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.

Table of contents

1 History of the circus 2 List of famous circuses and circus owners 3 List of famous circus performers 4 List and brief description of the various circus arts

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
  • Spanish Web
• Animal training
  • Equestrian acts
• Clown
• Fire eating
• Fire breathing
• Hoola hoop
• Human cannonball
• German wheel
• Juggling
  • Diabolo
  • Contact juggling
  • Devil sticks
• Knife throwing
• Magic
• Mime
• Plate spinning
• Side show
• Sword swallowing
• Stilting
• Unicycle
• Poi
• Ventriloquism

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