On the road with Circus Olympia
Circus Olympia travels around Melbourne bringing live entertainment to local communities. Leader photographer Jason Edwards spent time getting to know the people inside the big top. from: moreland-leaer.whereilive.com.au1 Jan 12
By Jason Edwards
YOU know they have done it a hundred times before, but watching grandfather Serik Abishev, 61, aka Serge the Clown, climb a pole while balancing his daughter Aliya on his forehead 5m above the ground, you can’t help but hold your breath.
Watching live, you can really sense the danger: one mistake and it’s a bone-breaking fall to the arena floor.
Circus Olympia is on a constant tour of Melbourne, including Nillumbik and rural centres, giving the few remaining fans the chance to see what was once one of the greatest forms of entertainment.
Deon Gasser, a third-generation performer, said while the performers were as talented as ever, there were more entertainment options available to the public.
“People aren’t really into the circus any more, with video games and stuff; it’s not that important to people, that live entertainment,” Dion, 16, said.
He grew up in the circus, but struggles to see a future for himself.
“When you run away to the circus, it’s kinda the opposite for me,” Dion said.
“I want to run away to life.”
Aliya, who closes Circus Olympia’s shows with her father Serik and daughter Isabella, 5, in their high-wire finale, said she hoped to be performing for a long time to come.
“You feel good every time the curtains go up and you forget everything that goes on behind,” Aliya said.
Her father, who has been performing for more than 40 years, speaks only Russian, which Aliya translates.
“He feels reborn again,” Aliya said.
“He is proud and it’s very rare when you have a grandfather working with a daughter and granddaughter in the same act.”
When asked how long her father hoped to perform, Aliya translated: “How long is life?”
“We don’t talk about it like it’s our job,” Aliya said.
“Everything has its ups and downs and you get hurt some times, but we enjoy what we do.”
Little Isabella summed up the family’s passion and commitment: “Circus is life”read and see more at:http://moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/circus-olympia/
Watching live, you can really sense the danger: one mistake and it’s a bone-breaking fall to the arena floor.
Circus Olympia is on a constant tour of Melbourne, including Nillumbik and rural centres, giving the few remaining fans the chance to see what was once one of the greatest forms of entertainment.
Deon Gasser, a third-generation performer, said while the performers were as talented as ever, there were more entertainment options available to the public.
“People aren’t really into the circus any more, with video games and stuff; it’s not that important to people, that live entertainment,” Dion, 16, said.
He grew up in the circus, but struggles to see a future for himself.
“When you run away to the circus, it’s kinda the opposite for me,” Dion said.
“I want to run away to life.”
Aliya, who closes Circus Olympia’s shows with her father Serik and daughter Isabella, 5, in their high-wire finale, said she hoped to be performing for a long time to come.
“You feel good every time the curtains go up and you forget everything that goes on behind,” Aliya said.
Her father, who has been performing for more than 40 years, speaks only Russian, which Aliya translates.
“He feels reborn again,” Aliya said.
“He is proud and it’s very rare when you have a grandfather working with a daughter and granddaughter in the same act.”
When asked how long her father hoped to perform, Aliya translated: “How long is life?”
“We don’t talk about it like it’s our job,” Aliya said.
“Everything has its ups and downs and you get hurt some times, but we enjoy what we do.”
Little Isabella summed up the family’s passion and commitment: “Circus is life”read and see more at:http://moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/circus-olympia/
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