Circus Arts

The modern circus has been a form of public entertainment since the late 18th century; President George Washington attended John Bill Ricketts' circus in Philadelphia in 1793. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the circus introduced towns and cities across the country to a wider world through the dazzling sights, sounds, and stunts of the circus artists. With a history of more than 2 centuries, Circus Arts are considered a heritage and traditional art form; its varied skills have been passed down in families through generations. More recently, troupes and circus schools have been established to train new generations in the specific skills of circus arts. This traditional art form has finally received national recognition; the NEA awarded the aerialist Dolly Jacobs the National Heritage Fellowship in 2015. She is the first circus performer to receive this prestigious NHF award. Circus members belong to a highly distinctive occupational group, including experts in any one of several clusters of both performance and material arts. Working and performing together, they create a spectacle which induces surprise and amazement in the spectators. It is not just the single acts, it is the entire production and business of the circus that was represented in the Circus Arts program of the 2017 Folklife Festival. Circus performance arts have focused primarily on various aspects of physical movement, strength, and endurance. The artists work on the outer boundaries of the potential for the human body and physique. These performance arts encompass five main disciplines of circus arts: acrobatics, aerials, clowning, equilibristic, and object manipulation. For each of these performance categories, teams and individuals from around the country and around the world were invited to demonstrate and perform at the festival. The material arts of the circus include aspects of painting and drawing, design, costuming, and tent making, as well as derivative arts inspired by the circus, such as toy making and miniatures. Workshops for modeling these skills were set up around the festival grounds to enable visitors to view the intricacies of their production. Panels also discussed the interplay between the material and performance arts. In the Circus Science tent, demonstrations and discussions presented the synergies of science and skill in different circus art forms. The circus Cookhouse was set up to display the culinary skills of circus chefs. Multiple forums were scheduled where circus stories could be shared, including topics such as the social circus, circus families, the history of the circus in American culture, and the changing circus landscape. These forums provided opportunities for experiential exploration of the life and work of circus people, encompassing both the family and community structures in which they thrive. The emerging concept of the social circus was everywhere on display during the Circus Arts program. The training opportunities focused on the future roles of these young actors beyond their personal growth. By removing themselves from the professional/commercial entertainment arena, they have become participants in social change. This new concept brings needed revitalization to the traditional circus arts in the same year that, coincidentally, the largest American circus, Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus announced its closure due to business concerns. This presentation on the National Mall spotlighted the occupational culture of Circus Arts at a critical moment in 2017. The Circus Arts program not only helped expand and elevate visitors' understanding and appreciation of a distinctive occupational group. It also championed the vitality of Circus Arts around the world, paving the way for future collaborations. It is in this exploration that myths can be displayed, tough questions can be raised, and the sharing of deep knowledge can take place between Festival participants and visitors.

Production Director: Sabrina Lynn Motley Curator: Preston Scott Co-curators: James Deutsch, Cristina Díaz-Carrera Program Coordinator: Nichole Procopenko Foodways Coordinator: Arnie Malin D.C. Circus Day Coordinator: Marissa Walker Interns: Isabella Barrengos, Maia Daniel, Miranda DiMase-Nordling, Taylor Heagler, Maris Jones, Michaela Podolny, Laura Yee Lead Volunteer: Zakiya Williams Advisors and Presenters: Hovey Burgess, David Carlyon, Janet M. Davis, LaVahn Hoh, Rodney Huey, Dominique Jando, Jennifer Lemmer Posey, Linda Simon, Deborah Walk, Matthew Wittmann Big Top Artistic Director: Pedro Reis Big Top Production Team: Henry Barragan, Jesse Cogswell, Joe D'Emilio, Luis S. Garcia, Leigh Ketchum, Devin Nee, Amanda Scarpa, Mark Wilson, Atos Zamperla Participants Stars of the CircusDolly Jacobs Rafael Palacios Ambra Zerbini Bauer Joseph Dominic Bauer Marina Luna Ella Storme Olesya Fedotova Rony Gomez Diosmani Aguero Leosvel Almeida Gutierrez Kenneth Kenny Raskin Circus Arts ConservatoryBarry Lubin Diosmani Aguero Leosvel Almeida Gutierrez Luna Storme Olesya Fedotova Karen Bell Robin Eurich Jaime Hernandez Carranza, student Keith Phillips, student Big Apple CircusRay Slizewski, circus cook Bindlestiff Family Circus Circus BellaCarlo Gentile Gianluca "Gianni Magi" Gentile Gioia Mei "Tatlo" Gentile Giulia "Trixie Love" Gentile Giuseppina "Guisi", Gentile Orlene Gentile Circus CenterSteve Smith Circus CultureAmy Cohen Circus Harmony Circus JuventasDan Butler Makenna Cook Piper Gibbs Sophie Bauer Circus SmirkusJacqueline Davis Jennifer Agans Amity Stoddard Cirque des VoixElla Storme Marina Luna Pedro Reis Dolly Jacobs Rafael Palacios Matuni Vaiaoga Barry Lubin Clowns without Borders Happenstance Theater Hebei Golden Eagle Acrobatic Troupe Listo Trapeze VolantMiguel Cáceres Medical Clown Project New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) Sailor Circus School of Acrobatics and New Circus ArtsIan Jagel Tyler Henry UniverSoul CircusBone Breakers, Contorionists Caribbean Dynasty Dancers Chain Reaction, Acrobats Daniel "Lucky" Malatsi, Ringmaster Fresh the Clowns Veronica Blair, Aerialist Carlos Pinto Morales, Acrobatics Sherrie Silver, Dancer Wallenda Family TroupeAlessandro Wallenda Tomas Wallenda Wenatchee Youth CircusRebecca Geren Jillian Davis Lily-Ann Geren Martin Talbot Wise Fool New MexicoAmy Christian Lisa Smith Band of Jugglers Unaffiliated PerformersPatrik Elmnert, Juggler Craig Quat, Juggler David Tetrault, Calliope Jeffrey Raz, Clown Kim Hawkins, Clown Thom Wall, Juggler Dominique Jando, Scholar LaVahn Hoh Sarah Chapman, Circus Cook Tim Mack, Ringmaster