Difference between revisions of "Katja Schumann"

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(Equestrienne)
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''By Dominique Jando''
 
''By Dominique Jando''
  
Katja Schumann was born September 16, 1949 in Copenhagen, Denmark, into one of the circus world's oldest and most respected circus families. Circus lore attaches the name Schumann first to Berlin, and then to Denmark, but although the family originated in Germany, the "Schumanns of Copenhagen" were in actuality Swedish—and so is Katja. The daughter of [[Max Schumann]] (1916-2004), the last director of [[Cirkus Schumann]], she made her first appearance in the ring of the family circus at age 10, as a ballerina on horseback. She subsequently worked in her family's outstanding equestrian acts, notably in high-school (dressage) presentations—along with her father, her uncle [[Albert Schumann]] (1915-2001), her aunt [[Paulina Schumann]], and her cousin [[Benny Schumann]]. They performed every year at the circus building of Göteborg, in Sweden, then under Cirkus Schumann's big top in Stockholm, and from May to September at Cirkus Schumann, as Copenhagen's circus building near the Tivoli Park was then known. During the holiday season, they were in London with [[Bertram Mill's Circus]], at the Olympia of Kensington. Economic considerations, and the closings of Bertram Mill's Circus in 1967 and Göteborg's circus building in 1969, led Albert Schumann, its director in title, to close Cirkus Schumann in 1969, putting an abrupt end to a long and brilliant story that had started in 1891.
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Katja Schumann was born September 16, 1949 in Copenhagen, Denmark, into one of the circus world's oldest and most respected circus families. Circus lore attaches the name Schumann first to Berlin, and then to Denmark, but although the family originated in Germany, the "Schumanns of Copenhagen" were in actuality Swedish—and so is Katja. The daughter of [[Max Schumann]] (1916-2004), the last director of Cirkus [[Schumann]], she made her first appearance in the ring of the family circus at age 10, as a ballerina on horseback. She subsequently worked in her family's outstanding equestrian acts, notably in high-school (dressage) presentations—along with her father, her uncle [[Albert Schumann]] (1915-2001), her aunt [[Paulina Schumann]], and her cousin [[Benny Schumann]]. They performed every year at the circus building of Göteborg, in Sweden, then under Cirkus Schumann's big top in Stockholm, and from May to September at Cirkus Schumann, as Copenhagen's circus building near the Tivoli Park was then known. During the holiday season, they were in London with [[Bertram Mill's Circus]], at the Olympia of Kensington. Economic considerations, and the closings of Bertram Mill's Circus in 1967 and Göteborg's circus building in 1969, led Albert Schumann, its director in title, to close Cirkus Schumann in 1969, putting an abrupt end to a long and brilliant story that had started in 1891.
  
 
Katja easily found engagements in some of Europe's leading circuses with a solo high-school act, and established a strong reputation for herself as one of the best high-school riders of her generation. She participated in the first [[International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo]] in 1974, where she won "La Dame du Cirque" award, and in 1976, she won a Gold Medal at the [[Circus World Championships]] in London.
 
Katja easily found engagements in some of Europe's leading circuses with a solo high-school act, and established a strong reputation for herself as one of the best high-school riders of her generation. She participated in the first [[International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo]] in 1974, where she won "La Dame du Cirque" award, and in 1976, she won a Gold Medal at the [[Circus World Championships]] in London.

Revision as of 17:19, 8 October 2008

Equestrienne

By Dominique Jando

Katja Schumann was born September 16, 1949 in Copenhagen, Denmark, into one of the circus world's oldest and most respected circus families. Circus lore attaches the name Schumann first to Berlin, and then to Denmark, but although the family originated in Germany, the "Schumanns of Copenhagen" were in actuality Swedish—and so is Katja. The daughter of Max Schumann (1916-2004), the last director of Cirkus Schumann, she made her first appearance in the ring of the family circus at age 10, as a ballerina on horseback. She subsequently worked in her family's outstanding equestrian acts, notably in high-schoolA display of equestrian dressage by a rider mounting a horse and leading it into classic moves and steps. (From the French: Haute école) (dressage) presentations—along with her father, her uncle Albert Schumann (1915-2001), her aunt Paulina Schumann, and her cousin Benny Schumann. They performed every year at the circus building of Göteborg, in Sweden, then under Cirkus Schumann's big topThe circus tent. America: The main tent of a traveling circus, where the show is performed, as opposed to the other tops. (French, Russian: Chapiteau) in Stockholm, and from May to September at Cirkus Schumann, as Copenhagen's circus building near the Tivoli Park was then known. During the holiday season, they were in London with Bertram Mill's Circus, at the Olympia of Kensington. Economic considerations, and the closings of Bertram Mill's Circus in 1967 and Göteborg's circus building in 1969, led Albert Schumann, its director in title, to close Cirkus Schumann in 1969, putting an abrupt end to a long and brilliant story that had started in 1891.

Katja easily found engagements in some of Europe's leading circuses with a solo high-schoolA display of equestrian dressage by a rider mounting a horse and leading it into classic moves and steps. (From the French: Haute école) act, and established a strong reputation for herself as one of the best high-schoolA display of equestrian dressage by a rider mounting a horse and leading it into classic moves and steps. (From the French: Haute école) riders of her generation. She participated in the first International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo in 1974, where she won "La Dame du Cirque" award, and in 1976, she won a Gold Medal at the Circus World Championships in London.

In 1977, Max Schumann resuscitated Cirkus Schumann with his children Philip and Katja, and went on tour under a brand new big topThe circus tent. America: The main tent of a traveling circus, where the show is performed, as opposed to the other tops. (French, Russian: Chapiteau). But this adventure was short-lived, and the new Cirkus Schumann folded its tents in 1983. Since 1981, Katja had appeared during the winter season at the Big Apple Circus in New York with her high-schoolA display of equestrian dressage by a rider mounting a horse and leading it into classic moves and steps. (From the French: Haute école) acts, and she decided to settle there. She became a member of the circus's resident company—and she married its Director, Paul Binder. From 1983 on, she created a long list of original liberty"Liberty act", "Horses at liberty": Unmounted horses presented from the center of the ring by an equestrian directing his charges with his voice, body movements, and signals from a ''chambrière'' (French), or long whip. and high-schoolA display of equestrian dressage by a rider mounting a horse and leading it into classic moves and steps. (From the French: Haute école) acts, sometimes with the help of her father (who rejoined her in 1992, and remained with the Big Apple Circus until 2003) or of Katherine and Max, her and Paul's children. She also presented her version of the equestrian classic, "The Courier of St. Petersburg," in 1986, and again in 1989-90.

Katja and Paul separated in 2004, and Katja went to work with Circus Flora, in St. Louis, Missouri, before returning to Denmark in 2007, to work with Cirkus Danneborg.