Yankee Doodle Circus wows Wareham

Photo by: Andrew Griffith

from: wareham-ma.villagesoup.com

By Bill Whelan 

Apr 01, 2014

Acrobats, Jugglers, cute dogs and cute kids were all put on display on Saturday when the Yankee Doodle Circus rolled into town.

The world-renowned circus performed three shows on Saturday at Wareham High School as part of a fundraiser for the Class of 2015 and Class of 2016.

The highlight of the show was the circus' brand new act: The Wu Yangdong Acrobatic Troupe. Hailing all the way from China, these acrobats balanced each other while spinning plates, juggled on unicycles and contorted their bodies into barrels among many other feats of physical prowess.

read and see more:

http://wareham-ma.villagesoup.com/p/yankee-doodle-circus-wows-wareham/1160490

 The Vivid Gorgeousness of Communist-Era Polish Circus Posters

From: slate.com

By Pat Kewley

read more:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_vault/2014/03/31/polish_circus_posters_communist_era_art.html

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The UniverSoul Circus had to place their tigers and elephants somewhere outside the city due to a Health Department ruling they were kept in unsafe conditions.

read more:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/circus-forced-leave-elephants-tigers-city-article-1.1742671#

Circus sues NYC over performance permits


The UniverSoul Circus performs in Atlanta in 2011.
Photo: Robin Nelson
from: nypost.com
By Josh Saul
March 31, 2014
A long-running circus is suing the city for refusing to permit its performances in the Big Apple, because the city says troupe’s three white tigers don’t have big enough cages and the three African elephants haven’t been tested for tuberculosis.
UniverSoul Circus has performed in NYC for 18 years but this year the city told operators for the first time that it needed a special permit to exhibit exotic animals in addition to the food service permits the circus has used in past years, the suit says.

Tiger in transport cage

Photo: Court documents

When the circus applied for the animal permits they were turned down, according to the suit, which was filed by the circus in Manhattan Supreme Court.

“The animal housing for both species was found to be inadequate to protect the safety of the public and the primary enclosures of the tigers was determined insufficient to allow for adequate freedom of movement,” the NYC Department of Health wrote in a March 21 letter that denied the circus the permits.

Elephants – Makia, Lovie and Lou- allegedly haven’t been tested for tuberculosis.

Photo: Court documents

The DOH letter also says the elephants – named Makia, Lovie and Lou – haven’t been tested for tuberculosis within the past year.

The circus fired back in its lawsuit, arguing that the city didn’t specify what exactly was wrong with the cages that hold three white tigers – named Isis, Weber and Shakiera

“The enclosures for tigers and elephants currently maintained by SCI [Soul Circus International] and that SCI intends to use at other sites in the city, comply with all known rules and regulations governing animal enclosures,” the suit states, adding that the elephants’ health records comply with all known rules and regulations.

“We have been in active discussions with UniverSoul Circus representatives in the hope of finding a resolution,” a city Law Department spokesperson said.

read more:

http://nypost.com/2014/03/31/circus-sues-nyc-over-performance-permits/

Circus train

The Ringling Brothers/Barum & Baily Circus train passed through Salisbury on Monday afternoon. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

from: salisburypost.com

By Wayne Hinshaw For the Salisbury Post  

April 1, 2014 

Salisbury, NC--The famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus Train passed through Salisbury on Monday on its way to Asheville.

The mile-long train has 61 cars carrying the entire circus except for the tigers and lions, which have to be moved by trucks. The train paused for a short time near Brenner Avenue while the train crew switched out for a new crew.

While stopped, some of the circus staff and performers sat in the open doorways of the cars talking with a handful of folks who had spotted them.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has three complete circuses, the Blue, Red and Gold circuses. The Blue and Red move by train and the Gold, which is for smaller venues, travels by truck. The train passing through Salisbury was the Blue Circus or, as it is called, the Legends Circus.

They will be passing back through Salisbury again, most likely next Monday, on their way to Norfolk, Va.

