Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

From Circopedia

 
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<div style="font-size:162%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#000;">Welcome to Circopedia,</div>
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<br><div style="font-size:175%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#996666;">Welcome! ✫ Bienvenue! ✫ Willkommen! ✫ Добро Пожаловать!</div><div style="font-size:175%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#996666;">Bienvenida! ✫ Benvenuto! ✫ 歡迎 ! ✫ Vítejte! ✫ Καλώς ήρθατ
<div style="top:+0.2em; font-size:95%;">the free encyclopedia of the international circus.<br />A project of the [http://www.bigapplecircus.org/ Big Apple Circus],<br />inspired and funded by the [http://www.sdrubin.org/ Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation].</div>
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ε!</div><div style="font-size:175%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#996666;">Üdvözöljük! ✫ Добре Дошли! ✫ Welkom! ✫ Ласкаво Просимо!</div><div style="font-size:165%; border:none; margin:0; padding:.1em; color:#996666;">Velkommen! ✫ Tervetuloa! ✫ Дабро Запрашаем! ✫ Välkommen!</div><br/>
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<div style="top:+0.2em; font-size:98%;"> ''Circopedia is an independent educational website, initially created as a project of the original, non-profit [[Big Apple Circus]]''.</div><br/>
  
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*[[:Category:Artists and Acts|Artists and Acts]]
 
*[[:Category:Circus Arts|Circus Specialties]]
 
*[[:Category:Circuses|Circuses]]
 
*[[:Category:History|Circus History]]
 
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*[[:Category:Oral History|Oral History]]
 
*[[:Category:Photo Archive|Photo Archive]]
 
*[[:Category:Video Archive|Video Archive]]
 
*[[Links|Circus Links]]
 
 
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==In The Spotlight==
 
==In The Spotlight==
  
===CIRQUE LEONCE===
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===VALENTIN GNEUSHEV===
[[File:Cirque_Leonce_1930.jpeg|right|250px]]The Cirque Léonce was created in 1907 (and originally called Cirque Printania) by Léonce Chapuis, a circus enthusiast from a well-to-do French provincial family, who left his sedentary life to follow a circus—the well-known and highly reputable Cirque Bureau, one of France’s oldest traveling circuses (active from c.1855 to 1953). There, he worked in the circus office as jack-of-all-trades: Someone with a high school education was enough of a rarity in the traveling circus world to be useful in a large range of administrative chores.
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[[File:Valentin_Gneushev.jpg|300px|right]]
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Born on December 20, 1951, in Nizhny Tagil, in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, (close to the boundary between Asia and Europe), Valentin Aleksandrovich Gneushev (1951-2026) was one of the most influential circus directors-choreographers of the second half of the twentieth century, and the creator of some of the most innovative and celebrated circus acts of the 1990s.
  
While at Cirque Bureau, Léonce trained as an acrobat on horseback, the dream he had for himself as a circus artist. Unfortunately, he broke a leg in a bad fall, and his dream came to a vanishing point. He left the circus and became a journalist, and then, probably missing show business and touring, he went on to work with the "Tournées Baret," a famous theatrical touring company. But this was not the circus.... ([[Cirque Léonce|more...]])
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As the “new circus” movement was drastically changing the traditional imagery of the circus (roughly between 1975 and 1995), Gneushev became the ultimate trendsetter, completely renewing the language of the ring. A master at discovering untapped talents in the disintegrating Soviet circus world, then creating and designing original acts for them, he eventually influenced the style of many young circus artists and companies, including Cirque du Soleil.
  
==New Biographies==
+
Valentin Gneushev fell in love with the circus as a teenager. He was fourteen when he began to perform in 1965 in a local Amateur Circus (the Russian equivalent of our Youth Circuses, albeit at a much higher artistic and technical level than in the West). He eventually decided to leave the Sverdlovsk Province and the industrial fumes of Nizhny Tagil (birthplace of the first Russian steam locomotive) and headed for Moscow, where he was accepted in the State College for Circus and Variety Arts (the legendary "Moscow Circus School"). There, he specialized as a clown.
  
