'
From Denmark
and other Scandinavian countries
A weekly updated internet magazine
Last updated : 10. May 2025
8 May 2025
In my review of the Swedish Circus Brazil Jack's performance on May 29, I wrote, among other things: "Next came a knock-abut table act with three artists which unfortunately I haven't got the name of “ and “Then the three knock-about table artists came back into the ring, this time with a break dance entrée”. The troupe's leader Gabor Mayer has told me that it was the Hungarian troupe Artists of Dance which the Danes saw last year in Circus Baldoni. At Baldoni, the troupe consisted of Gabor, Daniel and Ronald. At Brazil Jack, Ronald has been replaced by a new guy Gergo.
4 May 2025
A PLACE IN THE RING - Film and theater performance with live circus horses on stage.
Vendsyssel Teater in Hjørring writes (my translation):
Take a seat in the ring for this double world premiere and a sensory bombardment of a performance. While a film about the world-famous circus princess Katja Schumann can be seen on the big screen, the smell of sawdust, the hiss of snorting circus horses and Katja's physical presence will keep a centuries-old circus tradition alive - right before your eyes.
Katja Schumann has lived in Løkken since 2016. Her love and unique connection to horses dates back to her childhood - and growing up in the Circus Schumann dynasty has taken her around the world. For Katja, the circus is more than glitter and ostrich feathers - it is a deeply rooted cultural heritage and a unique way of working with horses. But how do you continue a life's work when there is no natural heir? The audience is taken into a story about heritage and the encounter between the craftsmanship of the past and the possibilities of the future — between everything that was and everything that is to come.
Experience a performance where the presence of the theater, the visual power of the film and the surprising character of circus art are woven together on stage.
The performance is a co-production with the film company Dune Productions in Løkken, where film director Anne Svejgård Lund has followed Katja Schumann for 6 years and created the documentary film 'A Place in the Ring'. The world premiere of the performance will therefore also be the world premiere of the film itself – a completely unique one.
As the 5th generation of the world-famous Schumann family, Katja Schumann was born to a life in the ring. Circus Schumann was founded in 1893 and was a true family dynasty with threads all over the world — an era in Danish cultural and circus history. Until 1969, Circus Schumann had a permanent base in the Circus Building in Copenhagen, and for the next 25 years, Katja toured the United States, performed regularly on Broadway, became a world champion and later received — as the first woman — the Danish Circus Award. Katja is a direct line to a bygone era and represents a now rare circus tradition.
Because Katja has a special connection to horses — her work with them both in and out of the ring has made her world famous. To this day, she is considered a living legend among the world's largest and most prestigious circuses. At the age of 76, she now runs The Circus Farm in Løkken, where you can experience circus performances and a circus museum with costumes and pictures from a lifetime in the circus.
The film and theater performance will premiere on September 12. It will run until October 4. The Circus Farm in Løkken will have its season opening on June 28. From this day until August 10, there will be performances Tuesday to Sunday at 16. No performances on Mondays.
3 May 2025
Winter circus in Malmö. In December 2024, Albin Ganovic presented winter circus at the Children’s stage in Folkets Park in Malmö, Sweden. There were 5 performances plus a couple of sold performances. It was a success which Albin will repeat in December this year, where there will be 10 open and 2 sold performances in the days 12 to 21 December.
30 April 2025
Small program change in Circus Arli. There has been a small change in Circus Arli’s program as the Gallingani sisters' fine hand-to-hand act is replaced by a plate juggler act with the girls' father Davide Robert. The explanation for the change is that one of the sister Shelby is pregnant. And then it is not reasonable to perform in such an act as the two sisters act.
Photos from 2015, where Davide Robert also toured with Circus Arli.
29 April 2025
Circus Brazil Jack 2025 – circus with human cannonball and globe of death. Circus Brazil Jack is Sweden's largest. And the director, Trolle Rhodin III, who is Brazil Jack's great-grandson, is the youngest of the Scandinavian circus directors. You can feel that it in the performances, which are presented in a young style: fast tempo, no ringmaster and advanced lighting and sound settings, and with pre-recorded music, there is something different from what the classical circus band usually plays.
Circus Brazil Jack at the Mill Square in Malmø. In the background, the arms of the windmill can be seen. The tent, which first came into use in 2022, has a diameter of 36 meters.
As in previous years, Trolle Rhodin has opted out of having animals in the show.
One of the numbers that the young part of the audience today prefers is the globe of death. The act has for several years been the last in Brazil Jack's performance and normally every year there has been one more rider in the globe than the year before. This year they were up to 5 riders in the splitting globe. An act that again this year excited not least the younger part of the audience. In addition to being rider in the globe of death, a member of the motorcycle troupe had his own act as the human cannonball, which was shot from a cannon placed at the artist entrance into a net at the audience entrance. Not a long flight, but quite spectacular and quickly completed.
The human cannonball
This year's performance was opened by Mr. Fantastic with the civil name Robert Muraine. He is an internationally known dancer in the popping style, comedian and mime artist and had several fine entrées during the performance. The 37-year-old American has performed in shows, on variety shows and in circuses all over the world.
Robert "Mr. Fantastic" Muraine
After Trolle Rhodin's welcome, the juggler Juan Pablo Martinez entered the ring. First with clubs and then with ping-pong balls, which he used his mouth to juggle. The act ended with juggling with hats, which he tossed in the air, while running around between the seats on the grandstand. The Danish circus audience met him in Circus Arena in 2005 and 2018. In 2012 he toured with the now closed Swedish Cirkus Maximum.
Trolle Rhodin byder velkommen
The tempo juggler Juan Pablo Martinez
Next came a knock-abut table act with three artists which unfortunately I haven't got the name of. Circus Brazil Jack does not have a printed program.
The next artist in the ring was the young Sophie Alton with a nice handstand act. The act ended with her standing in a handstand using her feet to shot an arrow from a bow with her back to the target.
With the help of Trolle Rhodin and a female assistant, Robert Muraine presented the well-known restaurant sketch where the waiter should serve a delicious meal to a female guest. Seen before, but Robert Muraine's version of the sketch turned out elegantly and was not as long-drawn-out as you can experience elsewhere.
The last number before the interval was the above-mentioned cannon king.
The first act after the interval was Isabela and Ernesto Alves in what is called the Russian cradle. Ernesto threw Isabela around from his cradle chair and let go and caught her as she did one somersault after another. Impressive. And without a safety net – but with an inflatable rubber mattress in the ring in case she missed catching her. Impressive! The Danish audience saw the couple in Zirkus Nemo last year.
The next act was also in the air: A reunion with Sophie Alton, this time together with Susan Jasters. They showed a fine and poetic act in aerial straps.
The film sketch is a classic clown act. At Brazil Jack, it was performed by Robert Muraine together with 4 volunteers who seemed to be enjoying themselves. The entrée can sometimes be a bit long-drawn-out, but in Robert Muraine's elegant version it was no longer than it should be.
Then the three knock-about table artists came back into the ring, this time with a break dance entrée.
Robert Muraine then came back into the ring, now solo with an elegant mime dancing entrée.
As mentioned above, the last act of the show was the globe of death. Performed by members of the Diorios troupe, which the Danes have seen several times in Circus Arena.
5 riders in the splitting globe
A regular feature in the finale of Circus Brazil Jack is that Trolle Rhodin takes a sip of aviation fuel and put it on fire while spitting the fuel out.
The performance lasted 1 hour 45 minutes including intermission. But rather a performance where you say "is it over already" than a slowly running performance where the audience with children starts to leave the tent before the performance is over.
Circus Brazil Jack has now left Scania in the southern part of Sweden. But they usually come back to Malmö in September, where they have their winter quarters.
