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A circus is most commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobats, clowns, trained animals,hula hoopers and other novelty acts and the word also describes the performance that they give. A circus is held in an oval or circular arena with tiered seating around its circumference; in the case of traveling circuses this location is most often a large tent.

The circus is thought to have had its origin in Ancient Rome, where the circus was an open-air stadium where chariot and horse races and other public exhibitions where held. Briton Philip Astley is thought of as the father of the modern circus, establishing permanent and travelling circuses in Britain and Europe in the late 18th century.

History of the circus


Circus in the ancient world

In Ancient Rome the circus was a building for the exhibition of horse and chariot races, equestrian shows, staged battles, displays featuring trained exotic animals, jugglers and acrobats and other amusements. The circus of Rome is thought to have been influenced by the Egyptians and Greeks where chariot racing and the exhibition of exotic animals were popular events. The Roman circus consisted of tiers of seats running parallel with the sides of the course, and forming a crescent round one of the ends. The lower seats were reserved for persons of rank; there were also various state boxes, eg. for the giver of the games and his friends. In Ancient Rome the circus was the only public spectacle at which men and women were not separated.

The first circus in Rome was the Circus Maximus, in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills. Next in importance to the Circus Maximus in Rome was the Circus Flaminius, the Circus Neronis, from the notoriety which it obtained through the Circensian pleasures of Nero. A fourth, Circus Maxentius, was constructed by Maxentius; the ruins of this circus have enabled archaeologists to reconstruct the Roman circus.

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500 Circus Arts - Directory with categories including stilts, fire, trapeze, forums, and museums.

Circus Record and Documentation Center - Programs, books, news, adresses, links, ads, and discussion group.
Meta Description: [ Tout sur le cirque, et même la fête foraine, dans le monde et sur le web. Everything about circus and fun fair in the world and on the web. Programs, books, news, adresses, links, ads, discussion group, and more... Des programmes, des livres, des modèles réduits, des adresses, les dernières nouve... ]

Circus Web - History, lore, and links to circuses and organizations.
Meta Description: [ Everything about the circus! Links to all shows. History of the circus. Circus souvenirs. ]

Circus World Museum - The Circus World Museum salutes over 200 years of the American circus at the original winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. Schedules, shopping, and tickets.

Circusland.com - Includes photo galleries, videos, articles, glossary, forum, performer database, and merchandise. [English/Russian]
Meta Description: [ Circus Guide Online. The source of exclusive information - it tells you about the latest news and events in the world of circus. The opportunity for you to be first to see unique photos and video materials, which were accessed only by a limited circle of professionals. It is a convenient way to s... ]

International Circus Festival - Annual professional competition held in Budapest, Hungary. Includes previous results, including photographs and profiles of performers.

Ivan and Maya aerial acrobats - Strength and spirit. Skill and spectacle. Roll and self confidence. These are the traits of Ivan’s aerial program. The performance requires extraordinary big physical strength. While spectators watch a light performance rich in spectacle. Watching the production spectators gain a real adventure. This program can be adapted into any program of circus or revue, but also relevant as a parallel production of a 3-ring circus.

Sounds of the Circus - Discography of music from the golden age of the American circus performed by The South Shore Circus Concert Band.
Meta Description: [ Music from the Golden Age of the American Circus. ]

500 SoYouWanna join the circus? - Full-length article tells you exactly how to join the circus.

Yahoo Groups: Circus Arts - Discussion group for amateurs and professionals.
Meta Description: [ Free, easy email groups ]

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