* [[Pancracio]], Clown
+
In Moscow, Gneushev studied under Roman Viktiuk, Firs Zemtsev, and especially Serguei Kashtelyan, who had a lasting influence on his work. He graduated in 1978 and formed a short-lived clown trio with two partners, in which he revealed a special aptitude for pantomime, as well as a need to distance himself from the conventional circus clowning of the period.
* [[Circus Sarrasani]], History
+
 
* [[Tom Dougherty]], Clown
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An eager student of the arts (literature, history, painting, music), Valentin developed a remarkable artistic culture, and an aesthetic vision rooted in classic as well as contemporary art, and widely open to new influences—a far cry from the prevalent rhetoric of the Soviet artistic scene.... ([[Valentin Gneushev|more...]])
* [[Alfred Beautour]], Cat Trainer
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* [[Ali Hassani]], Acrobat and Circus Owner
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==New Essays and Biographies==
 +
 
 +
* [[Alexis Gruss, Jr/fr|Alexis Gruss, Jr]] (version française)
 +
* [[Cirque_d'Hiver/fr|Le Cirque d'Hiver]] (Version française)
 +
* [[Virginie Kenebel/fr|Virginie Kenebel]] (Version française)
 +
* [[Cirque Bureau]], circus (English/Français)
 +
* [[Richiardi Jr.]], magician
  
 
==New Videos==
 
==New Videos==
''The new videos listed below show acts that have participated in the ''Idol'' Circus Festival in Moscow in September 2014.''
 
  
* [[Du_Quan_Ho_Video_(2014)|Du Quan Ho]], Aerial Loop (2014)
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* [[Bondarev_Video_(1985)|Bondarev Troupe]], teeterboard (1985)
* [[Aleksandrov_Bears_Video_(2014)|Yuriy & Natalya Aleksandrov]], Bear Act (2014)
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* [[Luna_Video_(2025)|Duo Luna]], aerial hoop (2025)
* [[Sharkovich_Video_(2014)|Duo Sharkovich]], Slack Wire (2014)
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* [[Tulga_Video_(2025)|Tulga]], stromgman (2025)
* [[Bayramukov_Troupe_Video_(2014)|Bayramukov Troupe]], Fast-Track Tumbling (2014)
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* [[China_Troupe_-_Bicycle_Video_(2025)|China Acrobatic Troupe]], bicycle act (2025)
* [[Pyongyang_Flying_Troupe_Video_(2014)|Pyongyang Flying Troupe]], Flying Trapeze (2014)
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* [[Dorning_Cow_Video_(1978)|Günter Dorning]], trained cows (1978)
* [[Nikulina_and_Zaets_Video_(2014)|Margarita Nikulina & Vitaliy Zaets]], Acrobatic Adagio (2014)
+
 
* [[Kanakhin_Duo_Video_(2014)|Aliya & Andrey Kanakhin]], Chinese Pole (2014)
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==New Oral Histories==
* [[Nergui_Duo_Video_(2014)|Nergui Duo]], Contortion Act (2014)
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* [[Vik_and_Fabrini_Video_(2014)|Vik & Fabrini]], Comedy Magic (2014)
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* [[Dominique_Jando_Video_(2025)|Dominique Jando interview]] by the Circus Historical Society (2025)
* [[Francois_Borie_Video_(2014)|François Borie]], Juggler (2014)
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* [[Evelyn_and_Andre_Video_(2015)|Evelyn & André Interview]] on Blikk TV (2015)
* [[Israfilovi_Video_(2014)|Erik Israfilov]], Camel Act (2014)
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* [[BAC_Blumberg_Video_(1977)|''For A Moment You Fly'']], The First Season of The Big Apple Circus (1977)
* [[Aleksandrov_Dogs_Video_(2014)|Viktoria & Oleg Aleksandrov]], Dog Act (2014)
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* [[Durov_Documentary_Video_(c.2000)|Vladimir Durov Documentary]] on Russian Television (c.2000)
* [[Fujian_Troupe_Lasso_Video_(2014)|The Fujian Acrobatic Troupe]], Tumbling and Lasso (2014)
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* [[Dolly_Jacobs_Interview_Video_(2018)|Dolly Jacobs Interview]] at The Ringling (2018)
* [[Anastasia_Evkhimenko_Video_(2014)|Anastasia Evkhimenko]], Hula-Hoop on Horseback (2014)
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* [[Mikheev_Trio_Video_(2014)|Mikheev Trio]], Ring Balancing (2014)
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* [[Yulia_Denisenko_and_Yuriy_Khokhlov_Video_(2014)|Yulia Denisenko & Yuriy Khokhlov]] Polar Bears (2014)
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* [[Shatirov_Troupe_Video_(2014)|The Shatirov Troupe]], Russian Barre (2014)
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* [[Skokov_Troupe_Video_(2014)|The Skokov Troupe]], Russian Swing (2014)
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* [[Khamada_Kuta_Video_(2014)|Khamada Kuta]], Lion and Tiger Act (2014)
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* [[Veronika_Teslenko_Video_(2014)|Veronika Teslenko]], Aerial Straps (2014)
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* [[Baranenko_%26_Petrikova_Video_(2014)|Elena Baranenko & Elena Patrikova]], Tissu Act (2014)
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* [[Shagunin_Troupe_Video_(2014)|Shagunin Troupe]], Perch-Pole Balancing (2014)
+
  
