Circus (performing art)

A circus is usually a travelling show that includes acrobats, animal trainers, clowns and other novelty acts. However, there are circuses today with a permanent venue that do not travel, and some circuses do not have animal acts.

History of the circus

The first modern circus was staged by Philip Astley[?] in London, England on January 9, 1768.

List of famous circuses and circus owners

• Cirque du Soleil[?]
• P.T. Barnum
• Annie Fratellini[?]
• Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus[?]
• Archaos[?]

List of famous circus performers

• Emmett Kelly (clown)
• Austin Miles[?] (clown), (ringmaster)
• Zip the Pinhead (freak / prodigy)

List and brief description of the various circus arts

• Acrobatics
  • Contortion
  • Hand-to-hand balancing[?]
• Aerial acts[?]
  • Tightrope walking
  • Trapeze
  • Corde lisse
• Animal training[?]
  • Equestrian acts
• Clown
• Fire eating[?]
• Hoola hoop[?]
• Human cannonball[?]
• Juggling
  • Diabolo
• Knife throwing[?]
• Magic
• Mime[?]
• Plate spinning[?]
• Side show[?]
• Sword swallowing[?]
• Unicycle
• Ventriloquism

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