The circus is on the road 11 months out of the year

Big Apple transforms hustle-bustle to razzle-dazzle

BERTRAND GUAY/BIG APPLE CIRCUS

The Dosov Troupe provides high-flying acrobatics.

from: bostongllbe.com

By James Sullivan-GLOBE CORRESPONDENT   

APRIL 01, 2014

New York’s Times Square has been famously transformed in recent years, resurrected from its seedy mid-century decline into a virtual, well-scrubbed outdoor mall. For the next six weeks, visitors to Boston’s City Hall Plaza will be treated to some of the Big Apple’s traditionally less savory features, including petty thievery, dangerous obstacles, and the sweet smell of manure.

It’s all family-friendly, of course: This is the return of the Big Apple Circus, for 29 years an annual fixture on the City Hall bricks. The nonprofit troupe’s current show, “Luminocity,” was conceived as a romp through the “life, vitality, and excitement” of Times Square, from its dazzling eye candy to its vivid, sometimes treacherous bustle of human traffic.

Pierre Ginet provides some of the comedy as a flimflam man, picking the pockets of a hapless volunteer. At the Saturday afternoon show, the dad who gamely took the stage was a good sport about having his watch, wallet, and cellphone repeatedly plucked, and he laughed when his host produced a brassiere from inside his jacket. But even if he was fleeced, parents should come away feeling they’ve gotten their money’s worth from this multifaceted, well-paced show.

read more:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2014/03/31/big-apple-circus-transforms-hustle-bustle-razzle-dazzle/WJ0aoFK5LUDPSdcAuAiGRM/story.html

Shrine Circus expected to go on

from: jamestownsun.com

By Dave Luessen, The Jamestown Sun 

Apr 1, 2014 

Jamestown,SD--Shrine Circus Chairman Richard Klose said Monday afternoon that tonight’s circus at the Jamestown Civic Center is still planned to go on despite a brutal winter storm that began blanketing the city with snow yesterday

Tickets are available at the Civic Center for $10 for adults, $6 for children 12 and younger and admission is free for 2-year-olds and under. Shows are scheduled to be at 4 and 7:45 p.m.

“We put this on for the Shriners Hospitals (for Children), and any and all donations or any and all proceeds go to the Shriners Hospital Transportation Fund,” Klose said, “which helps get the parents and their children to and from the Shriner’s hospitals for treatment. That’s our main goal.”

The Shriners Hospitals for Children have 20 locations in 19 states, one in Canada and one in Mexico. The hospitals treat burns, cleft lips and palates, spinal cord injuries and orthopedic conditions regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. The closest to Jamestown is in Minneapolis.

Jamestown Civic Center director Pamela Fosse said the circus has faced rough weather before, but by the end of business Monday the circus was still a go.

“I know a couple of years ago we had some really bad weather and the interstates were even closed, and they were still able to — although they arrived late — they were able to still set up and put on the show,” Fosse said. “I don’t look for anything to change in their schedule.”

Klose said the circus crews take a short time to set up the big top, and said tonight’s event will be “a full, complete circus,” complete with tigers, elephants, clowns and trapeze acts, and said the crews were still in Dickinson, N.D., on Monday.

“Actually, they’re very, very efficient and quite often they pull into town here at 9, 10 a.m. and they are set up and ready to go pretty much by 2 p.m.,” he said. “

read more:

http://www.jamestownsun.com/content/shrine-circus-expected-go

Follow-Up--

A juggler entertained a large crowd Tuesday during the annual El Zagal Shrine Circus at the Jamestown Civic Center. (John M. Steiner/The Sun)

Portland's locally-sourced circus: The Umbrella Festival shows off local variety

The Portland Umbrella Festival harkens back to a simpler time, when variety shows brought us clowns, acrobats, and unique sights and sounds. (Alberta Rose Theatre)

From: oregonlive.com

By Jamie Hale 

April 01, 2014 

If variety is the spice of life, consider the Portland Umbrella Festival seasoned very well. From acrobatics to physical comedy to eclectic musical acts, the Northeast Portland event looks to breathe new life into the long lost art of variety shows.

"There's something about old time performances that takes real talent to entertain people," said Adam East, talent buyer at the Alberta Rose Theatre, which is hosting the festival. "It's very organic. It's enjoyed by many people who are into vintage culture, though it's ageless, really, in its appeal."

The festival harkens back to a simpler time, when bands of eccentric performers wandered the country, propping up tents and putting on shows for audiences big and small. In our a world where we can find instantaneous entertainment without leaving bed, it's easy to forget about the so-called "variety arts" of yore.

