Stories

Read more Insights : Artist Insight: Chris & Elaina Steele - Captain & Maybelle 1: What is your name and stage name or company if you have one? We are Chris & Elaina Steele, and we perform as “Captain & Maybelle”. 2: What is your skill, craft, profession, or industry that you are in… In your own words? We are contemporary sideshow entertainers that perform world record breaking stunts! Our skills include including sword swallowing, fire breathing, The Human Blockhead and more! 3: What got you interested in, or involved with circus? Fascination! 4: What is the biggest challenge you faced in your professional career so far? Chris: My biggest challenge has been learning how to carry the crowd, talk to the audience. I knew I had the actual skill , or stunt, accomplished, but it was more important for me to be a polished, witty entertainer. I am now incredibly comfortable and confident on the microphone. 5: What is one fond memory you have of the circus? Seeing grind shows on the traveling midways when I was a kid. 6: Where do you see your professional career going, where would you like to end up? We feel like we’re living the dream now, but we can’t wait to live on the road, traveling everywhere! 7: If you could change one thing about your field in the circus in the present, present or future … What would it be? Cell phone use! It’s not industry specific, but it is a common and accepted occurrence now. Put [...]

Read more Insights : Artist Insight: Kevin Radigue 1: What is your name and stage name or company if you have one? My name is Kevin Radigue 2: What is your skill, craft, profession, or industry that you are in… In your own words? Professional Freestyle Skater, Juggler, Acrobat, Freerunner, Fire Performer. 3: What got you interested in, or involved with circus? Got my first contract with Ringling Bros Circus because of my skills in Freestyle Ice Skating, and still working in circus today because I love the lifestyle. 4: What is the biggest challenge you faced in your professional career so far? Go on stage in front thousands and thousands of people for the first time. 5: What is one fond memory you have of the circus? Meeting so many people from all over the world, making new friendships. 6: Where do you see your professional career going, where would you like to end up? Performing for the biggest companies in this world, like Cirque du Soleil, etc... 7: If you could change one thing about your field in the circus in the present, present or future … What would it be? Trying to incorporate new extreme sports in circus world. 8: What is the one best piece of advice you can give to someone starting off in this field? Never back down, never give up, look up, and smile ! 9: If someone wanted to learn more about you or what you do, where should they go? Search Kevin Radigue professional circus performer on YouTube and [...]

Read more Insights : Artist Insight: Montana DeBor Street Light Circus 1: What is your name and stage name or company if you have one? My name is Montana DeBor and I'm a co-founder of Street Light Circus. 2: What is your skill, craft, profession, or industry that you are in… In your own words? I'm a circus artist. I perform mostly on Spanish Web and rope. I run Street Light Circus with three other co-founders. 3: What got you interested in, or involved with circus? I was a gymnast when I was younger and fell in love with circus while I was in college. I went to school originally for business but switched to studying illustration to pursue my love of art. During that transitional period I discovered my local circus community began training on rope and aerial fabric. I found it a perfect blend of art and athleticism. 4: What is the biggest challenge you faced in your professional career so far? Achieving fair pay for artistic creation; I find it's the hardest act of all. 5: What is one fond memory you have of the circus? I remember the colors as a child. I saw Ringling Bros. and the saturated red, crisp white of the tent always stayed with me. The color, dynamism and laughter drew me to circus. I'm grateful I get to experience that world from within now. 6: Where do you see your professional career going, where would you like to end up? I would love to teach and perform abroad. And [...]

Read more Insights : Artist Insight: Rocco the Acrobat GRAVITY Entertainment 1: What is your name and stage name or company if you have one? Rocco. Rocco the Acrobat (DBA), GRAVITY Entertainment (DBA) 2: What is your skill, craft, profession, or industry that you are in… In your own words? I call myself a professional acrobat first, but I do most circus props at a professional level, including object manipulation such as juggling, equilibristics such as rolla bolla and unicycling, and partner work, including hand to hand. 3: What got you interested in, or involved with circus? I had just finished a little over 9 years of service in the U.S. military and after demobilizing I met some people doing low level partner acrobatics similar to what is now a huge fad called acroyoga. It interested me enough to try other things including pole acrobatics. I wasn't very good yet but I managed to cobble together my first shows, which were largely fire shows, but also a 9 minute solo show without fire. It was terrible, but the local news covered me and gave me footage. I used that footage to make my first promo reel. By some luck, a busking festival in Canada liked it enough to offer me a contract, probably because somebody bailed on them last minute. The catch was that they needed at least a 30 minute show. I wrote the whole show on the plane and in the hotel. To make sure I could remember it all I wrote notes on my arms and even on the back of my props, [...]