAZIL JACK, Sunday 17 September at 13.00 at Heden in Gothenburg

CIRCUS OLYMPIA, Sunday 17 September at 15.00 at Mammarpsgatan in Klippan

CIRCUS I LOVE YOU, Sunday 17 September at 14.00 at Strandvägen 2 in Simrishamn

With reservation for possible changes

A big thank you to all the Swedish circus operators who ensure that we can see live entertainment and preserve the cultural heritage CIRCUS!

4 September 2023

Sophie's Surprise. The performance Sophie's Surprise premiered on 5 August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It got fantastic reviews both in the press and with the audience.

The Fringe is a three-week festival of performing arts that takes place in Edinburgh every August. Its story dates back to 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Next stop for Sophie’s Surprise was Skraaen Theatre in Aalborg, Denmark. Jørgen Lorenzen attended the Danish premiere on 3 September at 20 and writes (my translation):

This year, Skraaen's annual late evening performance has been put into the theater. The Belgian spiegeltent (mirror tent), which usually is put up in Aalborg, was rented out to others.

And what did you experience? Difficult to summarize in one word, but the word contemporary circus is probably the one that covers it best. There were 6 young English artists who mastered many artistic disciplines at an excellent level.

The ensemble. The girl in the middle is a guest they invited into the show as Sophie, who gets a surprise. On the right of the picture is Ståle from Skraaen, who helps with practical things in connection with the show. Pia Kirstine Photo

And quite clearly the troupe worked beyond the traditional framework, where circus, variety show and clown walk side by side. But is that something new? Or is it really a return to the foolery and artistry that took place in the Middle Ages? The performance leaned towards the grotesque and burlesque and gritty, but it never became twisted or vulgar. And quite clearly the 6 artists worked with soul and heart. They wanted something different from what you usually see in circus tents and on variety shows. And what they wanted was to create renewal and shake up rigid forms and routines.

Pia Kirstine Photo

You could see it most clearly in their clothing. No uniforms, no requirement for costumes, but all kinds of clothes. One in a jogging suit, one in a smock, one in dark clothes, but he was however make up like the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret. Everything was permitted – no conventions. Away from the glitter of the arena, into the careless and relaxed clothing style of everyday life.

There was interaction with the audience. Before the performance and many times during. Mostly when a man in the front row had to go on stage twice. The first time to tie a knot on his shirt so that his stomach was exposed. The second time when he had to share biscuits with a unicyclist. Literally like that: a bite for each while the biscuit is held in the mouth.

And then there were unfathomable, symbol-laden props. For example, an artist who walked around with a cloth rabbit. Why? What was it supposed to be for? Or was the intention for the audience to find the meaning themselves? Could it have been a stuffed elephant or any other animal? And why should it? What was the animal's role?

But then suddenly we were back in the old circus. E.g., when the aforementioned smock-clad old person with an overbite came limping in - and proceeded to strip. Suddenly she was in a beautiful costume, and we witnessed a very nice and stylish number in aerial ring. Suddenly we were in the classic circus - but only for a while.

Pia Kirstine Photo

And a roller-skating act was presented as such act should be done. Classic! Stylish! But suddenly new thinking entered. As the roller-skating woman whirled around the man, she dived down and grabbed a bottle in the middle of the podium with her mouth. It has never been seen before.

Pia Kirstine Photo

There was a fine and classic number in aerial straps - with the enigmatic rabbit standing in a corner.

Pia Kirstine Photo

And an act on a unicycle was completely grotesque and burlesque. Monocycle acts can otherwise easily become a bit monotonous. But not here. The artist came in on a bicycle, with bare ass and almost nothing else. His performance then consisted of getting dressed while balancing on the bike. And to help himself and to strengthen himself with refreshments along the way, he had to have his audience assistant up on stage again. And they ate biscuits, almost mouth to mouth. Surprisingly, with a disarming sense of humour – not vulgar or lewd. And great fun down in the theatre.

Pia Kirstine Photo

And the performance was loaded with symbols, unfathomable and whimsical props, awkward costumes, and along the way a little guess-a-song competition, a little reading of a fairy tale and a little stand up. With English irony, because why did we still like the English even if they had opted out of the EU? It was a kaleidoscope of something we know from other media – especially TV – and from other scenes.

And another innovation: an artist hung upside down for approx. 4 meters high. On the floor stood an artist who lifted a third artist up to him, who was hanging in an aerial cradle. Aerial act and parterre acrobatics at the same time.

Pia Kirstine Photo

The performance ended with Sophie having to go on stage and having to choose between two men. Something we recognize from popular TV series: the choice of partner.

There are many paths to the circus. Circus has many forms of expression. Here was one of them. Kaleidoscopic and confusing, challenging-

You can read more about the performance and the performers at www.sophiessurprise29th.co.uk/

3 September 2023

Circus Baldoni in the Faroe Islands. It was originally the idea that the performances in Faroese arenas in the days 4 to 13 September should be reminiscent of the summer tent performances, although Martyn Chabri was to be replaced by a strong woman Georgiana, who juggles kettlebells and Diana Boiachin, who blows soap bubbles, and the now 13-year-old Rudi Janeček was to present for the first time ever his acrobatic pole and handstand act. As has been the case over the summer, the performance was to be presented by Amin Jensen with Tøffe as the clown.

Unfortunately, Tøffe has broken his foot in several places after falling on an uneven circus ground. Initially, despite visits to the doctor and the casualty department on a hospital, they were not aware that the foot was broken, so Tøffe completed the tent season. After this, a podiatrist suspected that the foot was broken, which an X-ray confirmed. Tøffe has now had his leg in plaster and is due to this replaced on the Faroe Islands by Eddie Janeček, who is already with his family is part of the as The Buffalo Family. Eddie has performed as a musical clown before. Amin Jensen, who was supposed to present the performance, has withdrawn, as the interaction with Tøffe was indispensable for him. The performance is presented instead, as in previous years, by circus director René Baldoni.

“Very sad season ending for me. I was really looking forward to the Faroe Islands", writes Tøffe, who is now on long-term sick leave. "However, traveling with a touring tent circus has generally been a fantastic experience, and I have no regrets. I have also gained both experiences and wonderful friends for life.”

At the Faroe Islands, Eddie Janeček has replaced the injured Tøffe as the show's clown.

28 August 2023

International Night Cabaret. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Hermans, Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus, 26 August at 21 and writes (my translation):

Excellent night cabaret. If I were giving out reviewer stars, there would be 5 or 6 well deserved stars.

The performance was entitled Mind the Magic - and was part of Aarhus Festival. It began with something incredible. A snake-man, disguised as a green frog with an indeterminate ornament on his belly. But with a bathing cap and flippers. Oleksandr Yenivatov could bend forward so much that he could literally lick his own neck. And put himself in all sorts of positions while the body was folded: stand on hands, jump like a frog, take the legs on the neck. All with a splash of humour, so the number moved from the macabre to the humorous.

And the magic then took on another expression. The magician Filberto Selvi played the violin until the violin shattered and broke into a thousand pieces. But he was able to afford a new violin with lights because he conjured up banknotes. But before he got the violin, sheets of music had to be obtained. Thus, he conjured musical notes, making them dance and almost come to life, all the while conjuring things from his bare hand and letting them disappear into thin air - to finally get his new violin.

We saw Lotte and Stina two times in the performance. First with a hula hoop entrée. Disguised as chatty, bickering housewives, they had to have the hoops dance around their bodies. It didn't always work out when the hoops bounced up between the legs or broke. However, they could be put back together - with help from the audience. Their main act in the second division was a combined balance and acrobatics act. The act took place on a board which stood on a cylinder. Rola bola is what it's called in professional language. The underman/underwoman balanced on the board while her colleague stood on her shoulders. And not just standing, but balancing on her. For example, she stood in a one-hand position on her head. It was – like the first of their acts – performed with a splash of humour and a little bit of striptease, but virtue prevailed.

And then there was music on the agenda. Flute virtuoso Gabor Vosteen was a master of the recorder. Not just one, but two, three, four and five. Two and multi-playing. And to get air in the whistles he had to use both nostrils. 3 in the mouth and two in the nose!

In the second section, he invited three members of the audience up on stage to play along. It is always difficult to pick up the audience, because not everyone is equally suited, and some may feel uncomfortable. But if they were, Gabor, with his relaxed attitude, made everyone relax and play along – in both senses of the word. So much so that one flutist could hardly play because she was laughing, and the male cymbal player quickly fell into the role and joined in with wild bucking.

After the break, there was silence in the theatre when Young-Min from South Korea came in. He was dressed in a black jacket and had long, black hair. He looked like a cross between a wizard and a necromancer. And he conjured sand, which ran between his fingers and materialized and became silver rings and jewellery. And the opposite way: metal rings were pulverized and went up into sand and smoke. The stage was gradually filled with stardust, which glittered and shone, as if you were being led into another, secret and super sensible world - enchanted by mysterious forces.

Sand, sensuality and breathtaking magic merge into a higher unity with South Korean Young-Min Kim. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

And more pointed beyond the world beyond the human. Aurelia Brua swung her body between two masts – called poles or, in popular parlance, stripper poles. She did it with such elegance that one thought of the Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who was on his way in a weightless state. She almost floated when she held on with just one foot or one hand or tied herself to the mast with a knee hook. Unbelievably difficult, and incomprehensible that she had the energy to make it look as if she was light as a feather and what she did was the easiest thing in the world.

My companion named the next number the best of the evening. Krisztina and Bettina were two unusually well-shaped women. They were aerial acrobats in an aerial act where they hung from loops that were tied around their foot or hand. It seems to be called aerial straps in the professional language. And they swirled away from each other and into each other and intertwined in a swirling dance – in beautiful pastel-coloured costumes that matched their bodies. They met, parted, embraced each other and wrapped themselves around each other. Or the underwoman hung with only one hand on the upperwoman's foot. Or a single foot in the superior woman's hand. Separation and close union. A whirlwind dance, light, elegant, aesthetic - that's what it looked like.

Hungarian Kristina and Bettina elegantly combine power and grace when they fly high above under the doom

And the final act. You've seen quick change before. It is always done by the changing taking place while a helper hides the person changing clothes, or it takes place behind a screen. But not here. Lea Kyle did it for open stage. Before the eyes of the spectator, the clothes changed colour and shape to disappear the next moment, while a new dress sprang out of nowhere. And patterns formed on the clothes while waiting for what the next costume would be. And she picked up dresses from a rack and in a split second the dress jumped onto her body. It is, of course, not only about dexterity, but also about technique of one kind or another, which is and must be opaque to the spectator, who is left with his mouth open.

French Léa Kyle has nothing less than "the world's fastest woman to change clothes" on her CV. Press photo from Aarhus Festival

Some of the acts were accompanied by recorded music. It was probably necessary for the artists' timing of the individual tricks. But fortunately, there was room for you to feel the pulse of the performance, which is live music. Marc Thierry's eminent drumming formed the basis of a trio, where Jesper Daus played the saxophone and Jesper Gruschy operated the keyboard.

It was an evening that the spectators will not forget. Entertainment at its finest. And you don't have to travel out into the wide world to see it. It happens right before one's eyes. It's all happening in Aarhus!

26 August 2023

Circus of Torment is coming back to Denmark. They visited Denmark in February this year with performances in Vejle and Aalborg. Now they return, this time with performances in Esbjerg (September 1 to 10), Aarhus (September 15 to October 1) and Odense (October 27 to November 5).

About the performance in Aalborg, the digital media migogaalborg wrote "Perfect combination of horror, laughter, horror and screams" and gave the performance 5 stars.

On this website Jorgen Lorenzen wrote, among other things: "There was so much that at the end you wanted to see it all again. And as in a good theater performance, the performance posed questions to the audience: what did we see here? How should we interpret it? There was not just, as in a good circus performance, a bombardment of the senses, a joyful demonstration of the many facets of circus art and its beauty".

Between the performances in Aarhus and Odense, the cast and crew go to Spain to perform at the Fiesta del Pilar festival in Zaragoza, where they will be from 6 to 22 October.

Click here to read more about the performances in Denmark.

25 August 2023

The Danish Circus Award 2023 was on 21 August by the Danish Minister of culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt given to Marianne Deleuran of Circus Mascot. The talent prize was given Kaya Janeček from Circus Baldoni. The prize for the best act of the year was given to Los Ortiz from Circus Arena. The effort prize was given to the Circus Museum at Hvidovre, Copenhagen. A bursary of 10,000 DKK was by the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation given to each of the siblings Julia and Joakim Myllykangas.

Hvidovre's mayor Anders Wolf Andresen welcomed to the award ceremony, which for the 6th time in a row took place in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

The Danish Circus Award 2023 to Marianne Deleuran

Since 1994, Marianne Deleuran has run Circus Mascot - first together with Jess and then together with the eldest of the couple's sons Daniel, who has been Circus Mascot's ringmaster in recent years. Marianne had no idea that her future husband Jess could do magic when she met him in 1987, when they were both employed at Jysk Telephone. She discovered by chance that he had a closet full of magic props and suggested they should put together a magic show. They did, and over the years they got a dream of having their own circus.

They tried to borrow money from the bank - without success, and instead they were allowed to work with a circus from Germany. It was a bit of a show... And it stopped three weeks before the season ended. In 1991, the couple got a job in the small Danish Circus Scandinavia. They had to do an illusion act as well as an act where Marianne was the mind-reading phenomenon Lizette. After 3 months, Circus Scandinavia run out of money, and the couple had learned something about how not to run a circus.

Based on this knowledge, Jess and Marianne founded Circus Mascot in 1994. There was room for 270 in the tent - but the audience didn't exactly pour in. With them in the circus wagon they had their four-year-old son Daniel, a poodle and a couple of balloon dogs. Later, a couple of goats and several dogs were added. And geese, ponies and foreign artists. Circus Mascot slowly became a success, and Marianne found out that she has a special connection with animals, not least dogs. She can get them to do almost anything - and they can get her to do everything.

In 2013, Jess and Marianne divorced, and she and her son Daniel continue to run Circus Mascot together. They live in Roslev, Jutland. For many years they toured with a tent, but in the last few years they have chosen to perform in sports centers in Jutland and Funen.

The honorary prize consisted of a painting created by the clown's master Viggo Salting. The photo shows Marianne Deleuran with the painting, surrounded by Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt and Viggo Salting. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

In his speech in connection with the award ceremony, the Minister of Culture said, among other things (my translation): "In circus you enter a fascinating universe. Under the big top you experience the laws of nature being put out of force. The circus is traveling and tour all over the country. Excites and entertains. Thanks to the circuses for giving all of us opportunity to see performances all over the country. I think that maybe we in the Danish Parliament needs to do a little bit more to ensure that future generations also get that opportunity." Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Previous recipients of the Danish Circus Award:

1968 Albert Schumann

1969 Eli Benneweis

2016 Benny Berdino

2017 Søren Østergaard

2018 Martin Arli

2019 Benny Schumann

2022 Katja Schumann

This year's talent prize to Kaya Janeček from Circus Baldoni.

KAREL 'KAYA' JANEČEK is the 8th generation of a well-known Czech artist family. In 2018, when he was only 11 years old, he was nominated for the talent prize for an impressive rola bola act, competing with his father Eddie Janeček for who was the best. In 2021 and 2023 he once again showed his rola bola act with the charm of youth. Despite his young age, he is one of the very best in the business.

The talent prize was handed over by jury member Niels Chr. Hansen, who is also chairman of Cirkushuset’s Museum Association in Rold. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

In connection with the award ceremony, Kaya presented his rola bola act. The photo shows his impressive final trick. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

The prize for the best act of the year to Los Ortiz from Circus Arena.

LOS ORTIZ performs on high wire. Two of the troupe's members have received a silver clown in Monte Carlo. High wire acts are considered among the most dangerous circus acts. Many meters above the ring, they dance and jump over each other on the thin wire. Their final trick is the famous and dangerous 7-man pyramid, which we not have seen before in Denmark. In addition to the high wire act two of the troupe's members appear on the wheel of death.

Circus Arena ended its season on August 5 and the Los Ortiz troupe had moved on to the next engagement. Thus, it was Benny Berdino who received the prize on behalf of the artists. Here he is seen surrounded by Niels Chr. Hansen from the Cirkushuset’s Museum Association and Kim Thanning Olsen, who is chairman of Danish Circus Friends association. The prize is sponsored by the two associations. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

The effort prize to the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen

Last year's recipient of the effort prize MP Anders Kronborg presented this year's prize to the Circus Museum in Hvidovre. The museum opened its doors in 2001 and has since made a unique effort to spread knowledge of the circus and artistry. 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 museum has not just exhibitions, but also Circus Fun, where visitors can try a number of different circus activities such as juggling, balancing, trapeze and more and get help from the museum's artist. The museum also holds a circus school for children and young people and arrange a number of workshops. The prize was received on behalf of the museum by Hvidovre municipality's culture committee chairman Kenneth Bak, who also is chairman of the museum's board.

Anders Kronborg presents the effort prize. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Kenneth Bak together with 3 of the museum's employees: Majken Bjaler, Line Vittrup and Signe Hoffmeyer. Museum curator Mikkel Knudsen was on holiday. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Bursaries from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation

In connection with the award ceremony, the Foundation after Nelly Jane Benneweis, gave a travel bursary of DKK 10,000 to each of the 2 siblings Julia Myllykangas and Joakim Myllykangas in recognition of the recipients' skill, interest and further potential, and thus also as an incentive to continue to improve their skills as circus performers. They are the children of the Danish clown Lasse "Bonbon" Nørager and his Finnish-born wife Tiina Myllykangas. In the last few seasons, Julia and Joakim have, among other things, performed in Circus Jesper in Kristiansand Zoo in Norway. Earlier they have e.g., been with Cicus Krone in München.

The bursaries from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation were presented by jury member Lars Wallenberg. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Joakim and Julia Myllykangas together with Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

From the Fencing Hall. In the middle of the picture Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt and Hvidovre’s Mayor Anders Wolf Andresen. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Not just the Minister of Culture, but also 3 other members of the Danish Parliament, had found their way to the award ceremony. From the left you can see mayor Anders Wolf Andresen (not a member of the parliament), culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Maria Durhuus (former chairman of the Circus Museum's board), social democrats' culture spokesman Mogens Jensen, circus director Benny Berdino and Anders Kronborg. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

Three members of the Circus Award’s board of directors (the "prize jury") are seen here together with Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt. From left Lars Wallenberg, the minister, jury chairman Ole Simonsen and Niels Chr. Hansen. The last member of the jury, Jan Hertz, unfortunately did not have the opportunity to be present. Therefore, this year it was Ole Simonsen who had the task as compere. Photo: Bent Hjarbo

22. august 2023

Per Krogh Petersen visited Circus Mascot in Svendborg on 21 August and writes: I was there with my camera. So now my Circus Mascot photo and video website has been updated. Thanks again for a lovely evening and a great show. Wish Mascot & Co a continued good Circus tour 2023. Click here to see Per's photos and video clips.

19 August 2023

Obituary: Miguel Ferreri. The Spanish tight wire acrobat Miguel Ferreri passed away on August 17. He was only 58 years old. The Danes experienced his elegant act in Circus Benneweis in 2007, where he with Spanish temperament mastered both skipping, jumping over obstacles and both the backward and the very difficult forward somersault. His two sons Michael and Steven toured Denmark with Circus Arena this year. Michael is an excellent juggler and Steven performs on tight wire and is trained by his father. His act was among the 3 acts nominated for this year's talent award. Miguel was with his sons for most of the season, but felt unwell and taken to a hospital when Circus Arena was in Rødovre, Copenhagen. After a few days he was back. But on the way home to Spain by car with his wife, he became sluggish again and ended up in hospital, where he passed away.

Miguel Ferreri at Benneweis in 2007

Obituary: André Nikolaev. The Russian clown André Nikolaev passed away in a hospital in Russia. He was 85 years old. The Danes saw him in Circus Benneweis in 1999 together with partners Galina and Pavel as Nico & co. His name is also seen spelled Amdrej Nicolajew

18 August 2023

The Danish Circus Award 2023. This year's circus prizes will be awarded on Monday 21 August at 13 in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. Everyone is welcome. The doors to the Fencing Hall open at 12:30, where the Circus Museum offers a glass of wine.

The Danish Minister of Culture Jakob-Engel Schmidt and Hvidovre's mayor Anders Wolf Andresen participate in the award ceremony. The following prizes will be awarded

·         The Honorary Award, The Danish Circus Award, will be presented by the Minister of Culture

·         The talent prize

·         The prize for the best act of the year

·         The effort prize, presented this year by last year's awardee MP Anders Kronborg

In addition to the mentioned prizes, the Foundation after Nelly Jane Benneweis, will award 2 travel grants to young Danish artists.

The names of the prize winners can from 21 August at 14 be seen on the Circus Award's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DenDanskeCirkuspris and later in the day in English at https://www.facebook.com/groups/30787928101

18 August 2023

Danish Circus Krone. Joan Dansberg writes (my translation):

My sister lives in Værum, south of Randers, and we had agreed a long time ago that I should visit her and stay with for a few days. The conversation fell on the circus, and my sister thought there was a circus in Randers.

On Tuesday 15 August, we went to Randers, which was decorated with several Dannebrog flags. Trucks filled up well both at the harbour and at the circus lot. Carousels, swings and much more were being set up in two different lots. It was Rander's Festival. 

And in Tronholmparken there was a small blue/red circus tent. It was Circus Krone that was engaged by the municipality to have performances Monday to Thursday for the municipality's kindergartens. Three performances every day.

All photos: Joan Dansberg

My sister and I was invited to see the performance even though we are past kindergarten age, but our kid hearts were intact - we laughed with the little kids when Allando the clown let himself be tricked by one rabbit after another. He ended the act juggling plastic bags. It was beautifully done. I don't know why, but I thought of Charlie Chaplin.

The Krone family consists of: Irene, Jan Allan, Frank and Frank's girlfriend, Kate, as well as Frank's two beautiful twin girls aged 17. The twins were props. In addition, Leo (Germany) did two acts with his dogs.

Allando and Irene did a comic act together, where Irene was hidden in a penguin suit, and Irene could convey both humour, sadness and a little glee with her body movements.

Frank Thierry was ringmaster and also had an entrée where a couple of children were invited into a circus school in the ring to be performers for a few minutes. Seeing the happy children's eyes was worth the entire performance.

Leo had trained his dogs well, and the humour was pervasive in both his acts. It was professionally done and a joy to watch.

What I sensed clearly throughout the performance was that the Krone family put soul and warmth into their performance, both in their approach to the audience and to each other.

Frank Thierry is a pleasant ringmaster and I felt safe in his company from the first second. Perhaps especially because he did as his grandfather, Regner Thierry: He encouraged the audience to greet each other and the artists. Then we were all like one big family.

I do hope that Circus Krone has opened for a new epoch The family is talented, and the love of the circus can be felt by the audience. You leave the show happy.

**

The Thierry family's small Jutland Circus Krone has not been on tour since 2018. Thus, it was the first time in 5 years that you could see Circus Krone. Frank Thierry says that they would like to go out again in 2024. Without one-day cities and with a program running for one hour.

17 August 2023

Circus Baldoni tours the Faroe Islands from 4 – 13 September 2023. The tent season ends on 29 August in the winter quarters in Tureby. Then they have a single indoor performance on 1 September in Sørbymagle, before the trip to the Faroe Islands.

In 2023, it will be the 17th time for Circus Baldoni to visit the Faroe Islands. As in the tent performance it is the stand-up comedian, singer and actor Amin Jensen who presents the performance. Of course, he has Leonardo the Lion (a ventriloquist doll) on his arm, just like circus director Baldoni always had.

The performance in the Faroe Islands features cool acrobats, a strong woman who juggles kettlebells, the cowboy family Buffalo Family who swing lassos and throw knives. The circus princess Diana blows soap bubbles in formations that have hardly been seen before at the Faroe Islands. The now 13-year-old Rudi Janeček premieres with his acrobatic pole and handstand act. The clown is like in the tent show Tøffe with lots of funny elements, where he also does his part to get the ringmaster confused.