28 April 2025
World Circus Day 2025. True to tradition, the Circus Museum in Hvidovre, in cooperation with Danish Circus Friends Association celebrated the World Circus Day. Normally, the day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in April. Since it was Easter Saturday this year, the museum and the circus friends chose to postpone the celebration by a week to Saturday, April 26.
The day included an entertaining lecture, where actress Jenny Abelgren talked about her exciting life, where she has done many different things in the entertainment industry. Later in the day, there was a magic show with Sunny Cagara. The museum was also open with a guided tour, circus play and free admission.
Children and adults enjoyed the magic show with Sunny Cagara
17 April 2025
Circus Olympia 2025 towards new heights! Martin Lasson Berglund attended the season opening performance at the Swedish Cirkus Olympia and writes (my translation from Swedish):
This year's performance had its premiere in Oskarström outside Halmstad, just like previous years.
Circus Olympia on the lot in Oskarström. All photos: Martin Lasson Berglund
There are not many circuses left in Scandinavia and therefore it is extra nice with a circus that still maintains a high quality but still are open for new ideas.
Circus Olympia 2025 is a circus you should not miss! It is a performance that offers everything possible and with a wonderful innovative thinking.
Instead of always having a reprise clown, this year they have guitarist Paul Szabo who both sings and plays guitar in the performance.
On the bandstand there is a digital screen that shows the name of the artist and the name of the circus. It is probably the only circus in Scandinavia that has this new cool system. For a couple of seasons, they have had three musicians playing to recorded music via computer, this year they have increased the band to four musicians.
Director Niklas Bengtsson presented a new act with eight new ponies he has trained during the winter. At the premiere it was like a dance in the ring.
His wife Natasha showed how to train goats, which was also an appreciated feature of the performance at the premiere.
The Swede Frida is back with a new act where she works with a pole and the Finnish Ester is also making a comeback after a few years of absence. Also worth mentioning are the bicycle acrobats on BMX and springboard act with the Guerrero family! In addition, what would Olympia be without Henrika's charming dogs.
In summary, one can say that this year's production is very strong! It sounds very good when you get to the music and sound and the feeling of the circus, i.e. the atmosphere is great!
So don't miss this year's performance! It's worth a visit if you want to see modern circus with classic elements such as animals and live music.
14 April 2025
Cirkus Rhodin 2025 – nice performance without major surprises.
Members of the Swedish Rhodin family run two circuses: Brazil Jack, which is Sweden's largest, and Circus Rhodin, which is the smallest of the Swedish-owned circuses. Brazil Jack is run by Trolle Rhodin III and Circus Rhodin by his aunt Diana Rhodin.
Circus Rhodin has a two-pole tent of roughly the same size as Danish Circus Arli. For many years they actually used old tents which they bought from Circus Arli. However, their current tent, which is probably from 2022, was bought new. Inside the tent there are two rows of ringside chairs and 3 rows of benches. The lighting system is rather old. Circus Rhodin primarily tours the smaller towns in Sweden. However, during Easter they are located next to the Mobilia shopping centre in Malmö, which is Sweden’s 3rd largest city.
Circus Rhodin at the premiere on April 12, 2025 at the Circus lot in Aakarp
Years ago, Diana Rhodin performed in a number of circuses with her two elephants, high school riding and liberty horses. For example, she toured Denmark with Circus Dannebrog in 2000 and with Circus Benneweis in 2002. In 2007, she tried her luck with a touring horse show, Hästpalatset (the horse palace), which was not a great success. In recent years, the now 67-year-old Diana Rhodin has toured Sweden with her own small circus, which present nice performances without any big surprises. This is also the case this year, when they premiered in the Malmö suburb of Aakarp on April 12. The circus’ animal team is now limited to three dogs.
Diana Rhodin
The central figure of the show is Circus Rhodin's house clown, the Bulgarian clown Dimo. He begins the show by looking for a place among the audience before all the performers enter the ring and Diana Rhodin welcomes. Later, he has run-ins between the other acts. Nice, without being innovative.
Dimo the clown
New to Circus Rhodin is Duo Baer. They begin the show with the prop that many people today probably call a Lollipop, because the shape is similar to an old-fashioned lollipop. Most artists who perform with that prop do it solo. It's refreshing that it can also be used by a duo. Totti and Rhea are educated at the artist school in Lahti, Finland, where they completed the 3-year education in January 2024.
Duo Baer.
The lighting
conditions in the small circus make it difficult to take good photos without a
professional camera.
The next artist act was the young Danish Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen. Nynne started training with Einar Trie at the Circus Factory in Salling, Denmark, at the age of 6 and participated in all their training camps. When Bangsbostrand School had its 100th anniversary, Katja Tomasevic Olsen and Einar Trie were teachers on a large circus project at the school which had Nynne as one of the pupils. At that time, she did a fantastic aerial act and became the school's big star, and after that it took off - more training at the Circus Factory. And then she left school to tour with Danish Circus Trapez, where she was for three seasons. In 2022 she was in Circus Rhodin for the first time. Nynne's main act is an aerial act. But in a small circus you have to have several entrées, so in this year's performance in Circus Rhodin you also met her with hula-hoop.
Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen with what the Swedes call rock rings
After a run-in with Dimo, the 4 members of the Wolf family entered the ring with their pirate act, which also featured synchronous ladder balance. They were also at Circus Rhodin in 2022. In Denmark we have seen them in Circus Dannebrog, Circus Krone and at Circusland.
Wolf
family ended the ladder balance act with juggling with torches
The first part of the performance ended with a short dog act, presented by Diana Rhodin with assistants. Among other things, a dog jumped from the top of a stepladder into a vaulting sheet.
The first act after the break was Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen's aerial act in a chandelier-like prop. A great act in which Nynne fully exploited the possibilities that the prop offered. Last winter she was in Geneva, and it was here that she developed her act in the "chandelier".
A
Danish star in a chandelier
After another run-in with Dimo, the two young Finns from Duo Baer came back into the ring, this time with an adagio/hand-to-hand act.
Duo Baer
Now it was time for Diana Rhodin and her three dogs. The act ended with the dogs running around in a dog-sized hamster wheel, one by one. The “gasoline” was dog biscuits which Diana held in front of their noses. A trick I don’t remember seeing before.
Dog in a hamster wheel
After another clown reprise, the last act of the show came: the Wolf family with impressive formation juggling. The act ended with three of the troupe members throwing plates to the troupe leader in a hurry which he had to catch. It failed at first, but went flawlessly on the next attempt. I guess the first “fail” was planned and is repeated at all performances …
Audiences in the smaller towns that Circus Rhodin
visits during the season will probably be delighted with the performance in what
Diana Rhodin calls Circus as on Grandpa's Time.
From the
finale
11 April 2025
Baldoni in top form - Circus Baldoni has never been better.
Baldoni's 2025 performance is the third Danish circus performance I have seen this year. As with the other two, Arena and Arli, the quality this year is sky-high. All three could deserve 5 out og 6 review stars if I used that system. They all three have their own style.
Baldoni's performance is a strong and well-staged performance. Just like last year, it is staged by Peter Nørgaard and presented by the young singing ringmaster Mickey Juel Prüssing.
At the entrance to the tent, circus director René Baldoni, clown José Michel and ringmaster Mickey Juel Prüssing welcome
After the opening song, all the artists entered the ring, before the stage was handed over to Lénárd and Daniella Metos with their fine and fast-paced bicycle act, where Lénárd jumped around on his unicycle. They were also with Baldoni in 2022 and in Baldoni's Christmas circus in 2023. But the act is so good that it could easily withstand a reunion.
Entering the ring which at Baldoni is a stage
This is how Lénárd goes up a staircase
The next act was also a repeat act: Nandor Varadi with juggling. First with clubs. Then with balls. Then with rings to finish with juggling with torches. It was probably due to premiere nervousness that a few tricks went wrong. Nandor and his partner Diana Boiachin were also with Baldoni in 2023 and 2024.
