Circus: photo, arena, hall scheme, places. Clown in the circus. Animals in the circus. Circus tour. Circus history. Performance in the circus. Circus day. The circus is

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Circus - this word contains our happy childhood memories of how clever acrobats jumped and somersaulted in the arena, clumsy bears made circles on bicycles and motorcycles, and a clown joked funny and organized contests for grateful spectators. At the same time, like any other thing, this entertainment has a downside. The circus is incredibly hard work of actors, gymnasts, jugglers, animals and clowns. Behind a carefree smile, the artist often skillfully hides pain and tension. Such hard work is certainly worthy of admiration!

The history of the circus: from antiquity to the present day

The birthplace of entertainment is sunny Italy. It was there that this art was born, as the history of the circus says. Gladiators are considered the very first circus performers - after all, they performed in order to amuse the audience with their performances. Gladiators performed in a large round arena called the Circus Maximus. It means "bigthe circus". From the Latin word Circus, which means "circle" in translation, our beloved word "circus" came from.

The work of a gladiator in the arena was hard and dangerous, often fun could turn into a tragedy: a fighter could get seriously injured and maimed, sometimes incompatible with life. That is why the people did not go to the gladiators at will: mostly fighters were recruited from slaves or prisoners of war.

In ancient times, circus art was very fond of, the Roman emperors allocated a lot of money for such performances. But the ancient world was replaced by the gloomy Middle Ages with its famine, disease, wars and other misfortunes. The rulers had no time for entertainment, when one war followed another, people died from diseases, there were a myriad of problems. But, despite all the hardships, the people did not lose heart, but continued to arrange cheerful performances. The circus arena faded into the background, now the show was staged in the trading areas, where there were always a lot of people, which means that anyone could see the performance. In Russia, craftsmen performing at the marketplaces were called buffoons. Later, buffoons became an indispensable attribute of any self-respecting fair.

After the end of the Middle Ages, the circus again became in demand in the same way as in antiquity. In the 19th century, foreign artists began to come to Russia with new numbers that the Russian people had not yet seen. Interest in entertainment has increased several times at once. In 1873, the first circus was built in Russia, resembling a modern one. It was founded by the Nikitin brothers and was a huge success with the public. It featured suchcelebrities like Ivan Poddubny, the Durov brothers, Vitaly Lazarenko and others. The Nikitin brothers built their first circus in Penza, and then their similar institutions appeared in other cities of Russia.

Today, the circus is as popular as it was in antiquity and in the Renaissance. There are special schools, after studying in which you can become an acrobat, gymnast, juggler, clown and even an entertainer. True, this is worth a huge and hard work, as well as great strong-willed efforts, since the work of artists is very difficult. But on the other hand, the reward is very generous, in the form of laughing adults and grateful children's eyes. And, of course, a big round of applause! Those who are concerned about the material side of the issue can rejoice - circus workers rarely complain about the amount of wages.

How does a circus work?

Each of us probably dreamed of being behind the scenes to understand how everything works there. The circus keeps many secrets. The scheme of the hall and its features, the number of arenas where there are rooms for animals - all this is described below.

From the side it seems that more than one arena will not fit under the dome. But this is not so: every circus has both a main arena and a rehearsal arena designed for training and working out numbers. The rehearsal arena of the circus, as a rule, is located between the main and service entrances. This is where artists hone their skills.

No circus can do without an auditorium. It is as necessary as the arena. Without it, there can be noone circus. It is more convenient to take photos and videos, if allowed by the administration, from places located near the arena itself, so that the image is as clear as possible. In the auditorium there is a long row of chairs and chairs painted in bright colors: blue, red, white. From the variegation sometimes begins to ripple in the eyes. The auditorium is divided into zones, and the color of the chairs must be combined with the number indicated in the circus scheme. The quality of the view of what is happening in the arena depends on the location of the zone. The better the view, the more expensive the seats in the circus. Which, in fact, is absolutely fair. Usually the circus scheme is posted next to the ticket office, and it shows all the zones and sectors. The height of the auditorium often exceeds 30 meters.

Like the theatres, there are also dressing rooms here. They are usually located near the rehearsal arena. Circus performances are very complex, the artists often have sweat running down their faces, smearing all the makeup. Therefore, they often run away to the dressing room to clean up.

Animal rooms are a separate and unique part of the circus. A wide variety of representatives of the fauna perform - both domestic and wild animals, herbivores and predators, land and waterfowl, living on land and in water. For each animal, a place should be equipped where it will be comfortable and at ease - a large cage, a spacious aviary or a pool with clear water. Many animal rooms are located away from the main arena so that the spectators do not smell the characteristic smell of animals.