Read more at https://baldoni.dk/fo/

17 August 2023

Halloween Circus 2023. This year you can experience the Halloween Circus at Bellahoj in Copenhagen from 13 to 22 October. As last year, there is talk of a co-production between Clemens and Circus Arena.

Circus Arena writes (my translation):

In a huge total show for the whole family created by Clemens, circus performers gather together with singers, actors, influencers and dancers.

Are you into musical ear hangers, dangerous circus tricks, fire cannons and sleazy acting? Or if you just want to see if this year will be even more raucous than the debut in '22, now is the time to secure tickets to the big event of the autumn holidays, HALLOWEEN CIRKUS with this year's disturbing tale:

Bram Stoker's well-known character, Dracula, has become too big for his anemic hometown, which just can't accommodate his grandiose format. He wants to go to London and hang out with real world vampires.

But when he realizes that the finer company is a blood orange juice-drinking, closed circle that ridicules his medieval vampire habits, he declares war. In a humorous revue, Dracula's hot-blooded temperament meets the icy and calculating western vampire union.

Dracula must stamp all his most dangerous (circus) warriors out of the ground to go to the big battle on the battlefield, where it must be decided once and for all who is the world's greatest vampire (with inferiority)!

Our own Patrick Berdino plays the role of the world's greatest vampire Dracula, and he is surrounded by, among others,Camilla Frederikke, Mattias Hundebøll and Ataf Khawaja.

The show is recommended for families with children aged 5 and up

4 August 2023

International Circus & Cabaret Show in Aalborg. Skraaen in Aalborg writes (my translation):

In the past few years, Skraaen has been able to present international Circus & Cabaret with Majestique in the mirror tent Paradise, put up next to Nordkraft. No less than 2,500 bought tickets last summer and the reviews were super good.

This year, both Paradiso and Majestique are out trying new challenges elsewhere in the world. At the same time, both we and they have already ticked the calendar at Aalborg 2024.

On the other hand, it makes it possible for Skraaen to present a smoking hot piece of news for September.

Directly from London, a brand-new international Circus & Cabaret Show Sophie's Surprise.

The show premieres this Friday at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, where they will then perform for the rest of August.

They then fly to Aalborg, where they are ready at Skraaen from 3 - 7 September.

Sophie's Surprise promises the craziest and wildest surprise party you will ever attend.

Sophie turns 29, and it is celebrated with Circus & Cabaret, Music & Comedy.

Imagine if The Spice Girls never broke up, Cirque du Soleil had sunstroke and Downing Street No. 10 had actually known how to throw a party.

Look forward to the international Circus & Cabaret Show from London with world-renowned young energetic artists from e.g., Cirque du Soleil, Britain's Got Talent and Majestique.

Expect Twilight fan fiction, one-wheeled drug dealers and death-defying exploits

World-renowned young artists.

Trio Vertex was formed in 2021 and has performed all over Europe in several TV shows. In 2022, they participated in the Young Stage circus festival in Switzerland, where they won the Gold Star and the audience award. The cast of Sophie's Surprise 29th also includes aerialist Katharine Arnold, hand-to-hand and roller-skating acrobats Nathan Redwood Price and Isis Clegg-Vinell, aerialist Cornelius Atkinson, bicycle acrobat and comedian Sam Goodburn, acrobat Nella Niva and, of course - Sophie.

Aerial artist Katharine Arnold

Roller skating acrobats Nathan Redwood Price and Isis Clegg-Vinell

Put on your acid wash jeans and halter tops. The party starts at 20 sharp – but remember, don’t tell Sophie.

3 August 2023

Contemporary circus performances all over the country.

Denmark's International Street Theater Festival has existed since 2013 and offers free performing arts in the middle of the street scene from 12 to 27 August. Their performances fall within genres such as contemporary circus, acrobatics, juggling, street parade, puppet theatre, comedy and much more. During August they visit Aabenraa, Esbjerg, Gentofte, Ikast-Brande, Nykøbing F, Randers, Silkeborg and Valby and present approx. 200 performances free of charge for the public. They are i.e., supported by the Ministry of Culture, A.P. Møller Foundation and a number of municipalities.

Vordingborg has its very own festival: WAVES, which takes place on the days 20 - 26 August. The local theater in Vordingborg Municipality has organized the WAVES Festival every second year since 1991. The festival presents the latest in a wide range of performing arts genres, including contemporary circus.

Although Denmark has several contemporary circus companies, all the performers in the contemporary circus performances during the street theater festivals and Waves come from abroad. One can wonder why. Do the festivals think it's better with foreign artists? Or that the Danish contemporary circus performances aren’t good enough?

2 August 2023

Circus Trapez. Over the summer, Circus Trapez has had two units which have presented approx. 1-hour long performances. One unit in a tent in Madsbyparken in Fredericia and the other unit with Open-Air performances at campsites in Jutland and Funen. From 8 August, the two units will be merged into one approx. 2-hour show that usually plays in indoor arenas on weekdays and in a tent at the weekend. All the performances are in Jutland.

During the summer Circus Trapez had two talented young Danish aerial acrobats aged 14 in the performances. Rasmine Tomasevic Olsen in the tent circus in Madsbyparken and Jasmin Nørgård in the Open-Air performances. Both girls now have to go back to their school. Jasmin, who comes from Viborg, is going to post-secondary school, and then she hopes to go to one of the foreign circus schools.

Below are some photos from the Open-Air performance.

Photos from Bøsøre Strand Camping, where Circus Trapez had 2 Open Air performances on July 28 with good attendance for the afternoon performance and a little sparser attendance for the evening performance

The Open-Air performances were presented by the old Dannebrog ringmistress Agnete Louise Enoch

The central character of in the performance was the Hungarian run-in clown Gabor. He is 52 years old and has performed in a large number of circuses, including for several seasons at Ringling Bros & Barnum and Bailey in USA

Several times during the performance we met a troupe from Morocco with either 3 or 5 members. They were presented under different names. The circus director Isabella Enoch Sosman calls them The Said Amazigh troupe

An act with 2 Swiss goats was presented by Bernhard Kaselowsky, assisted by the clown Gabor

In one of Gabor's entrées he appeared, among other things. on rola bola. In another entrée he had two boys in the ring for the well-known skipping entrée. In a third entrée he had 4 men lined up for the entrée with the 4 stools, which are removed one by one. However, I do not bring photos of the audience members in the arena.

Bernhard Kaselowsky with a horse in liberty dressage

The talented young Danish aerial acrobat Jasmin Nørgård first performed in tissue and then in aerial ring.

29 July 2023

Circus Solvej. Jens Chr. Sørensen has visited the tiny Circus Solvej and writes (my translation):

I saw Circus Solvej's performance, which was excellent. It is well done by two people to make such a coherent performance. There was a full house. Could hear that people were happy with what they saw. There were 3 ponies, as there was only room for 1 at a time, Zora Nikodemova with a giant balloon, a dog act, different juggling, Victor Høegh Abrahamsen as a clown, etc.

Victor Høegh Abrahamsen with pony. All photos: Jens Chr. Sorensen. The lighting conditions in the tent made it difficult to photograph.

Both Zora and Victor appeared with soap bubbles

Victor with diabolo

The final act with Zora took place outside the tent for fire safety reasons

28 July 2023

The Southern Sweden Circus Festival is planned for September 2024. But in the days 7 to 10 September this year, you get off to a flying start with a series of events in Malmø and Lund. The festival is organized by Circus Syd in collaboration with Malmø municipality and Lund municipality. The idea is that from 2024 the Southern Sweden Circus Festival will be a recurring event in even years, i.e., 2024, 2026, 2028, etc.

Circus Syd is a network platform for international research, development and innovation based in Lund, Sweden.

You can read more about the festival, including the 2023 programme, at https://www.cirkussyd.com/southernswedencircusfestival

24 July 2023

Obituary: Carl Mundeling. The big cat trainer Carl Mundeling has passed away. He was 54 years old. He was son of Viola Mundeling and the Norwegian bandmaster Odd Buvik. Carl grew up in Arhus and had his A-levels from Aarhus Cathedral School in 1986. Actually, he would have been a helicopter pilot, but he chose the circus life and thus followed in the footsteps that his family had followed before him. "Circus life is my backbone and my whole life", he said himself.

For 6 years he travelled with the Norwegian Circus Merano, and then with Danish Circus Arena - a total of 3 years. In both circuses he worked on the administrative side. In the autumn of 2000, he became an apprentice of the English big cat trainer Dick Chipperfield, and he quickly took over a group of big cats which at one point consisted of 14 tigers. Carl thus became the last Danish big cat trainer. For 3 years he travelled with Circus Busch-Roland in Germany before switching to Italian circuses. In 2004 he was in the Italian Circus Darin Togni. He later dropped the big cats. In 2013 he was an administrative employee first at Danish Circus Baldoni and then at Danish Circus Dannebrog.

After this season, he went back to Italy with his mother and his girlfriend Clorinda Varrichio to resume his career as tiger trainer. For a year and a half, he worked for Circus Wonderland in Spain, where he presented the circus's six tigers and a mixed big cat group. Later he bought five tigers, which he presented Circus Delle Stelle in Italy. In December 2016, he married Clorinda, who had success in a comic act with a large pig. In recent times it is probably Clorinda who has presented the tigers. In addition to Clorinda, Carl Mundeling is survived by his 85-year-old mother Viola.

Carl Mundeling was born in Norway, where his mother, together with her mother Erna and his aunt, who was also called Viola, were involved in the operation of Circus Löwe. He therefore, like his father Odd Buvik, became a Norwegian citizen and retained this citizenship, even though he grew up in Denmark.

21 July 2023

Circus Landino (Circusland). Brian "Briano" Behrendt writes (my translation):

On 15 July I visited my good old place of work Circusland in Circus Arenas winter quarter in Aarslev by Slagelse, where I had many fantastic years when I worked there together with Suzanne Berdino and a wonderful team. I have many good memories from those days.  And I still love all circuses.

I saw a very nice performance with international artists and 6 well-groomed ponies.

The performance started with the white-faced clown Yann Rossyan playing a nice musical number. After this, a charming ringmaster Patrick Berdino welcomed and started the performance with Arena's 6 Shetland ponies, which he presented in a fine liberty dressage.

The white-faced clown Yann Rossyan. All photos smartphone photos taken by Brian Behrendt

Benny Berdino's eldest grandson Patrick was the performance's ringmaster. He was also the one who presented the ponies.

Afterwards we saw the juggler Vanessa Berousek in a completely new style. Afterwards, a short musical clown run-in with bells.

Then Vioris Zoppis entered the ring with his beautiful handstand act in a completely new style, performed in a small water bath. Good effect and nice trick.

Spectacular that Vioris showed his handstand act in a pool with a little water at the bottom

Then a good clown entrée with Yann Rossyann and his wife Alexandra – the well-known entrée with bullet and plates. Yann and his wife are among my favourites as white-faced clown with August. They are really good in all entrées and super musical - that's one of their trademarks. Fantastic. I hope to see them in Arena's touring unite sometime.

Yann and Alexandra Rossi aka Duo Rossyan. Years ago, Yann had his brother Hector as a partner.

Afterwards, a ring trapeze act with Katarina, to which the clowns' daughter Camila sang beautifully. After this, a longer musical clown entrée where Yann plays the Circus Renz March faster and faster on the xylophone. Then both clowns.

Last act was Vioris Zoppis with his act in aerial straps, for which he won gold in the Monte Carlo Young Generation Festival in 2018. A really strong act.

Vioris Zoppi in aerial straps

All acts were presented by the super ringmaster Patrick Berdino. There was music with drums, played by the clown's son, to pre-recorded music. It worked really well. Light and sound were controlled by Fabio, who for many years played drums in Circus Arena's orchestra when English Alex Bozic was bandmaster.

Thank you all for a great show, which I hope many will visit. There was a Circus workshop some time before the circus performance in the newly decorated training ring.

18 July 2023

Viggo Salting and Helle Abildgaard in Vendsyssel. The painter couple Viggo and Helle have lived in Kerteminde on Funen for many years, but at the same time had a house in France. They sold that in 2022 and soon after bought a small idyllic house in Rodhus in Vendsyssel in the northern part of Juland. It is currently being transformed into a working gallery, which is scheduled to open its doors to the public in August. The address is Rødhusvej 240, Pandrup. The hope is later to be able to build a gallery building of 80 square meters where the painting can be displayed.

To the left: Entrance door to workshop. To the right: Viggo Salting paints door frames with his clown portraits

Helle Abildgaard calls her painting of the clown grabbing the angel Corteo

Initially, the gallery will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 pm for the rest of July and in August.

- Our wish is to transform the place into an experience centre where guests can come and see how we work and experience our paintings, Viggo Salting says.

Until now, Helle and Viggo have lived a life as colourful as their many paintings, which have been created over a long life, including some years when they travelled with Circus Benneweis. Viggo is in artist circles known as the master of the clowns. Among other things, he has created the logo for the Danish Circus Award and the paintings that the recipients of the prestigious award have received.

Viggo Salting’s painting The Forest Clown

17 July 2023

Nominations for this year's Danish circus award. Press release from The Danish Circus Award (my translation).

Members of the jury have seen more than 50 artists/acts in Denmark this year. The jury has now decided which of these will be nominated for the prize for the year's best act and the year's talent prize.

The nominees for this year's talent prize are:

Steven Ferreri, Circus Arena

Karel ”Kaya” Janacek, Circus Baldoni

Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen, Circus Trapez

The nominees for the prize for the year's best act are:

Skating Ramos, Circus Arli

Duo Stauberti, Zirkus Nemo

Los Ortiz, Circus Arena

The award ceremony will take place on Monday 21 August at 13 in the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, with the participation of the Danish Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt and Hvidovre’s Mayor Anders Wolf Andresen.

4 prizes are awarded:

The Honorary award "The Danish Circus Award"

The talent prize

Best act of the year

The effort prize

Nominations are not made for the honorary award and the effort prize.

About the prizes

The board of the Danish Circus Award selects each year the nominees and award recipients based on the following criteria:

The honorary award is given to a person in recognition of his/hers particularly meritorious efforts to promote circus art in Denmark. The honorary award can just be received once. Nominations are not made for this award. The honorary award consists of a painting by the "master of the clown", the painter Viggo Salting.

The prize for the best act of the year is awarded to the artist which, in the opinion of the board, is the best who this year has performed in Denmark. The prize consists of a diploma and a lump sum of 500 Euro.

The talent award is mainly awarded to a younger artist. The prize consists of a diploma and a lump sum of DKK 10,000.

The effort prize goes to the politician or public person who has done the most for the circus in the past year. The prize consists of a small painting by Viggo Salting.

About the nominees

STEVEN FERRERI is a tight wire acrobat. He is the 4th generation from a well-known artist family and trained by his father Miguel Ferreri, who was also an excellent tight wire acrobat. Steven masters all the tricks a skilled tight wire artist must do. Including the forward somersault, which is much more difficult than the backward one, because you can't see the wire before you land, as well as jumping through a ring with knives.

Steven Ferreri. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

KAREL 'KAYA' JANACEK is the 8th generation of a well-known Czech artist family. In 2018, when he was only 11 years old, he was nominated for the talent award for an impressive rola bola act, competing with his father Eddie Janacek for who was the best. In 2021 and 2023 he once again presented his rola bola act with the charm and radiance of youth. Despite his young age, he is one of the very best in the business.

Kaya Janacek. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

SKATING RAMOS aka Adrian and Jenniffer Ramos present an impressive and fast-paced roller skate act which offers all the tricks that a great roller skate number should show. In addition, the couple has a number in aerial straps, where it is sometimes Jennifer who carries her husband. In most other strap duos, it is the man who is the supporting force.

Skating Ramos. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

LOS ORTIZ performs on high wire. Two of the troupe's members have received a silver clown in Monte Carlo. High wire acts are considered among the most dangerous circus acts. Many meters above the ring, they dance and jump over each other on the thin wire. Their final trick is the famous and dangerous 7-man pyramid, which we have not seen before in Denmark. In addition to the high wire act, two of the troupe's members appear in the wheel of death.

Los Ortiz. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

DUO STAUBERTI consists of Dimitri Stauberti and his niece Nancy. First trick is Nancy in a handstand on top of a perch, which Dimitri balances on his forehead while climbing up two ladders. In the next trick, Dimitri again balances a perch on his forehead, while Nancy stands upside down on top of the perch while rotating a kind of barbell with her feet. Later she stands on her head while Dimitri sits down and turns around. In the final trick, Dimitri rides a tall unicycle while balancing a perch on his forehead. At the top of the perch, Nancy stands in a handstand with ding the splits.

Duo Stauberti. Photo: Ole Simonsen

RASMINE TOMASEVIC-OLSEN works in trapeze. In connection with the presentation of the circus awards in 2022, she was the first artist ever to receive a grant from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation in recognition of her interest and talent and as an encouragement to continue improving her skills. And the now 14-year-old girl has done so! Denmark has had a strong tradition of skilled female artists working in solo trapeze. Isabella Enoch and Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen are the last shots on the line. But it is as if Rasmine takes the discipline one step further. She does acrobatics in a swing trapeze. She is a huge talent.

14 July 2023

Circus Trapez in Madsbyparken. Over the summer, Circus Trapez has chosen to offer 1-hour long performances without a break. Partly in a tent in Madsbyparken in Fredericia, partly as an Open-Air performance on Jutland and Funen campsites. Ticket prices are lower than for the usual 2-hour performances: DKK 95 (approx. 13 Euro) for children and DKK 125 (approx. 17 Euro) for adults.

The performance in Madsbyparken is presented by circus director Isabella Enoch Sosman. At the Open-Air performances, her older sister Agnete Louise Enoch is ringmistress.

In Madsbyparken, Isabella welcomes being interrupted by Ursula, who tells that the artists has not yet arrived. Katja Tomasevic Olsen has the part as the comic character Ursula. She has several run-ins during the performance.

Ursula tells Isabella that the artists hasn’t arrive

The first artist act is her 14-year-old daughter Rasmine, who last year in connection with the distribution of Danish circus prizes as the first artist ever received a grant from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation. She shows a nice number in tissue (aerial silks).

Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen

The next act is the comic acrobats Duo Gancho, which we meet several times during the performance. Their first entrée ended with juggling champagne bottles.

Duo Gancho

Ursula now has a short comic entrée where she balances on her head. Then it's Isabella's 10-year-old nephew Joseph, who shows his skills with the diabolo

Joseph is son of Isabella's younger sister Katja

Duo Gancho now comes back with a nice entrée where one uses the other as a musical instrument: piano, guitar, drum, etc.

Duo Gancho

They are followed by Ursula wearing a bicycle helmet and a spectacular red/white dress. She ended up standing on her head and spinning around, and the dress now changed appearance, see photos.

The next number is the performance’s top act: Rasmine in trapeze. Last year's grant from the Nelly Jane Foundation was given to her in recognition of her talent and as an encouragement to continue to improve as a circus performer. And she has done that to the highest degree. Her number in the trapeze is excellent. Rasmine is a rising star who also will do well in a large circus.

Rasmine – a rising star!

Duo Gaucho now comes back with a knock-about table act which also contains elements from the well-known spaghetti entrée.

Duo Gancho

The performance next act is with horses: first a pony presented by 5-year-old Nikolaj and then Big and Little presented by his mother Stine-Marie Greisen.

Nikolaj with pony

Stine-Marie Greisen

The last act in the performance is Ursula, who now shows her skills in a low-hanging Washington trapeze and thus shows that she can do something more than being a comedian.

Ursula alias Katja Tomasevic Olsen in Washington trapeze. The name does not come from the American capital, but from the inventor of the trapeze, Keyes Washington (1830-1882). It is much heavier than the classic trapeze.

Isabella waves goodbye and thanks to the audience

Up to and including August 6, there is a performance every day at 11:30 and 14:30. After the last performance, there is an opportunity for a circus workshop, led by Isabella's little sister Katja.

There are good parking options at Madsbyparken. And it's also easy to reach by train: if you go out from the backside of Fredericia Station, you can see the lake in the park with the circus tent in the background.

13 July 2023

The heavy downpour in recent days has turned some of the country's circus lots to puddles. The above photo is from the lot next to the fire station in Allerød, where Circus Arena had a performance on 12 July. It had rained heavily since the morning, and there was also a downpour shortly before the show started.

There was even a birthday child in Allerød: Leonardo Costache turned 40. And of course they sang Happy Birthday in the finale. Leonardo is a versatile artist. We have seen him and Mrs. Vita in previous seasons with a perch act.

7 July 2023

The Danish Circus Award 2023. The award ceremony will take place on Monday 21 August at 13. The venue is the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, just as has been the case at all award ceremonies since 2016.

The Danish Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt has promised to come and present the honorary award The Danish Circus Award. The visible proof of the award is a painting by the artist Viggo Salting, also known as the master of the clown. It is also Viggo, who created the circus award logo.

The Circus Award's logo is created by the internationally renowned painter Viggo Salting, also known as the Master of the Clown.

In addition, there are prizes for the year's best act, a talent prize and, on recommendation from the Circus Directors Association, an effort prize.

Each year, 3 artists/acts are nominated for the award for best act and the talent award. This year's nominations will be announced on 17 July at 12:30 and can be seen on the Circus Award's Facebook page and in English at the Facebook page Cirkus – Circus - Zirkus.

Here is an overview of the previous award recipients:

The Danish Circus Award

1968: Albert Schumann

1969: Eli Benneweis

2016: Benny Berdino

2017: Søren Østergaard

2018: Martin Arli

2019: Benny Schumann

2022: Katja Schumann

The prize for the best act of the year

2016: Captain Frodo, Circus Nemo

2017: Rafaella Honden, Circus Mascot

2018: Duo Solys, Zirkus Nemo

2019: Andrejs Fjodorovs, Circus Arena

2022: Leosvel & Diosmani, Zirkus Nemo

The talent prize

2016: Alexander Arli, Circus Arli

2017: The contemporary Circus School AMoC

2018: Charmaine Berdino, Circus Arena

2019: Kolev Sisters, Circus Arena

2022: Francesco Fratellini, Circus Arli

The effort prize

2017: Minister of Culture Bertel Haarder

2018: Mayor Anders Gerner Frost, Gribskov municipality

2019: Mayor Helle Adelborg, Hvidovre municipality

2020: Due to the corona, there were no awards in 2020 and 2021. However, the Circus Directors' Association's Effort prize was given to the Circus Award's chairman Ole Simonsen, who is also deputy chairman of the Danish Circusfriends Association and long-time editor of www.cirkus-dk.dk.

2022: MF Anders Kronborg

From the award ceremony in 2016. From left you can see Hvidovre's mayor Helle Adelborg, Talent of the Year Alexander Arli, Best Act of the Year Captain Frodo, recipient of the honorary award, The Danish Circus Award 2016, Benny Berdino, Minister of Culture Bertel Haarder, prize jury members Pia Jette Hansen and Jan Hertz as well as the chairman Ole Simonsen. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

From the award ceremony in 2017: The chairman of the Danish Circus Award Ole Simonsen, AMoC as winner of the Talent Award of the Year, represented by the acrobats Alfred Hall Kriegbaum & Sonia Matos. Behind Sonia is jury member Pia Jette Hansen, Søren Østergaard, compère and jury member Jan Hertz, Best Number of the Year: Rafaela Honden and Effort Award of the Year: Bertel Haarder. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Photo from the award ceremony in 2019. From left you can see jury chairman Ole Simonsen, talent prize recipient Charmaine Berdino, painter Viggo Salting, honorary award recipient Martin Arli, jury member Jan Hertz, Tatiana and Hector from Duo Solys, Hvidovre’s mayor Helle Adelborg, museum curator Anja Olsen and culture minister Mette Bock. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

The award winners in 2019: Helle Adelborg, Kolev Sisters, Andrejs Fjodorovs, Joy Mogensen and this year's honorary award recipient Benny Schumann. Behind the prize jury: Ole Simonsen, Jan Hertz, and Rud Kofoed. Photo: Trine Kofoed / Ajour Press

Despite almost tropical heat, there was a good turnout for the award ceremony in 2022. Tv. can be seen the compère speaker Jan Hertz, who is also a member of the award jury. In the middle of the photo is Minister of Culture Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen

6 July 2023

The weather was not on the side of the tiny Circus Solvej when they had their season opening at Tornby Strand Camping in Hirtshals on July 5: It was pouring down. To make matters worse, the power went out at the end of the performance. But the tent, which can accommodate approx. 60 spectators, was quickly filled, and the audience experienced acts with the circus directors Victor Høeg Abrahamsen and Zora Nikodemova. Danish circus must be preserved and preferably also in a bit of the spirit that goes back hundreds of years, the two directors believe. "We will fight to keep the circus culture alive in Denmark," they say and focus on creating an intimate and present circus experience for guests at campsites in Jutland and Funen. You can see their tour schedule under "Other events " in What’s on  

30 June 2023

Circus Trapez summer performances. Over the summer, Cirkus Trapez has two units: One offers approx. 1 hour-long Open-Air performances on Jutland and Funen campsites. The second unit has performances from 8 July to 7 August in a tent in Madsbyparken in Fredericia. Here, too, the performances last approx. 1 hour.