Nandor Varadi with rings
After a short run-in with the clown José Michel came a beautiful and classic act: Ballerina on a tightwire, stylishly performed by Marine Durand Rech from France. The number offered both chair balance and splits and ended with her walking across the tightrope on tiptoe! However, with special shoes, where there is a groove in the toes of the shoes.
Ballerina on tight wire
After a short intermezzo with Mickey Juel Prüssing and the show's drummer, it was time for the show's top act: Quincy Azzario's handstand act. In a class of its own and the best handstand act I ever has seen a female artist perform. Years ago, Quincy, together with his sister Katie, had an absolutely fantastic handstand act, Azzario Sisters, which in 2012 brought them a silver clown at the circus festival in Monte Carlo. The duo disbanded when Katie married big cat trainer Alexander Lacey. Quincy continued with her solo handstand act, but also appeared in other acts. In 2023, Quincy, together with René Casselly Junior and his sister Merrylu, received a gold clown for their “pas de trois” on horseback. At Baldoni, she presented her beautiful and fast-paced handstand act, which also contained elements of contortion. Her final trick is one I have never seen a female artist perform before: the famous Encho trick, where she stands in a handstand on a stack of brick-shaped blocks and pushes them away to land on the handstand bars with her hands. Fantastic. And with no less than 8 blocks, which has probably earned her a Guinness record. Fantastic!
A world class star in Baldoni’s ring
Quincy is daughter of the show’s clown José Michel and Mrs. Giulia, who are undoubtedly enjoying a season with their daughter.
The first act after the break was of a type we haven't seen in Danish circuses in many years: an act with a ladder that rotates in the same way as a wheel of death, performed by Lénárd and Daniella Metos. Fine act performed at a high tempo!
Acrobatics on a rotating ladder is not something we see every day
Now came a short reprise with the Indian José Michel as a knife thrower and with an audience member in front of the target. Seen before, but José does it far better than most others.
José Michel as knife thrower
At the premiere, José was followed by Nandor Varadi with a somewhat drawn-out plate juggling act, which in terms of level was not quite up to par with the other acts in the show. However, this is a temporary solution, as one of this year's artist Rubel Medini not could join Baldoni until 15 April due to other commitments. According to Camilla and René Baldoni, he performs an absolutely fantastic rola bola act. Thus, from April 15th, the plate act will be replaced by the rola bola act.
Now José and Giulia Michel entered the ring with their main entrée: the funnel routine, which both started and ended with them playing the tenor sax and soprano sax respectively. I have seen the funnel routine performed by others, but never as well as José and Giulia do it. They were absolutely amazing! They also showed the act at Baldoni in 2024, but the act could easily bear to be seen again.
A wet game!
Nice to see musical clowns
After the clown act, Diana Boichin had a short entrée in tissue. Such acts can sometimes be a bit long-winded, but Peter Nørgaard had not let the act drag on longer than it could bear.
Diana in the air
The last act of the performance was a world class act. The Spanish juggler Alfio Macaggi with “bouncing balls”, which were thrown both into the air and down to the floor. The act ended with a few rounds in the ring, where Alfio simultaneously juggled hats that were grabbed with both the hands and the head. A strong and fast-paced number that was the perfect way to end the show.
He can rightly
call himself a tempo juggler.
From the final
As usual, the talented young photographer Jacob Boas Leitisstein took a series of photos from the performance. Certainly much better than my photos shown above. Jacob's photos are not yeat ready but can be seen shortly on Jacob's website Cirkusportalen under Cirkusgalleriet.
The three
Danish circus performances I have seen so far are all great shows that deserve
to have people flock to the tent. But it is expensive to produce and tour such
shows. We must hope for political understanding that public support will be
possible in some form or another. Otherwise, we risk that the circus will end up
as something we can only see in a museum. Denmark’s municipalities also have the
opportunity to show that they appreciate that the circus brings good
entertainment to their citizens by either waiving lot rent or making lots
available on reasonable terms. Unfortunately, some municipalities, such as
Aarhus, act as if they do not care a whit whether a circus comes to town. There
was a time when Aarhus called itself the city of smiles...
8 April 2025
Irene Thierry has just published her memoirs with the assistance of author Joan Dansberg. In connection with a reception where the book was presented Irene Thierry's eldest son Frank told us that the small Danish Circus Krone will be on tour with a premiere on May 17 in Hovedgaard and season ending on August 13 in Randers. The concept is, as in 2024, child-friendly performances of approximately 1 hour duration and without intermission. In addition to members of the Thierry family, you will meet Oleksandr Yenivatov and Aurelie Brua again this year, but with different acts than in 2024.
8 April 2025
Circus Trapez 2025. We have previously written that one of the acts that Isabella Enoch Sosman was looking forward to presenting to her audience was Rafaela Honden's act with large, white Swiss shepherd dogs. An act that received the award as the best of the year when it toured with Circus Mascot in 2017. Rafaela was also supposed to have shown an act with parrots. But due to illness in the family, Rafaela Honden has canceled. Isabella has therefore found other artists.
Her audience can look forward to seeing a parrot act, presented by Duo Medini from Italy. From Romania comes Andrei Bocancea, the late Rosi Hockecker's boyfriend, who has taken over Rosi's dogs. In the air, the audience will meet a young Danish artist, Lilje Bekholt, who last year performed with Katja Schumann at har Circus Farm in Løkken.
Lilje
Bekholt with Katja Schumann in 2024
Season opening will be on April 16 in Tønder. The tour will then continue to a number of towns in Jutland and Funen. During Pentecost, they will perform at Græsted Veterantræf, and on the way to and from Græsted they will visit a few towns on Zealand.
2 April 2024
Circus fun at Circus Arli.
Great circus performance with talented artists and funny clowns.
45 minutes before the season opening performance next to the Mill Hill in Fløng it was pouring rain. But at the same time that they turned on their street organ, the sun broke out, so that the audience could come dry into the tent. Photo: Ole Simonsen
"Where do you always find a good mood - here at Circus Arli". This is how Martin Arli's welcome song begins. And this year's performance fully lives up to the circus director's promise: an excellent and well-composed performance, featuring talented artists. Including several that we have not previously seen in a Danish circus.
The singing Martin Arli welcomes you. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
New this year is that the traditional clown entrée has been replaced by several good run-ins with Alexander Arli, in one run-in assisted by Sergey Polupan. And Martin Arli's cozy magic has been replaced by an illusion act with Jelena and Sergey Polupan.
Just like last year, the director couple has divided the tasks of presenting the acts between them: Bettina presents the first part of the performance and Martin take over after the interval.
The explanation is called Jamie and Noah, who are 3 and 4 years old respectively, and are Martin and Bettina's grandchildren, whom they often look after when their father Alexander is in the ring and his wife Tara Toya is at the theater. Tara is an actress and is currently performing in the musical Sound of Music. When it's over, she will be in the Lion Musical's production of Beauty and the Beast at the Royal Theater. Thus, Martin often looks after Jamie and Noah during the first part of the performance and grandma Bettina during the second part.
Only a few times during the performance do we meet Bettina and Martin Arli together in the ring. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
After Martin's welcome, Duo Polupan presents a nice illusion act. We know that Jelena is inside the box, but it's hard to understand how it can be done. After the "box number", the pair shows the well-known substitution trunk number, which always works well. Finally, a short juggling entrée, where Jelena swings around with luminous balls. Spectacular!
Where is Jelena Polupan hiding? Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
Next comes a short run-in with the trumpet player Alexander Arli.
Mr. Trumpet. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
Glenn Folco is new in a Danish circus ring. He has previously performed in major circuses such as Cirque d ’Hiver Bouglione in Paris, Blackpool Tower Circus in England, Gt. Yarmouth Hippodrome in England and Flic-Flac in Germany. It is great that the Arli family is now presenting him to the Danish audience.
