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Welcome to Circopedia, the free encyclopedia of the international circus. A project of the Big Apple Circus, inspired and funded by the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.

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LES CASTORS

The Castors may well be one of the longest running acrobatic acts in show business, with a uninterrupted career that spans more than a half-century. Even though their act has changed in appearance and details through five decades, it has remained the same in form—a mixture of foot juggling and risley act, which, over the years, has been increasingly interspersed with touches of comedy.

Toly (Anatole, b. 1943), Charly (Charles, b. 1945), and Eddy (Edouard, b. 1949) were all born in Paris, France: In spite of incessant family travels, their mother, being of Russian origin, believed that having all her children born in the French capital would ease the intricate French administrative procedures. Their father, Louis Dedessus le Moutier (1910-2004), was fourth generation of an old French circus family; Nona, their mother, was born Bedini, a celebrated Russian circus family of Italian origins... (more...)

New Biographies

• Les Frères Taquin, Comedy Act
• Maryse Begary, Aerialist
• Johnny Hutch, Acrobat
• Les Castors, Foot Jugglers & Icarists
• Reggie Armor, Aerialist

New Videos

• The Flying Jimenez, Flying Trapeze (1980)
• Gerd Siemoneit, Animal Trainer (1965)
• The Ashtons, Risley Act (c.1975)
• The Seven Volants, Tumblers (1965)
• Bob Roy, Hand Balancer (1976)

Featured Oral Histories

• Olivier Taquin, Mime - Interview (Jando, 2008)
• Barry Lubin, Clown (Grandma) - Interview (Jando, 2008)
• Fumagalli, Clown - Interview (Jando, 2008)
• Kris Kremo, Juggler - Interview (Jando, 2007)

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. Keep visiting us: even if today you don't find what you're looking for, it may well be here tomorrow!

Dominique Jando