In the Open Air performances you will meet

The Said Amazigh troupe with skipping, handstand and jump with pyramids.

Gabor the clown from Hungary with run-ins.

Jasmin Nørregård with aerial ring on the ground.

Bernhard Kaselowsky with solo liberty horse and goats.

In the Open-Air performances, you can meet the Said Amazigh Troupe from Morocco. Photo: Brian Behrendt

In Madsbyparken you meet

Duo Gancho with knock about table act, juggling and comic musical act.

Stine-Marie Greisen with Mini and Maxi as well as large goats and alpacas.

Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen solo trapeze

Katja Enoch with run-ins and Washington trapeze.

The 14-year-old Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen works in the trapeze. She has been associated with the Circus Museum's circus school, has been both a coach and student at the Circus Factory in Salling and performed also last year in Circus Trapez. In connection with the distribution of the circus awards in August 2022, she was the first artist ever to receive a grant from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation

Ticket prices are the same for the Open-Air performances and in the tent in Madsby: an adult ticket costs DKK 125 and a child's ticket DKK 95.

29 July 2023

Circusland summer 2023. Circusland in Circus Arena's winter quarters in Aarslev by Slagelse is open from 1 July to 5 August, every day from 10am to 5pm. Every day at 4.15pm there is a show in Cirkus Landino featuring the following artists:

Vioris Zoppis with aerial straps - former winner at New Generation in Monte Carlo.

Les Rosyan the Clowns (Yann Rossi and his wife)

Vanessa Berousek with juggling

For many years the white-faced clown Yann Rossi had his brother Hector as a partner and they were known as Duo Rossyan. Today he has his wife as a partner. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

29 June 2023      

New dinnershow at Wallmans in the Copenhagen Circus Building. June 17th was the last playing day for the show Viva, which has been shown since August 2022. On August 25th 2023, Wallmans will open the doors to their brand new Dinnerparty CAKE.

Wallmans writes:

LOOK FORWARD TO …

… amazing interpretations of iconic names such as Michael Jackson, George Michael and Aqua, nerve-wracking acrobatics, seductive dance and a fierce live band – all combined with an impressive stage show.

Soon we can reveal more, but one thing is certain: CAKE will be an abundance of great show numbers!

LET’S CELEBRATE!

Do you have a birthday or anniversary coming up? True to tradition, we celebrate the evening’s guests of honor with lots of love, confetti and extra attention in our special celebration number.

NEW 4-COURSE MENU

Our Dinnerparty is a feast for all the senses! You can enjoy the most delicious 4-course menu, while you are at the same time being entertained from all angles of the large Circus Hall.

PARTY ON THE DANCE FLOOR

There is no sitting still when our big finale number fires up the entire Circus Building. The festive finale also kicks off the party in the nightclub, where you and your friends can let loose on the dance floor.

Welcome to Copenhagen’s biggest Dinnerparty.

Wallmans Dinnerparty VIVA runs Thursday-Saturday from August 2023 until June 2024. The prices vary according on of which day and category you choose.

As in the last few seasons, the hostess of the evening is the Danish drag queen Miss Megan Moore. The participating circus artists are Dmytro Karpenko, Jenny Haglund and Sara Haglund. Dmytro Karpenko comes from Ukraine and performs in tissue and aerial ring.

The two twin sisters Jenny and Sara Haglund are from Sweden. They appeared last year under the name Duo Vilja in Zirkus Nemo with an impressive acrobat and contortion act. They were among the 3 acts which the Danish Circus Award nominated for the year's talent award in 2022.

Jenny and Sara were born in 1984. At the age of 13, they caught the circus bug and joined a children's and youth circus. Later they went to circus school. First in Sweden, then in Montreal. Since then, they have appeared on a large number of variety shows and circuses.

​

16 June 2023

Night cabaret at Aarhus Festival. True to tradition, one of the many events of the festival week is an international night cabaret, which, just like in recent years, takes place in the theater Hermans in Tivoli Friheden. The experience starts in the foyer, where guests are offered a welcome drink. Afterwards, they can look forward to a three-course gala dinner in the theater from the renowned Restaurant Terrassen. And then there is otherwise guaranteed spectacular entertainment!

This year's performance is called 'Mind the Magic', and you enter a world full of magic and poetry, comedy and top-class artistry. There are performances on the days 25 August to 1 September. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 21, other days at 20:30.

At this year's Night Cabaret, you can see, among others, French Léa Kyle, who is nothing less than the world's fastest woman to change clothes. "Real magic" Heidi Klum called it when Léa Kyle made the judges swoon in the program "America Got Talent".

French Léa Kyle has nothing less than "the world's fastest woman to change clothes" on her CV. All photos are press photos from Aarhus Festival.

And real magic could also be used to describe the rest of the artists. Because with the theme 'Mind the Magic', just like with Festivals’ overall theme 'Mind the Gap', it is about being open to the many surprising features on stage.

From the poetic sand magic of South Korean Young-Min Kim to the Hungarian aerial acrobats Krisztina and Bettina and the French/Ukrainian contortionist Oleksandr Yenivatov, you can experience a bit of everything and certainly things that you could not have imagined in your wildest imagination.

Truth, sensuality and breathtaking magic merge into a higher unity with South Korean Young-Min Kim.

Hungarian Kristina and Bettina elegantly combine power and grace when they want to fly high up under the dome of Hermans without a safety net.

In addition to those mentioned, you can meet

Italian Filiberto Selvi as a magician with a violin act

German Gabor Vosteen, who is a classical trained recorder player and comedian. His specialty is the playing of five recorders at the same.

Finnish Lotta ad Stine with acrobatics and hula hoops.

French Aurélia Brua in double pole.

The performance is accompanied by the house orchestra Marc Thierry's trio, which in addition to Marc Thierry consists of Jesper Daus and Jesper Gruschy.

Click here to read more and order tickets. Often sold out quickly!

Aarhus Festival is among the largest cultural events in Scandinavia and showcases both local, national and international artists. Aarhus Festival is highly esteemed and recognized both in Denmark and abroad. The theme for 2023 is "Mind the Gap", highlighting the need for community.

13 June 2023

Circus Solvej. Victor Høeg Abrahamsen writes (my translation):

"Now our circus poster is finished. It is designed by the artist Erik Mogensen, and the first part of our tour list is ready. More cities will continuously be added.”

As previously mentioned, Circus Solvej has just 2 performers: Victor and Zora Nikodemova. As it looks now, the season starts on 5 July at Tornby Strand Camping in Hirtshals and then continues to a number of other campsites in Juland and on Funen. The performance run for approx1½ hour and starts at 17. It is probably the idea that Victor and Zora will offer a circus workshop for interested children earlier in the day. You can see the tour schedule in the What’s on under Other events.

10 June 2023

Obituary: the sea lion trainer Addie Jepsen passed away on June 9. She was 81 years old. Addie was born into a circus family: Her grandmother was married to director Joseph Bruun from the Danish Circus Royal and had from the time before she met Joseph a daughter Rosa, who was Addie's mother. Addie was attracted to life in the circus and worked e.g. as tightrope acrobat in Circus Royal. However, her desire was to work with animals and in 1963 she joined the newly established Circus Vivi. The owner Vivi Schmidt was a well-known and talented sea lion trainer. Circus Vivi closed at the end of season 1968, and Vivi Schmidt took in 1969 engagement elsewhere with her sea lions and offered Addie to follow her as her assistant. Thus, Addie debut as sea lion trainer was in 1969. The following Addie presented Vivi's sea lions in the Norwegian Circus Berny. In 1971 she toured with the act with the Norwegian Circus Arnardo and in 1972 with the Swedish Circus Scott. From 1973 to 1975 Addie presented sea lions in the large German Circus Barum. In the following years she had engagements in many parts of Europe. In 1981 she presented the act in Circus Benneweis in the Copenhagen Circus Building and in 1987 in Circus Arena.

At one time Addie Jepsen bought her own sea lions, which she later sold to the large Swiss amusement and animal park Conny-Land. At the same time Addie got a job in Conny-Land, where she presented the sea lions, which had been her own.

In 2003 Benny Berdino of Circus Arena persuaded Addie to return to Denmark to present sea lions in the amusement park Bonbonland which from 2003 to 2008 rented sea lion acts from Benny Berdino. After Benny Berdino expanded his winter quarters in Circusland in Slagelse with a huge sea lion pool Addie has lived in Denmark where you until she retired could see her and the Berdino-family’s sea lions when Circusland was open. After retirement she still helped Berdino family with advice about sea lions until a ban against sea lions in Danish circuses forced Circus Arena to sell their sea lions. After being retired Addie Jepsen started painting. Originally most pictures of animals. But later also paintings of people together with animals. Her paintings have among others places been exhibited in Circusland.

Addie Jepsen

7 June 2023

New artists for Circus Trapez. This year Circus Trapez had, among other artists, booked the 5-man high Said Amazigh Troupe from Morocco with skipping, handstand and human pyramid building. But it turned out to be much more difficult to get a Danish work permit for them than Isabella Enoch Sosman believed. It requires a lot of paperwork and a salary that is on the upper end of what is otherwise paid to artists, except for top stars. The permit was not in place at the national premiere in Kolding on 8 April. But now the work permit is in place, and at the performance on 3 June in Vejen, the 5 Moroccans made their Danish debut.

Brian "Briano" Behrendt saw the performance and writes (my translation):

I visited Cirkus Trapez today. Great show and well-kept animals that Bernhard Kaselowsky has trained and presents. However, the goats were presented by Stine Maria Greisen. I saw several good acts. In particular, I would like to highlight the Morocco troupe, which had just arrived in Denmark, as well as Duo Gancho with their knock-about table act and as jugglers and comedians. Last, but not least, a young Danish star who will probably get out into the big circus world and be successful, namely Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen with her fantastic trapeze act. The Nelly Jane Benneweis foundation gave her a grant in connection with the distribution of circus awards in 2022. Very well deserved!

Bernhard Kaselowsky with Big and Little. All photos smartphone photos taken by Brian Behrendt.

The Said Amazigh Troupe

Duo Gancho with their table act

Rasmine Tomasevic

Since the premiere in April, Circus Trapez has performed both indoor in sport centres and in a tent - both in their small tent and in the old Baldoni tent. They will continue this up to and including 25 June. After that and for the rest of the summer, they have slightly shorter Open-Air performances at a number of Jutland and Funen campsites, etc. From July 8 to August 6, they also have performances in a tent in Madsbyparken in Fredericia. They also have a number of performances for nursing homes.

6 June 2023

Husik in Monte Carlo. The 22-year-old juggler Husik (Husain Gulyamov), who is son of the clown Gulio and Mrs. Tatyana from Circus Mascot, has just together with artists from the Bingo Troupe from Ukraine (Circus Bingo Theatre) participated in a big show in Monte Carlo to celebrate the 100 year's day of Prince Rainier's birth. Husik and the Bingo troupe entertained, among others, Prince Albert 2 and his sister Princess Stephanie. The princess is chairman of the prize jury at the circus festivals in Monte Carlo.

Husik together with Princess Stephanie and artists from the Bingo troupe. Husik is number 2 seen from the right

In this photo, Husik is standing between Princess Stephanie and Urs Pilz. The photo shows from left Sebastian Hüchtebrock, unknown, Daniel Zankov, Viktoriia Shevchenko, Marharyta, Katia Smirnova, Irina Herman, Princess Stephanie, Husik, Urs Pils and Anastasia Blishik

Husik is a versatile artist who can also perform with hula hoops

In January 2022, Husik participated in the prestigious circus festival in Budapest and received high praise for his act. Just like his parents, he has appeared in Circus Mascot for several seasons. This year, however, only as a substitute, if other artists have fallen due and he himself has not had a job elsewhere.

5 June 2023

Is Danish Circus Krone making a comeback? The Thierry family's small Jutland Circus Krone has not been on tour since 2018. But maybe they will come out this year. On www.cirkuskrone.dk they write (my translation):

The calendar says 2023 and we at Krone can look back on some challenging years, both company-wise and personally. The fact that we have also been affected in terms of health has added to the tension.

We look inward, outward and forward, hoping to awaken Krone from the slumber of the past years.

Hopefully we can announce something before long.

One thing we know for sure is that we will be visiting Randers Festival this year. We are very much looking forward to that.

We hope to see you!

The Krone family

The Randers Festival takes place from 11 to 19 August.

In 2018, Circus Krone used this tent, which could accommodate 200 spectators.

2 June 2023

DYNAMO Contemporary Circus Festival 14 to 17 June 2023

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.

It will be the fifth edition of Dynamo’s international contemporary circus festival. You can meet:

Collectif Malunés (BE/FR)

Los Putos Makinas (ES/DE/UY/BR)

Kaaos Kaamos (SV, NCL, IL, DE, AR, BE)

Gustaf Rosell, Mikkel Hobitz & Sarah Lett (SE/DK/CA)

Dan Le Man (AU)

CirkusPerspektiv / Marie-Andrée Robitaille (SE/CA)

Karavan and LUR (SE/DK)

Luuk Brantjes (NE)

You can read more and order tickets at https://dynamoworkspace.dk/festival/?lang=en

DYNAMO Circus Festival is supported by the The Danish Arts Foundation, Odense Municipality, Nordic Council of Ministers, Øernes Kunstfond, William Demant Fonden, Region Syddanmarks Kulturpulje, Spar Nord Fonden, Royal Unibrew, and Wisti Fonden.

31 May 2023

Flying Superkids.  Flying Superkids started out in 1967 as a traditional gymnastics team, but has evolved into an internationally renowned show ensemble. Today the show performed in more than 35 countries and is experienced by over 35.000 people every year. The show is a high tempo mix of acrobatics, gymnastics, dancing, singing, comedy, tumbling and of course twists, double and triple somersaults on trampolines and other crazy equipment.

Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Aarhus on May 28 and writes (my translation):

Flying Superkids is so successful that extra performances have to be arranged - which quickly sell out. This was also the case today.

The tent is new and beautiful. It is provided by Enoch Show Production – a tented palace with a steep grandstand making is possible for everyone to see what’s going on at the stage.

The tent seen from outside. Photo by courtesy of Flying Superkids

The performance is something between a gymnastic show, a dance show, a singing performance, a film on the big screen – and the circus. You can clearly feel Jimmy Enoch's circus ballast, which goes well with the compere Lars Godbersen's dynamism, humor, mood and subtleties. His ideas and whimsical whims are in line, and most importantly: you can feel the obvious joy of the children and young people performing and showing what they can do. Not only do they learn some skills as performing gymnasts and artists. They also learn to perform, i.e., show what they can do. With self-confidence, and behind the scenes with self-discipline, will and tenacity. And of course, also talent. It is all garnished by a tight, colorful and imaginative choreography and a beautiful lighting - with fireworks.

Superkids! Photo by courtesy of Flying Superkids

The performance begins when Lars Godbersen in a boiler suit and the young people in recycled clothes entering the stage. Lars explains that savings must be made in these times of crisis, so costumes have been sourced from thrift stores. An attempt to play the Danish national anthem goes wrong. But suddenly he says: "We're just joking!". And in a second everyone throws away their "outer clothes" and we're off to a good start. And get the first example of Lars Godbersen's subtle humor.

Photos: Maja Bisheim Terp

Among the many aspects of vaulting gymnastics, one thinks of gymnastic teams which of course also has show elements. During the included songs, the children's melody grand prix is reminded. And you see lots of circus art. There is cube juggling, hula hoop, trampoline, stuntman, skipping, street dance, handstand up and down stairs and there is a frog person. But the very best thing is that the Enoch family bike act is now flourishing in the 4th generation, as Jimmy Enoch cycles with his children Emily and Jeremy.

Jimmy Enoch with his daughter Emily. Photo by courtesy of Jimmy Enoch

Flying Superkids does not use the name circus, even though the performance is based on the "real" circus. On the other hand, the Circus Summarum uses the name circus even though Summarum has nothing to do with a circus. But the two performances are united in the way that it is Enoch Show Production that provides the tents.

(Circus Summarum is organized by the Danish Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and DR television’s Big Band and is a tented performance for families with children, which is performed in Ballerup and Aarhus every summer. In the ring in the tent well-known characters from DR television’s popular children program Ramasjang perform live together with the DR Bigband. DR is the leading Danish TV channel. The tent used for the performance is leased from Enoch Show Production).

29 May 2023

Circus of Torment is coming back to Denmark. David Sosman writes hat Circus of Torment will visit Denmark this autumn with performances in Aarhus, Esbjerg and Odense.

They visited Denmark in February this year with performances in Vejle and Aalborg.

23 May 2023

The Clown Show. The circus museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, writes:

Have a good laugh when 8 clowns from all over the world visit the museum on Whitsunday 28 May at 12 noon.

The good clown has a childlike curiosity about the world and a heart as big as the biggest clown shoes. You can experience all that and much more in The Clowns Show, where both humanity and our folly are on display. Museum curator Mikkel Knudsen write (my translation):

"The good clown can, by exhibiting himself, arouse compassion, but also make us see our reflection and make us laugh at our own actions and behaviour. This is what the clowns in The Clowns Show are experts in, so don't expect acts with custard pie throwing and audience humiliation, but rather good laughs."

The clowns, who come from i.e. Finland, Italy, Lithuania, Germany and Denmark, come from the internationally recognized school for physical theater Commedia School. 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.

Before or after the show, you can learn more about the circus in the museum's exhibition.

Tickets for the show (which can be understood by everyone) costs DKK 20 for children DKK 90 for adults. Including entrée to the Museum.

The Commedia School is a 2-year actor training program founded by Ole Brekke and Carlo Mazzone in Copenhagen, Denmark. Each September since 1978, 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.

21 May 2023

Circus Solvej is a tiny circus which, according to the plans, over the summer will tour Jutland and Funen with their small tent, horses, caravans and popcorn. Behind the small circus are the acrobat and multi-artist Zora Nikodemova and the young Victor Høeg Abrahamsen, who in recent seasons has been associated with Katja Schumann's Circus Farm in Løkken and for a period was a groom at Circus Mascot.

Victor with pony. Photo from the Circus Farm 2021

Zora is born in Prague, but has lived in Denmark for many years. Years ago, she was a partner with Freddi Steckel in his knock-about table act. Since then, she has performed at a large number of venues and has also worked for the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen.

Zora has many different entrées. Here she is seen as a girl in the giant balloon

Victor and Zora have decided to call the small circus for Circus Solvej. "Because it's summer, sun and we're on the road," writes Victor in a Facebook post. “Sol” is the Daish word for sun and “vej” the Danish word for road. Victor and Zora are responsible for the entire performance themselves.

The small circus has not yet announced their tour schedule. 

Zora and Victor have rented this small tent for this summer's performances.

20 May 2023

Los Ortiz on a wire from tent pole to tent pole. One of the main attractions in Circus Arena's performance is the high wire troupe Los Ortiz, who, among other things, present the famous 7-man pyramid.

On May 19 you could see some of the troupe's members with a completely different act during Circus Arena's visit to Aalborg: they walked on a wire from king pole to king pole and showed formations and jumps that have never been seen before in Denmark on a wire over a tent!

This outstanding performance left those present holding their breath, and they were enriched by an inspiring experience. The free outdoor high wire walking will probably be repeated in some other cities as a publicity stunt for Circus Arena.

Los Ortiz. Press photos from Circus Arena

18 May 2023

Francesco Fratellini to Cirque Arlette Gruss. Don't worry: until Circus Arli ends its season in the last half of August, you can see the excellent clown and multi-artist Francesco Fratellini in the small circus. But from October 2023 to May 2024, he and his spouse Sarah Florees have signed a contract with the large French Cirque Arlette Gruss. Thus, next year you won't be able to see the couple in Denmark.

Francesco Fratellini. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

At Arlette Gruss, Francesco will make several clown entrées. Sarah will perform in the chandelier, just as she did in Circus Arli in 2020.

Sarah is hanging from the chandelier. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Francesco Fratellini is the 8th generation of a famous French artist family. He has previously worked in another of the Gruss family's circuses, Cirque Alexis Gruss, where the director's wife Gipsy Gruss is his godmother. There he received an all-round artist training, which means that with talent and skill he can perform many different things, including as a clown. He has also performed in Switzerland in the famous Circus Knie. He made his Danish debut in Circus Arli in 2016, and his talent and charm meant that this year he is with Circus Arli for the 7th time.

In 2022, he received the year's talent prize from the Danish Circus Award.

Among the other performers with Arlette Gruss is the clown Pieric (Pierre Furic), whom the Danes experienced at Circus Dannebrog in 2013. Slightly older circus friends can also remember him from Circus Benneweis 1990, where he performed together with Pipo Sosman.

Pieric in Circus Dannebrog in 2013

15 May 2023

ON THE BENCH - - an acrobatic staging of a Copenhagen bench.

The contemporary circus company Cikaros writes (my translation):

The sun is shining and the CPH Stage festival is approaching. We will be there again this year and hope to see you out there. We would like to invite you to come and see the performance ON THE BENCH - - an acrobatic staging of a Copenhagen bench.

In cooperation with Capital of Architecture 2023 the performance is presented in a special edition, where we pay tribute to the Copenhagen bench as a unique urban space design. Before and after the performance, you can see pictures from the bench's history, read about the bench's creation, colour your own bench or be inspired by our practice sheet for choreographic displays on the city's benches.

The event lasts half an hour and is aimed at everyone who has sat on a bench. Or seen someone who did. The performance is outdoors, free and does not require a ticket reservation.

We have performances on

Saturday 3 June at 12, 14 and 16 at Israels Plads

Wednesday 7 June at 16 and 17 at the The Tower Playground, Frederik V's Vej 4, 2100 Copenhagen Ø

Saturday 10 June at 12, 14 and 16 at Israels Plads

On the Bench is a dance-acrobatic interlude in which two female contemporary circus artists Signe Løve Anderskov and Henriette Aarup stage the iconic Copenhagen bench. In a quirky and whimsical acrobatic duet with surprising choreographies and to the sound of Chopin, the familiar element from the urban space becomes a partner in a playful encounter between body, bench and city 

With physical precision, in balancing and body-bending movements, the artists work on and with the bench, creating an abstract and magical moment in the everyday life of the city. On the occasion of the Capital of Architecture 2023, the performance is presented in a special edition, where we pay tribute to the bench as a unique Copenhagen urban design.

The city of Copenhagen has been officially designated as World Capital of Architecture for 2023 by the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, on the recommendation of the General Assembly of the International Union of Architects (UIA). 

Photo: Cosmin Cistea

The performance premiered in 2021 and will be performance no. 100 during the CPH Stage festival.

In the event of widespread rain, the performance will be postponed or cancelled.

Cikaros is a Danish contemporary circus company, which was formed in 2005 and since then has produced and toured with contemporary circus performances throughout Denmark and in Sweden, Norway, Holland, France, Spain, Croatia, Russia, Egypt, the Czech Republic and Oman.

