41st anniversary STUDY GUIDE Welcome to the 41st anniversary tour of the Big Apple Circus!

The thrill and excitement of the circus dates back hundreds of years. Today, at the Big Apple Circus 41st anniversary tour, audiences can behold a quadruple somersault on the flying trapeze, horses and dogs, horizontal juggling, a trampoline wall, and impossible feats of balance all led by our ringmaster, Stephanie Monseu.

How do seemingly ordinary people perform such extraordinary feats? The amazement of the circus provides a perfect platform for the study of STEM, literature, history, social studies, and physical education adaptable to all grades and ages. This study guide takes students on a delightful educational journey through the Big Apple Circus. Each entry will highlight applicable core curriculum standards along with suggested activities, conversation starters, and a bibliography. Please use this guide as a starting point for your own creative adventure into the world of circus education. The more you know… the more amazing the circus becomes.

The ringmaster is your guide to the circus as she introduces each of the acts. Stephanie is a New York City native. In 1994, she began performing with Keith Nelson as a fire eater. They co- founded New York’s Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, beginning a lifelong partnership and a commitment to circus and variety arts.

In addition to performing production and management duties for Bindlestiff, Stephanie has also worked with youth and adults in Bindlestiff’s Social Circus programs. Being a part of the community of international circus artists is the greatest reward of Stephanie’s career.

Copyright © 2018 Big Apple Circus All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of BigTopWorks, LLC

2 CIRCUS HISTORY

Circus performers have been entertaining The circus became so popular that Astley soon audiences for thousands of years. There were opened another one in Paris. Other showmen, jugglers in the courts of kings and acrobats in the business men, theater producers, and former Greek amphitheaters. The circus as we know it students took the idea of a circus, created their today started in England in 1768 with Philip Astley. own, and made it the most popular form of Philip Astley was a horseman in the British cavalry entertainment all over Europe and Russia. and served in the French and Indian War. After his service, he wanted to share his knowledge and The first American circus appeared in love of horses with others, so he opened a school. Philadelphia in 1785. President George Washington In order to promote his school, he put on “displays” was in the audience to see it! Soon, circuses popped in an indoor, circular space so that everyone could up all over the United States. Since the U.S. was a see. This led Astley to discover the wonder of new country, there were very few large cities, so in centrifugal force. He “discovered that if he trained order to reach a significant number of people, the his horse to canter in a circle at a constant speed, circus had to travel. At first, circuses constructed a while both he and his horse were leaning slightly building to house the ring in every town they went inward, centrifugal force would help him keep his to. This took a long time and got very expensive. balance. He also discovered that a horse cantering In the mid-nineteenth century, circus owners in a circle of a certain size would provide just replaced the buildings with tents, which they could the right amount of force for achieving the most pack up and travel with in trucks or trains. This graceful balance” (John Culhane, The American made travelling much easier and allowed them Circus). He determined that the perfect diameter to go farther for less money. The circus became was 42 feet – the same size as the ring at the Big so efficient that both the United States military Apple Circus! and Kaiser Wilhelm’s German army studied their methods in an attempt to improve their own The idea was a hit, so he added more acts. logistical operations. There were hundreds of The first was a trick rider who jumped on and off, different shows touring the country at the same changed his clothes, and flipped over and under time. Now, there aren’t many authentic touring the horse all while it was cantering! As more acts circuses left. The Big Apple Circus is a unique and were added, the display became known as a circus, historical experience. based on the Latin word for ring.

Discussion Questions: How did the circus get it’s name? When was the first circus in America? Why does the circus perform in the ring? Which elements of our society at that time When was the first circus created? made it easier or more difficult for circuses? What else was happening in Europe at this Which part of the travelling circus inspired time? military minds around the world?

3 BIG APPLE CIRCUS HISTORY

1976 Two street jugglers named Paul Binder and Michael Christiansen decided to start their own circus in New York City. They based the style of their circus on Annie Fratellini’s Nouveau Cirque de Paris, where they performed their comedy juggling act in 1975.

The first tent was pitched in Battery Park City. 1977 The tent was pitched on 34th Street in an empty lot which would 1978 later become Madison Square Garden.

Big Apple Circus received an Obie Award for excellence. 1983 The first Circus of the Senses show was performed for blind 1987 audiences.

1991 HBO aired a special on the circus called “Ballerinas, Horses and Clowns” which continues to air every year.

1998 Big Apple Circus has its twenty-year anniversary.

2013 Big Apple Circus puts on the first Embracing Autism show.

2017 Neil Kahanovitz, former circus performer, became chairman of Big Apple Circus.

2018 The 41st anniversary tour began, and Big Apple Circus continues to amaze and amuse audiences from all over the world.

4 FUN FACTS

There are more than 8 countries represented in the cast of the 41st anniversary show.

• Estefani, one of the members of our fIying trapeze act, is a 7th-generation circus performer. She is also a mom of two. Her husband, Ammed, is also a fIyer and performs the famed quadruple somersault. • The founder of Spicy Circus, the trampoline wall act, is Andréanne Quintal. She is the first generation in her family to join the circus. • Ekaterina Stepanova is the daughter of another great Big Apple Circus aerialist, