By: Esteban Vélez. The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival is considered the most important in the circus world. It was created in 1974 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco to showcase and promote the circus. Advertisement for the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. It takes place in early January each year and features around 25 shows, overseen by Princess Stephanie of …
Old Man Lanling – the Juggling Swordsman
By: Esteban Vélez. Drawing of the old man Lanling juggling swords. The earliest records of Chinese juggling can be found in Chinese literature, where writers, poets, and historians recount the feats and skills of, among others, some Chinese warriors, mainly soldiers, who juggled for emperors, prefects, or authorities of the time. Although such feats are not confirmed, they are deeply …
Interview with Ismael Cirquina – Part 2
By: Esteban Vélez. “And I ask God to give me life so I can see him in Cirque du Soleil”. Ismael’s grandmother. In the first part of this interview, I spoke with Ismael about his beginnings in juggling, what his parents think about his career and talent, who his favorite jugglers and tricks are, etc. In this second part, we’ll …
Christmas Tales – The Clown of God
By: Esteban Vélez. One of the most famous Christmas tales featuring jugglers is “Le Jongleur de Notre Dame,” or, in its translation, “The Juggler of Our Lady,” created by the French writer Anatoli France in the 1890s and included in an 1892 collection of stories by the same author. The story is based on the life of Bernabé, a humble …
Interview with Ismael Cirquina – Part 1
By: Esteban Vélez. Ismael Silva is a young Chilean juggler who surprised the circus community with his incredible talent at just 13 years old. He currently performs as part of a juggling and acrobatics duo with his father, Ezequiel, who has 30 years of experience in juggling. Ismael Silva. Ismael’s career is headed for the big stage. He has worked …
Interview with Yeraldin Callejas
By: Esteban Vélez. “Juggling is an art that weaves patience and dedication, where each movement is a step toward perfection, and each fall is a lesson to keep going.” Yeraldin Callejas. Yeraldin is a Colombian juggler, acrobat, and circus artist. She is a member of the Zansue collective in Campoalegre, Huila. She has also participated in some of …
Viktor Koshkin – Juggler and Writer
By: Esteban Vélez. Viktor Viktorovich was born on September 21, 1927. He was a Russian equestrian juggler. His father was the equestrian juggler Vittorio Ferroni (you can learn more about him by clicking here) and his mother the aerial gymnast Lidiya Stepanovna Koshkina (March 23, 1900 – February 4, 1976). Viktorovich performed in the circus from 1932 to 1974 under …
The Fedunovs
By: Esteban Vélez. The Fedunovs The Soviet circus was characterized by taking circus techniques such as juggling, acrobatics, and gymnastics to the next level; disciplines they studied in depth, and have written dozens of books about them. In this sense, social scientists Tatiana I. Erokhina and Ruslan E. Shamshadinov deduced that this was largely due to the USSR‘s desire to …
IRC Juggling Colombia – 2025
By Esteban Vélez. Advertisement for IRC Colombia 2025. Photo: Festival Internacional de Teatro de Manizales. Fundación Circo Manizales. The first IJA Regional Competition (IRC) in Colombia was held in 2016, within the framework of the Colombian Circus Convention. The winners were: Gold medal: Israel Frutos (Niño Topo, Ecuador). Silver medal: Anderson Pereira Da Silva (Brazil). Bronze medal: Geison Estupiñán (Colombia). …