12 May 2023

Zirkus Nemo 2023 – a good vintage. Zirkus Nemo is a combination of circus and comedy show, owned by the Danish actor and comedian Søren Østergaard. There is no doubt that the biggest draw in Zirkus Nemo is Søren Østergaard and his well-known comedy characters. The audience simply love him. Søren certainly does not disappoint those who visit Nemo this year. Neither when he is "just" Søren nor when they meet him as the man who can't whistle, the man with the world's longest left arm, the ventriloquist Oleg Olansky, the Backward Man, the rat trainer Marianne, the Smashing Man, the Measure Man, the Magician with clapped flowers or Jørgen the Baker. Often with flabby comments to the spectators.

But in addition to Søren himself Zircus Nemo has world class artists in the performances.

Zirkus Nemo at the lot under Little Belt bridge in Middelfart

This year's performance begins with Søren coming down from the grandstand. At the performance on 7 May in Middelfart, he had to announce that the bandmaster Øyvind Ougaard was sick but that the three other musicians would do it as best as possible. And they did so very, even though both the trumpeter and the drummer are new in Nemo. Søren also introduced the ring crew and sent one, Christian Mosbæk, out to change his clothes as he was not dressed up. Christian then returned in a girl guard outfit!

The ring crew, not least the former sea lion trainer Ingo Stiebner, are also active participants in the performance and not just props.

"You can't look like that when there is a performance. Out to put on your uniform”

New in the Nemo is the drummer Kalle Mathiesen, who here operates the cymbals with a grinding machine!

The hand stand acrobat Hector Yzquierdo, from previous years known as the male partner of Duo Solys, has a number of run-ins during the performance. We first meet him in an illusion act, where he, assisted by Christian Mosbæk and Ingo Stiebner, crawls into a vertical box, which is both pierced and split in two, see photo.

Hector is inside the box!

He is followed by Søren Østergaard in his beloved entrée as the man who can’t whistle.

A World Star: The Man Who Can't Whistle.

The next number is Zorè Espana in a beautiful entrée in Cyr Wheel – a huge hoop that she swings around in. The entrée looks good in Zirkus Nemo's small ring which as Nemo connoisseurs know is an elevated stage.

Zorè Espana

After a brief entrée with the man with the world's longest left arm, Hector has a brief run-in as the dancing gypsy couple.

Then Søren comes back on stage. This time as the clumsy ventriloquist whose doll falls apart more and more during the entrance.

The clumsy ventriloquist

Hector then has another short dance before Backward Man, who is a member of DBU - Danish Backward Union - takes over the stage.

The Backward Man

Then it's time for a top-class juggling act: Claudius Specht, who juggles both clubs and cups. He was most recently with Nemo in 2014.

8 cups in the air and 2 in the hand

Next, we get a visit from Marianne, who, with the assistance of Ingo Stiebner, present her trained rats. And they are real live rats. Finally, one of them climbs up a rope to an airplane, from which it jumps. (Don't worry: no animal cruelty, it's a doll falling from the plane.)

Marianne – she is done for!

The last phenomenon before the break is the man with the world's longest leg, where the leg is carried by the ring crew into the ring until it reaches the spectators in the ringside chairs!

The world's longest leg!

The first act after the break is one of Søren's most beloved comedy entrées: The Smashing Man, who first plays heavy rock on his guitar and then starts smashing cream puffs and has to admit in frustration that there is a puff who doesn't want to play along.

The Smash Man

Hector now has a nice handstand entrée where he both jumps from hand to hand and ends with Encho's signature trick, where he pushes bricks to the side. More and more artists are doing this trick. But aside from Encho himself, I don't recall anyone doing it with greater elegance than Hector.

World class handstand!

Now it's the time for the Measure Man. And he finally succeeds in making a measurement with a brand-new super measuring tape, which the assistant Laura Kvist Poulsen brings.

The Measure Man

After a short feature with the ring crew as girl guards, we meet the slightly awkward magician with lots of fold-up flowers from Pegani. (Pegani is the leading Nordis dealer in magic effects)

Magic with flowers

Now it's the turn of the comic acrobats Duo Flash. There are lots of slapstick and stunt elements in their number.

Duo Flash

When the orchestra tunes in with the Danish song "There's a baker", we know what's coming: Baker Jørgen, who can probably compete with the Smash Man as to who is Søren Østergaard's most beloved character. The entrée ends with dancing tartlets.

Ready to dance with tartlets

Next came the show's top artistic act: Duo Stauberti with perch. The duo today consists of Dimitri Stauberti and his niece Nancy. First trick is Nancy in a handstand on top of a perch, which Dimitri balances on his forehead while climbing up two ladders.

In the next trick, Dimitri again balances a perch on his forehead, while Nancy stands upside down on top of the perch while she rotates a kind of barbell with her feet. Later she stands on her head while Dimitri sits down and turns around.

Duo Stauberti

In the final trick, Dimitri rides a tall unicycle while balancing a perch on his forehead. At the top of the perch, Nancy stands in a handstand with her legs in splits.

Impressive! The fact that Nancy uses the lounge for security reasons, which she did not need, certainly doesn’t harm. We have come to the circus to be entertained, not for the performers to tempt fate to impress us.

An impressive final trick that brought the couple a silver clown in Monte Carlo in 2018

The performance ends with Søren entering the ring as the poetic clown who first blows some soap bubbles and then has a giant head placed on top. "There is what I had in my head here today," says Søren before the grand finale, where the performance is rewarded night after night with a well-deserved standing ovation.

Søren Østergaard with his giant head

10 May 2023

Program change at Circus Trapez. Circus Trapez had, among other acts, booked the Said Amazigh Troupe from Morocco for the summer season with skipping, handstand and pyramid act. But it has proven much more difficult to get a work permit for them than Isabella Enoch Sosman had thought. On the whole, it is so difficult to get a Danish work permit for artists or tent workers from non-EU countries that several Danish circuses choose to only engage people with an EU passport.

As a replacement for the Moroccans, Circus Trapez has had, among others until last week had Vladimir Omelchenko with a nice rola bola number until last week, but he has now moved on to Circus Agora in Norway. They have also had the Danish comedian and juggler Jon G, Lør, belly dancers, girls from Einer Tries Circus Factory and Katja Schumann's Circus Farm. From the coming weekend, they have engaged the Hungarian duo Daniella and Lenard Matos, who last year toured Denmark with Circus Baldoni. At Trapez, in addition to the bike number from Baldoni, they show an aerial act.

Duo Matos with their bicycle act, where Lenard jumps on a unicycle. Over Daniella, from podium to podium, up and down stairs, on a trampoline and across a burning rope. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

8 May 2023

The Dutch circus friend and circus historian Henk van den Berg has published a number of richly illustrated books about different circuses. His latest book is about the large Finnish Circus Finlandia 1976- 2022. The book has more than 100 pages and has more than 500 photos, posters, flyers and program covers. The book is in English. It costs 31.50 Euro, plus shipping of 13 Euro when shipping within Europe (7.25 Euro in Holland). You can get more information about the book and how you can order it by writing to Henk at hj.berg49@gmail.com

7 May 2023

Obituary: Jan Richter. The Swedish Circus Academy writes (my translation):

The honorary member and Founder of the Academy for the Preservation of Circus Arts in Sweden, Jan Richter, Malmö, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023. Now we have none of the founders left alive. Jan was 91 years old.

4 May 2023

Circus Mascot 2023. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in Ulstruphallen on 1 May at 17 and writes (my translation):

170 spectators turned up - for a performance that offered a reunion with several of the artists we have seen before. After all, it's like that in the circus that the arrow has to point backwards. Circus is nostalgic and must remind you of childhood and the good old days. And the content must be a mixture of the artistic disciplines: juggling, acrobatics, balancing, tight wire dancing and dressage. Not necessarily all of them in every performance – but a section. And then there is an artist who is inevitable. The clown. No circus without a clown! And it is not unusual for an artist to appear again - in the same circus or in another circus. The recognition is part of the experience. Such was the case in Mascot this afternoon.

Circus Mascot offered a mix of new and old. The performance was opened by Lorry Nereus. In a nice, white piccolo uniform, the stage was set to a hotel and he led the audience through a rola-bola act. No one doubted how difficult it is.

Lorry Nereus. Smartphone photo, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen

The ringmaster Daniel Deleuran introduced himself and Circus Mascot – completely “Glad I låget” (‘Happy Face’), which is the motto of this year's performance. Gulio took over the ring with a clapper, which exploded to thunderous applause. Then the dog Pepsi gave a concert on the piano before Marianne's poodles entered the ring. In the old days, horse numbers were common, because people were used to horses - meeting them everywhere in the street. That time is over, but many keep dogs, and therefore the audience appreciate a dog act. And everyone could enjoy the free, unforced dressage, which rests on rewarding the playful animals – never and under no circumstances punishment. The dogs play – and enjoy it.

Marianne Deleuran and her playful doggies. Press photo from Circus Mascot

Guliojaki wants to show a dangerous Chinese martial art, and he needs to have a male audience to be his partner and opponent.

Brand new is Tatyana's soap bubble number. In a beautiful glitter suit, she created a poetic, fairy-tale atmosphere. The children enjoyed it, especially when the bubbles dissolved into smoke, and most of all when she spun a girl from the audience into a giant soap bubble.

Eva Vitzo showed her classic, stylish glass balance act. After the performance, the small girls accompanying me agreed that this number was the best in the performance.

After the interval we saw Lui Nereus with his first act - handstand, where he built the number, using a doll as podium. A man from the audience was invited into the ring to help throwing the bricks up to him.

Lui Nereus with handstand on doll. Smartphone photo, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen

Mascot has many small animals. In the second part of the performance, we met Nemo the goose, Sille and Wilma the pigs and a pony.

Marianne and her pony. Smartphone photo, taken by Jørgen Lorenzen

Gulio had several entrées with the participation of the audience. And together with Tatyana, he had a magic trick which turned into a game of 3 buckets, where one party crawls under the table and appears at the wrong times in the wrong holes. An entrée which is always amusing.

Gulio. Press photo from Circus Mascot

The final act in the performance was the 73-year-old Lui Nereus, who acts as a drunk man in a lamppost. One remembers The Great Fattini's number in sway pole. Here the pole is not so high, but gags, intricacies with clothes and braces and a lot of stunts are not spared. Unbelievable at the age of 73. He last time presented the act in Mascots during their short autumn tour in 2021. (Due to the corona there was no summer tour in 2021). Thus, there were many spectators who had not previously seen the act.

The man in the lamppost – 73-year-old Lui Nereus. Press photos from Circus Mascot

And then it was over. The performance lasted exactly 2 hours with an intermission. There was a good atmosphere throughout, and on the way out you could clearly sense that people were happy because they had experienced something, a lot of sensory impressions and wonders which a circus performance can give. It was real circus entertainment.

3 May 2023

The Danish Circus Award 2023. This year the award ceremony will take place on Monday 21 August at 13. The venue is the Fencing Hall at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, just as has been the case at all award ceremonies since 2016.

Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt has promised to come and present the honorary award The Danish Circus Award. The visible proof of the award is a painting by the artist Viggo Salting, also known as the master of the clown. It is also Viggo, who created the circus award logo.

In addition, there are a prize to the year's best act, a talent prize and an effort prize.

You can read more about the price at www.danskecirkuspris.dk (language Danish and English)

Last year, the honorary award went to Katja Schumann, seen here with the Minister of Culture at that time Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen. You can see Katja "live" in performances at Cirkusgården in Løkken.

Last year, the talent prize went to the clown and multi-artist Francesco Fratellini, who you can see again this year in Circus Arli. The prize for the best act of the year went to Leosvel & Diosmani, who performed in Zirkus Nemo last year. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

3 May 2023

True to tradition, this summer you can see artists at Lalandia in Rødby on the days when Lalandia's regular children's entertainer Mr. Plys appears in Lalandia Billund. This year, the performers are juggler Line Chabry and her husband Stefan Platschov, who, among other things, master ladder balancing.

1 May 2023

Norrköping Youth Circus. The Swedish Circus Academy writes (my translation):

Soon Norrköping's Youth Circus will set up its nice tent on Tyska torget in the middle of central Norrköping!

There they will present the performance "Tales from Asgård" directed by Walter Berndt.

The premiere will be on Friday 12/5 at 18.00. Further performances will be Saturday and Sunday 13/5, 14/5 and Thursday 18/5 at 15.00 and Friday 19/5 at 18.00, also Saturday and Sunday 20/5, 21/5 at 3 p.m.

Tickets can be booked at www.nuc.nu/biljetter

Norrköping's Youth Circus received the Circus Academy's award Charlie of the Year in 1992. At that time it was called Norsholm's Youth Circus.

24 April 2023

Snowdrop. New contemporary circus performance produced by Copenhagen based Rapid Eye. Seen at Mungo Park Theater in Allerod on 23 April.

Snowdrop is in Russian the term for corpses that, due to an avalanche or for other reasons have been buried by snow and appear when the snow melts.

In January 1959, ten Russian students went on a long hiking and skiing trip in the Ural Mountains. One turned back early due to pain. The leader of the expedition was the 23-year-old Igor Dyatlov. After several weeks without a sound from the expedition, the relatives raised the alarm and a search team was sent out. The team found the students' tent, which had been cut open from the inside. Over the next days and months, the bodies of the students appeared all over the mountainside as the snow melted. After the group's bodies were discovered, an investigation determined that six of them had died from hypothermia while the other three had been killed by physical trauma. One victim had major skull damage, two had severe chest trauma, and another had a small crack in his skull. Some of the bodies were radioactive. There have since been many guesses as to what had happened: were there natural causes such as an avalanche, was there something criminal or were there completely different reason.

The story has fascinated the Swedish-born performer Samuel Gustavsson, who previously i.e. has worked for the Swedish contemporary circus Circus Cikör. He had planned a trip to the area, but it was prevented first by a pandemic and later by a war. Instead, he has now created the performance Snowdrop. It is presented as contemporary circus, which is perhaps a misnomer, as there are no notable artistic elements in the performance. I would rather call it modern theatre.

The performance begins with Samuel Gustavsson telling a little about the background, assisted by his friend, the magician and performer David Tholander. The floor and back wall of the stage are covered with a giant white sheet.

Slowly, the two performers carry in what looks like body bags. The first turns out to contain a pair of bear scissors and the next pieces of clothing from the dead persons. Later, using a revolving board and two small paper tents, they very quickly go through a number of theories about what happened. A forest is knocked over by a swinging bag. Later, David Tholander is bleeding from the mouth.

At the end of the performance, the stage is filled with hanging elements, and the two performers disappear in a flash that suggests the expedition's end.

Samuel Gustavsson and David Tholander, the latter still with traces of the blood

It may sound a bit cryptic, but the performance is quite exciting. Even if, in my eyes, it does not fall under the contemporary circus category. The scenography and soundscape are impressive.

Playwright & outside eye: Léna Rondé. Composer: Pauline Högstrand & Ingvild. Scenographic consultant: Lisbeth Burian. Props & costumes: Signe Beckmann. Technique: Lasse Munk.

On 11 and 12 May, the performance can be seen at Dynamo Workspace for circus and performing art in Odense. It is perhaps the producer Rapid Eye's hope that it can later be sent on tour elsewhere, also outside Denmark.

It is thought-provoking that cultural support is given to performances like this, which are seen by only a few thousand spectators, while the traditional circuses with much larger numbers of spectators have to manage without any support of public funds!

24 April 2023

World Circus Day. The international circus day World Circus Day is usually celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in April. For many years, the day has in Denmark been celebrated by Danish Circus Friends Association in cooperation with the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, and Circus Baldoni. It also happened this year, when due to Baldoni's tour schedule, the celebration was pushed from April 15 to April 22.

Those who found their way to the Circus Museum listen to an interesting lecture by Katja Enoch, where she talked about her circus life and about her father Haddy Enoch, who in 1977 restarted Circus Dannebrog. She was supplemented with comments from the old artist agent etc. Jörgen Börsch and Danish acrobats' grand old man Freddi Steckel.

There were smiles and high spirits when circus princess Katja Enoch talked about her adventurous life

Both Jörgen Börsch and Freddi Steckel could supplement Katja's story

Later it was an entertaining ventriloquist show with Preben Palsgaard, where we both met the dog, the vulture and the talking shoes.

Preben's dog could play the trumpet at the same time that Preben played the harmonica. The vulture Galle did not master such feats

Preben and his talking shoes

We also saw the human ventriloquist puppet, where the ventriloquist holds a spectator's hand and asks him to open his mouth every time, he shakes his hand. Many may remember a film clip from Circus Benneweis 2002, where the ventriloquist Willer Nicolosi had the late Prince Henrik in the ring as a puppet, and where the prince had much fun!

Preben also presented his talking dog: a live dog which could talk. The dog's mouth movements are due to training and not, as you see with other ventriloquists, a false lower jaw or a "string" that gives impulses to the dog. Impressive!

Preben and the talking dog. It is best for monosyllabic words!

The day ended with a festive gala performance in Circus Baldoni, where there were almost full house.

Tøffe is the clown of the year in Circus Baldoni. Here he is seen together with Katja Enoch at the entrance to the tent. (Katja is not part of Baldoni's performance)

Prior to the mentioned events, there was a general meeting of Danish Circus Friends. The members of the board who were up for election were re-elected. The board of directors therefore consists unchanged of

Kim Thanning Olsen, chairman. Also member of the board of the Circus Museum in Hvidovre

Ole Simonsen, deputy chairman. Also chairman of the Danish Circus Award

Søren Kastoft, treasurer

John Lington

Irene Hansen

Bente Puggaard-Müller

Joan Dansberg, Jacob Boas Leitisstein and Niels Erling Larsen were chosen as new substitutes. You can read more about the association at www.danskecirkusvenner.dk (language: Danish)

20 April 2023

Circus Finlandia 2023. The large Finnish circus, which is known for high-quality programs, started the season on April 11. The tour ends in Helsinki in October.

As in previous years, Danish Lasse "Bonbon" Nørager has had a hand in the game in connection with the preparation of this year's performance. However, his work in Finland is a little more assisting than when he puts on shows for Danish Circus Arena. The Finlandia director Calle Jernström is himself very involved in the rehearsals, and they have a very skilled lighting designer who does not need much input from Lasse. On the other hand, he makes a lot of use of his musical experiences and writes arrangements etc. during the rehearsals and co-produces with Calle when needed.

In this year's Finlandia performance you will meet:

The football juggler Helena Polach. The Danes saw her in Circus Benneweis 2012 and the Swedes in Cirkus Scott in 2013. 

Helena Polach at Benneweis in 2012. Photo Rud Kofoed/Ajour Press

Ignat Ignatov and his daughter Maria Cordwell-Ignatova with synchronized high school riding.

Johanna Enäsu with ladder balance. You can read more about the Finnish artist at www.sirkusjohanna.com

Johanna Enäsu. Press photo from Circus Finlandia

Lusesita Farrell present as Catwoman an aerial act in chains, which is used a little in the style of aerial straps. Furthermore, together with Matteo Farrell, she has a fine and fast-paced perch act.

Liina Aunola works in vertical rope and with cloud swing. The Swedes have been able to see her in Circus Olympia for several seasons: 2003, 2014 and 2018. She has also been with Ringling in the USA.

Marko Karvo & Vanessa with magic with pigeons and parrots. The Danes saw the couple in Zirkus Nemo in 2013, 2015 and 2019.

The elegant, mysterious Finnish bird king Marko Karvo makes his magical entrée. Photo from Zirkus Nemo 2019. Photographer: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Michael Olivares is a multi-artist. The Danes saw him as a juggler in Circus Dannebrog in 2007. He comes from the Nicols family and is now working as comedian. Among other things he does a "comic" vertical juggling act with microphones, where it looks like 4-5 microphones are flying around him while he tries to sing into them.

Michael Olivares and his mikes. Press photo from Circus Finlandia

Clown Misha Usov. The Danes saw him at Benny Schumann's clown festival at the amusement park Bakken in 2005.

Misha Usov. Press photo from Circus Finlandia

The Mesa Group on high wire in two floors. The troupe has 4 members

The Diorios troupe with 5 riders in the globe of death

Aleksi Martin shoots with a crossbow. He has previously been with the Swedish Cirkus Olympia under the name Martii Peltonen.

Martti Peltonen aka Aleksi Martin with his crossbows in Circus Olympia in 2018. Photo: Martin Lasson Berglund

As previous years, the ringmaster is the Finnish Sebastian (Seppo "Sebastian" Tauriainen)

14 April 2023

Circus Baldoni 2023 – Hit with the Circus. "Hit med Sangen" (Hit with the Song) was a popular television program that DR broadcast in the years 2000 to 2004 with the Danish actor and stand-up comedian Amin Jensen as host. It was based on the English TV-program The Lyrics Board. This year, Circus Baldoni has Amin Jensen as ringmaster. They have chosen to call this year's show Hit med Cirkus (‘Hit with the Circus’), even though there may not be many children who have heard of the old TV show.

There was season opening in Hillerød north of Copenhagen on Wednesday 12 April.

Already at the entrance to the tent, the audience meets Amin Jensen, who checks tickets together with this year's clown Tøffe. Tøffe also carries out a security check, which i.e., revealed cell phones that have not been set to silent. A smart way to remind the audience about the phones!

The performance begins with Tøffe coming on stage dressed in a security vest, and repeats it with the cell phones and has a gag with a nappy for adults. Shortly after, Amin also enters the stage and welcomes. (At Baldoni the ring is a raised circular stage).

Tøffe and Amin Jensen. All photos Jacob Boas Leitisstein unless otherwise mentioned

First artist act is the juggler Nandor Varadi. He comes from Hungary and juggles up to 7 clubs as well as balls and rings. The entrée ends with him juggling 3 torches with fire. He was last time with Baldoni in 2010 and before that with the small Danish Circus Krone.

Nandor Varadi

Next, Tøffe came on stage in an entrée, built over the Little Per figure from the original Far til Fire movies and with playback songs from the films. Of course, he also had the elephant Bodil with him. Far til fire (‘Father of four’) was a popular Danish film family. 8 films were produced from 1953 to 1961. The youngest of the four children was Little Per. Since 2005 additional 11 films with the family has been produced, but not with the same actors as in the first 8 films.

From Tøffe’s Little Per-entrée

The next act was with an artist, who we have not seen before at Baldoni: Hungarian Georgina Szotko in a number in vertical rope, i.e., a rope hanging down from the circus dome. Nice to have such a number as a change from the all-too-often seen aerial acts, where the performer work in tissue (curtains). Amin Jensen sang during the act - his swift tenor suited the number very well.

Georgina Szotko

Georgiana was followed by Tøffe, this time in an entrée as Elvis, and again with playback music and slapstick comedy.

Tøffe as Elvis – the king of rock and roll

After a short run-in from the grandstand stage with Amin Jensen and the lion Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll), it was time for one of the show's absolute top acts: Martyn Chabry's musical quick-change act.

Not all quick-change numbers are fast, but Martyn manages her costume changes with lightning speed and play between the dress changes drums, saxophone, xylophone and bottles. She was most recently with Baldoni in 2020 and before that with Circus Benneweis in 1998, 2005 and 2014. Thus, it's not the first time she has experienced a season opening Hillerød (Circus Benneweis always opened their season in Hillerød).

Martyn's entrée starts with her hitting drums in indirect lighting with liquid over the drumheads

Martyn plays on bottles

She says herself that she is Made in Denmark. 9 months before she was born, her parents, the clown Toto Chabri and his wife Norah, worked at Benneweis in the Circus building in Copenhagen. She has also spent many of her childhood and teenage years in Copenhagen, where Toto has 5 seasons in the circus building after Martyn was born. And furthermore, as a child and teenager, she was with her parents in Denmark, when they had two seasons with Circus Benneweis' tented show.

Martyn's entrée ended with her bringing her little daughter on stage, where the daughter also made a quick costume change.

Mother and daughter

Martyn is the sister of Line Carol, who was with Baldoni for most of the 2022 season, and who you can see this July at the tropical holiday centre Lalandia in Rødby.