The foyer is where the circus begins. Photo froma monkey, an artist's autograph, a sweet pie - all these treasures are hidden there. The lobby sells luminous bracelets, bright lanterns, horns, funny headbands with ears or horns, as well as sweets and sandwiches. Here, viewers can take pictures with animals and artists, get an autograph from the latter.

Circus professions

There are a lot of different professions in the circus that deserve special attention. Nevertheless, we single out several speci alties from them, which are worth talking about separately. The first profession that will be discussed is the clown.

What is behind the clown mask: laughter or tears?

What circus can exist without a clown? People needed them and were appreciated at all times: at first, their performances filled the pauses between the numbers, then the red-nosed artists began to go on stage separately and perform their unique numbers. It would seem that it's easier, go on stage and fool around - and it's funny to yourself, and people roll with laughter. And yes, they pay money for it! But no, it's not as simple as it seems at first glance.

The clown in the circus is simply obliged to cheer the audience, otherwise what kind of clown is this? This means that the artist needs a subtle flair so that he can “feel” the audience and its mood, determine which jokes people will like and which ones they won’t. In addition, a true master of his craft must have an excellent sense of humor in order to be able to distinguish witty things from flat hackneyed jokes. And, of course, a considerable intellect, because it is not for nothing that mental abilities and a sense of humor go hand in hand. Also speaking beforeFor spectators, it is desirable for a person to be able to juggle, somersault and be in good physical shape. So it turns out that a circus clown is not such a simple profession as it seems at first glance. But very honorable and grateful.

Illusionist Profession

No less difficult and honorable is the work of an illusionist. An illusionist is a circus performer who performs tricks and illusions based on physical phenomena and features of the human psyche and perception. It is no easier for him than for a clown, because you need to show the performance so that no one suspects a dirty trick, does not unravel the secrets of the trick. Complicating the work of a magician in a circus is that his work is visible to people from all sides, because the seats in the circus are located around the arena. That is, hiding some elements and focus details will not work. The illusionist is in plain sight, so you have to rely only on intelligence and sleight of hand. He must captivate the audience, convince them to believe in a fairy tale, in a miracle that literally happens by magic.

The first illusionists arose a very long time ago. These were priests and shamans who showed primitive tricks with fire, water, herbs to enthusiastic spectators. They often deceived poor people, pretending to be skilled healers and forcing them to pay a large tribute for dubious treatment. Due to their lack of education, ancient people admired the skills of shamans and considered them great people. The priests were replaced by magicians, fakirs, puppeteers who walked around the villages and entertained the people, as well asperformed at fairs where they could make the greatest impression on people. From these nimble craftsmen came modern illusionists, fast and dexterous, whose skillful work can only be admired.

With animals on you, or It's all about training

One of the most important and challenging jobs in the circus industry is that of an animal trainer. "Beastmaster" can work in many areas. So, in the field of security, his services are simply necessary, since it is he who helps to educate a faithful and obedient friend from an unbridled animal who will work conscientiously without letting his teacher and owners down. But still, the trainer in the circus is most in demand, since there are a huge number of animals from different continents of the Earth. A specialist needs to find a common language with each of them, to be able to find the key to the heart of each furry and not so friend. He teaches his wards various tricks and numbers, cycling, scooter, motorcycle. The trainer has a huge responsibility for the life and he alth of the pet, because one careless movement is enough to pull a small animal's muscle or break a leg. Therefore, he must be careful and careful in his work.

The work of a trainer is dangerous: if an animal misinterprets its actions, it can pounce and bite, and deaths are not uncommon. The work requires maximum concentration and composure, as well as iron willpower. What animal will obey a trainer who cannot force himself to go to bed on time?In addition to all this, a circus worker must love animals very much. Otherwise, the beast may feel his dislike and refuse to perform numbers, and sometimes it may even attack the unlucky coach. But if a specialist loves his work, is completely and completely passionate about it, then the prospects for such an employee are very long-term.

According to these three professions, we can make a general conclusion that the work of an artist in a circus requires concentration, good physical fitness, developed willpower, perseverance, determination and, oddly enough, kindness. After all, both people and animals are drawn to the good, and this is where half of all success lies.

How to become a circus performer?

First of all, you need to work very hard on yourself. First you need to highlight those things that work best. It can be juggling, a demonstration of tricks or rhythmic gymnastics. Once the talent is found, you can start honing it. It has already been said above that to work in the circus you need to be in very good physical shape, so you should lose weight, if available, and start doing exercises that will tighten the body and develop muscles. Some numbers do not pass without a trace for the artist, so you need to be prepared for injuries. But with the development of physical form, the body will learn to tolerate damage more easily, as it will be trained enough, and the muscles will become stronger and more elastic.

