THE BALLOON MAN

Monday, December 3, 2012

Remembering Netta

by Leigh Ketchum·

Published on Dec 2, 2012

For Netta MacMahon - an irreplaceable friend - gone too soon

Letters: Ringling Bros.' side
from: latimes.com
December 2, 2012
Re "No more curtain calls for elephants," Editorial, Nov. 26

The L.A. City Council's proposed ban on elephants in traveling shows, which The Times supports, is really based on the rhetoric of animal rights activists who oppose all animals in captivity and in entertainment. At a recent City Council committee hearing, so-called experts who are known animal activists were allowed to provide extensive testimony, while veterinary experts from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey were given mere minutes to make public comments.

The proposed ban would deny more than 100,000 L.A. circus fans their choice to see these magnificent animals in a way they can experience nowhere else.

Our Asian elephants are ambassadors for their species in the wild, where they are highly endangered. Ringling Bros. employs a staff of expert veterinarians. The animal care staff at all our circuses and at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation provide round-the-clock care for all our animals. There are multiple layers of government regulations to protect the welfare of animals, including those already in place in Los Angeles. In fact, Ringling Bros. was inspected by local and federal officials on five different occasions during the week our circus was in L.A. this summer.

We hope the City Council will see past the false rhetoric of the animal rights extremists and vote against this ban.

Stephen Payne
Vienna, Va.
The writer is vice president for corporate communications at Ringling Bros. parent company, Feld Entertainment.

'Cirque Dreams Holidaze' a seasonal spectacular
The touring show will be presented Wednesday night at the Embassy Theatre.

The Embassy Theatre is the venue for one performance of "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" on Wednesday. The show features aerial acts, acrobatics and more, with performers dressed as ornaments.
(Courtesy photo)
The touring show will be presented Wednesday night at the Embassy Theatre.
By Cindy Larson of The News-Sentinel
from: news-sentinel.com
Monday, December 3, 2012
Fort Wayne, IN---There's so much going on in “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” it should hold even a preschooler's attention.
That's what the show's creator and director, Neil Goldberg, believes. Goldberg has created a dazzling theatrical production with acrobats, aerialists and elaborate costumes — a “landscape of holiday wonderment,” according to a news release. The show will be in town for one performance Wednesday at the Embassy Theatre.
Asked if the show was a Christmas show or a holiday show, Goldberg, speaking by phone from Florida, said it was both.
“This is a theatrical experience that celebrates Christmas and the winter season,” he said.

Every performer plays the role of several different ornaments, such as this toy soldier marching on a wire, in the "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" show being performed Wednesday night at the Embassy Theatre.
(Courtesy photo)
That didn't stop him from developing a fascination with Christmas ornaments as a kid. He started a collection at a young age while walking home from Hebrew day school. He would collect discarded ornaments and tinsel from Christmas trees that had been put out to the trash.
“My mother wasn't thrilled,” he said. She let him keep the ornaments while throwing out the tinsel.
That initial interest turned into his own personal collection of more than 10,000 ornaments.
“It was just a fascination with the art form, not a religious thing,” he said of his fondess for “colorful, sparkly” ornaments.

Neil Goldberg, front, created the "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" show.
(Courtesy photo)
That fascination inspired his whole vision of “Cirque Dreams Holidaze,” he said. The 32 performers play the role of several different ornaments throughout the show.
When the curtain comes up, the performers are surrounding and suspended over a 30-foot tall steel tree in a landscape of gift boxes. “The 'oohs' and 'aahs' continue for the next two hours,” Goldberg said.
The show is a combination of acrobatics, live singing, choreographed dancing, contortionists and more.
read more:
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121203/ENT/121139969/1009

Circus Flora:
A Child's Christmas in Wales

Presented by the Whitaker Foundation
Sponsored by PNC Bank and Marilyn and Sam Fox
Alastair Willis, conductor
Back by popular demand! Circus Flora returns to Powell Hall to collaborate with the STL Symphony in high-wire holiday fun for the family. We welcome back all your favorites including the gravity-defying Flying Wallendas Inspired by Dylan Thomas’s heartwarming poem, it’s Christmas, with a circus twist!