Glenn Folco’s first entrée is a fine act in pole.
Can you walk in the air? Photo: Ole Simonsen
Next came the two young Gallingani Sisters, who are also new to a Danish circus ring. Nathalie and Shelby are 20 and 23 years old respectively. They come from Italy and are the daughters of Davide Gallingani and his wife Tatiana Caveagna. Under the stage name Davide Robert, Davide was with Arli in 2015. The daughters also were there, but they were not part of the performance in 2015. But they are in 2025, presenting an impressive hand-to-hand act that also features elements of contortion. It's great to see young talents in a Danish ring.
Two young rising stars. Photo: respectively Jacob Boas Leitisstein and Ole Simonsen
Now Alexander Arli entered the ring again and wanted to tap dance on a plate he had brought. But every time he started, the spotlight moved, so he had to move around in the ring. Finally, the spotlight hit one of the poles!
Alexander can actually tap dance! Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The next act was a similar act to the one Bettina Arli made her ring debut with years ago: a knife throwing act. This time, however, not with Bettina and Martin, but with Duo Montico, where the male partner, in addition to throwing knives, also shot with a crossbow. A little unconventionally, during several tricks, it was the female partner who moved to the right and left. Normally, the girl at the shooting target stands still. Their last trick was that the male partner, blindfolded, stood on a rotating plate and threw knives close to his partner. Duo Montico is also new in a Danish ring.
Throwing blindfolded from a rotating plate. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The first act after the interval was Davide Robert with a fine and daring rola bola performed on top of a 2-meter-high pedestal. 2025 is apparently a rola bola summer for the Danish circuses, as both Arena, Arli and Baldoni have such an act in the show. Since Baldoni has not yet premiered, I will leave it unsaid whose act is the best.
I wouldn’t dare! Photo: Ole Simonsen
David Robert was followed by a hula hoop act with Miss Teylor, the female partner in Duo Montico.
Hula hoop with Miss Teylor. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
"Do you want to see clowns?" Martin Arli asked. The answer was of course a resounding yes. And then Alexander Arli came into the ring together with Sergey Polupan in a moody and well-choreographed entrée as mini-clowns. An entrée where they used hands as feet. Similar acts have been seen before in other circuses, but as I remember never as a duo, which gave the act an extra twist.
Two small clowns. Photo: Ole Simonsen
This year's aerial act was a tissue act with the versatile Jelena Vasiljeva Polupan.
Queen of the air. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
Next, Alexander had a short comical juggling entrée where he wanted to show that he could have 9 balls in the air at once. When you see the performance, you will discover how he solves that task.
Alexander can juggle 3 balls. Can he also do it with 9 balls? Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The last act of the performance was a top act of international format: Glenn Folco with an excellent entrée as a tennis juggler. He started with a kind of devilstick juggling and ended up having 5 rackets in the air. By far the best tennis juggling act I have seen since Serge Percelly more than 20 years ago. Serge, who is son of the white-faced clown Bruno Stutz from Chicky & Co, retired due to shoulder problems several years ago. Today, Glenn Folco may be the world's best tennis juggler. Look forward to see him in Circus Arli!
Can he win a tennis championship? Photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. Click here to see more of Jacob's photos from the performance
You can look forward to this year's performance, which offers both talented artists and fun clowning. And proves that you can easily meet international star artists in a small circus like Arli.
Many circus directors visit each other when there is a premiere. Circus Arli was visited by, among others, Benny Berdino of Circus Arena and Carmen Rhodin of Swedish Circus Brazil Jack. Both have had the honourable job of being a member of the award jury at the circus festival in Monte Carlo twice. Photo: Ole Simonsen.
31 March 2025
New lighting in Circus Arena. Those who have already seen this year's performance may have noticed that Circus Arena has invested in a completely new digitally controlled lighting system. Gone are the 4 guys from Poland who climbed up each pole and controlled spotlights. Now it's all done digitally and with spotlights which follows a piece in the artists' costumes. This allows for much better beautiful lighting than in the old days. It has been rather costly say both Benny Berdino and his son Jackie. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
27 March 2025
Circus Arena's 70-year anniversary performance.
This year’s Arena performance is a great performance that deserves people to flock to the tent.
There are not many circuses that manage to survive for 70 years. And certainly not with a director who has been with them from the very beginning. But the Berdino family's Circus Arena has managed to survive and is today both the largest and oldest circus in the Nordic countries. And a circus that for many years has offered great performances with world-class international artists.
This year's performance will not disappoint those who love circus. And neither those who are not regular circus goers but want to see what you can experience in a circus tent. They will be wildly impressed!
Last year, the Danish circuses received support from the Ministry of Culture for the first time ever. As Benny Berdino writes in the printed program, it was a milestone for the circus' continued place in Danish cultural life and a recognition of the art they perform every day and the unique experience the circus gives its audience.
The 2024 grant was a one-off amount. We must hope that the circus in the future will get support that ensures that this part of Danish cultural heritage lives on. Just like the support which the Danish Parliament has given to ballet, opera and theatre. Without this support, we would have neither ballet nor opera in Denmark and only very few theatre performances. Cultural life in Denmark will be poorer if the circus becomes something that can only be experienced in a museum.
This year's Arena performance is presented, just like the 2024 performance, by Bubber and Malene Qvist. They do an excellent job. Malene is probably the best of the partners that Bubber has had as co-hosts in the ring over the years. Children today know and love Bubber as Arena's iconic ringmaster, just as previous generations remember Nelly Jane from Circus Benneweis and Werner Knipschildt from Schumann in the Copenhagen Circus Building. And by the way, remember something about Bubber and a bathtub …
35 years ago, Bubber was known from the children's TV program Sytten-nul-dut, which was popularly called Bubber's Bathtub. In 1991, he was first time featured in Circus Arena, which that year presented Circus under Water, and where Bubber came sailing into the waterfilled ring in his bathtub. For the rest of the 1990s, he was ringmaster at Arena. A task he returned to in 2019. Apart from the corona years 2020 and 2021, he has since been an indispensable part of the performances in Circus Arena. Photo: Ole Simonsen
The performance began with an illusion act, which according to the printed program was to be presented by Christoffer Eötvös. However, he was not present at the premiere performance at Bellahøj. The explanation is that he is part of the German Circus Krone’s winter performance in the circus building in Munich, where the season does not end until April 5. Christoffer performed on a stage in Circusland last year. It can be difficult to make a stage act work in a ring. The act that was shown at the premiere at Arena probably used some of Christoffer's props and offered great illusions, which unfortunately could be a bit difficult to see for the spectators who were not sitting in the middle of the parquet seats.
Magic in the ring – at least for those who were sitting in the parquet seats. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
Next, Malene and Bubber welcomed. The singing Malene came down a staircase from the orchestra stand wearing a beautiful red dress. And before I forget it: great praise to the well-playing 6-piece circus band!
Malene on the stairs. Photo: Ole Simonsen
The first acrobat act was the young Steven Ferreri with a great and extremely well-executed act on a tightwire. The act featured both backward and forward somersaults. Steven was also with Arena in 2023.
A master on a tightrope. Photo: Ole Simonsen
Next followed a short run-in with Circus Arena's long-time house clown Jimmy Folco, who wanted to be applauded when Bubber welcomed him into the ring. Bubber therefore had to send him back several times and encourage the audience to give more applause when Jimmy came back in. Including a standing ovation at the end at Bubber's request.