A short feature after Martyn's act, where Amin got her to show a slow version of a costume change and joked a little with Me Too, could be dropped without problems if Baldoni, as often happens after a premiere, chooses to tighten up the performance. A later entrée with Amin Jensen, where he presented some of the cartoon characters he voiced a few years ago, can also be omitted without major damage.

Martyn's act was replaced by an excellent adagio number, performed by Nandor Varadi and his wife Diana Boiachin.

Nandor and Diana

It is a tradition that Baldoni's ringmaster also has his own entrées. Thus, the first number after the interval was an act with a stand-up-like elements, where Amin Jensen sings (he has an excellent voice), plays guitar and harmonica. Especially the adult part of the audience especially enjoyed the entrée.

Amin Jensen

Next, Baldoni's house artists the Janacek family came on stage under the name Buffalo Family in a fast-paced entrée with whips, lassos and knife throwing.

Buffalo Family

A short run-in with Tøffe on horseback went into Diana Boiachin's act in hanging pole, also called aerial pole. The number was inventively opened with the tip of the pole resting on a sort of ball bearing in the middle of the stage, while Diana performed tricks on the tilted rotating pole. The fine act ended with tricks in the pole, which hung down from the tent dome without touching the floor.

Diana Boiachin in hanging pole

Now Tøffe came in, this time in an entrée where he was on a picnic.

Tøffe on his way to picnic

He was followed by Amin Jensen with Circus Baldoni's mascot: the ventriloquist doll Leonardo. The entrée was somewhat shortened compared to previous years. Amin does not have the same experience as a ventriloquist and puppeteer as last year's ringmaster Peter Nørgaard.

Amin Jensen and Leonardo

The performance's last act was 16-year-old Kaya Janacek with rola bola. We have seen the number before, but he is clearly a super talent and the number is getting better and better.

Super talent Kaya Janacek. Photos Jacob Boas Leitisstein and Ole Simonsen

In the final, we met, among others, Martyn Chabry, Amin Jensen and Kelly Janacek in a festive entrée with drums, which Tøffe also wanted to get involved in.

Finale with drums.

Tøffe also wants to play along! Click here to see more of Jacob Boas Leitisstein's photos from the show

Circus owner René Mønster Baldoni is not on stage in this year's performance, but of course thanked the artist and the audience at the end of the premiere performance. Photo: Ole Simonsen

11 April 2023

Circus Brazil Jack 2023 – a great, spectacular and fast-running show! The large Swedish Circus Brazil Jack opened the season at The Mill Square in Malmö, Sweden on 7 April. Just like in 2022, the director Trolle Rhodin III presented a great and fast-running performance, which incl. interval lasted about 1 hour 45 minutes. They don't use a ringmaster. Instead, one act quickly transitions into the next, not least in the first section of the performance. Good sound and nice light. Just like in 2022, the music is pre-recorded, but it fits the numbers well.

Trolle Rhodin III is grandson of the late Trolle Rhodin (1917 -1977) who for several years was talent coordinator for Ringling and before that run his own circus in Sweden.

The overall characters in the performance are just like in 2022 the Wolf brothers. The tall and muscular David and his somewhat smaller older brother Richard. They open the performance with the well-known clapping entrée and later had a series of comic entrées. Not least the children love them!

It is brothers David and Richard Wolf's 5th season at Brazil Jack

Trolle Rhodin welcomes. Apart from his welcome and closing, there is almost no speaking in the performance, and the artists are not introduced by name.

The first artist act after the director's welcome was a very strong number in hanging pole, performed by Daniil Byriukov, who probably comes from Ukraine. In recent years, he has, among other things, worked in the German Circus Flic Flac. He is married to Jenny Kastein, who is the daughter of one of Flic Flac's founders, Lothar Kastein. In his hanging pole, Daniil shows several of the tricks that are seen in the Chinese Pole, where the pole stands on the ground. As mentioned, a great act. If in Sweden as in Denmark there was a prize for the best act of the year, Daniil should be considered!

Daniil Byriyukov

The next act was Jessyka Jasters juggling up to four scarves with her feet. The act ended with her being hoisted under the circus dome while juggling four scarves. Extremely spectacular!

Jessyka Jasters

After a short run-in with David and Richard Wolf as fishermen, another spectacular act followed: Susan Jasters in an aerial net, where she several times dipped into a giant bathtub in the middle of the ring. It would normally be difficult to present such acts in a touring circus, as a giant tub of water weighs far too much for the props to carry. Brazil Jack has solved the problem by placing the bathtub on a small remote-controlled flatcar, see photo.

Susan Jasters in her "bathtub"

Then the Wolf brothers were back, this time with the entrée where David pours water into a hat, which he then puts on his head without getting wet. When Richard tries the same, the water spills out of the hat.

We stayed in the spectacular section: Under the name Duo Ice, Daniil Byriukov and Jenny Kastein performed a fine adagio and hand to hand act as the last number before the interval. Placed under a giant shower high under the tent dome, from which the water poured down onto the podium they were performing on! Impressive! The podium was equipped with a drainage system that continuously pumped the water away from the podium.

Jörgen Börsch's oblong photos show the entire jet of water

Close-up of Duo Ice

The first act after the interval was flying trapeze. Trolle Rhodin has put together a brand-new troupe, which performed under the name Flying Brazil Jacks. The 4 members – a catcher and 3 flyers (2 men and a woman) – showed the traditional tricks such as somersaults, double somersaults and double passage. A couple of attempts at the difficult triple somersault failed at the premiere and the flyer ended up in the net. There are very few troupes that can perform the triple somersault every single time. As in many trapeze acts, it ended with one of the flyers' "death jump", where he hangs from a trapeze with his feet and then lets himself fall into the net.

The double passage

"The Death Jump"

While the safety net was taken down, the Wolf brothers were in the arena as "props". The entrée ended with them having to connect an electrical cable with another electrical cable that hung down from the tent dome. In their attempt to reach the cable, one saw many of the gags known from their comic trapeze act. In the end, of course, David got shocks that made his hair raise. (Of course, a fake shock).

Wolf Brothers

The next act was the tempo juggler Sonny Caveagna, who juggled clubs, balls and rings. The rings could even change color! (They had a different color on each side, so the color change happened when he got them turned).

Sonny Caveagna

Next, the Wolf brothers were back in the ring, now with their well-known knock-about table act, dressed as Scots.

Wolf Brothers

The last act of the performance was Diorios troupe with their globe of death. It took some time to get the large globe into the ring. There were up to 4 riders in the globe which ended up as splitting globe with one rider below and three above. Not least young people like to see the brave stuntmen in this modern version of the fairground wall of death. By the mind: one of the riders was a woman – somewhat unusual in such a troupe. – The Diorios troupe has several units. Another of these is this year with Circus Arena in Turkey.

The Diorios troupe in their splitting globe

In connection with the final, Trolle Rhodin showed his skill as a fire-breathing fakir

10 April 2023

Circus Arena in Turkey. As mentioned on this website on March 31, Circus Arena has the summer over a stationary unit in the seaside resort Side in Turkey. The tent is the old red/yellow Arena tent that they used in Denmark until 2019.

Circus Arena writes: “Children of ALL ages! See Circus ARENA Now! In the all-NEW 2023 production, the world class family circus “IN SIDE” in their latest, greatest production, acrobat, clown, action, comedy…! This all-new high-energy, action-packed extravaganza delivers the ultimate live family entertainment experience for 2023! 40 artiste 2hours non-stop performance traveling from Denmark to give you the best experience. Arena world class family show since 1955”.

You can read more at www.arenasirkshow.com (language English) and watch a short video clip from the tent put up at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqRb9S0vyOc

You can see a short video clip from the performance at www.facebook.com/cirkusarena/videos/1433652437455025. More video clips and photos at www.instagram.com/arenasirkshow

10. april 2023

Circus Rhodin 2023. Martin Lasson Berglund has seen the small Swedish circus and sent me the pictures below. Martin writes (my translation):

" I think Cirkus Rhodin was definitely worth seeing. I think based on ticket price SEK 150 and if you compare with Bambino and Popcorn, where ticket price also cost about SEK 150, Rhodin is much better. Here there is also a joy in the performance it is nice that Simona’s charm.” (Bambino and Popcorn are two small German family circuses that have toured Sweden in recent years).

To the left Circus Rhodin's tent. To the right: Diana Rhodin with ponies. She is daughter of the late Trolle Rhodin.

The young Danish trapeze star Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen. It is her second season with Circus Rhodin. She is trained by Isabella Enoch Sosman of Danish Circus Trapez.

Simona Rhodin, daughter of Diana Rhodin and her partner

7 April 2023

Circus Arena at its very best. This year's performance, which is called Circus according to Julie and Bubber 3, is just like last year presented by the singer Julie Berthelsen and the TV host and entertainer Bubber. And with less mutual talk between the two than last year, when several thought there was a little too much talk. This year it goes much better for the couple to present the artists and not just themselves. But of course – and fortunately – there is time to hear Julie sing in the lovely performance, which has a good flow.

Circus Arena at ’Bellahoj’ in Copenhagen

The first act was a slightly unconventional an illusion number, presented by the Italian magician Jimmy Saylon and his 3 assistants, one of whom was the female partner from Duo Costache. A traditional act where the assistants disappeared into or emerged from various boxes. In the end, it was Jimmy himself who disappeared into a box, only to later appear at the top of the grandstand. Jimmy Saylon worked last year in Arena Cirkusland in Slagelse.

In Jimmy Saylon's final trick, he enters a box that is hoisted under the circus dome. The box later turns out to be empty, and Jimmy appears at the top of the grandstand.

Next, welcome by the two hosts, who sang Circus Arena's well-known song "Circus, circus, circus is in town".

The first artist act was the elegant young tight wire dancer Steven Ferreri, who masters all the tricks a skilled tight wire dancer must be able to do Including the forward somersault, which is much more difficult than the backward one, because you can't see the wire before landing, as well as jumping through a ring with knives. He is son of tight wire dancer Miguel Ferreri, who was with Circus Benneweis in 2009 and who has trained him. Steven previously had a season in Denmark with Circus Trapez.

Jump through ring with knives. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein.

After this, there was a short comic magic entrée with the house clown Jimmy Folco assisted by Mrs. Claudia.

Then there was action: the knife thrower and crossbowman Giacomo Sterza and his wife Elena Busnelli, who, under the name The Jaster, presented a great number ending with Giacomo safely placing knives around Elena, who was strapped to a rapidly rotating turntable. Great! The couple toured Denmark with Circus Benneweis in 2011, and they maintain the high standard from that time.

The Jasters. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Now we met the young Swedish aerial artist David Hammarberg, who did a nice act in tissue with many "rolling down”. Extra spectacular in a tent with such a large tent height as Arenas. While he presented his number, Julie Berthelsen sang League of light, which brought her 2nd place at the Danish Melody Grand Prix in 2019. David is a versatile artist, and his most spectacular number is a trapeze act in bungee elastics. Some wondered why it wasn't that number Arena used, but the elegant tissue act was a perfect match for Julie's song.

David Hammarberg. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Next, we saw a clown entrée which I haven't seen for the last many years: the candy cooking entrée, where you make candy in a hat borrowed from a visitor. Probably one of the late August Miehe's entrées. At Arena it was performed by Jimmy Folco with Bubber and Julie. Excellent that you in this way experienced clown trio, and wonderful to see a nice entrée which is not shown every now and then.

Nice to see the old candy cooking entrée. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The last act before the interval was a number in the wheel of death, performed by two members of the Ortiz troupe. It was with very high speed on the wheel! As always, the number ended with one artist being the "motor", while the other ran on the outside of his wheel and both jumped, skipped and ran blindfolded. The act ended with many wildly high jumps. However, the artist did not master the salto which Crazy Wilson and Duo Vanegas is famous for. But definitely a great act in the super league of the wheels of death. After the number, Bubber explained why it's called the wheel of death. No reason to advertise the danger like that: we go to the circus to see artistry and not to be thrilling nervous on behalf of the artist. Bu the mind: fatal accidents on death wheels are – fortunately – a rarity.

Los Ortiz. Press photo from Circus Arena

First number after the interval was horses: 6 handsome white Arabians presented by Karsten Berdino. The entrée ended with five – or was it six? – ponies in the ring, something that always arouses cheers from the younger part of the audience. Julie sang during numbers: first Jesus and Josefine and during the pony train Kim Larsen's We are the ones the others can't play with. The last song in particular suited the act perfectly.

Karsten Berdino with horses. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

« We are the ones the others can't play with ». Photo: Ole Simonsen

Now Jimmy Folco came into the arena with 4 volunteer children from the audience. The 4 children had a great time. The same does not always apply to adults who are dragged into the ring! The entrée was the well-known chair game, where Jimmy chased the losers with a foam rubber club and, of course, ended up as a loser himself and being chased by the last boy.

Now it was time for old acquaintances: Vita and Leonardo Costache. We have previously seen them both with an aerial act and an act with a perch. This year they're showing an aerial act where Leo holds Vita with his teeth. The climax is when Leo carries Vita while she is sitting on a motorcycle! Spectacular! And impressive with such teeth strength. The act ends with a trick where it is Vita, who carries Leonardo by her teeth.

It takes strong teeth to carry your wife like this! Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Here it is Mrs. Vita who carries Leonardo. Both use mouth bites! Photo: Ole Simonsen

After a brief entrée with Jimmy Folco, who was too shy to say he was in love with Julie and was assisted by a singing Bubber (Julie sings better than Bubber!), it was time for a juggling act.

Circus owner Benny Berdino himself is a former juggler, and there have always been jugglers in his performances. This year Michael Ferrari. Where last year's top name Alan Sulc bounced the balls down into a podium, Michael threw them into the air and ended up with 10 balls in the air. Fantastic! And something that has got him entered in the Guinness Book of Records. First attempt with 10 balls failed. I'm pretty sure it does the same at every performance during the year. It is not uncommon for an artist to make a "fake" fail before a difficult trick. It gives extra applause when it succeeds. As something new and original, the balls fell as Michael had to use them from a box high under the circus dome. Good idea! Usually, it is an assistant who throws them to the juggler. Michael Ferreri was most recently with Arena in 2015. He is the older brother of the tight wire acrobat Steven Ferreri.

The world class juggler Michael Ferreri. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The last act in the performance was the 7-man high wire troupe Los Ortiz. Bubber said they got a silver clown at the circus festival in Monte Carlo. It is not quite correct, but two of the troupe members have received a silver clown as members of another high wire troupe. High wire acts are considered among the most dangerous circus acts. It was nice to see a huge inflatable rubber pad was placed in the ring under the wire. Actually, nobody fell to the pad, although a few members failed their jumps - they managed, as they are trained to do when failing, to grab hold of the wire with their hands. The final trick was the famous and dangerous 7-man pyramid, which we have never before seen in Denmark. Nice to see that the female artist at the top of the pyramid was wearing a lounge. But the passage across the line proceeded without incident.

The difficult and dangerous 7-man pyramid. Press photo from Circus Arena

Just like in 2022, the performance was accompanied by an extremely well-playing 6-piece orchestra from Poland.

Grand finale, where Benny Berdino as always on an opening night was in the ring. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

6 April 2023

Olympic Olympia premiere! Jörgen Börsch saw the premiere in the Swedish Circus Olympia on Saturday 1 April and writes (my translation):

In short: Natascha & Niklas Bengtson's 2023 Olympia performance is a top-class performance.

Season opening in Oskarström, Sweden, on Saturday 1 April took place in a sold-out tent of paying, local audience! A detailed revies will come later.

Because the hula hoop and roller-skating acts with Duo Drive are only included in the show up to Friday 14 April, they should be mentioned here. The acts are worth traveling for to see and enjoy:

Duo Drive comes from Ukraine and replaces for 2 weeks Michael Rener, who will do resp. Whip/Lasso and knife throwing acts. Duo Drive will continue to Korea. They present an original costumed and untraditional Hula Hoop act with truly surprising and amusing tricks.

Smartphone photos shot by Jörgen Börsch

The roller-skating act is, to be honest, more traditional (the smartphone camera didn’t work), but very fast, harmonious and effective.

Olympia's performance can certainly be seen 2 (or more) times. And you can see Duo Drive if you pay them a visit at the latest next Friday! Click here to see the tour schedule for April.

The Swedish circus friend Martin Lasson Berglund has also seen the performance and writes (my translation):

Circus Olympia 2023

Opening day was in Oskarström on April 1 and the tent was filled with an expectant audience! It was great to see such a large audience again this year on the premiere day!

This year there are two Swedes (apart from the Bengtsson family itself) in the ring. It is Frida Evelina Persson who performs aerial acrobatics in a ring and the clown Nalle. Both are new to Olympia's circus audience. It is noticeable that Frida Evelina Persson has experience and she does a very nice number. Nalle has several different entrées and he had the ability to get good contact with the children at the premiere performance. Nalle has previously i.e. had his own tour where he worked as a clown around Sweden.

The Lagroni family is back (2019 at Olympia) performing their hilarious stunt and well-executed footjugling number. New for this year is that son Nicolas performs juggling in an exemplary manner.

Henrika Bengtsson present her dogs in a new act with new music and new costumes, as has her son Niklas who present black and white horses in a new combined liberty act.

Soon there will also be an exciting number from one of Roncalli's productions and then Duo Drive will be replaced – they are now doing roller skating acrobatics.

Olympia is today one of the few circuses in Europe that has musicians, this year three, who together with pre-recorded music contribute to the atmosphere in the tent. New for this year is a lighting system that really makes a difference! With stronger show technology in the tent, it will be even better.

4 April 2023

Circus Arli in fine fettle. It was the 43rd time that the small circus had its national premiere at the lot next to the Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Fløng. And 40 years after Bettina Arli made her circus debut on this very lot. Not in the role of ringmistress, which she has been for the past many years, but standing in front of the shooting target in a knife-throwing act where Martin Arli placed the knives – fortunately without hitting her.

Circus Arli on the lot next to the Mill Hill in Fløng. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

This year's Arli performance is one of their very best. As always with elegant costumes and performed with a flow so that no one gets bored or leaves the tent before the performance is over. Something which sometimes happens in other circuses. Better that a show like Arli's lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes, than that it lasts well over two hours and families with children think "isn't it over soon".

All of this year's artists have previously been with Circus Arli. But this year in new costumes for both performers and props and with new entrées or entrées which had not been shown in recent years and have been updated. So, it certainly doesn't seem like a “recycled” show.

The performance starts with the well-known clap entrée in form of a competition between Alexander Arli and Francesco Fratellini. Good idea, and fortunately not as long-winded as you experience with other versions of this entrée.

Alexander and Francesco. Photo: Ole Simonsen

It turns into a glorious charivari with all the artist apart from Martin and Bettina Arli. We experienced i.e., formation juggling with large rings, tug-of-war and a skipping entrée.

Charivari. Photos: Ole Simonsen

Next, Martin Arli welcomes in a new and beautiful blue dress and introduces the show's ringmistress Bettina Arli, who is wearing an elegant and brand-new suit with sequins. As always, Bettina manages what is the task of a ringmaster: to present and support the artists. In some circuses you sometimes find that the ringmaster makes the most of introducing himself!

Bettina and Martin Arli. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

After a short gag where Martin places an apple under a hat and removes it without touching the hat, comes a magic act, performed by the dancing Jelena Vasiljeva. For many years, it was Martin who was responsible for Arli's magic entrées. But Jelena makes it very charming, even if several tricks are known from Martin's entrées, e.g., the trick with the inexhaustible water jar.

Magic Jelena. Photos Ole Simonsen and Jacob Boas Leitisstein

Now a large trunk comes on stage. It contains a rag doll, which Francesco tries to make perform with more or less success. A delightful comic stunt number. Unbelievable what he, at the end of the act assisted by Alexander, can get the doll to do. The doll eventually turns out to be live: Francesco's partner Sarah Floress.

The rag doll. Photo: Ole Simonsen

They are followed by Adrian and Jennifer Ramos in a beautiful number in aerial straps, where it is sometimes Jennifer who carries her husband. In most other strap duos, it is the man who is the supporting force.

Duo Ramos in aerial straps. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

This is followed by a short run-in with Francesco, who absolutely wants to play the radio – his version of the well-known you must not play here entrée.

Bettina, Francesco and his radio. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The last number before the interval is a number that has never been seen at Arli before: an impressive and spectacular laser show performed by Sergejs Populans. In Denmark this kind of act has only been presented at Benneweis in the Copenhagen Circus Building in 1990 and in Circus Arena in 2017.

Photos: Ole Simonsen

The first act after the interval is Skating Ramos (Adrian and Jennifer) with a roller-skating act which offers everything that a good skating number should have. And luckily without eventually dragging a spectator up to make him go crazy on a swing – something that sometimes ruins the flow of a performance.

Skating Ramos. Photo: Ole Simonsen

"Do you want to see clowns," asks Martin Arli. And of course, we want to see clowns! Francesco and Alexandro (alias Alexander) with an updated version of the boxing entrée they had great success with in 2020. A season which, due to the corona, was somewhat shortened and with a ceiling on the number of spectators.

Francesco with boxing ball. Photo: Ole Simonsen

The next act brings us back into the air: Sarah Florees shows her skills in what is technically called an aerial ring.

Queen of the Air Sarah Florees. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

After this comes a short magical entrée with Jelena Vasiljeva, where she magically enters and exits the "cage" of rings.

The last act in the show is the versatile Francesco, now on a unicycle. The number ends with his left foot hurling plates, cups and a teaspoon onto a flat hat he wears on his head. You fully understand why the clown and multi-acrobat Francesco got the Talent Award from the Danish Circus Award last year!

The super talent Francesco Fratellini. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

In the grand finale, all 9 performers came on stage and received a well-deserved standing ovation. Grandma and grandpa Bettina and Martin also had their grandchildren on stage: Jamie aged 1 and Noah aged 2. After the performance, the two children frolicked around the stage as if in a giant playpen together with, among others, Francesco and Sarah's daughter.

Grand Finale. Martin holds grandson Noah by the hand. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. Click here to see more of Jacob's photos.

3 generations: Bettina, Jamie, Martin, Noah and Alexander Arli. Photo: Ole Simonsen

3 April 2023

Obituary: Dario Campeotto. The Danish singer Dario Campeotto passed away on April 1, 2023 after a long illness. He was 84 years old. In addition to being a singer, he was known as an actor. Among other things, he had been Captain von Trapp in Sound of Music at the Amager Theater in Copenhagen and appeared in several revues and in several Danish films. Dario also had a season in the circus: in 2005 he was together with Søs Fenger ringmaster at Circus Arena when they celebrated their 50th anniversary. Many may still have the CD with songs and music from the performance. Dario had a close friendship with Benny Berdino, who also managed to visit him on one of his very last days and say goodbye to his good friend of many years.

Rud Kofoed took this nice photo of Dario Campeotto when he sang for Benny Berdino on his 70th birthday in 2016. Click here for video clip of the song

Dario with Benny Berdino, Kim Kenneth and Jessica Caveagna at Benny's 75th birthday 3 August 2021

3 April 2023

The Jasters family is well represented in this year's Danish and Swedish performances. At Arena in Denmark, you meet the knife-throwing couple The Jasters aka Giacomo Sterza and his wife Elena Busnelli. At Brazil Jack in Sweden, you meet the couple's two daughters: Susan Jaster in an aerial number and her little sister Jessyca Jaster as a foot juggler. An entrée she also showed at Brazil Jack in 2016, where her parents were also part of the performance. With her at Brazil Jack, Jessyca has her boyfriend, the Italian juggler Sonny Caveagna.

2 April 2023

Pippi at the Circus. Last summer, more than 55,000 people saw the new circus musical about Pippi Longstocking in the Circus Building at Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It was written by Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA in cooperation with Tilde Björfors from Circus Cikör. With such good ticket sales, it is obvious that the musical will be staged again this year, maybe with a few small adjustments. The premiere is on 29 June and the performance will run until 18 August.

