Do you need some information concerning circus ? You could find it on this page where we answer all frequently asked questions. If you need more, you can use our ads, maybe can anyone else who visited that site help you. Else, send us a mail. All remarks and suggestions are also welcome.
1/ I'm a teacher or a student and I need some documentation for school
We only have one copy of the documents in our possession, so we unfornately can't send any documentation.
I think the fastest way for you to get some documentation is to browse circus websites, to save those that can be of interest and to print the pages and pictures that can be useful. Some circus clubs and associations publish their own magazine where you can find a lot of information.
You'll find links to circus websites and adresses of circus clubs in our web pages.
You also can consult a book published bye the Cirque de Paris : Métiers et arts du cirque, cahier pédagogique.
The Cirque Educatif (http://www.cirque-educatif.com) has set up a file about circus.
The circus Reno has also published a little educational book (you can find some other information about this circus in the section In the ring of this site).
Cirque de Paris - 115, bd Charles de Gaulle - 92390 Villeneuve-La-Garenne - France.
Cirque Reno - La Sainte Fontaine - 10110 Bar-sur-Seine - France
2/ I'm looking for a circus school in my area
You'll find all information about the circus schools on their website. Most of them are listed in our links sections. If you're looking for something more specific in France or in Europe, you can also contact these federations :
European Federation of Circus Schools :
Centre National des Arts du Cirque - 1, rue du Cirque - 51000 Châlon-en-Champagne - France - Tel : (+33) (0)3 26 21 12 43 - Fax : (+33) (0)3 26 21 80 38
French Federation of Circus Schools :
FFEC - 17 bis, passage Montenegro - 75019 Paris - Tel : (+33) (0)1 44 52 13 13 - Fax : (+33) (0)1 44 52 13 14
3/ I want to learn more about the history of circus
This subject is far too wide to tell it in a few lines. But those books (sorry, I don't have the english translation of their titles) will be very helpful :
* La merveilleuse aventure du cirque, éditions "Sélection Reader's Digest", 1999
* Henry Thétard, La merveilleuse histoire du cirque, éditions Julliard, 1978
* Le grand livre du cirque (en 2 volumes), Edito-Service, bibliothèque des arts, Genève, 1977
* Histoire mondiale du cirque, Editions universitaires Jean-Pierre Delarge, 1977
Some circus clubs and associations publish their own magazine where you can find a lot of information. You could learn more by contacting the French association Hors les Murs : http://www.horslesmurs.asso.fr
4/ I'm looking for information about an artist (past or present)
The easiest way is to use our ads section. If he's one of your relative or ancestor, look at the Circusfolk website. You can also send us a mail with precise datas about who you're searching information about (his artist name, his troup's name,...). The more we know, the fastest our search will be and the more precise will we be able to answer.
5/ I'm organizing an exhibition and I need some documentation
We only have one copy of the documents in our possession, so we unfornately can't send any documentation.
I think the fastest way for you to get some documentation is to browse circus websites, to save those that can be of interest and to print the pages and pictures that can be useful. Some circus clubs and associations publish their own magazine where you can find a lot of information.
You'll find links to circus websites and adresses of circus clubs in our web pages.
A lot of members of the french circus club use to be involved in exhibitions. Here's their adress : Club du Cirque - 116, rue Damrémont - 75018 Paris - Tel : (+33) (0)1 42 55 35 94 (Mr Jean-Louis Boutroy)
I think that Couleur Cirque (Anse de Kerjégu - Combrit - 29120 Pont L'Abbé - France) also has allowed something at this end. You can also visit the website cirquexpo.
Our ads section could even be useful.
Let us know when your exhibitions happens, we will annonce it in our news section.
6/ I'm looking for programs or posters
This shop sells books and posters :
Editions de la Gardine - 36, boulevard du Cirque - 2736 Sorvilier - Switzerland
The dutch circus club sells a lot of programs a few times a year. If you want to buy, you have to be a member. Then, you will receive monthly (11 times a year) a magazine in dutch. It contains a lot of pictures and information and the list of the programs they sell. Here is their adress : Club van Circusvrienden Nederland - Dorresteinseweg, 35 - 3817 GA Amersfoort - Netherlands.
In other circus clubs do some members exchange documents. To knox them, you have to contact the clubs (you will find their adress in our adresses section).
Some circuses (generally in Switzerland, Germany and in the U.S.A.) have a specific service that sells documents and souvenirs.
