Do you need some information about 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 school2/ I'm looking for a circus school in my area
3/ I want to learn more about the history of circus
4/ I'm looking for information about an artist (past or present)
5/ I'm organizing an exhibition and I need some documentation
6/ I'm looking for programs or posters
7/ What is called modern circus?
8/ I need some equipment: where can I buy it?
9/ Where can I find circus books, videos or music?
10/ I'm looking for books about clowns
11/ Is it possible to visit the Circus Record and Documentation Center?
12/ Could you concisely explain how goes a typical day at the circus?
13/ I need some information about the circuses architecture
14/ I'm looking for datas about circus and its audience (spectators, tickets price,...)
15/ Questions about the Cirque du Soleil
16/ Other questions, remarks and suggestions
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.
The Cirque Educatif (http://www.cirque-educatif.com) has set up a file about circus and owns plenty of educational documentation.
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 Professional Circus Schools: (even if called European, this Federation has members on several continents)
16 Place Sainte-Catherine - 1000 Brussels - Belgium - Phone: +32 (0)2 678 09 98 - Fax: +32 (0)2 678 09 99 - info@fedec.eu - www.fedec.eu
French Federation of Circus Schools:
FFEC - 17 bis, passage Montenegro - 75019 Paris - Phone: (+33) (0)1 44 52 13 13 - Fax: (+33) (0)1 44 52 13 14 - accueil@ffec.asso.fr
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
This site wrote a brief history of Circus very well explained to kids: Le dictionnaire du cirque
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 Internet search engines, as Google. If you don't find anything, feel free to ask for information in 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. You can also visit the website cirquexpo or look for an exchange forum.
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
Several members of circus clubs use to exchange documents. Contact the clubs (you'll find information about them on several pages of this site) in order to get in touch with them. Others, as the UK Circus Friends Association, sell documents online.
Some circuses have a specific service that sells documents and souvenirs, some have an online shop.
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. Don't be shy: otherwise, after the circus leaves, posters often finish in the trashcan. But please wait until the circus has left to take the poster.
7/ What is called modern circus?
The modern circus is a new way of circus show. The performance includes a full production and is made of circus acts but also of other disciplines (like dancing). Most of them never show animals. Troupes also often create complete modern circus shows. 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.
8/ I need some equipment: where can I buy it?
You'll find links to shops and manufacturers (from little accessories to big tents) in our links sections.
9/ Where can I find circus books, videos or music?
More on more circus sell items online, including video and music of their shows.
Some websites - related to circus or not - also sell circus music and DVD's online, as the UK Circus Friends Association.
You can also ask : http://www.horslesmurs.asso.fr
Some circuses (genarally in Switzerland and Germany) sell themselves a DVD 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
11/ Is it possible to visit the Circus Record and Documentation Center?
Our centre in unfortunately not yet open to visitors. Our case is still studied by the Ministry of Culture and by the Sociology Institute of the University of Brussels. At this time, through lack of premises, the documents are at my place.
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 8:00 pm. 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.
13/ I need some information about the circuses architecture
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 (http://www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/Politiques-ministerielles/Etudes-et-statistiques) publishes documentation and studies about the audience of circus and its public image.
Hors les Murs (http://www.horslesmurs.asso.fr) could also help you, since they work in association with the French Ministry of Culture. In other countries, I think the best way to find the information you need is to contact the Ministry of Culture, who will be able to guide you.
15/ Questions about the Cirque du Soleil
Visit the official website of the Cirque du Soleil, where you'll certainly find answers to your questions, or the right person to contact to provide you the information you're looking for.
16/ Other questions, remarks and suggestions
You want to tell us your opinion aout the site or didn't find the answer to your question ? You can send us an e-mail. Attention, the person in charge of the replies to the e-mails only speaks French (or Dutch), 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. Our e-mail : circus@circusnet.info