Liberty Horses can perform without a rider. If they do have a rider, they
don't need any reins to guide the horses. They are "free", at liberty.
Most cirsuses in the United States have many animals. In Europe, some circuses
do not have large animals but have many acts with dogs and other smaller
animals.
A flying trapeze is the bar that swings in the air above the ring. Trapeze
artists are called flyers and catchers. The flyers jump from one trapeze to
another. Sometimes there is a catcher on the other trapeze--so they "fly"
through the air (with the greatest if ease!). The first time someone made a
leap from one trapeze to another was in 1859.
The circuses that travel can go by truck, wagon or train. Only small circuses
go by truck now. All the large circuses like Ringling Brothers go by train.
The circus really started in ancient Rome about 2,000 years ago. They had
tumbling , juggling and what was called rope dancing. (Isn't that a neat
name?!)
The modern circus started in Europe at a riding school in 1768; they had the
horses, of course, and acrobats, jugglers and tightrope dancers. There were
also clowns from the theater.
The name "circus" comes from the word for "ring". The circus took that name
because of the ring that was used to contain the liberty horses. The ring used
to be 62 feet in diameter but now it is a standard of 42 feet all over the
world.
A Side Show is a collection of different acts and exhibits displayed at the
side of the entrance to the main tent. This is where you would see the snake
charmer or the sword swallower.
Clown Alley is where the clowns get ready for their performances. It used to
be a special tent: only clowns allowed. Now clowns will usually get ready in
their own trailers or RV'S that they live in while they travel with the circus.
If you watch the movie "Dumbo", you will see a glimps of Clown Alley---from
the outside! This is when you will hear the song "We're gonna ask the big boss
for a raise."
Wild animal trainers usually have lions, sometimes tigers, and leopards-big
cats. Some also work with bears and I once saw a lady wild animal trainer work
with Polar Bears!
The Big Top is the name of the main tent where the rings are located and the
performances take place.
How did you do? Did you learn a lot of new things?
A flying trapeze is the bar that swings in the air above the ring. Trapeze
artists are called flyers and catchers. The flyers jump from one trapeze to
another. Sometimes there is a catcher on the other trapeze--so they "fly"
through the air (with the greatest if ease!). The first time someone made a
leap from one trapeze to another was in 1859.
The circuses that travel can go by truck, wagon or train. Only small circuses
go by truck now. All the large circuses like Ringling Brothers go by train.
The circus really started in ancient Rome about 2,000 years ago. They had
tumbling , juggling and what was called rope dancing. (Isn't that a neat
name?!)
The modern circus started in Europe at a riding school in 1768; they had the
horses, of course, and acrobats, jugglers and tightrope dancers. There were
also clowns from the theater.
Clown Alley is where the clowns get ready for their performances. It used to
be a special tent: only clowns allowed. Now clowns will usually get ready in
their own trailers or RV'S that they live in while they travel with the circus.
If you watch the movie "Dumbo", you will see a glimps of Clown Alley---from
the outside! This is when you will hear the song "We're gonna ask the big boss
for a raise."
Wild animal trainers usually have lions, sometimes tigers, and leopards-big
cats. Some also work with bears and I once saw a lady wild animal trainer work
with Polar Bears!
The Big Top is the name of the main tent where the rings are located and the
performances take place.