Organizers of The Umbrella Festival now have their eyes on a Portland revival of the circus and vaudevillian shows. For its third year, the festival is a four-day showcase of performers from around the region. East said this year they're hoping to move beyond the subculture and draw a broader audience.

"I think that the underground people who are already involved have found out about it, and have responded positively to it, and it really requires getting out of those communities and getting out in the mainstream," East said. He pointed to the popularity of Cirque du Soleil, which is in town now, as evidence of mainstream interest in the circus and variety arts. "We have some incredible things to offer to people who are entertained by that kind of experience."

The festival starts this Thursday and runs all weekend. Each night features a different group of performers, grouped together by theme. Thursday is "Circus and Swing," showcasing circus acts and swing dancers; Friday is "Clowns and Comedy," with the ever-popular Leapin' Louie; Saturday has two shows, a "Family Matinee" featuring young performers and a "Sexy Cabaret" featuring more suggestive acts; and Sunday caps off the festival with the "Grand Finale," a night of music and burlesque, headlined by Vagabond Opera, a "Bohemian absurdist cabaret."

read and see more at:

http://www.oregonlive.com/events/index.ssf/2014/04/the_portland_umbrella_festival_breathes_new_life_i.html

Unique circus performance set to amaze with debut show

from: gulftoday.ae

By A Staff Reporter

April 02, 2014

DUBAI: THE IMAGINEER, a unique cirque performance is set to charm Dubai with its debut performance in the city. This unique visual treat promises to combine the spectacular acrobatics of cirque with the viewing pleasure of the IMAX experience from April 17-19.

THE IMAGINEER, is a high energy circus show set in the surreal fantasy world of the lead character’s imagination. This 70-minute performance weaves the story together around fantasy characters and amazing circus acts that will have the audience immersed in a theatrical masterpiece. 

The debut performance, featuring cast from the Las Vegas circuit, will showcase stunning acrobatic performances by world-class talent. 

The lead character will be played by renowned Dutch model, actor, dancer and acrobat Halili Gashi. 

THE IMAGINEER, which deals with the human mind’s limitless potential for creativity, will premiere in Dubai on April 17, at 8 pm, at the Meydan IMAX Theatre. 

Subsequently there will be two shows daily on April 18-19 at 5 pm and 8 pm.

Memorable show

On bringing this incredible performance to Dubai, managing director Alexandra Shmidt from Aqua Universe Events said, “The audience will be amazed by the grandeur of the performance, thanks to the directorial vision of Le Petit Cirque that has pushed the boundary by combining the brilliance of circus acrobatics and the visual experience of IMAX.  We are excited to have Dubai as the first city in the world to experience THE IMAGINEER and look forward to putting up a memorable show.” 

Tickets are priced at Dhs150, Dhs250 and Dhs400 for Silver, Gold and VIP respectively and available at Platinumlist.net and Time Out Tickets.

Le Petit Cirque, which literally means the little circus, is an experimental Vegas-based acrobat and theatre ensemble. 

The group has a unique take on the age-old performance, in that it combines raw acrobatic elegance, mixed with modern technology to deliver stunning performances that immerse the audience in a dreamscape reality. 

The group is a co-collaboration of acrobats, dancers, choreographers and contortionists from world-class talent. 

The debut performance in Dubai will be led by Halil Gashi and his troupe of highly trained acrobatic performers.

Nights at the Circus

Cirque du Soleil's new show comes to Glasgow next month – we have a word with some of the performers, and talk to Bright Night International, helping to train the next generation of circus performers in time for the Commonwealth Youth Circus this summer

from: theskinny.co,uk

FEATURE BY ERIC KAROULLA.

PUBLISHED 01 APRIL 2014

When someone says the word 'circus,' you might think of a lion tamer, clowns, or acrobats attempting death-defying feats feet above your head. But recently, there seems to be a new kind of circus evolving out of the disciplines of dance, theatre, and acrobatics. UK-based companies that take on this type of performance include NoFit State (Noodles), and Circa (Wunderkammer) but the circus world here is quite small - everyone knows everyone, yet it's buzzing with activity.

