Playlist: Circus
Compiled By: 2 below zero
After hearing "The Rolling Diamonds" from the Salt Institute of Documentary Studies, I really wish I'd had my recorder with me when I visited a dusty circus in the Indian desert. But alas, there are plenty of cool circus stories on PRX.
The Rolling Diamonds
From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | 05:47
For most of us, the circus is a day of cotton candy and clowns.
For Shane and Alecia Hansen, a husband-and-wife duo known as The Rolling Diamonds, the circus is home.
Circus Performer
From Homelands Productions | Part of the WORKING series | 06:32
Sean Cole profiles a Ukrainian dancer who performs with in a Russian circus that tours the UK.
- Playing
- Circus Performer
- From
- Homelands Productions
As a performer with The Great Moscow State Circus, Svitlana Svystun spends ten months a year traveling from fairground to fairground around the United Kingdom. Home is a cramped trailer that she shares with her ringmaster husband Andrey and their three-year-old son Maxim. Her coworkers include a human cannonball, a crossbow artist, and a crew of Hungarian roustabouts. She does two performances a day, six days a week, risking serious injury every time she steps into the ring. It’s a dangerous, nomadic life. But it’s surprisingly domestic, too. Sean Cole's profile is part of the WORKING series from Homelands Productions.
RN documentary: At the Circus
From Radio Netherlands Worldwide | Part of the RN Documentaries series | 29:31
A rediscovery of a child's delight at the circus and an adults exploration of the life of circus performers
- Playing
- RN documentary: At the Circus
- From
- Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Remember the magic of the circus? The spangles and the sawdust, the unmistakeable smell of animals, the excitement as the lights dimmed? How are circuses managing in the video game technological world of today? What kind of person does it take to perform in a circus, living a gypsy existence, sometimes risking life and limb to bring us, the audience that moment of wonder? Vox Humana visits the circus.
Circus Life: The Last Sideshow
From Helen Borten | Part of the A Sense of Place series | 29:36
What is it like on the other side of the peephole? The Half-Girl, the Snake Lady, the Fat Man and others share their experiences and surprising views of a cultural anachronism.
- Playing
- Circus Life: The Last Sideshow
- From
- Helen Borten
What is it like on the other side of the peephole? The Half-Girl, the Snake Lady, the Fat Man and others share their experiences and surprising views of a cultural anachronism.
One :30 promo (click "listen" page, promo labeled "segment 2")
Bouncing Queen
From Todd Melby | 04:15
A visit to the Bouncing Queen tryouts
- Playing
- Bouncing Queen
- From
- Todd Melby
A quirky tradition at the St. Paul Winter Carnival is the Bouncing Team: Fourteen guys holding a round, canvas blanket rocket a young woman 30 feet into the air. She does an aerial gymnastic move. They catch her. The Winter Carnival started in 1886, so did the Bouncing Team; they've been tossing woman skyward ever since -- not one dropped yet.
Runaway Clowns
From Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | Part of the CBC Radio's Outfront series | 13:45
Elia Kirby explores the pit falls and prat falls of theatre life and wonders whether it is the best life for his daughters.
- Playing
- Runaway Clowns
- From
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Runaway Clowns Have you ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Today on Outfront, meet a family that did. Dad is a stage manager, Mom is a clown and their young girls are growing up backstage and sometimes onstage. Elia Kirby explores the pit falls and prat falls of theatre life and wonders whether it is the best life for his daughters. by Elia Kirby Producer: Yvonne Gall Outfront Opening and Closing Theme available - (see Timing and Cues section for more details) SEE ADDITIONAL LICENSE TERMS