Circus Cikör writes:

Djurgården has felt empty, right? This summer, Pippi finally returns to Cirkus, premiering on June 15. After playing for over 55,000 people last year, we're SO excited about Pippi 2.0. Two dates have been added to the premiere week, and it seems that many have

already finished planning their vacations - tickets are already selling at a blistering pace!

30 March 2023

Obituary: Björn Vinberg. The Swedish journalist and circus historian Björn Vinberg passed away on March 29. He was 90 years old. He was a co-founder of the Swedish Circus Academy and for many years associated with the Swedish tabloid Expressen, for a period as entertainment editor, including responsibility for reporting on e.g. circuses. He co-authored several books about circuses. He is survived by his sons Johan and Olle Vinberg.

Björn Vinberg

28 March 2023

Circus Arena in Turkey. The Danish Circus Arena has for some time been working on presenting performances in one of the seaside resorts on the Turkish Mediterranean coast. And now the plans are realised. Press officer Kristoffer Ditlevsen writes (my translation):

There is season opening in the seaside resort Side in Turkey on Saturday 1 April. The city is located between Alanya and Antalya. A large circus production with i.e. The Diorios motorbikes in The Globe of Death, a wheel of death, Alan Sulc, José Michel Clowns, a cannon king, aerial acts, handstand, etc.

Sara Maria Franch-Mærkedahl will be ringmistress.

The performances take place until September in our large tent at the lot in Side with room for 2,400 visitors.

Among the performers is the bouncing juggler Alan Sulc, who was the artist who in 2022 got the biggest applause in Circus Arena's Danish performance. Just 14 years old he got a bronze clown in Monte Carlo in 2004.

Today, Sara Maria Franch-Mærkedahl is best known as the host of Danish TV2’s weather forecast. But she has tried being ringmistress before: in Circus Arena's 2016 performance Crazy about Circus. There she had the task together with Patrick Berdino and James Sampson. All three had participated in the Danish version of the TV program Strictly Come Dancing which Sara Maria even won in 2014! Photo: Circus Arena / Christian Warrer

Side is a seaside resort on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, also known as the Turkish Riviera. It is roughly halfway between Alanya and Antalya, which is a well-known and loved charter holiday destination for sun-loving Scandinavians.

27 March 2023

Swedish Circus Brazil Jack continues to announce some the names of the performers in this year's performance, which as you can see offers a reunion with the versatile Wolf Brothers: The tall and muscular David and his somewhat smaller older brother Richard. They were also with Brazil Jack in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. The Danes met the two brothers in Circus Arli in 2011 and 2014. In 2013 they toured Sweden with the Circus Olympia. Season opening for Brazil Jack is on Good Friday 7 April in Malmö in the southern part of Sweden. There is a bridge and tunnel between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden.

23 March 2023

Norwegian Circus Arnardo on March 18 in Grimstad.

Always nice to see people queuing in front of a circus tent! All photos: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

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

Program

Opening with Are Arnardo and Victor Rossi. Are tells a little about Arnardo's history, reads from a book.

Duo Stellare with roller skate act

Kevin Probst with donkeys and a solo horse

Victor Rossi comic

Are and Paola with magic

Tünde Szabo with aerial straps

Luigi Folco Arnardo with diabolo

Victor Rossi comic

Shannon Folco Arnardo with flying carpets, foot juggler

Kevin Probst with playful dogs

Victor Rossi juggler

Duo Stellare with aerial straps

Finale with artists

The performance lasted approx. 75 minutes without a break

Circus owner Are Arnardo opens the performance with a short story about Circus Arnardo, Victor Rossi participates in a comical way.

Are Arnardo welcomes.

Duo Stellare with roller skates.

Duo Stellare

Fortunately, the animals are still with us and 8 donkeys are presented by Kevin Probst with expert performance in liberty dressage. Ends with a solo horse.

Kevin Probst and his donkeys and horse

Victor Rossi is back, (he was there briefly in the 2022 season) with new comic gags. He has a good grip on the audience and sells his acts masterfully.

Are and Paulina present magic as it is a tradition at Arnardo. The audience is constantly surprised.

Illusion acts are a firm tradition at Arnardo, whose founder Arne Arnardo was Norway's best-known magician.

Tünde Szabo presents an elegant act in aerial straps, strongly performed.

Tünde Szabo

Luigi Folco Arnardo performs fast-paced diabolo in rock music style. A hit with the young ladies.

Not least the young girls liked Luigi!

Victor Rossi with new comic entrées.

Shannon Folco Arnardo with flying carpets, new costume and direction combined with dance. Harlequin style.

Kevin Probst with fast paced and very good dog act.

Victor Rossi as a juggler, strong number.

Victor Rossi

Duo Stellare is the last act before the finale with aerial straps, powerful and elegant in tango style. Great costumes and perfect music.

Duo Stellare

Finale with artists dancing

From the final

I saw two almost sold-out performances, over 400 at both. According to Are Arnardo, they take in about 450 per performance. Continuing with the same concept they have done for the last two years. Stay longer time at each lot. A concept they have been successful with. This year they are mainly visiting cities that were not visited last year and are hoping for the same success this year as in 2022.

I can strongly recommend the performance!

22 March 2023

Swedish Cirkus Brazil Jack has released the name of one more of the artists you will meet in this year's performance: Italian Susan Jasters, whose act is presented as follows (my translation)

Back in 1957 Circus Brazil Jack presented water as a consistent artistic theme for that year's performance. To further explore this theme, in cooperation with Susan Jasters, over the winter we have created a unique act in air and water that combines her beauty, strength and acrobatic skills in what we think is the ultimate presentation. We are very proud of the end result and expect that the act will be a sensation during the summer's Swedish tour!

Susan Jasters is one half of the duo Skating Jasters, which the audience saw in

Circus Brazil Jack in 2022.

21 March 2023

A Circus Wedding – Jimmy Enoch and Melanie Kaselowsky. On March 20, Jimmy and Melanie were married in Oksenvad Church. They have been together for 20 years and have the children Emily, born 14/11 2013, and Jeremy, born 3/4 2015.

Jimmy Enoch is grandson of the late Haddy Enoch and grew up in the Enoch family’s Circus Dannebrog, which closed after season 2016. Today Jimmy run Enoch Show Production. Melanie is daughter of the animal trainer Bernhard Kaselowsky.

21 March 2023

Circus Rhodin 2023. The small Swedish Circus Rhodin has now published the names of the performers for the season, which starts on 1 April in Aakarp in the southern part of Sweden.

Circus director Diana Rhodin presents her dogs and ponies.

Diana Rhodin and her ponies

Her daughter Simona Rhodin has a new act with crossbow and also performs with hula hoop.

Simona Rhodin is daughter of Diana Rhodin and her partner

The young Danish artist Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen shows her skills in trapeze. She was also on tour with Cirkus Rhodin in 2022. She has previously performed in Danish Circus Trapez, where she had Isabella Enoch Sosman as teacher.

The young Danish trapeze talent Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen

Yayita Gasser from Switzerland performs in tissue and has furthermore an act with whips. Together with Declan, who is also from Switzerland, she presents a comic ballet entrée.

Benjamin Pfeiffer is juggler and presents his parrots. He was also part of Circus Rhodin’s 2022 performance.

Benjamin Pfeiffer and his parrots

The performance's clown is just as in 2022 Dimo. He comes from Bulgaria.

Dimo the clown

21 March 2023

50th anniversary with the Academy for the Preservation of Circus Arts in Sweden. On Saturday, March 18, the Swedish Circus Academy celebrated their 50th anniversary with an event in the Golden Hall at the Elite Hotel Marina Tower in Stockholm. The Academy's Schreibstallmeister Hans Lindgren writes (my translation):

The Circus Academy's award for Meritorious Contributions to the Circus Arts in Sweden was awarded to Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) and Tilde Björfors (Circus Cirkör) for their fantastic set of "Pippi at the Circus". Bicycle acrobat Barbro Nordström (Ola & Barbro) also received such an award for founding Ludvika Minicircus. Johanna Abrahamsson and Merja Henning (spokesperson) represented Bohuslän's Cirkussällskap Reino’s Friends, which was also awarded this award for the creation of the CirkusKvarnen in Grohed outside Uddevalla.

Award for Meritorious Contributions Within the Academy was awarded to Roy Himsel, now Honorary Director of the Circus Academy, and Linda Himsel, for many years editor of the Circus Academy's website.

The honorary award "Charlie of the Year 2023" could not be awarded because the recipient was prevented from attending.

Björn Ulvaeus, Tilde Björfors, Janne Näsström and Hans Lindgren. Photo Janeric Dahlin

Björn Ulvaeus and Hans Lindgren. Photo Janeric Dahlin

About the performing artists for the arrangement, Björn Seger writes (my translation):

50th anniversary had several performances. David Hammarberg with a chair building act, the same as he showed in Circus Olympia. Furthermore, an act with hula hoops that started in the dark. Three young people from the Circus Academy in Stockholm showed their skills. A female artist Johanna Gorzellik with handstand. Two guys David Martin and Florimond Dumas juggling. Once with juggling balls. Second time playing the guitar while juggling clubs.

20 March 2023

The story of Circus Merano. Knut Dahl founded the Norwegian Circus Merano in 1974, and it quickly became one of the Nordics' leading circuses with performances with international top artists. Knut Dahl chose to stop after the 2014 season. The old website for Circus Merano www.merano.no is now changed to an impressively beautiful page that tells the story of Circus Merano with lots of pictures, programs and videos from the performances. The page can be read in several different languages, including English.

Circus Merano was on tour for 40 seasons before it stopped after the 2014 season

In Denmark, Dawid Benneweis has changed the content of the old website www.benneweis.dk to give a short historical story of Circus Benneweis with a number of photos. However, the site is not as extensive as Merano's site. And just available in Danish.

19 March 2023

DYNAMO COMNTEMPORARAY CIRCUS FESTIVAL 14 -17 JUNE. Dynamo Workspace for circus and performing arts in Odense writes:

Dynamo Circus Festival returns the 14th-17th of June 2023! 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 vi explore circus.

WATCH PERFORMANCES BY:

Collectif Malunés (BE/FR)

Los Putos Makinas (ES/DE/UY/BR)

Kaaos Kaamos (SV, NCL, IL, DE, AR, BE)

Gustaf Rosell, Mikkel Hobitz & Sarah Lett (SE/DK/CA)

Dan Le Man (AU)

CirkusPerspektiv / Marie-Andrée Robitaille (SE/CA)

Karavan and LUR (SE/DK)

Luuk Brantjes (NE) 

Read more at https://dynamoworkspace.dk/festival/?lang=en

18 March 2023

Clown Mathieu. My English circus friend John Cooper writes: With regard to the French clown Mathieu, who is in Norway with Agora this year: Mathieu Dallant is better established than you seem to realise, although maybe not in Scandinavia. He trained at the Annie Fratellini School in Paris. The first time I saw him was with Cirque Arlette Gruss way back in 1992, since when he's done many tours with Arlette Gruss. Two years with Circus Zippo in Britain. Several years for Gerry Cottle over here, as well as one season at Blackpool Tower Circus. He's done one season with Knie, although not as a principal clown. And certainly one year with Louis Knie Jr in Austria. - Mathieu Dallant is 51 years old and this is not his first season in Norway: he was on tour with Circus Arnardo in 2011.

The French clown Mathieu is the playful artist of the smile, Circus Arnardo wrote in 2011, where Mathieu was among the performers.

17 March 2023

Easter circus in Blokhus 1 to 3 April. Circus Trapez visits the Jutland seaside resort Blokhus three days with mini performances. Not in their own tent, but in the city's tent. The performers in the Easter performances are

Duo Gancho, knockabout table act, German Wheel and comedy.

Stine-Marie Greisen with goats and quick change, which she makes together with Patrik from Duo Gancho.

Katja Enoch has short entrée with balloon animals, and her son Joseph Enoch performs with diabolo.

Nikolaj, Stine-Marie's son, present the little pony Bonito.

Stine Marie Greisen's son Nikolaj with the pony Bonito

And yes: even though it is called Easter performances, they are actually shown the week before Easter!

16 March 2023

Circus Trapeze summer tour. There is season opening in Kolding on Easter Saturday, April 8. This year they use both the old tent formerly owned by Circus Baldoni and in smaller towns the smaller tent they used last year in Madsbyparken in Fredericia. In some cities they perform in sport centres etc., meaning that they only have to put up a tent once a week.

The small tent in Madsbyparken. Photo from 2022

In this year's performance, which is the same in sport centres and tents, you will meet:

Duo Gancho. Knockabout table act, formation juggling and comedy.

Duo Gancho was also part of some of Circus Trapez's performances in 2022 - here is a photo of their table act and their juggling entrée. Photo: Per Krogh Petersen

Stine-Marie Greisen with goats and in aerial ring together with Rasmine Tomasevic

Rasmine Tomasevic, trapeze

Rasmine Tomasevic-Olsen is 14 years old. In connection with the distribution of circus awards in 2022, she was the first artist ever to receive a grant from the Nelly Jane Benneweis Foundation

Nikolaj, Stine-Marie's son, present the pony Bonito.

Katja Tomasevic, Rasmine's mother, comedy i.e., with Washington trapeze and singing.

Bernhard Kaselowsky with Mini and Maxi

Gabor, but only until mid-August, with comedy and rola-bola

Said Amazigh Troupe with skipping, handstand and human pyramid building.

The performances are presented by Isabella Enoch.

When the small tent is put up in Madsbyparken in July with a 45-minute performance, Circus Trapez splits the group of performers in two, so that one half takes part in open air performances at campsites and the other half performs in the park.

During the spring, Circus Trapez also shows some nursing home performances with some of the artists who are performing in the regular show. Later, the idea is that the nursing home performances will be a separate small group with Agnete Louise Enoch as ringmistress and, among others, Bine Schönemann with Circus Trapez's big goats.

14 March 2023

Norwegian circuses 2023. Norway has two touring circuses: the large Circus Arnardo, which today is run by the 3rd generation Are Arnardo, and the medium-sized Circus Agora, which is run by the slack wire artist Jan Ketil Smørdal. In addition, in Kristiansand Zoo there is a stationary circus, Cirkus Jesper, which during the summer period shows a theme show built over the character gallery from When robbers came to Cardamom Town.

Círcus Arnardo premieres in Grimstad on March 17. In this year's performance you will meet

The comedian and clown Victor Rossi. He is the 8th generation of a French-Italian family of circus performers with roots dating back to 1732, when his ancestor Diego Rossi was employed as a court jester by the French King Louis XV. He is the son of Hector Rossi of the clown duo Les Rossyan. Victor Rossi was also with Arnardo in 2021.

The foot juggler Shannon Folco Arnardo, who is 20 years old and 4th generation Arnardo. She made her debut with Arnardo in 2021.

Shannon Folco Arnardo. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

Diabolo juggler Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo, who is 23 years old and named after his great-grandfather, the Norwegian circus king Arne Arnardo.

The director couple Are & Paola with magical surprises. Are's grandfather, the circus king Arne Arnardo, is Norway's most famous magician of all time.

Tünde Szabó with elegant aerial acrobatics. She is educated at the Circus School in Budapest. In 2021 and 2022, she presented an act in aerial straps at Arnardo.

Roller skating artists Duo Stellare. The couple also appears in aerial straps. It is their first season in Norway. Duo Stellare consists of Sarah Jane Macaggi and Mattia Sartori.

Sarah Jane Macaggi is a 5th generation circus performer. Her family founded Circo Wonderland in Spain. Mattia Sartori has a background as a professional dancer. Now they have united their art with love, and are very successful as Duo Stellare with speed, excitement and elegance.

Kevin Probst with dogs, horses and donkeys. Kevin Probst was also with Arnardo in 2021 and 2022.

Kevin Probst with respectively 8 donkeys and dogs. Photos: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo

The performance lasts approx. 75 minutes without intermission. Just as in 2021 and 2022, Circus Arnardo uses a tent that belongs to Kevin Probst.

Cirkus Agora premieres on 17 March in Bergen. In this year's performance you will meet

Duo Glavatskiy from Ukraine with quick change.

The young Norwegian aerial acrobat Helene, who is educated at the Circus Balance circus school in Bergen. which was started by Jan Ketil Smørdal's daughters.

Peter Taylor and his dogs. The Danes have seen him several times in Benny Schumann's mini circus. He has also previously been with Agora.

The strong man Denis Ilchenko from Ukraine. The Danes experienced him in 2020 in Circus Baldoni. In 2017 he toured with the Swedish Circus Brazil Jack and in 2019 with the Norwegian Circus Arnardo.

The Ukrainian muscle bundle Denis Ilchenko at Cirkus Baldoni, where you could see him juggling car tires, pulling a car with a bite of his mouth and carrying 4 people on a beam laid over his back, etc.

Ernita Ronzalli present hula hoop.

Axel Gottani comes from Italy. He performs with ladder balance.

Agora's ponies come from the Swedish Circus Olympia and are presented by director Jan Ketil Smørdal.

This year's clown is called Mathieu and comes from France.

While the Danish circus has many one-day cities, both Circus Arnardo and Circus Agora, just like in 2022, have chosen, at least in the first months of the season, to be several days in each city and to have one or more performance-free days between the cities.

Cirkus Jesper premieres on 17 June and plays until 13 August. Among the cast are the Danish clown Bonbon (Lasse Nørager) and his family as well as Captain Frodo.

12 March 2023

Flying Brazil Jack. This year, the Swedish Cirkus Brazil Jack offers a flying trapeze performed by a newly assembled troupe, Flying Brazil Jack. Director Trolle Rhodin III writes on Facebook (my translation):

"We have long had a dream of creating our own acts of such beauty and magnitude that they can represent our name to an international circus audience in winter season. This year we have the pleasure of introducing several such acts. From Brazil and Italy, we have hand-picked the most outstanding aerial acrobats from the ancient circus families who for generations have produced the kings and queens of the air in the flying trapeze, the noblest of all circus disciplines. After a long winter's creative process focusing on choreography, costuming and training, it is with great pleasure that we can finally present our very own, spectacular aerial extravaganza "Flying Brazil Jack".

In addition to flying trapeze, this year's show offers, among other things, the globe of death. Here the audience meets the young artists from Diorio's troupe. The troupe has several units. The Swedes have previously met them in the now closed Circus Maximum. In Denmark, they have been several times in Circus Arena. It is not stated how many riders they will be in the globe at Brazil Jack. At Arena, they have been up to 7 riders in the globe at the same time.

10 March 2023

Zirkus Nemo 2023. Zirkus Nemo writes (my translation):

Zirkus Nemo Classic 2023 – a cornucopia of fun and madness

Now it won't be long before Zirkus Nemo, according to tradition, hits the stakes in the ground and premieres the wildest entertainment explosion of a show.

When Circus director Søren Østergaard sets out with the big Zirkus Nemo Classic show, there will be more of the well-known and beloved characters on the program than ever before.

For the audience, this will mean that every night will feel like a record attempt in laughter convulsions, shuddering and costume changes, and the director is considering installing a revolving door in his wardrobe.

There will, among other things, will have the opportunity to make acquaintances with old acquaintances such as Målermanden, Marianne, Baglænsmanden, Baker Jørgen, The Man who can't whistle, Kim Tim, the Smash Man and many more.

“Every year I have to make a decision about which of the characters will be part of the show, and every year there is someone I unfortunately have to choose from. This year I have taken the consequence so that virtually everyone, with a few exceptions, is involved," says Circus Director Søren Østergaard.

In addition, of course, the director has again this year hired some of the world's most talented artists, including break-neck acrobatics from Duo Stauberti, tempo juggler Claudius Specht and acrobats Duo Flash. Zoré España is ready to enchant the audience in her wheel, and last but certainly not least, the acrobat Hector, known to inveterate Nemo fans as the strong man from Duo Solys, will appear.

An evening in really good company in Denmark's only Zirkus for adults is in the works, and we look more than evet forward to seeing you.

Baker Jørgen, The Balloon Man, the Planet Man and the Smash Man. The latter together with Søren Østergaard's PA Laura Kvist Poulsen, who obviously also has the task as PA for the Smash Man ...

Duo Stauberti (Ditmar Stauberti and his niece Nancy) presents an impressive perch act where Ditmar ends up carrying the perch while riding a mono-bike. The Swedes saw them in Circus Olympia in 2018. They got a silver clown in Monte Carlo in January 2018. Photo from Circus Krone 2019.

The juggler Claudius Specht was last time with Nemo in 2014.

The comic acrobats Duo Flash come from Ukraine and have performed, among other things, in the large German Circus Krone.

Zoré España performs in what in circus language is called the Cyr Wheel.

10 March 2023

Circus Arli 2023. This year's show is called Hopla-Mortale. There is season opening at the Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Floeng on 2 April with a dress rehearsal the day before.

In this year's performance you will, as always, meet Martin, Bettina and Alexander Arli. Bettina can this year celebrate her 40th anniversary as a circus artist 😊

In 1983 Bettina Arli had her circus debut as a "target" in a knife-throwing act, where it was Martin who successfully placed the knives around the lady of his heart. For the past several seasons, she has been Circus Arli's elegant ringmistress

The performance also offers a dear reunion with the clown and multi-artist Francesco Fratellini, who last year very well deserved got the talent prize from the Danish Circus Award. This year, Francesco is doing his juggling act on a unicycle as well as various entrées and the main clown entrée together with Alexander Arli. His spouse Sarah Floores present acrobatics in the aerial ring and, together with Francesco, the entrée with the doll in the suitcase.

In addition to the aforementioned, The Skating Ramos performs with roller skates and under the name Jennifer & Adrian in aerial straps. They were most recently with Arli in the 2021 season.

Skating Ramos 

Jelena Vasiljeva does solo magic and a new illusion act. Her husband Sergejs Polupans is doing laser manipulation this year, something that has never before been seen at Arli. Jelena and Sergejs have also toured with Arli in the past, but with other entrées than the ones they present this year.

10 March 2023

Circus Trapez 2023. Circus Trapez has its season opening in Kolding on 8 April. Before then, they present the Easter Circus at Blokhus from 1 - 3 April.

They call this year's performance The Sound of Circus 2023 and write (my translation):

Look forward to this year's Circus adventure when Circus Trapez tour with The Sound of Circus 2023. This year's show focuses on the fun, the impressive and the magical and unique moments that enchant the whole family.

The performance offers, among other things, fantastic neck-breaking acrobatics and impressive tricks from Hungary and Spain, respectively.

An amazing troupe comes all the way from Morocco, cool aerial artists, lovely animals and much more.

Look forward to 2 hours of live entertainment with The Sound of Circus 2023. We look forward to welcoming you.

In the month of April, some performances are given in tent and others in sports centres etc.

9 March 2023

GOING NOWHERE is presented as a new experimental and comic contemporary circus performance about the age of acceleration and the collapse of attention. In GOING NOWHERE body percussion, object manipulation and acrobatic dance meet the absurd, the funny and the grotesque through an individual's struggle to regain calm, focus and depth in his life. A physical comedy about the age of acceleration and the collapse of attention. The performance focus on our ever-increasing screen consumption, where the phone never leaves the thumb.

There is just one performer: Villads Bugge Bang, who among other things is educated at the now closed AMoC (Academy for Modern Circus) in Copenhagen.

In the performance you experience, among other things, his skills as an artist and mimer. First, he eats an apple and then is disturbed by a mobile phone. As for so many people today, the mobile phone will take up a lot of his life - not as a telephone, but as a handheld computer. He dances to its music and then it runs out of power. He hunts for a plug for charging, and later tries to put the mobile away in both a waste bin and a cupboard. But without luck. He tries to eat it, but after a visit to the toilet it comes out again, and in a comical scene you see how difficult it is to wipe yourself behind with a mobile in hand. He tries to put the mobile in the cupboard again, but it falls out of the cupboard together with many other mobiles. The 1-hour long performance ends with him dropping on the floor, overcome by the mobile.

The thought-provoking performance is produced by the performing arts ensemble Out of Balanz and has received generous support from The Danish Arts Foundation and Odense Municipality and is being developed and produced in collaboration with DYNAMO Workspace for Circus and Performing Arts in Odense and AFUKScene in Copenhagen. 