Perhaps one of the most well-known and internationally acclaimed companies in this type of circus, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil have been around since 1984, but still know how to keep things fresh. They have evolved and expanded such that the company can have different shows touring at the same time, and their most recent production for an arena-style environment, Dralion, arrives at Glasgow's Hydro next month. Based around the four elements (air, water, fire, and earth), Dralion brings nature to life through twelve acts that include acrobatics, trampoline, juggling, flexibility/contortion, and many more skills to amaze. While it is quite a flamboyant-looking show, the circus acts fit the overall concept of the performance. 

For some cast and crew members, Dralion is a debut performance; for others, this is part of an established routine. In an attempt to understand more about the show and the way circus shows are being put together, The Skinny spoke to various Cirque du Soleil performers about the industry. 

read more:

http://www.theskinny.co.uk/theatre/features/307527-nights_the_circus

Inner-city teens learn circus skills over spring break

Winnipeg’s Gordon Bell High School site of circus-training program for more than 250 students

CBC News

Apr 01, 2014

More than 250 Winnipeg kids are spending their spring break running off with the circus – sort of.

The annual circus camp at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg’s downtown is underway, teaching kids everything from tight-rope walking to swinging from a trapeze to how to ride a unicycle.

A Winnipeg high-school student named Savana tries her hand at a suspended hula-hoop at Gordon Bell High School's annual circus camp. (Meagan Fiddler/CBC)

The spring break program run by the Circus and Magic Partnership aims to build the confidence and skill set of inner-city youth.

All week, the students practice and then put on a performance for family and friends.

The program isn't new. Peter Boulanger, the owner of Vancouver’s Underground Circus, has come to Winnipeg for the last 16 years to teach kids the tricks of the circus trade.

“You see their confidence building because they’re doing tricks,” said Boulanger. “All of a sudden they’re like, ‘Wow! I can do this stuff!’”
Boulanger said the lessons learned during spring break are aimed at boosting confidence and curiosity throughout the school year.

“They help organize each other. We really encourage that, so it helps with their leadership skills. It’s a great program,” he said.

Flying Trapeze''Heroes''-Circus''Hermanos Vazquez''Donna,Texas,

BogdanovStas

Published on Mar 15, 2014

Flying Trapeze''Heroes''-Circus''Hermanos Vazquez''Donna,Texas,USA 14.03.2014

Baby Gorilla Reunites With Mother

ABC News

Published on Mar 23, 2014

After an emergency C-section, a baby gorilla reunites with mother in San Diego Zoo.

Bristol Old Vic collaborates with the Invisible Circus on Under The Dark Moon

Under The Dark Moon, a collaboration between the Bristol Old Vic and the Invisible Circus, comes to the city this week

From: bristolpost.co.uk

By Venue

March 28, 2014

They may be used to high-flying acrobatics, but The Invisible Circus is taking a bold leap into the unknown with Bristol Old Vic.

In the first collaboration of its kind, Bristol Old Vic is helping the ground-breaking and popular Bristol company, The Invisible Circus transform their successful circus show Under The Dark Moon into a full-scale touring theatre production.

Based in Bristol since 2002, the Invisible Circus draws much of its approach from its history as a troupe of travelling street performers and has grown to produce unique circus theatre in a variety of unusual locations.

As the company has developed and evolved, it has attracted more and more creative impetus, drawing a diverse range of visual artists, performers, actors, directors, dancers, filmmakers, choreographers, musicians and technicians to collaborate on its productions.

Its most recent production, Under The Dark Moon at Creative Common's inaugural Bristol Circus Festival last year, was a bold statement of intent which was rewarded with a sell-out run.

The show took inspiration from the dreams and fears of its artists, creating a performance that drew on the darker side of fairy tales and twisted the idea of a circus freak show.

Mixing spectacular circus techniques, eerie old movie footage and a live musical score, the hauntingly beautiful and technically impressive show received phenomenal reactions and outstanding reviews.

Now, with close support from Bristol Old Vic's artistic director Tom Morris and the technical team at Bristol Old Vic, they plan to raise the theatricality and scope of their performances even higher.

Doug Francis, director of The Invisible Circus, said: "Under The Dark Moon was previously created in three weeks on a shoestring budget.

