Circus

A circus is most commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals, and other novelty acts and the word also describes the performance that they give. A circus is held in a oval or circular arena with tiered seating around its circumference; in the case of traveling circuses this location is most often a large tent.

The circus performance

A circus performance is led by a ringmaster who has a role similar to a Master of Ceremonies, the ringmaster presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the show moving. The activity of the circus takes place within a ring; large circuses may have multiple rings, like the six ringed Moscow State Circus. A circus traditionally has its own band.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Circus acts

The scope and variety of human performance in circus is immense. Common acts include a variety of acrobatics and gymnastics including tightrope walking, trapeze and a variety of floor routines. Juggling is also a common act in circuses; the combination of juggling and gymnastics is called equilibristics and include acts like plate spinning or the rolling globe.

Related Topics:
Acrobatics - Gymnastics - Tightrope walking - Trapeze - Juggling - Equilibristics - Plate spinning - Rolling globe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Clowns are common to most circuses and are typically skilled in many circus acts,;"clowns getting into the act" is a very familiar theme in any circus. Famous circus clowns have included Austin Miles, the Fratellini Family, Emmett Kelly, Grock and Bill Irwin.

Related Topics:
Clown - Austin Miles - Fratellini Family - Emmett Kelly - Grock - Bill Irwin

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Daredevil stunt acts and sideshow acts are also parts of some circus acts, these activities may include human cannonball, chapeaugraphy, fire eating, breathing and dancing, knife throwing, magic shows, sword swallowing or strongman. Famous sideshow performers include Zip the Pinhead and The Doll Family. A popular sideshow attraction from the early 19th century was the flea circus, where fleas were attached to props and viewed through a Fresnel lens.

Related Topics:
Stunt acts - Sideshow acts - Human cannonball - Chapeaugraphy - Fire eating - Breathing - Dancing - Knife throwing - Magic shows - Sword swallowing - Strongman - Zip the Pinhead - The Doll Family - Flea circus - Fresnel lens

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Animal acts

A variety of animals have historically been used in cicrus acts. While the types of animals used varies from circus to circus, big cats, elephants, horses, birds and domestic animals are the most common.

Related Topics:
Big cat - Elephant - Horse - Bird

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mabel Stark was a famous female tiger-tamer.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The use of animals in the circus has been a matter for controversy, as animal welfare groups have discovered many instances of cruelty used in the training of perfrming anmials. Some countries and cities have banned circuses with animal acts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~