Tightrope Walkers Find Balance in Brussels, Belgium

Description:Thirty tightrope walkers tread carefully to maintain balance while sharing the same cable. Arranged by the Brussels Circus School, the balancing act was an unofficial record at an international tightrope walker and jugglers convention in the Belgian capital. It was the 25th such event for some 100 jugglers.(1:11)

Source: Reuters

Bridgeworthy: Cavalia is a Magical Mixture of Cirque, Equestrian Artistry, Acrobatics, and Music

Cavalia soars with its signature 110-foot-tall "White Big Top".

Posted by eCoronado

December 2, 2012

It was a short 5 minute drive from Coronado to being transported to the magical world of Cavalia. Under the "White Big Top" next to Petco Park, Cavalia has galloped into San Diego with a surreal encounter between horses and humans. Much more than a "circus", Cavalia delivered a stunning multimedia landscape where two and four-legged artists entertained a sold-out San Diego audience. We were absolutely blown away and highly recommend seeing Calavia before it leaves San Diego.

The last show is December 30th. They even offer a VIP Experience where you can meet the performers (including the brilliantly trained horses) backstage in the stables.

36 acrobats, aerialists, dancers, riders and musicians perform under a 10-story tent with a 210-foot wide screen for projections and special effects. The artists are from Canada, France, Belgium, Morocco, Spain, Australia, Moldavia, Poland, Russia and the United States.

50 horses make up this lavish production. There are 11 different breeds: Pure Spanish, Quarter Horse, Lusitano, Paint Horse, Percheron, Ardennais, Miniature, Appaloosa, Comtois, Criollo and Warmblood. The horses are from France, Spain, Portugal, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Orak Shrine Circus wows in Hammond

William Morris, of Tampa, Fla., directs elephants as they perform Thursday with the Orak Shrine Circus at the Hammond Civic Center. The event marks the 49th time the circus has come to the Civic Center. Performances are 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. today; and 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $18 for general admission adult and $14 general admission child and can be purchased at Strack & Van Til stores, the Hammond Civic Center box office or online.
from: nwtimes.com
John Luke, The Times
November 29, 2012

John Dominguez, of Springfield, Ill., performs Thursday with his family and eight poodles during the Orak Shrine Circus at the Hammond Civic Center.

SUNDAY FUNNIES RETURN--

Classic Christmas Cartoon: Hectors Hectic Life

Uploaded on Dec 16, 2009

This 1948 classic tells the tale of poor Prince the family dog who gets blamed for creating a mess he had nothing to do with. Faced with being tossed out in the cold--and no hope of Santa bringing him any gifts--things don't look good for old Prince. That is until his mom discovers the real culprits, three adorable but naughty puppies that had been left on the doorstep. Alls well that ends well.

The unique horse circus from Turkmenistan to give its last performance in the Belarusian circus.

from: tvr.by
01.12.2012
A two-hour long Sunday circus performance will feature actors from Belarus, Russia, Turkmenistan, Spain and America with their unique presentations.
(Bella Kotanjan, muralist)
But the audience was especially amazed by a horse show.
(Boris Lazarev, head of the program "Belarusian Riders", tamer)
The Akhal-Teke horses are the most expensive ones in the world. The audience enjoyed their unusual dancing big time.
(Pygy Bairamurdyev, head of horse association "Turkmen Atlary")
The actors of the Turkmenian circus confessed that they had hardly been received so warm anywhere else in the world.

Ringmaster John Kennedy Kane Answers Your Questions

Big Apple Circus

Published on Dec 1, 2012

Big Apple Circus fans submitted their questions to John Kennedy Kane, the ringmaster of the amazing new show LEGENDARIUM, and he answered. Now you can find out if he is allowed to improvise during the show!

For more information about our all-new show LEGENDARIUM, visit: http://bigapplecircus.org/

Send in the clowns: pope greets circus performers

from: patheos.com
By Deacon Greg Kandra
December 1, 2012
Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday held a private audience for several thousand circus artists, urging them to continue offering “healthy entertainment” despite difficulties posed by the craft.

“Thanks to the variety of your professions and the originality of your shows, you know how to surprise, elicit wonder and offer opportunities… for healthy entertainment,” the pontiff told the circus artists from around Europe and the United States in the Vatican’s audience hall.