The audience for performances like this is hardly large enough for them to be presented without public subsidies.

The performance is directed by Troels Hagen Findsen with Katrina Bugaj as dramaturg. Mika Forsling and Kenneth Danielsen are responsible for an elegant sound and lighting design.

8 March 2023

Swedish circuses in 2023. There are 3 circuses in Sweden: The large Circus Brazil Jack, the medium-sized Circus Olympia and the small circus Rhodin. Circus Brazil Jack is run by Trolle Rhodin III with the assistance of his mother Carmen Lupascu Rhodin. Circus Olympia is run by Niklas Bengtson with the assistance of his mother Henrika Bengtson. Circus Rhodin is run by Diana Rhodin, who is the aunt of Trolle Rhodin III.

Circus Brazil Jack premieres at The Mill Square in Malmö on April 7. Here is what they write about this year's performance (my translation):

Brazil Jack presents its new animal-free program in 2023 with an extraordinary show. Forget everything you've seen before at the circus, because now we're taking the show to a new level! Outstanding circus artists from all over the world tackle the four elements: fire, water, air and earth in a show bursting with action, humour, beauty and festivity. The winged kings and queens of the circus sphere in the flying trapeze compete in bravery with the acrobats on their motorcycles in the globe of death defying the gravity of the earth itself. Tropical downpours overshadow an outstandingly spectacular program. Only in Brazil Jack's ring. Where else?

The show run for about 1 hour and 45 minutes long, including a 20-minute break.

Brazil Jack's tent has a diameter of 36 meters and has ringside chairs and plastic bucket seats at the grandstand.

Cirkus Olympia premieres in Oskarström on April 1. This year's program looks like this:

Overture - Circus Olympia's orchestra under the direction of Valentin Smirnov

Abyssinia Troupe – Risley act

Nalle Clown – Circus Olympia's funny clown

Frida Evelina Persson - aerial acrobatics in a ring

Henrika Bengtsson - Circus Olympia's charming dogs

Nicolas Lagroni - bouncing ball juggling

Nalle Clown – Circus Olympia's funny clown

Irena Lagroni – foot juggler

INTERVAL

Daniel & Nahom - hand-to-hand acrobatics

Nalle Clown - Circus Olympia's funny clown is back

Duo Lagroni - comic knock-about table act

Niklas Bengtsson – liberty horses

Nalle Clown – Circus Olympia's funny clown

Abyssinia Troupe – acrobatics on a Russian pole

All performers in a colourful Grand Finale

Nalle Clown (Nalle Laanela) is the founder of Clowns without Borders and has 30 years of experience in spreading joy to children and their families all over the world. It is his first tour with a tented circus. When Nalle is not on tour, he works internationally as a stage manager and teaches other clowns. He has written the book "The Clownmanifesto". Press photo from Circus Olympia

Henrika Bengtsson and her dogs are an indispensable part of Olympia's performance. Press photo from Circus Olympia. Photographer Linda Himsel

The comic stuntmen Duo Lagroni was also at Olympia in 2019. Press photo from Cirkus Olympia. Photographer Linda Himsel

Cirkus Rhodin premieres in Aakarp on 1 April. From 7 to 16 April, they will be on a lot at Per Albin Hanssonsväg in Malmö. The names of the performing artist is not yet disclosed.

Circus Rhodin at the lot at Per Albin Hanssonsväg i Malmø. Photo from 2022

5 March 2023

David Sosman visited the circus building of the youth circus Flik-Flak in Odense on 5 March. Here he presented a one-hour ONE MAN SHOW professionally, presentably and with great charm. Showed his skill in juggling balls, bottles and dangerous kitchen utensils.

The eldest ‘Dannebrog’ Solveig Enoch was in the audience and proudly applauded her grandson David. Artists Helle Abildgaard and Solveig had a chat about the old days, when Circus Dannebrog toured all over Denmark. Circus Dannebrog has not been on tour since 2016. Text and photos: Viggo Salting

2 March 2023

Danish Circus Mascot will open the season on 1 April. They call this year's performance "GLAD I LÅGET". (“Happy Face”). They write (my translation):

Get a "HAPPY FACE" in Circus Mascot 2023 - Indoor tour in sports centres 1 April - 22 October.

We still believe in the value of getting together around experiences that are happening in the moment. We believe it is essential to give children the opportunity to enjoy themselves - and we know that something very special happens between people when they take their seat around the circus ring.

This year's show is just as daring as always - silly poodles and dog tricks. Experience balancing act, clowning, two pigs, a pony and a goose, and a circus director with (lime) lights in his eyes - finally, it's time for the circus.

As usual, the performance lasts 90 minutes plus an intermission. The sound and light contribute to the circus magic, the popcorn tastes as it should, the candyfloss melts in your mouth, and you will be surprised when you hear that the show's oldest artist is 72. He has got a bright idea and is balancing on the edge of the possible.

It's cosy, really fun and present entertainment at children's level. It's a circus for everyone - and an experience you take home with you. Mascot 2023 will give you a "HAPPY FACE" – come and see it for yourself!

The 72-year-old artist is Lui Nereusz, who is both the Man in the Lamp Post and performs with handstand. He caused great excitement when he was part of Circus Mascot's autumn performance in 2021. You will also meet his young partner Eva Vitzo with glass balance. Eva and Lui were also with Mascot in 2016.

The Man in the Lamp Post aka 72-year-old Lui Nereusz

Eva Vitzo. Photos by courtesy of Circus Mascot.

Among the other performers are Circus Mascot's house clown Gulio and his family: Mrs. Tatiana and their son Husik. The show's animal acts are presented by Marianne Deleuran, and her son and co-director Daniel is ringmaster.

1 march 2023

Circus Arena 2023 - new artists in Circus According to Bubber and Julie 3. Circus Arena writes (my translation):

On March 31, Cirkus Arena begins this year's season with the show Circus according to Bubber and Julie 3. Julie Berthelsen and Bubber are back as this year's ringmaster and ringmistress and bring with them beautiful horses, the smell of sawdust and new phenomenal world class artists - this is real circus!

Ortiz with the balance on top. High up under the dome of the circus tent, you will be able to experience the high wire acrobats Ortiz, who both rides a bike, jumps and walks the 7-person pyramid - on the high wire of course. The 7-person pyramid has never before been seen in a circus in Denmark.

Duo Costache. You may have experienced the booming couple before in Circus Arena - but never before in this way. Duo Costache once again raises the level of what is possible in the arena, when Leonardo, among other things, carries Vita and a motorbike - with his teeth!

Michael Ferreri. See world-famous juggler Michael Ferreri, who has set several Guinness World Records for his ability to keep many balls in the air at an impressive pace - even when the lights go out.

Duo Jasters. Duo Jasters throws knives and shoot bows and arrows with such incredible precision that you won't believe your eyes. Directly from the talent program Italy's Got Talent and the biggest circuses in the world.

Circus Arena's house clown Jimmy Folco guarantees fun for young and old. Looking the audience in the eye and seeing them laugh is what Jimmy loves. Look forward to experiencing him with funny new inventions in the ring. - This photo and the above photos are all press photos from Circus Arena.

The high wire troupe Los Ortiz also performs in double wheel of death. In addition, the show features the tight wire dancer Steven Ferreri, Karsten Berdino with Arena's horses, the illusionist Jimmy Saylon and the aerialist David Hammarberg.

The 7-person pyramid, where the performers slowly walk over the wire in 3 levels was first time presented by a troupe led by German-born Karl Wallenda, who for many years performed in American circuses. But the 7-man pyramid is one of the most dangerous circus acts. On January 30, 1962, while performing at the Shrine Circus at Detroit's State Fair Coliseum, the front man on the wire, Dieter Schepp, faltered, and the pyramid collapsed. Three men fell to the ground, killing Richard Faughnan, Wallenda's son-in-law; and nephew Dieter Schepp. Karl injured his pelvis, and his adopted son, Mario, was paralyzed from the waist down. Dieter’s sister, Jana Schepp, let go of the wire to fall into the quickly-raised safety net, but bounced off and suffered a head injury.

High wire acts are almost always performed without a safety net. In recent years, however, it has become common for safety reasons to place an inflated airbag under the wire. As Circus Arena writes, it will be the first time in Denmark that we can see the 7-person pyramid.

The Danes saw The Jasters in Circus Benneweis in 2011. The following year they were with Circus Arnardo in Norway and in 2016 with Cicus Brazil Jack in Sweden.

David Hammarberg has toured with the Swedish Circus Olympia for several seasons. In the 2016/17 season, he was in part of Wallmans’ dinner show in the Copenhagen Circus Building. The photo is from 2019, when he toured with Norwegian Circus Arnardo. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.

Michael Ferreri was also with Circus Arena in 2015. The following year, his younger brother Steven was first with Norwegian Circus Arnardo and then with Danish Cirkus Trapez. Top: Michael Ferreri in Circus Arena 2015. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press. Bottom: Steven Ferreri in Circus Arnardo in 2016.

Cirkus Arena has its national premiere at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on 3 April with dress rehearsals from 31 March. The season ends on August 5 in Slagelse. The tour brings them to Funen, Jutland and Zealand and the islands. For the first time in many years, they are not visiting Bornholm.

1 March 2023

In connection with the review on February 21 of Circus Trapez's winter performance, I used a slightly blurry smartphone photo of Chantal Lutzny in her sledge-shaped trapeze. Finn Stendevad has now sent me the above somewhat better photo.

28 February 2023

Circus Baldoni in Ishøj Bycenter 2023. Jacob Boas Leitisstein has sent me the photos below and writes (my translation)

True to tradition, Circus Baldoni presented a number of performances during the winter holidays in the shopping mall Ishøj City Centre. A performance that gathered many of the centre's customers around the ring. The performance was presented by circus director René Baldoni and Leonardo the Lion (a ventriloquist’s doll). In addition, the audience could meet a number of familiar faces from Baldoni's previous performances.

After a break of 4.5 years, the clown Danilo (Daniel Dimitrijevic) was back. From 2008 to 2018, Danilo was a regular part of Cirkus Baldoni. It was a happy reunion to see the clown with the red-checked clothes again. Danilo had a few of his well-known entrées with him in Ishøj. First, a version of "don't play here", where Danilo got to play trombone, triangle and smartphone, before René got to throw it all in the bin.

Later in the performance, Danilo invited a fine lady (Camilla Frimann) to a restaurant. A restaurant visit that developed into a fast-paced entrée where there were sprayed with water, pasta was juggled with and custard pie was thrown.

The artist couple Katrina Markevich and Anton Tarbeev were also present in Baldoni's winter performance. First Katrina with her beautiful foot juggling act, where she juggled carpets, tables and giant umbrellas.

In addition, Katrina and Anton presented their diablo act. An act where diablos are hurtling through the air and where Anton ends up grabbing diablos by the head while riding a tall unicycle.

Last. but not least, the audience could see the show's strongman: Michal Mudrak. Michal presented his great handstand act with power and strength.

The performance ended with Baldoni's farewell song sung by René Baldoni and the clown Danilo.

26 February 2023

Halloween Circus. In October this year, Circus Arena will, just like in 2022, present Halloween Circus in cooperation with the rapper Clemens. There will be 11 performances at Bellahoj in Copenhagen from 13 - 22 October 2023, i.e., a slightly shorter period and slightly fewer performances than in 2023, when there were 18 performances and they continued until 31 October.

They write (my translation):

HALLOWEEN CIRKUS once again leads families with children safely through the spookiest holiday of the year.

In what is already is tending to become an autumn tradition, circus performers gather together, with singers, actors, influencers and dancers in a huge total show.

Are you into musical ear hangers, dangerous circus tricks, fire cannons and sleazy acting? Or if you just want to see if this year will be even more raucous than the debut in '22, now is the time to get tickets to the big event of the autumn holidays, HALLOWEEN CIRKUS with this year's disturbing tale:

DRACULA GOES WEST

Bram Stoker's well-known character, Dracula, has become too big for his anaemic hometown, which just can't accommodate his grandiose format. He wants to go to London and hang out with real world vampires.

But when he realizes that the finer company is a blood orange juice-drinking, closed circle that ridicules his medieval vampire habits, he declares war. In a humorous revue, Dracula's hot-blooded temperament meets the icy and calculating western vampire union.

Dracula must gather all his most dangerous (circus) warriors out of the ground to go to the big battle on the battlefield, where it must be decided once and for all who is the world's greatest vampire (with inferiority)!

24 February 2023

Just as Circus Mascot in Herning, Jimmy Enoch in Odense and Benny Schumann in the West Zealand Centre in Slagelse, Circus Baldoni has attracted a lot of spectators to their winter performances in Ishøj City Centre. There is no doubt that these kinds of performances attract lots of customers to the shopping centres. Click here to see Jacob Boas Leitisstein’s photos from Baldoni’s winter performance.

23 February 2023

David Sosman's one-man juggling show. Danes have just been able to see David Sosman in Circus of Torrent’s' performances in Vejle and Aalborg.

On March 5 at 2 p.m. you can see him in a more traditional performance: his one-man juggling show. It takes place at Circus Flik-Flak premises in Odense. They write (my translation):

David Sosman comes from an old circus family. As the son of Isabella Enoch from Circus Dannebrog and the famous French clown, Eddy Sosman, David has literally grown up with circus blood in his veins. He has studied two years in Italy at an international high school, while also attending the highly recognized circus school, Accademia d'Arte Circense, to be trained as a juggler.

Since then, David has appeared all around the world with his juggling act and won countless circus awards. Including the first prize at Festival International du Cirque du Loir-ET-Cher in France, the Bronze Award at the Nanchang Circus Festival in China and Cirque d'Hiver honour prize at the circus festival in Budapest. In 2016, David was invited to the Vatican for a special performance for the Pope.

In 2021, the Danes saw him as ringmaster and juggler in Isabella Enoch's Circus Trapez. For the time being, he is one of the performers in Mystike le Grand Cirque in Spain. In the summer of 2022, he worked at Roncalli's Apollo Variety in Düsseldorf. David is also involved in Dark Thrills Entertainment, which, among other things, produces the horror show Circus of Torment, where he also performs with his juggling act. David's one-man show is filled with humour, balance art and of course a lot of impressive juggling.

David Sosman

21 February 2023

Circus Trapez winter holiday performance 2023. Finn Stendevad-Nielsen writes (my translation):

On 17.02.23 we saw Circus Trapez winter circus in Blue Water Dokken, Esbjerg.

To put it bluntly and immediately: It was ladies' night. Three women dominated the program with many and good acts.

The first woman was Isabella Enoch, who revealed herself as an excellent ringmaster. Excellent vocal presentation, good control of every detail. Clear and good pronunciation. As she could “sell” the show, yes, all the acts. And the microphone setup was perfect.

The other two women were Sandra and Chantal. Just before the performance, one of them did a little pre-act with a charming tiny dog. It gathered interest in the good performance which was to come.

The performance opened with a Charivari, where the entire staff entered with Mardi Gras barrels and walked around the ring, singing the Mardi Gras song, after which Isabella welcomed.

Charivari with Mardi Gras barrels. Facebook photo from Circus Trapez

Of course, some artist was the same as we saw in the Christmas performance in Egtved in December, but all acts were polished up and transformed compared to then.

The first act was Sabrina in a trapeze shaped like a sugar walking stick. Fresh twist with new content. After this Juan presented his diabolo act. As in all the acts in the show, they were of the perfect length. Therefore, it was the right pace and the best coherence in the performance.

After this, Chantal worked in a trapeze, consisting of a toboggan, where she did many good tricks.

Chantal Lutzny with her toboggan. Smartphone photo, taken by Finn Stendevad's wife. The lighting conditions made photography difficult.

The clown Franz was also a regular from the Christmas performance in December, but even he had both new entrées and tightened existing entrées up. His first entrée in the performance was with a huge photo apparatus where he "took" photos of people and showed these photos. It caused a lot of fun.

Now came the dog number act with a couple of big dogs who did their thing really well in a charming way. After this, Franz came in as a totally unsuccessful magician. The children had a great time.

He was replaced by Chantal's hula hoop act. It was also tightened up and had just the right length and just the right pace. One of the good hule hoop entrées.

Now Isabella invited four burly men to come in and sit on four stools, lie one on top of the other, and then the chairs were removed one by one. The act is known as the 4 stools gag. Also a regular from the Christmas show, but very funny.

The well-known act with the 4 stools. Photo from the Christmas performance, provided by Circus Trapez

After this, there was a 20-minute break before the performance resumed.

The second part started with Bernhard's goat act which was greatly expanded compared to the Christmas performance. There were, among other things, a goat balancing on a thin beam, as well as several different jumps.

Now an excellent tempo juggler entered. Nice tempo and great difficulty throughout his number. Correct length.

The juggler Joel Lutzny

After him came Franz, the run-in clown, as a juggler with giant beach balls. Skilled and with good pace.

After this Chantal came with several African costumes and danced, drummed etc. The number ended with her fine contortion act.

After this, Franz brought another repetition from the Christmas show, the elephant Bimbo, the inflatable elephant with a human inside. Funny way to get around the elephant ban.

The show's clown Franz Sulc with the elephant Bimbo. Photo: Per Krogh Petersen

He was followed by a terrific wild west act with lassos, whips, knife throwing etc. Everyone was there and dressed up, including Bernhard and Isabella. There was pace and joy about it.

The Lutzny family with their cowboy show. Press photos from Circus Trapez

The whole performance ended with a presentation of all the performers after which they, as always, stood at the entrance and said goodbye to us. All in all, a fine performance lasting two times 45 minutes with a 20-minute break in between.

20 February 2022

Enoch's Circus Show. Jørgen Lorenzen saw the performance in the Rosengaard shopping centre in Odense on 16 February and writes (my translation):

You have seen several of the acts before, you thought. But that was not true. For two reasons: it is with the circus as with a piece of classical music. It bears or requires repetition. And the second reason: the circus performers know how to vary the act so that it is different - and feels new.

The performance began when Alexander Arli conducted the audience in the audience cheering competition. He was in a completely new costume – no longer a young boy, but a grown-up man.

Jimmy Enoch and Alexander Arli

First artist act was Duo Drive. A classic roller-skating act - fast-paced, but not rushed. Next came Jimmy Enoch and Alexander. They conjured up bottles and commented with jokes.

Valentino with shirt frill and top hat had 6 different breeds of dogs in a classic and relaxed dog act. Like the roller-skating act: fast-paced but not rushed. And the kids love it. They have a dog at home - or know someone who does.

5 of Mr. Valentino’s dogs. Smartphone photo, shot by Jørgen Lorenzen

Jimmy and Alexander now wanted to present the audience for the world’s best marksman. And then balloons were popped, accompanied by cheerful comments. And the kids had fun!

Josefine Kaselowsky has a very nice number in tissue. In a beautiful white costume, she performed the act with a high degree of difficulty. She rotated down the rope, did pirouettes and did splits. Aesthetic, difficult, executed with certainty and excess.

Josefine Kaselowsky. Foto smartphone photo shot by Jørgen Lorenzen and photo from Rosengaard Shopping Centre’s Facebook page.

And finally, Eddy Carello entered the ring with his juggler and drum act. Different than seen before, although the substance is the same. And it must be difficult to juggle three different objects that do not have the same weight. But he can! And it always causes cheers when he sends a ping pong ball from his mouth to the drum - and it flies back into his mouth, almost like a movie, it's played backwards.

40 minutes of great circus entertainment. Professional, versatile with both thrills and laughs and room for wonder and amazement. The way a circus should be. And crowded around the ring and on the large, built-up grandstand.

From the grand finale. Smartphone photo shot by Jørgen Lorenzen

20 February 2023

Fatime and Mr Jumping. Many Danes and Swedes remember the domestic cats of Fatima and the comedy trampoline act of her husband Mr Jumping from Danish Circus Baldoni and Swedish Circus Olympia. This season both of them are with Jozsef Richter's Hungarian National Circus.

Fatime Horwart and one of her cats. The Danes most recently saw the act in Enoch's Circus Show in February 2020. In her younger days, Fatime, together with her spouse Peytchev Plamen Metodiev (Mr. Jumping), did a nice act that combined hula hoops with acrobatics. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

17 February 2023

Circus Mascot has drawn a large audience to their winter holiday performance in the shopping mall HerningCentret. Thanks to Daniel Deleuran for the photos below.

17 February 2023

Benny Schumann at the West Zealand Center in Slagelse. Danish Circus Friends president Kim Thanning Olsen has sent me the photos below from Benny Schumann's performance. Just as Mascot has done in Herning, Benny has drawn thousands of spectators to the centre. Click here to see a short video clip that Benny has posted on Facebook, with the Swedish bicycle balancer Erik Ivarsson, who is part of Benny Schumann's performance.

16 February 2023

Circusland. The photographer Jacob Boas Leitisstein visited the theme park Circusland in Circus Arena’s winter quarter in Aarslev. The park is due to the school children’s winter holiday open in week 7. Jacob writes (my translation) 

Circusland in Slagelse is always open during the school holidays. And this winter holiday was no exception. As usual, the park's program offered - in addition to a number of rides - various shows. This winter holiday Circusland "host" was the Danish illusionist Kim Kenneth, who with elegance guided the audience through all three shows.

The first show of the day took place on Circusland's large stage (covering the old sea lion pool), where Kim Kenneth was at home. Here, Kim presented his big magic show together with his partner Jessica Caveagna. The show featured a wide range of magic and illusion acts – including substitution trunk and the lady sawn in half. And as always, Kim and Jessica presented it all with humor and at a good pace.

Kim Kenneth and his assistant Jessica. All photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

In Circusland's indoor playground Kim Kenneth and the clown Jimmy Folco were ready with the "Fun and joy show". A show that took place at children's level with funny tricks and comic entrées.

Kim Kenneth on stage in the playground

In Circus Landino, the audience could sit back and enjoy a real circus performance with both artists and animals. Kim Kenneth entered through the curtain as the day's ringmaster and started the performance with his floating table.

Kim and his floating table

Afterwards, Jimmy Folco took over to take a tour of the Italian kitchen with flying pizzas and potatoes. The footjuggler Adriana Wolf now entered the ring, juggling with everything from large soccer balls to hula hoops.

Adriana Wolff

Jimmy Folco was then ready with the puppet Jimmy Junior - a version of the "you must not play here" entrée.

Jimmy Folco and Jimmy Junior

After Jimmy Folco was stopped by his partner Claudia, a large ladder was placed in the middle of the ring. In came the show's "Wonder Woman", Jessica Caveagna, who presented her beautiful sword balancing act.

Jessica with sword balance

Jimmy Folco now invited a girl into the ring to make a real water fight. The show's animal act consisted of a herd of Shetland ponies, presented by Karsten Berdino.

Karsten Berdino and the ponies

And as the end of the performance, Antonin Navratil presented his great act in the Washington Trapeze, where tricks were shown both with and without Antonin being blindfolded.

Antonin Navratil, also called Mad Tony. Click here to see more of Jacob's photos from Circuslan

14 February 2023

Circus of Torment. Jørgen Lorenzen attended the premiere in Vejle on February 11. He writes (my translation):

Circus of Torment had put up the at Dystopia's premises in Vejle. A beautiful, red tent with 6 rows of grandstand seating and 2 rows of ringside chairs. And with an elevated ring as Danes know it from Circus Baldoni and Circus Arli.

As soon as you enter the tent, you feel that you are in a different universe. It's dark, foggy and a little creepy. Is it a dungeon with torturers and victims? Is it an underworld? Is it a ghost world with apparitions and spirits? Are we in Count Dracula's castle or are you Frankenstein's monster waiting to pounce on us? Or are we in a completely different universe than the one Earth belongs to, with aliens and visitors from other galaxies?

The actors walk around silently, many with masks, all disguised. There are prison costumes, monk suits, rococo costumes and aprons from the world of Harry Potter, monsters and ghosts. All silent in the dim lighting.

The performance begins. An old performer has risen from the dead and reminds us that the circus can never die - but that the audience must die. Which is an indisputable fact. But fortunately, we manage to see the show before we pass away!