"It ran over five nights in 2013 to a sell-out crowd and had a phenomenal response, but we knew there was a lot more we could do with the show.

"With the support of Bristol Old Vic we have the opportunity to work with internationally respected directors and producers to create a brilliant show."

Moving from big top to theatre stage, The Invisible Circus will perform the re-vamped Under The Dark Moon in the Bristol Old Vic's Main Theatre for three nights next week, before a UK tour.

Tom Morris, artistic director of Bristol Old Vic, said: "This extraordinary company employ a huge range of industrious and creative artists to produce imaginative work that is unlike anything else on the Bristol scene.

Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Circus-thrills-big-theatre-stage/story-20877149-detail/story.html#ixzz2xH2gZNTa

'Circus of the Kids,' Comes to Savannah

From: wsav.com

By Liz Buckthorpe

Mar 27, 2014

Local news, weather, sports Savannah | WSAV On Your Side

read more:

http://www.wsav.com/story/25087742/circus-of-the-kids-comes-to-savannah

Jail for circus trainer over leopard attack

from: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/

March 28, 2014 

DOHA: A criminal court yesterday sentenced a woman animal trainer of a circus company to three months in jail in a case filed after a six-year-old Qatari boy was attacked and hurt by a baby leopard last November.

The circus show at Hyatt Plaza was cancelled following the incident, which happened when the boy was being photographed with the leopard after the show, according to earlier reports.

he court also slapped a fine of QR200,000 on the company (Royal Circus) and QR2,000 on the circus manager.

They were convicted for not taking enough precautions to ensure the safety of visitors, thus causing serious injuries to the boy. He suffered injuries in the neck and chest and had to undergo surgery at Hamad General Hospital.

The boy’s mother told the court that she had taken him to the circus organised by the popular commercial centre. As they entered the circus tent, her son asked to be photographed with the leopard behind a one-meter high steel fence.

When the mother tried to take the picture, the trainer stopped her and demanded money for photographing the boy with the leopard, she said. After taking the money, the trainer took the mother and her son inside the fence, close to the leopard, which was lying on a platform, a little above the ground.

The trainer left for a while to collect change to return the balance amount. When she came back, she allowed them to take the picture with their mobile phone. As the boy came closer to the leopard and the mother took a suitable position to take the picture, the boy was attacked.

The leopard bit the boy in the neck, resting its clutches on his back. As the boy started bleeding, his mother fought with the animal to set him free from its claws but in vain. Onlookers rushed to rescue the boy and the mother fell unconscious. The boy was taken away for first aid. A witness narrated a similar story before the court during the hearing. A medical report also confirmed that the victim was bitten by the leopard and was injured.

Qatar Tourism Authority, which issued the licence for the circus show, said in a letter that the circus management violated rules by allowing visitors to be photographed with the leopard since this was not mentioned in the document submitted to the authority. Based on this statement, the court held the company responsible for the accident caused by safety lapses.

Circus acts help put fun into daily commute

CIRCUS acts are helping to put the fun back into the daily commute as part of a new council initiative.

From: sunderlandecho.com

March 27, 2014

Unicyclists, an acrobat and a skateboarder launched the Great North Commute, as part of the Make Tracks this Spring Campaign, at The Galleries, Washington, yesterday.

Onlookers watched the impressive flash mob display their skills, which was aimed at getting people to think about a fun way to get to work, rather than taking the car.

Coun James Blackburn, responsible for city services at Sunderland City Council, enjoyed people’s reaction to the creative display.

“This campaign will help to capture people’s imagination and get us to think more about how we can help reduce traffic congestion in our communities,” he said.

“We need to encourage everyone to consider other ways of travelling, and getting out of the car to walk, cycle or run to work.”

Travel plan officer for Sunderland City Council, and project manager for the Go Smarter to Work Scheme for Washington, Diane Hilder, said: “Thirty six per cent of households in Tyne and Wear don’t have a car, so they are all travelling different ways.

“I think people are becoming more aware of how they travel as they are finding it costly to travel by car.”

They Great North Commute will take place on Friday, April 4. For more information, visit www.gosmarter.co.uk.

SNN: Sarasota County fair wraps up it's 10 day event

Published on Mar 23, 2014

SNN: Sarasota County fair wraps up it's 10 day event