==Featured Oral Histories==
+
==Circopedia Books==
  
* [[Pavlenko_Interview_Video|Nikolai Pavlenko]], tiger trainer - Interview (RIA Novosti, 2012)
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* [[Circopedia Books|Philip Astley & The Horsemen who invented the Circus]], by Dominique Jando (2018)
* [[Alberto_Zoppé_Interview_2003|Alberto Zoppé]], Equestrian - Interview (McCutcheon & Distasio, 2003)
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* [[Olivier Taquin Interview 2008|Olivier Taquin]], Mime - Interview (Jando, 2008)
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* [[Barry Lubin Interview 2008|Barry Lubin]], Clown (Grandma) - Interview (Jando, 2008)
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* [[Fumagalli Interview 2008|Fumagalli]], Clown - Interview (Jando, 2008)
+
  
==A Message from the Editor==
+
==A Message from the Founder==
  
''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&mdash;and sometimes daily&mdash;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 [[Special:Contact|contact us]]: we will definitely consider your remarks and suggestions.''  
+
''CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding archive of the international circus, maintained by reliable circus historians and specialists. New videos, biographies, essays, and documents are added to the site on a weekly&mdash;and sometimes daily&mdash;basis. 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 [[Circopedia:Contact|contact us]]: we will definitely consider your remarks and suggestions.''  
  
 
:'''Dominique Jando'''
 
:'''Dominique Jando'''
:Editor/Curator
+
:Founder and Curator

Latest revision as of 20:24, 18 March 2026


Welcome! ✫ Bienvenue! ✫ Willkommen! ✫ Добро Пожаловать!
Bienvenida! ✫ Benvenuto! ✫ 歡迎 ! ✫ Vítejte! ✫ Καλώς ήρθατ ε!
Üdvözöljük! ✫ Добре Дошли! ✫ Welkom! ✫ Ласкаво Просимо!
Velkommen! ✫ Tervetuloa! ✫ Дабро Запрашаем! ✫ Välkommen!

Circopedia is an independent educational website, initially created as a project of the original, non-profit Big Apple Circus.

In The Spotlight

VALENTIN GNEUSHEV

Valentin Gneushev.jpg

Born on December 20, 1951, in Nizhny Tagil, in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, (close to the boundary between Asia and Europe), Valentin Aleksandrovich Gneushev (1951-2026) was one of the most influential circus directors-choreographers of the second half of the twentieth century, and the creator of some of the most innovative and celebrated circus acts of the 1990s.

As the “new circus” movement was drastically changing the traditional imagery of the circus (roughly between 1975 and 1995), Gneushev became the ultimate trendsetter, completely renewing the language of the ring. A master at discovering untapped talents in the disintegrating Soviet circus world, then creating and designing original acts for them, he eventually influenced the style of many young circus artists and companies, including Cirque du Soleil.

Valentin Gneushev fell in love with the circus as a teenager. He was fourteen when he began to perform in 1965 in a local Amateur Circus (the Russian equivalent of our Youth Circuses, albeit at a much higher artistic and technical level than in the West). He eventually decided to leave the Sverdlovsk Province and the industrial fumes of Nizhny Tagil (birthplace of the first Russian steam locomotive) and headed for Moscow, where he was accepted in the State College for Circus and Variety Arts (the legendary "Moscow Circus School"). There, he specialized as a clownGeneric term for all clowns and augustes. '''Specific:''' In Europe, the elegant, whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team..

In Moscow, Gneushev studied under Roman Viktiuk, Firs Zemtsev, and especially Serguei Kashtelyan, who had a lasting influence on his work. He graduated in 1978 and formed a short-lived clown trio with two partners, in which he revealed a special aptitude for pantomimeA circus play, not necessarily mute, with a dramatic story-line (a regular feature in 18th and 19th century circus performances)., as well as a need to distance himself from the conventional circus clowning of the period.

An eager student of the arts (literature, history, painting, music), Valentin developed a remarkable artistic culture, and an aesthetic vision rooted in classic as well as contemporary art, and widely open to new influences—a far cry from the prevalent rhetoric of the Soviet artistic scene.... (more...)

New Essays and Biographies

New Videos

  • Bondarev Troupe, teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air. (1985)
  • Duo Luna, aerial hoopA heavy metallic hoop used as a variance of trapeze, usually with contortion moves. (Also called Cerceau.) (2025)
  • Tulga, stromgman (2025)
  • China Acrobatic Troupe, bicycle act (2025)
  • Günter Dorning, trained cows (1978)

New Oral Histories

Circopedia Books

A Message from the Founder

CIRCOPEDIA is a constantly evolving and expanding archive of the international circus, maintained by reliable circus historians and specialists. 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! 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.

Dominique Jando
Founder and Curator