The versatile artists Leonardo and Vita Costache were with Arena for the first time in 2017. Their specialty is perch acts and aerial acts using mouth bites. This year is their 6th season at Arena, and they show an impressive perch act that first involves Leonardo climbing ladders while balancing a perch with Vita on the top on his forehead. Their entrée ended with Leonardo carrying a perch on his shoulders. A perch that has a 'wheel of death' on top in which Vita rides. Very spectacular when the act ends with lights in the wheel and Vita's costume!
Duo
Costache. Photos by Ole Simonsen and Jacob Boas Leitisstein, respectively.
Circus Arena no longer has its own animals, but instead rents them from other circuses. Last year, some were disappointed by the fact that there were no horses in the performance. That's why this year they have rented 6 beautiful Friesian horses from the Swedish Circus Olympia. They were presented by Karsten Berdino, who has been on a short training stay in Olympia's winter quarters to get to know the horses.
This year there were horses in the ring. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The next act in the ring was with an artist we have never met in Denmark before. And with an act we have never seen before. It was French William Tournoud, who performed rola bola on a swinging platform. However, he showed the last tricks while the platform wasn’t moving.
Rola bola on a swinging platform has never before been seen Denmark. Photos respectively Jacob Boas Leitisstein and Ole Simonsen
Then followed a short wild west run-in with the feathered Jimmy Folco and his whip-wielding wife Claudia. The gag where Jimmy ends up losing all his feathers. By the way: Jimmy and Claudia had a silver wedding anniversary last year.
Jimmy Folco before he loses his feathers. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The last act before the break was two members of the Ortiz troupe in wheel of death which achieved great speed. In the last half of the act, one ran on the outside of the wheel, while the other functioned as an 'engine' inside his wheel. The outside man mastered both skipping, blindfolded running and some deadly jumps, although not with somersaults.
Wild jumps on the wheel. Photo: Ole Simonsen
Just before the break, a nice box of candy was raffled off. This happened when Malene, with her back to him, directed Bubber around the rows in the grandstand. Bubber was carrying his 2-year-old daughter Rosa on his arm at the same time. Photo: Ole Simonsen
After an about 20-minute break, the young Swedish artist David Hammarberg came into the ring, riding a camel. Using a rope, he climbed up to a rope which ends were attached to the circus dome, so that the rope hung down in a V-shape. He then showed a number in what is called cloud swing, where the artist swings on the rope and repeatedly lets himself fall, catching the rope with his feet or doing a somersault. Today, a relatively rare discipline. The last time we saw it at Arena was probably in 1986. In previous seasons at Arena, the versatile David Hammarberg has performed in tissue and bungee trapeze. It's great that this year he's showing us something we rarely see. To end the act, Karsten Berdino came into the ring with 3 camels, which like the horses, are rented from the Swedish Circus Olympia.
It has been almost 40 years since we last saw cloud swing in Arena's ring. Photos respectively Jacob Boas Leitisstein and Ole Simonsen
During the break, Malene Qvist had changed into a blue dress. Bubber teased her that she could then be called Madam Blue, which as the older members of the audience know is the name of an old-fashioned coffee pot. Malene rather wanted to be little Miss Himmelblå. Together with Bubber she sang Gitte Hænning's and Dirch Passer's old hit about Miss Himmelblå.
Little Miss Himmelblå, put on your crooked hat … Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
Now the young juggler Michael Ferreri came into the ring and juggled with balls, the number of which increased and increased every time a ball fell from a box under the circus dome. Like his brother Steven Ferreri, he was with Arena in 2023. He mastered having 9 balls in the air at once. An attempt to manage 10 balls failed at the premiere, but will undoubtedly succeed many times during the season.
Not easy to keep all the balls in the air … Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
Jimmy Folco has been known and sometimes criticized for dragging spectators into the ring. This year he managed without any helpers other than Mrs. Claudia. The couple's last entrée in the performance was the well-known restaurant gag, where Jimmy was supposed to serve his guest Claudia. I'm hardly giving anything away by revealing that Jimmy ended up getting a custard pie in his head. After throwing spaghetti pieces on the heads of spectators in ringside chairs!
At the restaurant in the ring. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The next artist in the ring was the only 15-year-old Gabriel Della'Acqua, who presented a very strong handstand act which also featured hand jumps up platforms that formed a staircase. After the number, he received a well-deserved spontaneous standing ovation. He must be an obvious candidate for nomination for this year's talent award from the Danish Circus Award. In 2022, he won gold at the European Youth Circus festival in Wiesbaden.
Gabriel Della’Acqua – a rising star! Photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
The last act of the show was the 7-man high wire troupe Los Ortiz. They were also at Arena in 2023, where the Danish Circus Award gave them the prize for the best act of the year. As in 2023, they ended the entrée with the famous 7-man pyramid, where artists in 3 levels cross the wire. Impressive! In 2023, as I remember, the poles for the wire act were put up next to the king poles to the right and left of the artist entrance. This year they set up so that the wire spans across the ring, which is an advantage compared to the 2023 set-up.
Los Ortiz got the prize for best act of the year 2 years ago. Photos: Jacob Boas Leitisstein
In the finale of the premiere performance, Bubber mentioned that the man behind it all, Benny Berdino, has been with Circus Arena for all 70 years. A deeply moved Benny Berdino thanked and also expressed a warm thank you to his children Suzanne and Jackie Berdino.
Benny Berdino has been with Circus Arena ever since his father started it in 1955. Benny was 8 years old at the time. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. Click here to see more of Jacob's photos from the performance
This year's Arena performance is a great performance that deserves to have people flock to the tent. But such a performance is expensive to produce and tour with. We must hope for political understanding for the need of support in some form. Otherwise, we risk that it will be the last time we in Denmark can experience a performance like Arena's.
24 March 2025
Circus Merano finally back. Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo writes (my translation from Norwegian):
The last season for the Norwegian National Circus Merano was 2014.
Now back in a completely new form and a completely new format. Adapted for 2025. In a new tent with an elevated ring for the first time in Norway. A concept that has been well tested in other countries such as Denmark with Arli, Baldoni and Nemo.
Merano in a new 28-meter tent, only chairs in the box and grandstand with 650 seats. A completely new Merano adapted to today's times. Light crew cars, few transports cut expenses and the use of many drivers. Technicians.
Circus
Merano's new tent. All photos: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo
Merano for the first time without a live band but technically very good sound and good music arrangements directed by Lasse Nørager. His daughter Julia Myllykangas was responsible for the lighting design.
A well-composed and varied performance with several good artists put on stage by Christian Hofer. Duration 1 hour and 55 minutes with a 20 minute break. The feeling of genuineness from Merano's glory days is still there. Fewer four-legged artists but high quality of those who are involved.
Christian Hofer, also known as the clown Don Christian, together with this
year's clown Tonito, who is the son of the clown Toni Alexis and brother of
Totti Alexis
Merano's red nose this year is the clown Tonito, who introduces while the audience is on their way in. Finally puts on his make-up in the ring in front of the audience. Good reception from the audience throughout the performance, a clear favourite. Particularly good on both trumpet and saxophone. And playful dog act with Elvis.
Tonita
with the dog Elvis
Merano has always opened with a fantastic light show at most of its performances.
This year with luminous drones performed by the artist Lugo who has worked with Zirkus Flic Flac and Circus Charles Knie in Germany.
Darwin Pellergini tempo juggler with real tempo, a very good artistic start at Merano 2025.
Kimberly Zavatta in aerial straps, some of the best I have seen in many years in this discipline in Norway. Somewhat dark lighting otherwise very well done. Noticed that the audience liked what they saw.
As part of the act, Kimberly Zavatta also hangs in her teeth using a mouth bite
Stefania Jarz with a classic foot juggler act with balls and scarfs. Up to 5 balls at once, impressive.
Nicol Nicols on a tight line with forward and backward somersault as highlights, also here some weak lighting. Something I expect will be improved.
20 minute break, the audience can use the circus's 2 well-stocked kiosks.
