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TINI BERMAN

Often billed as "Miss Yvonne"—and thus called sometimes Yvonne Berman—Tini (or Tintje, which literally means savor in English) Berman (1929-2013) was a talented and very popular cat trainer(English/American) An trainer or presenter of wild cats such as tigers, lions, leopards, etc. on the European circus scene from the 1950s up to the early 1970s. She was born Katharina Ijzerman on August 22, 1929 in Benthuizen (today Rijnwoude), a small town in the province of South Holland, in the Netherlands, to a family that was not related to the circus. As a young woman, Tini went on to work as a stenographer at the Dutch Defense Ministry, while studying to become a goldsmith. Her studies were interrupted in 1951, when Tini Ijzerman fell in love with Adriaan Berman, a childhood friend of her brothers. Adriaan had become an animal trainer and presented a group of polar bears at Circus Carré in Amsterdam, during the traditional winter season of Circus Strassburger in the legendary "circus-theater." The polar bears belonged to the Klant Zoo, created by Willy Hagenbeck’s stepson, Erie Klant (1912-1990), on the hill of Cauberg in Valkenburg (in the southeastern Dutch province of Limburg). The zoo was particularly renowned for its animal-trainer school: Adriaan had learned his trade with Klant, and when his contract with Strassburger was over, he returned to Cauberg with Klant’s bears, and Tini in tow.... (more...)

New Biographies

• Sergei Ignatov, Juggler
• Tini Berman, Animal Trainer
• Nikolai Pavlenko, Animal Trainer
• The Durov Dynasty, Clowns, Animal Trainers
• The Circuses Of Moscow, History

New Videos

• Charlotte & Saphorine, Comedy Rope Act (2013)
• Les Soeurs Pillères, Comedy Trapeze (2012)
• Ignatovi Duo, Jugglers (c. 2000)
• Liubov Klimova's Troupe, Jugglers (2011)
• Sergei Ignatov, Juggler (1983)

Featured Oral Histories

• Nikolai Pavlenko, tiger trainer - Interview (RIA Novosti, 2012)
• Alberto Zoppé, Equestrian - Interview (McCutcheon & Distasio, 2003)
• Olivier Taquin, Mime - Interview (Jando, 2008)
• Barry Lubin, Clown (Grandma) - Interview (Jando, 2008)
• Fumagalli, Clown - Interview (Jando, 2008)

A Message from the Editor

CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding encyclopedia of the international circus. New videos, biographies, essays, and documents are added to the site on a weekly—and sometimes daily—basis. So keep visiting us: even if today you don't find what you're looking for, it may well be here tomorrow! And if you are a serious circus scholar and spot a factual or historical inaccuracy, do not hesitate to contact us: we will definitely consider your remarks and suggestions.

WARNING: A few videos on CIRCOPEDIA may be unavailable. Our video archive is being transferred to a new host, and the missing videos will be available again shortly. Thank you for your patience.

Dominique Jando

Editor/Curator