Circus Terms

Aerial: acts which take place on apparatus which hang from above, such as silks, trapeze, Spanish web, corde lisse, and aerial hoop.

Rigging- A system for hanging aerial equipment. REMEMBER you will need a strong fixed point (minimum ½ ton safe weight bearing load per rigging point) for aerial artists to rig from if they are performing indoors: the height varies according to apparatus. The artists will have their own rig for outdoor shows.

Spanish web/Web- An aerialist is suspended high above on a single rope, while spinning at high speed from ankle or wrist. This extreme act is dynamic and mesmerising. The rope is spun by another person, who remains on the ground holding the bottom of the rope.

Aerial Hoop- An elegant aerial display where the performer twists themselves in, on, under and around a steel hoop or ring suspended from the ceiling, usually about the size of a hula hoop.

Silks or Tissu- The artist climbs, wraps, rotates and drops within a piece of fabric that is draped from the ceiling, exhibiting pure strength and grace with a good measure of dramatic twists and falls.

The Beginner’s Guide to Circus and Street Theatre www.premierecircus.com

Trapeze- An aerial apparatus with a bar, suspended by ropes. Our double static trapeze acts involve two performers on the one trapeze, in which they perform a wide range of movements including balances, drops, hangs and strength and flexibility manoeuvres on the trapeze bar and in the ropes supporting the trapeze.

Corde Lisse- Literally meaning “Smooth Rope”, Corde Lisse is a single length of rope hanging from above, which the aerialist wraps around their body to hang, drop and slide.

Rola Bola- An act involving the performer balancing on a flat board that is placed on top of a cylinder, while juggling,or performing handstands.

Contortion- An acrobatic art that involves a performer bending theirbody into hyper-flexible, extraordinary positions, pushing the body to its limits.

Acro: Skilful balance, strength and gymnastic movement includingbody rotations, twists, flips, balances, jumps and turns.

Hand Balancing- An act in which the majority of skills involve the performer balancing on one or both hands. The performer can also rotate if balancing on special apparatus.

Ladder Balance- An acrobatic/manipulation act where the performerclimbs and balances on an unsupported free-standing ladder byusing a rocking motion. Juggling, balancing objects on the performers’s headand performing handstands may be combined.

Acrobatics

Manipulation- The act of moving and controlling objects. This term covers juggling, contact juggling, diabolo, devil sticks, hat manipulation and cigar box manipulation, poi, staff twirling, yo-yo’s etc

Cigar Box Juggling- An act involving one performer who manipulates several rectangular wooden boxes catching, stacking and balancing on hand or chin.

Hula Hoop- Circular plastic hoops that are used to twirl around different parts of the body. Performer can manipulate one or multiple hoops at the same time.

Juggling- The skill of keeping a number of objects in the air at the same time, by continuously throwing and catching the objects. The performer can use different methods to throw and catch the objects and will create different patterns. Examples of objects used for juggling are balls, clubs, rings, hats, knives, fire clubs, fruit, vegetables...

Contact Juggling- The performer will manipulate a crystal ball, keeping it in contact with the body. Focuses on fluidity of movement and gives the appearance that theball has a mind of its own.

Fire- Fire club juggling, fire club swinging, fire eating, fire poi (consisting of a ball and chain, one held in each hand by finger loops, allowing the performer to swing the apparatus around their body very quickly).

Hat Manipulation- An act involving several hats and one or more performers. The performer will throw and catch, spin and pass the hats.

Diabolo- This is shaped like an hourglass and rests on a string tied to two sticks. It is whirled and tossed into the air by the performer. Fast moving. The performer may also use two diabolos on the one string.

Slapstick- Physical comedy which uses slapping, kicking and use of comic timing. Could involve running into an object, appearing to get hurt, and exaggeration. Famous slapstick comedians include Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy and the Three Stooges.

Unicycle- A one-wheel bicycle with a small seat upon which the performer rides forwards, backwards, performs jumps and other balancing skills. Unicycles come in different heights and different sized wheels.

Puppetry- Performance which involves the manipulation of puppets.These can either take the form of string puppets or can be large puppet characters, which are manipulated from inside or can be a stiltscharacter

Stilts- Timber or metal apparatus that is attached below the knee which the artist walks on. Stilts come in different heights and can be up to several metres high.

Contemporary Clowning- aka the international language of silliness. Clowning is about communicating truth in its purest, rawest form. It demands great courage and discipline from the performer, yet reaches out with simplicity to engage the audience. It can involve mime, audience participation, comic timing, eccentric dance...

Contact Details:

Premiere Circus23- 25 Gordon StreetBelfastBT1 2LG

T: 028 90 333 003 048 90 333 003 (From ROI)

E: bookings@premierecircus.com W: www.premierecircus.com

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