The clown Tonito in cooperation Stefania, quick change act at a very high tempo. Very good direction with dance steps and a high humour factor. Here the lighting and music were absolutely perfect to the great enthusiasm of the audience.
I would say that Sanger's dog act is a living legend in the circus. Has worked at all the major European circuses. One of the very best dog acts to be found. Lots of laughter and joy among the audience. Clearly one of many favourites in this year's Merano program.
Lugo with a laser show, best suited for the youth in the audience. Flames, laser lights, smoke and loud music. Something that has not been shown in Norway before.
Nicol and Kimberly with crossbow act at a high tempo. Great costumes and good lighting. Kimberly worked in a hanging pole and hanging by teeth. Both roses and balloons were hit as they should.
The clown Tonito ends it all with his Elvis parody, good one. Grand finale with dancing artists and presentation of a the performers.
Unusually in Norwegian circus, Dir. Knut Dahl did not present the performance. His voice is recorded and played back in the introduction of the show and in the finale.
Merano 2025 is a circus show of the time, nice variation artistically. The lighting at the premiere was probably something that has been worked on for the better in the future.
Just coming out with a brand-new circus in such a relatively short time deserves great respect.
Hereby recommended to see the Norwegian National Circus Merano 2025.
Grand Finale
Among the audience at the premiere were Swedes Bengt Kallquist, Anton Frank, Helena Schicht, Ingo Stiebner. From Finland Kalle Jernstrøm of Circus Finlandia with wife. Guests from English circus. Roy Bjerke, former Merano artist and secretary. And many more in a packed tent with standing ovation in the finale.
Circus owner Knut Dahl
21 March 2025
Cirkus Trapez 2025. The small Jutland circus writes (my translation):
Come into the world of magic and adventure when Cirkus Trapez invites you inside the tent for this year's performance 2025 "What a Circus"
This year's performance is about our sweet clown Gabor's journey into the magical world of the circus and offers impressive acrobatics, fast-paced juggling of a special class, beautiful aerial acts, beautiful Swiss shepherd dogs (which in 2017 won the prize for the best circus act of the year in Denmark), parrots, horses, ponies and much more. Of course, our popular and lovable clown Gabor will also come into the ring with brand new clown run-ins which will make both young and old smile and laugh.
You can start looking forward to a magical and adventurous circus experience for the whole family. Our Denmark tour starts on April 16 in Tønder, after which we again this year will tour both Jutland, Funen, Lolland-Falster and Zealand until September 14.
The
prize-winning dog act mentioned is Rafaela Honden's act with large, white Swiss
shepherd dogs, who clearly love being in the ring. In 2017, Rafaella toured with
Circus Mascot, where she also performed with parrots and with a comic horse act.
18 March 2025
Circus Brazil Jack 2025. The large Swedish circus, which calls itself the world's oldest touring circus, opens the season April 18 at the Mill Square next to the castle in Malmö. They will stay in Malmö until April 27. The Mill Square is located about a 20-minute walk from Malmö Central Station.
Circus director Trolle Rhodin III presents this year's performance as follows (my translation):
Circus Brazil Jack, the world's oldest touring circus, is back with a new, spectacular show filled with nerve-wracking acts and magical moments. An animal-free show with amazing artists who defy the impossible!
Hold your breath as Trolle Rhodin presents the human cannonball shot through the air! Be fascinated by incredible acrobatics, where bodies swirl in a symphony of strength and agility both on the ground and in the air. Watch the juggler play with gravity in a captivating dance of speed and precision. Hear the roar of the engines as the driver of the death globe challenges fate in a daring explosion of skill!
In our star-studded tent, a show filled with laughter, excitement and pure circus magic awaits - an evening you will never forget!
The show run for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes including a 20-minute intermission.
The Globe of Death is always an audience favorite. In 2024, the Diorios troupe was the last act in Circus Brazil Jack with 4 riders in the globe. Also in 2025, you can experience the Globe of Death at Circus Brazil Jack.
The names of the performers will be announced in the beginning of April.
Brazil Jack, whose civil name was Carl Max Alexander Rhodin, started his circus in 1899. However, it has not toured every year. The current Circus Brazil Jack has, apart from the corona years, toured every year since 1982. It is currently run by Brazil Jack's great-grandson Trolle Rhodin III and is Sweden's largest circus.
There are two other Swedish circuses: the medium-sized Circus Olympia, which is run by the Bengtsson family, and the small Circus Rhodin, which is run by Trolle III's aunt Diana Rhodin. In addition, there are 2 small German-owned family circuses that usually tour Sweden: Circus Popcorn and Circus Bambino.
16 March 2025
Horses and camels in Circus Arena. Previously, Circus Arena had many animals, which were partly used in the performance and partly hired out to other circuses. However, it became more and more difficult to hire out the animals, and they have to be fed and cared for, even if they end up staying at home in the stables in the winter quarters in Aarslev. That is why Circus Arena sold their animals a few years ago, and instead rented animals for their performances. This year, the animals – 6 horses and 4 camels – come from the Swedish Circus Olympia, which is known for having beautiful and well-groomed animals. Both for their own use and for rental. The horses and camels are presented in Circus Arena by Karsten Berdino, who has presented Arena's own horses several times before. Incidentally, this is not the first time a Danish circus has rented animals from Circus Olympia. Circus Benneweis rented camels from Olympia in 2014 and Tinkerhorses in 2015.
In 2023, Karsten Berdino presented Circus Arena's Arabian horses. Photo: Jacob Boas Leitisstein. This year, the horses come from the Swedish Circus Olympia.
16 March 2025
Zirkus Nemo. It appears from the Danish Gazette Statstidende from March 13 that the Maritime and Commercial Court's bankruptcy court by decree of March 10, 2025 has taken ZIRKUS NEMO ApS under bankruptcy proceedings based on a petition received on February 13, 2025. Attorney Morten Bøgenskjold, Algade 55, 3., 4000 Roskilde, has been appointed as trustee. Morten Bøgenskjold is a partner in the law firm Njord. Anyone who has a claim against the debtor is invited to notify the estate's trustee of their claim, calculated as of the date of bankruptcy, within 4 weeks of the announcement in the Official Gazette. The notification should be accompanied by documentation for the claim.
Zirkus Nemo announced on February 18 that they had been declared bankrupt, even though the formal bankruptcy decree was not issued until March 10.
14 March 2025
★★★★★☆
Circus of Torment. The first circus premiere in Denmark in 2025 was March 13, when the Dutch-owned Circus of Torment opened the season at Trianglen in Copenhagen. With a performance that certainly does not resemble the family-friendly performances we know from Danish circuses. Circus of Torment describes their performance as follows:
“In this horror circus, the tormented soul of the late circus director Alexander Ferluci returns from the dead. But he is not alone! Together with his former artists, they haunt the darkness within their cursed Big Top! Travel back to a dark time and experience the spectacular freak show where eerie fortune tellers, insane acrobats and terrifying clowns get you on the edge of your seat…”
Circus of Torment on the lot at Trianglen in Copenhagen
If you love a classic circus performance and actually think that the performances you saw 20 years ago were better than today, the performance at Circus of Torment is hardly for you. The same applies if you think that a circus performance is something you should see with a child or grandchild in your hand.
But if you like the Halloween atmosphere and want to see what a circus also can be, a visit to Circus of Torment is an experience. They themselves write that the performance is not suitable for children under 12 years old. I would set the age limit a little higher and think that the primary target group is young people from their twenties to mid-thirties. An age group that would otherwise not visit a circus. That is why Circus of Torment is not a competitor to the Danish circuses.
Before the actual performance, there is a kind of pre-show CarnEvil outside the tent.