The best way to get some posters, when a circus comes in your area, is to ask the shops to give it to you when the circus is away.
7/ What is called modern circus ?
The modern circus is a new way of circus show. The performance is made of circus acts but also of other disciplines (like dancing). Most of them never show animals. To learn more, you should look at some of their websites (you can find them in our links section). Well known modern circuses are Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Plume, circus Baroque, les Colporteurs.
The magazine Arts du cirque and the publication of Hors les murs (http://www.horslesmurs.asso.fr) often talk about modern circus.
9/ Where can I find circus books, video tapes or music ?
For books, you have to steadily go to big shops, like Fnac, and sometimes in bookshops that sells at a reduced price.
You could find books and videotapes at the Editions de la Gardine in Switzerland or at Becom in Netherlands
Editions de la Gardine - Boulevard du Cirque, 36 - 2736 Sorvilier - Switzerland.
BECOM - Postbus 80 - 2200 AB Noordwijk - Netherlands.
You can also ask Hors les Murs : http://www.horslesmurs.asso.fr
Some circuses (genarally in Switzerland and Germany) sell themselves a videotape about them.
10/ I'm looking for books about clowns
Here is a short list of some good books. Most of them also have an english version but, as I got them in French, I don't know their title in english :
Ce Rire qui vient du cirque - édition 1969 - Adrian
The world of clowns - édition 1976 - George Bishop
Quand passent les clowns - centre culturel de l'Yonne
Clowns et farceurs - édition 1982 - Bordas
Dimitri clowns - édition 1984 - Patrick Ferla
Nous, les Fratellini - édition 1955 - Albert Fratellini
Destin de clown - édition 1989 - Annie Fratellini
Une vie de clown, souvenir de Roph Zavatta - 1963 - Jacques Garnier
Sans Blague ! Ma vie de clown - édition 1948 - Grock
Bonjour les clowns - édition 1976 - Hugues Hotiez
Emile Coryn, Mimile le clown - édition 1978 - Alain Laville
Les clowns et la tradition clownesque - édition 1991 - Pierre Robert Levy
Trois clowns légendaires : les Fratellini - édition 1997 - Pierre Robert Levy
Ma vie de clown - édition 1968 - Oleg Popov
Les clowns - édition 1945 - Tristan Remy
Entrées clownesques - édition 1962 - Tristan Remy
Tente ans de cirque - édition 1954 - Achille Zavatta
Viva Zavatta - édition 1976 - Achille Zavatta
Achille Zavatta - édition 1994 - Lydia Zavatta
12/ Could you concisely explain how goes a typical day at the circus ?
Show or not, a day at the circus is often heavy, even more in the cities where we only stay one day. We wake up very soon, in order to avoid traffic jam and reach our new place as soon as possible. Then, we have to park the vehicles and to set up the tent : when that is finished, it's often already noon. Time to eat, and to rest if we can. Then, we take care of the equipment and always find something to do (maintenance, training,...) before the first show. When it's done, we only have time to tidy up, and to eat if the evening show begins at 08.00 p.m.
After that, we have to pack up and to take down. And then, the day is done. Fortunately, we stay more days in some cities. There is less stress and we can visit the town, but also train and prepare new shows. The circus life is heavy but also marvellous.
That book is very good and helpful :
Christian Dupavillon - Architectures du Cirque des origines à nos jours - Editons du Moniteur - Paris (17, rue d'Uzès)
14/ I'm looking for datas about circus and its audience (spectators, tickets price,...)
The Franch Department about Prospective (2, rue Jean Lantier, 75001 Paris) has published a study about the audience of circus and its public image. The last edition I saw is from 1993 and I don't know if they did a new version.
Hors les Murs (http://www.horslesmurs.asso.fr) could also help you, since they work in association with the French Ministry of Culture.
15/ Other questions, remarks and suggestions
You want to tell us your opinion aout the site, have some idea or didn't find the answer to your questions ? You can send us an e-mail. Attention, the person in charge of the replies to the e-mails only speaks french, so try to write it in french. If it's not possible, be patient for an answer and only write for an important demand. Also don't hesitate to use the ads section, maybe can other people be helpful. Due to health problems, we aren't able to answer to the e-mails for a while. We apologize for this inconvenience. All remarks and suggestions are anyway welcome. Our e-mail : circus@circusnet.info