It is worth deciding on the direction that interests you the most. Acrobatics, clowning,juggling or throwing daggers - there are many options. The main thing - remember that in order to constantly work in the circus, you need to make a lot of effort to get noticed.

Have you already found the institution you want to work for? Great, time to sign up for an interview with the director of the circus. But before you rush to him, you should think about what you can show him that he might be surprised at. Be sure to prepare a number that you will show to your future boss. Try to impress him, you may not get another chance. If everything is in order and the boss is surprised by your skill, then you can assume that the circus hall is already waiting for you!

Even if the number is perfected to perfection and your body already automatically produces the movements used in the performance, still continue to train. Extra exercises will not interfere, but in the end they can help out a lot if your memory fails from excitement and you forget what movements you need to perform at the moment. The body will automatically continue to do its work, muscle memory will turn on. This will help save the number.

If possible, be sure to enroll in a circus school or college. Experienced teachers will be able to give you all the necessary skills for further work, and the future boss will look at you with great respect and seriousness if you have a diploma from a specialized educational institution. If you want your child to follow the circus path, you should enroll him in a circle - the skills gained there can be very useful to him.at the school.

Circus animals: how do they fare in captivity?

Starting from the 19th century, the participation of animals in the entertainment program has become an essential attribute of any self-respecting circus. People laughed and clapped their hands, watching funny monkeys trying to make a stand, and bears trying to saddle a bicycle. Of course, everyone knew that an animal would not voluntarily sit on a bicycle, and this result was obtained with the help of strict and sometimes cruel treatment of animals. Nevertheless, people went to the circus and continue to go. It's so interesting there!

Training an animal is often based on cruel treatment of it, this is the easiest way to make a representative of the fauna do what a person orders him to do. Many animals in the circus look good, but few viewers realize what it took for the veterinarian to bring the furry artist into a decent appearance. A veterinarian treats many injuries inflicted by animal trainers, but, alas, he is not able to cure them of mental trauma. Therefore, if you look into the eyes of a circus animal, you will see that he has a blank and distant look.

Not all trainers are cruel, there are real masters of their craft, whom animals obey without beatings. But, in order for a furry friend to understand what they want from him, and agree to do it without the use of force, you need to truly love our smaller brothers and have a heart of gold. Otherwise, all attempts to get close to the animal and teach it various tricks are doomed to failure.

Professional holiday

On April 16, the entire population of the globe celebrates International Circus Day. It has been celebrated for six years, since 2010. Not all people celebrate Circus Day, but the artists sacredly observe traditions, and this holiday becomes memorable for many of them. And for those who celebrate this event, it becomes the most fun holiday. After all, the circus is always ringing laughter, thunderous applause, fireworks of emotions and ramp lights. Otherwise it can not be. This is one of the few holidays that is really worth celebrating.

Circus Signs

As in the theater, the circus also has its good and not so good signs. For example, it is customary for speakers to congratulate each other after the first tour number in a new city or after the opening of a new season. It is customary to say: "With the beginning!" You can congratulate only if the artist has already completed his number. This must not be done before the performance.

Employees call everything new with the word “beginning”: new tours of the circus, a visit to another city, etc. Sometimes during the very first performance, artists free from work can sit in the hall. This is done in order for the experienced eye of the circus performer to notice all the inaccuracies and oversights in the work of colleagues that went unnoticed during rehearsals, so as not to allow them in the future.

There is a sign in the world of the circus that is absolutely the opposite of the previous one. It is customary to congratulate not only on the beginning, but also on the end of the season or the end of the tour. In this case, everyone says to each other: “With the end!” As in the previous sign, the same worksrule - you can’t congratulate before the performance, a bad omen. Sometimes the ending is called funny - brilliant green. This came from a theatrical tradition known to many called skit. During the Zelenka, you can even tweak a colleague a little dirty trick! Of course, so that the audience and strangers do not notice when there is a performance in the circus. This is how a person's professionalism and his ability to find a way out of any situation are tested.

And the circus also congratulates people on the weekend! And again, the familiar rule about the prohibition of congratulations before the performance works. And although the artists do not have regular days off, since there is a very large influx of people on Saturday and Sunday, they still love the weekend very much and consider it their duty to congratulate each other.

Many are wondering: so what does the word "circus" hide in itself? The answer is simple: titanic work, tears, diligence, perseverance and gigantic willpower. But at the same time, the circus is a storehouse of fun, bursts of laughter, kind smiles and admiration for the hard work of artists. The latter are doing a colossal job in order to achieve admiring glances directed at them during the performance of the next number. Therefore, the circus is also a great love for the audience and one's work, an immense joy from understanding that the act was a success and the applause is well deserved. This is boundless devotion to the profession and dedication to your beloved work.