In the small 2-pole tent there are two ticket categories: RIP tickets, where the audience sits on chairs around the small circular stage, and regular tickets, where the audience is placed on five rows of benches, where only the back one has a backrest. At einlass the VIP audience is let in first for a short pre-show, before the other visitors are let into the dimly lit tent in groups. This makes the einlass procedure a bit time-consuming, but contributes to creating a very special atmosphere right from the start. There is room for 250 spectators in the tent.
In the dark tent you are surrounded by scary freaks, psychopathic artists and murderous clowns, who are certainly not afraid to get very close to the audience.
As is usual in contemporary circus performances, the performance should be seen as a whole and not a show that focuses on the individual artists, who are not presented by name either. There is no ringmaster.
However, this does not change the fact that the performance offers good artist acts. With several artists who have also performed in traditional circuses.
The recurring character is a skilled mime artist with several good entrées as a comic magician. Including an entrée where he takes an audience member up on stage, without it seeming embarrassing.
A girl with a hair hanging combines her act with contortion. An exciting combination that I have not seen before.
From the world of fairs we meet fire-eaters, one of whom returns as a fakir and a sword swallower and ends up pulling a girl up a trapeze using a hook through his nose.
A juggler, who is presented as insane, bounces his balls down onto his podium.
A diabolo juggler, who manages to get 3 diabolos into the air at once.
A duo presents a great and very fast-paced roller-skating act.
One of the last acts in show is the well-known knife-throwing entrée, where a clown put a blindfolded spectator in front of the shooting target, and where it is the clown's partner who punctures the balloons. If the show were to be tightened up a bit, in my opinion that entrée could be omitted without major damage.
All the performers has an impressively good make-up, see photos. Apart from the photo from the finale, all artist photos are press photos from Circus of Torment, as photography is not allowed during the show.
From the finale just after the circus director Alexander Ferluci has hanged himself. Maybe a slightly macabre way to end the show.
As mentioned, the artists are not introduced by name. However, David Sosman has given me the names of the lead performers: forces:
Hair Hanging - Alénee Aisha, who is also the fakir's partner in the fire-eating act.
Juggling - David Sosman. The Danes have previously seen him in Circus Dannebrog and in Circus Trapez, which is owned by his mother Isabella Enoch Sosman.
Contortion – Juma
Mime artist - Kevinski Gorczyński
Diaboli - Michaël Betrian, who is also the owner of Circus of Torment. The Danes have previously seen him in Circus Dannebrog and in Circus Trapez.
Fakir - Zeno Sputafuoco
Roller skates - Skating Nistorov. At Circus of Torment they are a duo. In 2017, the Swedes experienced them as a trio in Circus Olympia. They have also performed in the famous Cirque d’Hiver in Paris
Circus director and other roles - Nigel Vos
The lighting is impressive, and there is a smooth and elegant transition between the individual acts. A number of monsters running around in the audience also act as props. Impressive that they can do it in the dim lighting.
I usually don’t give review stars to circus performances in Denmark. But there is so much innovation and exciting elements in the performance in Circus of Torment that for once I deviate from my principle. So, five well-deserved stars!
After Copenhagen, Circus of Torment visits Odense, Vejle and Aarhus. See more in What’s on.
11 March 2025
More artists for Circus Arnardo. The Norwegian circus has announced some more names of performers in this year's performance. Several of the artists are the same as those that the Danes have just experienced in Cirkus Trapez's winter performance.
The clown of the year is Rudi Brukson, who, as at Cirkus Trapez, is assisted in his entrées by his wife Irina Skuratova. As at Trapez, the couple's two children are also part of the Arnardo performance: their son, the juggler Rico Brukson and their daughter Elena Brukson, who performs in tissue.
There are several recurring “performers” characters from Trapez, namely 6 cats and 6 ferrets. At Trapez, they were presented by Swetlana Roslyakova. At Arnardo, they are presented by her daughter Anelya Roslyakova, as Swetlana will be the nanny for Anelya's oldest daughter, who is 4 years old and going to school in France. In 2014, the Danes experienced Anelya and her ferrets at Circus Benneweis.
In addition to the Brukson family and Anelya's entrées with cats and ferrets, the show features a completely newly developed magic and illusion act with the director couple Are and Paola Anardo. Are's grandfather, the Circus King Arne Arnardo, was Norway's most famous magician.
The director couple's son Arne Otto Luigi Folco Arnardo is 25 years old and named after his great-grandfather Arne Arnardo. Last year he performed with a diabolo. For 2025 he has developed a completely new act.
As in 2024, the show features Kevin Probst and his parrots. Last year he also presented a dog act. This year his girlfriend Isabelle Hostettler is presenting the dog act.
Kevin Probst with parrots. Photo: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo
In addition to the artists mentioned, the performance features Alina Malko in flying pole. That is, a pole that is free from the surface and hangs in the air.
In the upcoming season, Circus Arnardo will use their iconic 4-pole blue tent, which was last used in 2019. It has a diameter of 30 or 32 meters. It is larger than Circus Merano's tent, which has a diameter of 28 meters. From 2021 to 2024, Circus Arnardo used Kevin Probst's white tent, which has a diameter of 26 meters. The third Norwegian circus, Circus Agora, uses a tent with a diameter of 24 meters. The last Norwegian circus, Sirkus Jesper, which is located stationary in Kristiansand Zoo, has a tent with a diameter of 21.6 meters. The photo above shows Arnardo's tent at the 2018 premiere, where there was snow on the lot in Arendal. Photographer: Thorbjørn Klæbo Flo.
10 March 2025
Jimmy and Jeremy Enoch in Britain's Got Talent. In the Danish talent program Danmark har Talent, which was broadcast from 2014 to 2019, the participants were Danish. The broadcasts were built on the concept of the English Got Talent, which is still used in England as well as in a number of other countries. In several countries with participants who do not come from the country in question. Recently, Jimmy Enoch and his son Jeremy have been part of this year's edition of Britain's Got Talent with Jimmy's glass balance act on a unicycle.
Jimmy
Enoch with glass balance. Photo from performance in Enoch' Circus Show week 7 at
Rosengaardcentret in Odense.
9 March 2025
Circus Rhodin 2025. Diana Rhodin's small Swedish Circus Rhodin will open the season in the Malmö suburb of Aakarp on April 12 at 4 p.m. During the Easter holidays, they will have performances in Malmö at the lot next to the shopping centre Mobilia.
The main character of the show is, just like in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the clown Dimo. He comes from Bulgaria.
Dimo the Clown
Circus director Diana Rhodin presents her dog act – little stars with great charm. From Finland comes Duo Baer, who has two acts: one with hand-to-hand/adagio acrobatics and one with acrobatics in a prop with rotating rings. Sometimes called a lollipop, as the shape can be reminiscent of a giant lollipop. Totti and Rhea are educated at Lahti Circus Education Finland, where they completed the 3-year education in January 2024.
Click here to watch a 1-minute video teaser from their acts.
The Wolf family, who also was with Circus Rhodin in 2022, also has two acts: formation juggling and ladder balance combined with juggling with torches. The young Danish aerial acrobat Nynne Hulsig Samuelsen shows a newly developed act with aerial acrobatics under a sparkling crystal chandelier. In addition to the above, the performance features a hula-hoop entrée.
Wolf family as jugglers
7 March 2025
Circus of Torment 2025. Circus of Torment presented horror circus performances in Vejle and Aalborg in February 2023. In the fall of 2023, they were back with performances in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Odense. This year, they are back in Denmark with performances in Copenhagen, Odense, Vejle and Aarhus with a premiere in Copenhagen on March 13. They write:
The Circus of Torment is a unique, spectacular and international live horror show experience created by Dark Thrills Entertainment.
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! Take your place around the specially designed centre stage that gives a unique 360 degree view of the terrifying action. Feel the thrills and chills come alive all around you as the entities of this cursed domain take the stage.