The 85-year-old pontiff hailed the “traditional values” of the circus arts like “the love of family, tenderness for children, attention to the handicapped, the care for the sick and the respect for the elderly and their experience.” “You preserve the dialogue between the generations, the sense of friendship, the taste of working in a team,” he said.

Circus performers seduce Vatican audience

Published on Dec 1, 2012

http://www.euronews.com/ The Vatican was converted into a giant circus venue on Saturday as Pope Benedict XVI welcomed a parade of clowns, acrobats and and carnival folk.

More than 7,000 travelling performers from 14 countries played in front of a 4,000 strong crowd.

To enhance the scene, a big top tent and carousel were also installed in St Peters Square.

As well as the entertainment, officials said they wanted to make street artists feel like they belong to the Catholic Church.

Benedict, who is a cat lover, was particularly taken by a pair of lion cubs that were introduced to the pontif.

Cirque du Soleil's 'Iris' To Close At Los Angeles Dolby Theater In January

(Photo : Reuters)

Acrobat at Cirque du Soleil's 'Iris' at 22nd annual GLAAD Media awards

from: classicalite.com

by O'Jay Burgess

Dec 01, 2012

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Cirque du Soleil's spectacular show "Iris," will be closing on Jan. 19 in the California city of Los Angeles.

The news outlet relayed an announcement from Cirque du Soleil on Friday with the Montreal based company saying that the demand for tickets to "Iris" had not "met expectations," so far the circus has declined to release box office figures for the show that opened up in September 2011 at the Dolby Theater.

In order for the show to be stage in Los Angeles a $30 million loan had to be granted that would cover production expenses and theater renovation that costs near $100 million. The loan was from the city's Community Development Department to a partnership set up by the CIM Group, which owns the theater and the rest of the Hollywood & Highland Center.

The project is a major one in the Los Angeles area and its premature closure may not go down well with locals and according to The Times top executives at the Community Development Department, the agency that designed the loan, could not be reached. A representative of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is on a trade mission to South America, was not expected to have any comment until Monday.

However a spokesman for Eric Garcetti the city councilman who brought about the deal said.

"While disappointing, the theater can now be used year round instead of simply for Oscar night," Garcetti spokesman Yusef Robb said. "And our understanding is that there has already been interest from people who want to stage events at the theater."

http://www.classicalite.com/articles/919/20121201/cirque-du-soleils-iris-close-los-angeles.htm

Straps Solo Act presented by CGEAgency

Published on Dec 2, 2012

Elephants are dying out in America's zoos
Zoos' efforts to preserve and propagate elephants have largely failed, both in Seattle and nationally. The infant-mortality rate for elephants in zoos is almost triple the rate in the wild.

BENJAMIN BENSCHNEIDER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Hansa, who in 2000 became the only elephant born at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, plays with her mom, Chai, in October 2001. Hansa died at 6½ years old, the victim of a virus that had been killing young elephants at U.S. zoos.
from: seattletimes.com
By Michael J. Berens,Seattle Times staff reporter
December 1, 2012
First of two parts
As the 1960s dawned, few Americans had ever seen a baby elephant. It had been more than 40 years since an elephant had been born in North America, and then only at a circus — never in a zoo.
But in a ramshackle exhibit yard at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, in the summer of 1960, the extraordinary occurred: A 15,000-pound male, Thonglaw, mated with a much smaller female, Belle, and Belle became pregnant. Zookeepers didn't know that elephant gestation takes 22 months, though, and they missed the pregnancy altogether. Unaware, they transferred the pachyderm pair to a zoo in Portland, under a sharing agreement.

HITCHING A RIDE: Children enjoy the first ride of the elephant-ride concession, which opened in 1956 at Woodland Park Zoo. Concessionaire Morgan Berry leads Thonglaw, a male Indian elephant. The rides cost 25 cents each.
In April 1962, at the Portland zoo, Belle gave birth to a male named Packy, and an international sensation was ignited. Life magazine devoted an 11-page spread to the birth. The country got caught up in a Packy craze, with toys, clothes and books bearing the cute baby's image flying off the shelves.
read more:
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019809167_elephants02m.html