And then goes on with high pace. One act after another. And you can see that there are real circus performers behind it, namely David Sosman and Michael Betrian. Beyond the horror, the dark lighting and the inciting, quiet music, the artist step forward - and are allowed to shine. Not, as in Arena's Halloween circus in 2022, where the world class artists were used as illustrations for a story. But here they came like pearls on a string and reinforced the atmosphere of the supernatural, incredible and sometimes creepy.

And there was much to see. And as is customary in parts of the modern circus, the artists were not introduced by name, neither when they entered nor during the presentation in the finale. But they were there! A nice handstand act combined with contortion. There was a mysterious and cunning magician. There was hula hoop. There was a hideous man who could dislocate bones and twist the body out of balance. There was an artist who ran around looking for the cone of light that sipped from him. One of those moments where the laughter was allowed. There was magic with a banana, there was a sword swallower. Who also could twist a spiral through the nose and draw a trapeze with a hook stuck in the tongue. Or was it the nose? And to make it more difficult there was a girl sitting in the trapeze.

There was a knife thrower, who had to have help from the audience - not to throw the knives, but to be the target. And there was a classy roller-skating act. And there was a juggler, whom old circus connoisseurs could identify as David Sosman.

And there was much more. There was so much that at the end you wanted to see it all again. And as in a good theater performance, the performance posed questions to the audience: what was it that we experienced?  How should we interpret it? There was not just, as in a good circus performance, a bombardment of the senses, a joyous demonstration of the many facets of circus art and its beauty. There was after the show homework to do for the audience as the audience could not accommodate it all here and now. What was the meaning? What was it that we experienced?

And two comments. First a question or an objection: at the beginning of the performance, we heard that the circus remains, while the audience disappears. True enough! But why do you shoot a couple of artists during the performance? Is it the audience or the outside world, who - in vain - are trying to eradicate the circus art? Or? And why is the last scene a hanging scene? Quite obviously and fortunately, the artist raised again in the finale - but still? What should he symbolize? The scene is probably not included just to show a theater trick!

And the second: the show was sometimes creepy, but not really macabre. There was horror along the way, but everywhere you felt that there was a commitment, a joy and a pride in showing circus, dressing up and making theater - new, different, but still circus like in the old days. And among the audience sat many who did not know the classic circus. You could both see and hear that. They got a good experience and left amazed. You will see them in the circus again - for sure!

And yes, the circus is alive. Circus has always survived and has always been good at finding ways out and new ways of expressing themselves. Think about how Roncalli's circus in its time left its mark on the whole of circus art, which is constantly absorbing what was created back then. Because there is so much power in Torment, that it will set tracks in the circus from tomorrow.

And yes, the circus is alive. Circus has always survived and has always been good at finding solutions and new ways of expressing themselves. Think about how Roncalli's circus in its time left its mark on the whole of circus art, which is constantly absorbing what was created back then. Because there is so much power in Torment, that it will set tracks in the circus from tomorrow. And Torment builds a bridge to the dystopian world in movies and literature – and indeed also in the real world. Circuses cannot and should not save the world. But it can give us in the audience - as long as we live - some tools, as all good art does. Tools to move forward.

The show can be seen in Vejle until February 18 and in Aalborg from February 21 to 26. See more in What’s on.

Jørgen Lorenzen surrounded by the performers. Other photos are press photos by courtesy of Circus of Torment

7 February 2023

Cirque du Soleil visits Gothenburg and Malmö, Sweden. In the month of May, you can see Cirque du Soleil's performance Ovo in Sweden. It can be seen in Malmö Arena from 11 to 14 May and in Scandinavium in Gothenburg from 25 to 28 May. Ovo is a touring circus production by Cirque du Soleil that premiered in Montréal, Canada in 2009. Ovo's creator and director, Deborah Colker, took inspiration from the world of insects. The idea for Ovo was not to be about the acts, nor dancing, nor insects, but about movement. Ovo is the Portuguese word for egg. Click here to see a video trailer for the performance.

6 February 2023

CirkusMania is Stockholm´s annual contemporary circus festival, presenting an insane amount and variety of circus, and showing what a fascinating, lively and dynamic artform circus is today. From 10 to 19 February, you can see 36 performances, 32 venues, 13 municipalities – over 100 opportunities to experience a broad panorama of circus all over the Stockholm region. See more at https://www.cirkusmania.se/en/

5 February 2023

The Swedish Circus Academy. On 16 March it is 50 years since the Academy was founded. They celebrate it on March 18 in Stockholm, Sweden and write (my translation)

The Academy for the Preservation of Circus Arts in Sweden (Circus Academy) is an interest organization for the cultural area Circus. This Circus Academy,

was instituted in the Circus Building at Kgl. Djurgården (Stockholm) on 16 March 1973.

The Circus Academy must work for

1. preserving circus as a generally recognized art form in Sweden

2. spreading awareness of the circus arts

3. promoting interest in this art form

The Circus Academy's Board of Directors has decided to celebrate our 50th anniversary

on Saturday 18 March 2023. This will take place in the Djurgårdsalen at the Elite Hotel

Marina Tower, Saltsjöqvarns kaj 25 in Stockholm with a lunch at 12.00.

Invited are Circus Academy Members and Honorary Members and Swedish and

Nordic circus managements and other circus friends with company.

The program is attached and it shows the anniversary day's activities, which start at 12.00.

The hotel offers overnight accommodation, single room SEK 1,415, double room SEK 1,615 incl. VAT and breakfast and wireless internet. Feel free to book at https://bookings.elite.se/ibe/details.aspx?propertyid=16769&nights=1&checkin=18/3/2023&group=8676767&lang=en-gb

RSVP. no later than March 5 to Hans Lindgren, Dalagatan 28E, 692 31 Kumla

tel. 070-6230166, e-mail: hans.k.lindgren46@gmail.com, and payment of

participation fee SEK 375 to Circus Academy Pg 158957-1 alt. Bg 5789-5674

3 February 2023

Winter circuses in Denmark 2023. In several places in the country, you can see circus performances in weeks 7 and 8. The Danish schools are closed for winter holiday either in week 7 or week 8.

Circusland in Aarslev by Slagelse is open from 11 to 19 February, every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They offer a magic show with Kim Kenneth and his assistants Jessica and Adriana. The performances in Circus Landino are presented by Kim Kenneth and feature Cirkus Arena's house clown Jimmy Folco, Jessica Caveagna with sword balance, Antonin "Tony" Navratil in Washington trapeze, Adriana Wolf with foot juggling and Karsten Berdino with liberty horses.

Antonin "Mad Tony" Navratil toured in 2014 with Danish Circus Krone.

In week 7 the shopping mall HerningCentret present Circus Mascot's winter circus. In the ring both children and adults can look forward to see Denmark's largest dog show with circus director Marianne and her 9 lovely doggies. The acrobat Tatyana takes her many hula hoops under her arm and demonstrates that through many years of practice you can go from just 1 hoop around your waist to holding over 20 up and running at once! Gulio the clown probably doesn't need much of an introduction. Everyone knows that it can be difficult to catch all the balls you have in the air - you must therefore allow yourself to be impressed by how everything comes together into a higher unity when the music plays and the incomparable juggler Husik throws the rings around, which he grabs again with impressive precision. Daniel Deleuran is ringmaster. The performance lasts approx. 30 minutes. Free admission.

Archive photo from Circus Mascot's performance in the Herning Center in 2019

From 18 to 26 February, Ishøj City Center in Copenhagen present Baldoni's winter circus with two daily performances. The program features Danilo the clown, Katrina Markevich and Anton Tarbeev with foot juggling and diabolo, as well as Michal Mudrak with handstand. Free admission.

Danilo clown was from 2009 to 2018 a consistent figure in the Baldoni performances. During the winter holidays you can now again experience him in ring.

The Rosengaard shopping mall in Odense present in week 7 Enoch's Circus Show with 3 daily performances in week 7. Among the performers are Dutch Mr. Valentino with dogs, Eddy Carello as a drum juggler and Alexander Arli as a comedy/clown. The performance is presented by Jimmy Enoch. Free admission.

Eddy Carello at Enoch's Circus Show February 2020. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein

The West Zealand center in Slagelse present Benny Schumann's Mini Circus from 13 to 18 February. Every day at 12 & 15. 20 minutes before the performance, Benny holds a circus workshop. In the show, he performs with his clowning, the chair balance number, magic, the ventriloquist dolls Hunni and Nina von Tutti and as the inflated dancer. In addition, the audience meets the Swedish artist Erik Ivarsson, who began developing his talent as a boy in the Swedish youth circus Ludvika Mini Cirkus. Erik Ivarsson is among the best bike artists and is also skilled in handstand / head balance and juggling. He also has a clown entrée with Benny Schumann. Free admission.

Circus Trapez winter circus has performances in a number of Jutland arenas from 10 to 26 February. The performers are Franz Sulc with clown run-ins, John and René Lutzny comedy, Sabrina Lutzny with goats and dogs, the Lutzny family with a cowboy show with knife throwing and spinning lassos, Chantal Lutzny contortion and hula hoop, Joel Lutzny juggling, Samantha Lutzny on floating sled and René Lutzny chair balance.

Link to ticket booking.

Cirkus Panik's 10-year anniversary performance can be seen in their Circus Building in Vanløse from 12 to 19 February. The address is Skjulhøj Allé 21, 2720 Vanløse. The performance was described in more detail here on this page on 15 January. Tickets via billetto for DKK 120 (excl. fee).

Circus of Torment (Horror circus) has performances from 11 to 18 February in Vejle and from 21 to 26 February in Aalborg. Both in England, Germany and the Netherlands, you have been able to see horror circuses for a number of years, but this is the first time we can see a real horror circus in Denmark. A horror circus mixes horror with dark humor, rock music or horror film-inspired electronic music and artistry.

Circus of Torment is produced by Dark Thrills Entertainment with Michaël Betrian at the helm. The Danes could experience his diabolo number in Cirkus Dannebrog in 2014 and in Cirkus Trapez in 2021. David Sosman has the role of Gustavo, the insane juggler.

David Sosman as Gustavo, the insane juggler

You can read more about the show and buy tickets at https://www.circusoftorment.com/

The Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen offers from Monday to Thursday 13 to 16 February every day at 11 on the crazy drum phenomenon Kalle Mathiesen's World Tour. Armed with loop station, drum set, bass, balloons, pied animals, knight's helmet, drill and a good dose of self-irony, he serves up world-class musical entertainment. Kalle Mathiesen trained as a drummer at Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium and has created his one-man show based on the motto that "There is music in everything and everything is music".

Kalle Mathiesen

On Friday 17 February, Kalle leaves the stage to Mugge, the Lizard Jester, who, with a fart in his cap and lots of enjoyable artistry, will entertain with jokes for all ages.

1 February 2023

New exhibition at the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. Everyone is welcome to the opening of the museum's new exhibition "We don't live from it, we live with it" - an exhibition about circus culture, Friday 10/2 from 14 to 16 at the Circus Museum. The ventriloquist doll Charlie the dog and Peter Nørgaard will cut the cord, and there will be speeches by Martin Arli, chairman of the circus directors' association, Kenneth Bak, chairman of the culture and leisure committee Hvidovre Municipality and museum curator Mikkel Knudsen.

1 February 2023

The Circus Museum's annual poster is the 18th in the series of annual posters, and this year the task has been put in the hands of an artist to whom the circus world is in no way a stranger. The artist Anne Marie Johansen has traveled with Circus Arena herself for a period of time to make studies for the picture book "Rundt og rundt sådan cirkus". The annual poster can be bought in the museum's shop, measures 60 x 80 cm and costs DKK 50. If you don't live nearby, you can order the poster by sending an email to info@cirkusmuseet.dk

30 January 2022

Swedish Circus Brazil Jack opens the Swedish Melodifestival 2023. Melodifestivalen 2023 will be the 63rd edition of the Swedish music competition Melodifestivalen, which will be organized by Sweden’s Television (SVT) and take place over a six-week period between 4 February and 11 March 2023. The winner will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, to be held in Liverpool in May 2023. The first broadcast will be broadcast from Gothenburg on SVT1 on February 4 at 20. In the opening act, Circus Brazil Jack brings some of the world's leading circus artists from Ukraine, Italy and Brazil together to offer fire, aerial acrobatics and death-defying roller skating. The Swedish magician and entertainer Carl-Einar Häckner is also in the broadcast. And then, of course, the singers who are fighting to win the Swedish competition and go on to the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.

23 January 2023

Winners at the 45th Festival International Du Cirque De Monte-Carlo & 10th New Generation.

Golden clown

This year, only onde golden clown was awarded. It went to the jockey riders René Casselly Junior, Merrylu Casselly and Quincy Azzario, who among other acts presented "pas de trois" on horseback.

Quincy Azzario, René Casselly Jr. and Merrylu Casselly. Quincy is daughter of the clown José Michel and his wife Giulia. Together with her sister, she appeared as Azzario Sister in Zirkus Nemo in 2014. In 2012, the sisters were with Swedish Cirkus Brazil Jack. René and Merrylu Caselly's parents are René and Alexia Casselly. Until 2010, the parents and the two children worked for several seasons in Danish Cirkus Arena. Merrylu Casselly later married Joseph Richter Jr. and together with him won a golden clown in Monte Carlo in 2018. Today they are divorced.

There was a silver clown for the following:

Fleming Martini – flying trapeze

Bruno Togni – tigers. He also received the audience award

Alex Giona – horses in liberty

Victoriia Dziuba - equilibrist

Mustafa Danguir Troop – high wire and double death wheel

Secret of my Soul - ring trapeze

This year’s bronze clowns went to

Mystery of Gentlemen - ball balance

Deadly Games - knife throwers

Elisa Cussadie - parrots

The Bingo Troupe.

The Bingo Troupe is a large troupe, which is often divided into smaller units. They have also previously won prizes in Monte Carlo. In 2014, one of the troupe's units performed in Danish Circus Dannebrog. The photo is from 2018, when 8 of the troupe's female members worked for Danish Circus Arena. Photo: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press

Junior Gold

Ameli Bilyk – slack wire

Junior Silver

Sofiia Hrechko - contortion

Vladyslava Naraieva - equilibrist

Junior Bronze

Kimberly Zavatta – aerial straps

21 January 2023

Circus Cirkör on tour in Norway. The Swedish contemporary circus writes:

Since its premiere in Marseille in 2013, Cirkus Cirkör's performance Knitting Peace has successfully toured both in Sweden and internationally. Last week, an attention-grabbing site-specific version of the performance was created at the Nordic embassies in Berlin on the occasion of the inauguration of Sweden's presidency of the EU. Knitting Peace, with its peace theme, is (sadly) highly topical and in March 2023 a larger Norwegian tour with four stops awaits: Nøtterøy, Skien, Haugesund and Stavanger.

See more at https://cirkor.se/en/knitting-peace/

16 January 2023

Circus Arena 2023 – Jimmy Saylon. Some of the artist in this year's performance were mentioned on this page on 2 January.

Cirkus Arena says that in addition to those mentioned, you can meet the Italian magician and illusionist Jimmy Saylon. He enters the ring with his time machine and lets the adventure begin. The magic is alive, and before the eyes of the audience he conjures so that you cannot believe your eyes. Jimmy Saylon performed last summer in Cirkusland in Slagelse.

Jimmy Saylon. Click here to see a video clips from his act

15 January 2023

Circus Panik winter circus. The small circus writes (my translation)

Highly honored audience welcome to the celebration of Circus Panik's 10th anniversary performance, during the winter holidays in the Circus building in Vanløse, Copenhagen, in week 7. We present the performance "Den Glade Galla" (the Happy Galla) to mark this 10th anniversary. Experience Cirkus Panik in cooperation with the contemporary circus company Volantes, presenting a terrific gala performance for the entire family.

Experience a gala show filled with

Crazy flying Acrobatics

Amazing illusion

Gravity challenging juggling

Laughter convulsive clowns

Music and rhythms from all corners of the world

Signature Fire and Fakir finale

We are looking forward to seeing you! Entertainment for the whole family. but we recommend + 3 years.

Tickets via billetto for DKK 120 (excl. fee)

Venue: Circus Panik - Skjulhøj Allé 21, DK- 2720 Vanløse, Copenhagen. The circus building in Vanløse is situated within 10 minutes' walk distance from Vanløse station. The doors open one hour before the show starts.

There will be an opportunity to buy popcorn, something to drink, etc. in our cozy cafe.

We are extremely grateful for the granted support from Vanløse Local Committee, thank you for the support.

13 January 2023

Circus Trapez winter circus. The first circus performance of the year in Denmark is Friday 10 February at 17, where Circus Trapez premieres their winter circus in Thorhallen in Jels. They present the performance as this (my translation):

During the school’s winter holidays in weeks 7 and 8, Circus Trapez carries out the tradition in a number of sport centres and other arenes in Jutland with a cozy Winter Circus performance that brings lots of fun and circus nostalgia for the whole family.

Look forward to see among other things a skilled juggler, a beautiful snake person (contortionist), great aerial acts, wild wild west show, lots of clowning, naughty goats, cute dogs and much more.

Take a seat around our enchanting ring and forget the stress and hustle and bustle of everyday life, while you let yourself be enchanted by our magical show.

We look forward to welcoming you to Winter Circus in World Class 2023

Isabella Enoch Sosman tells that the performing artists are:

Franz Sulc with clown awards

John and René Lutzny comedy

Sabrina Lutzny with goats and dogs

Sabrina Lutzny with dogs

The entire Lutzny family with a cowboy show with knife throwing and spinning lassos.

Chantal Lutzny contortion and hula hoop

Joel Lutzny juggling

Samantha Lutzny on a floating toboggan

René Lutzny chair balance

Franz Sulc was run-in clown in a number of last year's autumn and Christmas performances in Circus Trapez. The versatile Lutzny family, who in recent years have toured with the Austrian Circus Picard in the summer season, were also part of the Trapez Winter Circus 2022. This year, however, with several new acts. The family consists of René & Sabrina Lutzny with their children Samanta, Chantal and Joel.

The Lutzny family with their cowboy show. All photos press photos from Circus Trapez

Joel Lutzny

Samantha Lutzny on her floating toboggan

7 January 2023

This year it is 50 years since the Swedish Circus Academy was founded. They celebrate it on March 18 in Stockholm, Sweden. The detailed program has not yet been published

2 January 2023

Circus Baldoni 2023. Circus Baldoni writes (my translation):

Season 2023 starts on Easter Monday, April 10. This time it will be with a completely new setup and with the comedian, singer and actor Amin Jensen as ringmaster and not least the one who has Leonardo (a ventriloquist’s doll) on his arm. It will hardly be a problem as Amin has added voices to over 1,500 cartoons over the years.

Amin is looking forward to presenting a wide selection of super talented artists. You will, among other performers, meet Martyne Chabry with her formidable quick-change and musical act. Nandor Varadi and Diana Boiachin a Hungarian couple with juggling, acrobatics and air pole. Kaya Janacek our super talent within rola bola reaches completely new heights. The Western family Buffalo Family makes lassos, knives and axes flying through the air. We also have a brand-new clown on the programme. It is Tøffe who is making a comeback after a break of several years. Connoisseurs remember him for his unique comic impersonations and he is sure to bring smiles and laughter throughout the tent. In seasons 20 and 21, Peter Nørgaard was ringmaster. He is still assisting us as he put the performance on stage. All in all, plans have been made for another blast of an experience for the whole family.

The tented season lasts until August 29, after which we move indoors to sports centres visiting as always, the Faroe Islands.

Martyne Chabry is daughter of the clown Toto Chabri and Mrs. Norah. She performed in Circus Benneweis in 1998, 2005 and 2014 and in Circus Baldoni in 2020. Martyne Chabri is her stage name – she is christened Martine Gombert.

Martyne Chabri

The juggler Nandor Varadi was with the small Danish Circus Krone in 2007 and with Circus Baldoni in 2008 and 2010. In 2018, he was together with Diana Boiachin in the Norwegian Circus Arnardo - he as a juggler, Diana with aerial acts.

Nandor Varadi.

The Buffalo Family, also known as the Janacek family, has worked for Baldoni for several years. The eldest son Kaya last time presented his formidable rola-bola act in 2021. The act was also presented a few times in season 2022, when other artists couldn’t perform.

Maria and Eddie Janacek with lasso in 2019

The comedian Tøffe has previously entertained the audience at Benny Schumann's clown shows at the amusement park Bakken north of Copenhagen. Tøffe has also appeared in numerous commercials, short films and feature films both in Denmark and abroad. Most recently in "Journal 64" and "A fortunate man". For a number of years, together with the Swedish comedian Yan Swahn and the singer Gitte Johnson, he was part of the show group "Two tons of fun". Tøffe also had some good seasons with Bakkens Andy, Kai Løvring and Bjarne Lisby in Restaurant "The four Oaks" at Bakken. Most recently, in the run-up to Christmas, you have been able to meet him as Santa Claus at H.C. Andersen's Christmas market in Copenhagen.

Tøffe. Photo from a clown show at Bakken 2011. Photographer: Per Krogh Petersen

2 January 2023

Danish circuses in 2023. Here is an overview in alphabetical order of the circuses that we expect to see on the Danish roads in 2023, as well as the planned opening dates.

Cirkus Arena: Season opening at Bellahoj in Copenhagen on 3 April. The performance will just as in 2022 be presented by Bubber and Julie Berthelsen.

Among the performers are the juggler Michael Ferrari, his brother the tight wire dancer Steven Ferrari, the high wire troupe Ortiz, who also perform in the wheel of death, the aerial acrobats Duo Costache and Circus Arena's usual clown Jimmy Folco. Changes may occur.

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

Circusland in Circus Arenas winter quarter in Aarslev is next time open during the winter holidays from 11 to 19 February. This summer they have planned a series of open-air concerts: 23 June Kandis. 30 June Stig (Stig Rossen) and friends. 7 July Lars Lilholt band. July 28 Queen Machine. 6 August Hansi Hinterseer.

Circus Arli: season opening at the Mill Hill in the Copenhagen suburb Flong 2 April. The names of the performers have not yet been published.

Martin Arli and his son Alexander are always among the main forces in Circus Arli.

Circus Baldoni: season opening in Hillerod 10 April. Names of the cast mentioned above.

Circus Mascot: no information about the summer tour yet. As in 2022, they will tour in sport centres and other arenas and not have tented performances. During the winter holidays in week 7, you can see them with short performances in the Herning Shopping Mall.

Marianne Deleuran and her playful doggies are an absolutely indispensable part of a Mascot performance. Press photo from Circus Mascot

Zirkus Nemo: season opening April 29 in Horsens. Apart from the circus owner, the actor and comedian Søren Østergaard, the names of the performers have not been published.

Although Zirkus Nemo offers excellent artists, it is primarily Søren Østergaard himself that the Danish audience comes to see. Here as the smash man together with Søren's PA Laura Kvist Poulsen. Photo from 2019. Photographer: Rud Kofoed / Ajour Press.

Circus Trapez: From 10 to 26 February winter circus in a number of Jutland sport centres and other arenas. No information about the summer tour yet.

1 January 2023

Birthdays with a round figure 2023. Several people in the Danish circus and artist world can celebrate a birthday with a round figure during 2023:

20 January 2023: Philip Schumann, former artist and ringmaster, 70 years old

3 April 2023: Camilla Frimann, Circus Baldoni, 50 years old

16 April 2023: Sonja Solberg, former aerial artist, 80 years old

7 September 7: Charmaine, Stephanie and Oliver Berdino, artists, 30 years

13 September 2023: Bjoern Schult-Bjornlys, former trick rider etc.

1 November 2023: Marc Thierry, bandmaster and musician, 50 years old

6 November 2023: Ole Bünger, ventriloquist, magician etc.,80 years old

18 December2023: Jacki Steckel, former artist and circus owner etc. 70 years old

18 December 2023: Michael Frederiksen, magician, 50 years old

1 January 2023

This website had approximately 26,000 visitors in 2022. 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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