Be a part of the show, and witness international artists from all over Europe perform their incredible and dangerous circus acts in this immersive horror show. Witness the pain and experience the torment!
Circus of Torment invites you in for a show you will never forget…
About the performance in Aalborg 2023, the digital media migogaalborg wrote “Perfect combination of thrills, 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".
In the Circus of Torment's 2-pole tent there is a small circular stage
surrounded by 2 rows of chairs and a grandstand with 6 rows of benches. Photo
from Odense October 2023
First 2025 performance in Denmark is in Copenhagen at Trianglen on Thursday, March 13. As some circus friends may remember, Circus Dannebrog used the lot at Trianglen for many years when they visited Copenhagen. But from 2011 the lot at Trianglen could not be used due to the metro construction. When Circus of Torment put up their tent at Trianglen, it is 15 years since a circus last time used the lot. But there is a world of difference between Circus Dannebrog's classic family-friendly performances and the performances in Circus of Torment, whose primary target group is young people. They write that the experience is not suitable for
younger audiences, and that the recommended minimum age is 12 years.
In England, Germany and the Netherlands, you have been able to see horror circuses for a number of years. With Circus of Torment's visit to Denmark in 2023, it was the first time we experienced a real horror circus in Denmark. A horror circus mixes horror with black humor, rock music or horror film-inspired electronic music and artistry.
Circus of Torment is produced by Dark Thrills Entertainment with Dutchman Michaël Betrian as CEO. Danes were able to see his diabolo act in Circus Dannebrog in 2014 and in Circus Trapez in 2021. David Sosman has the task as Gustavo, the insane juggler.
David Sosman as Gustavo, the insane juggler. He is son of Isabelle Enoch Sosman
and grandson of the late Haddy Enoch
5 March 2025
Circus Olympia. Circus Olympia is Sweden's second largest circus and present a classic circus performance with many animals: horses, goats and dogs.
The 2025 season will open 5 April in Oskarström.
Cirkus
Olympia's tent has a diameter of 28 meters and room for 600 spectators. Press
photo from Circus Olympia. Photographer Linda Himsel
Cirkus Olympia presents this year's performance as follows (my translation):
A circus performance is always a collective achievement, but it is important for Circus Olympia always to offer some exciting new acts which never before has been seen in Sweden. This year it is Team JanShow from Ukraine who will perform two unique bicycle acts... One in a romantic style and the other a troupe act at a high tempo. No circus without a clown and this year Clown Tumpy from Chile is back to make children of all ages laugh.
Frida Evelina Persson is an international aerial acrobat from Sweden, trained in Spain where she has also worked as an artist in major international productions, including those produced by Cirque Soleil. This year she will perform pole acrobatics. From South America comes the tempo juggler Rafael Gil. Guerreros will perform with an exciting and beautiful springboard act. Circus Olympia's own horses and dogs of course have their obvious place in this year's performance. This year Niklas Bengtsson will present his beautiful ponies and Henrika Bengtsson will present the Circus Patrol, i.e. her mischievous and playful dogs. Natascha Jarz has trained a brand-new act with goats from the 4H farm in Malmö.
Circus Olympia is characterized by traditional circus entertainment for the whole family, framed by beautiful music and modern show technology.
Team
JanShow. Press photo from Circus Olympia
The 2025 program looks like this:
Musical overture
Team JanShow, Bicycle acrobats
The clown Tumpy
The circus patrol - Henrika Bengtsson with dogs
Ester in trapeze
Paul, guitar solo
Rafael Gil, tempo juggler
The clown Tumpy
INTERVAL
Overture
Niklas Bengtsson - with ponies
The clown Tumpy
The Guerrero family, springboard acrobats
Natascha Jarz - with playful goats
Frida Evelina Persson - Pole acrobatics
The clown Tumpy
Team JanShow, BMX stunt bikes
Grand Finale
The clown Tumpy was also at Circus Olympia in 2024. Smartphone photo, taken by Jörgen Börsch.
In 2023, Frida Evelina Persson worked in tissue and in 2024 in aerial ring. This year she will do pole acrobatics. Press photo from Circus Olympia. Photographer Emelie Kindblad
3 March 2025
Circus Merano 2025. Knut Dahl's Norwegian Circus Merano has been on hold since 2014. But this year they are going on tour again with a brand-new tent, grandstand and other equipment. The tent is a 2-pole tent, probably with a diameter of 28 meters, i.e. smaller than the old Merano tent and the same size as the Swedish Circus Olympia’s tent. There is national premiere in Fredrikstad on Friday, March 14. While the other two Norwegian circuses Arnardo and Agora stick to the southern part of the country, it is probably Knut Dahl's plan also to visit cities in the northern part of Norway, where it has been several years since the last was visited by a circus.
Circus Merano’s new tent. Photo from Knut Dahl’s Facebook page where he writes: “Cirkus Meranos brand new tent is shining like a diamond to the evening sun in Fredrikstad. A magic moment for a circus veteran. Absolutely fantastic! I never thought I should experience this again. Looking forward for tomorrow when my grandchildren Kevin and Mathias arrive. They have never seen a real circus before, unbelievable it will be grandfathers Cirkus Merano.”
In the performance you will meet the following artists:
Tonita Alexis, also known as Clown Tonito. He is born in 1992 in Düren, Germany and is son of the clown Toni Alexis and brother of the clown Totti Alexis. Tonito Alexsis shares both the ring and life with Stefania Jarz, who also is part of this year's Merano performance.
The tightwire acrobat Nicol Nicols, who in addition to performing on a tight trope present a crossbow act together with his wife
Kimberly. Nicol Nicols toured Denmark in 2007 with Circus Dannebrog. In 2016, he toured Sweden with the Circus Brazil Jack.
Kimberly Zavatta present an act in aerial straps in addition to the crossbow act. For her act, she received a bronze medal in the New Generation category in Monte Carlo in 2023.
Darwin Pellegrini comes from Italy and is a tempo juggler. He juggles, among other things, with "cigar boxes" with lights in them.
Stefania Jarz is a foot juggler. In addition to this act, she presents a quick change act together with her partner Tonito Alexis.
Mike Sanger's dog show is a comic dog act. Mike Freeman Sanger is one of the veterans of the circus world. His act is inspired by the act Old Regnas, which his father Patrick Freeman presented and which his older brother Peter Freeman took over after his father's death. Mike Sanger performed at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens in 1998. In 2010, he presented his comic dog act at the Open-Air Stage in the amusement park Bakken north of Copenhagen in connection with Benny Schumann's clown show, just as he was part of Benny Schumann's winter performance in Elsinore Shopping Mall in 2011. In 2012, he toured with the Swedish Circus Maximum. Mike Sanger is assisted by his wife Pascale.
In 2007, Mike
Sanger published the book Two Dogs, a Donkey and a Frenchwoman: The Life, Legacy
and Adventures of a Traveling Canine Comedy Act about his life in the circus
world
Duo Lugo presents a laser show. Circus Merano writes that it is the first time such an act has been seen in Norway.
2 March 2025
Obituary: Björn Gammals. The Grand Old Man of Finnish juggling Björn Gammals, who performed under the artist name Henrico, has passed away at the age of 89. In addition to performing as a juggler, he was for many years PR manager for the large Finnish Circus Finlandia, where he was both the practical person outside the ring and stood in the ring and showed his skills as a master juggler. Björn Gammals was also a passionate collector.
In Denmark, Henrico and his then partner and wife Briitta could be seen on the variety show Lorry August 1953. In Norway, he has performed in Circus Löwe and in Sweden in Circus Ray Miller. In addition, he performed from 1951 and many years later on variety shows etc. across most of Europe and participated in several television programs.
Henrico in front of part of his collection
Henrico.
Photo from Circus Ray
Miller's 1971 program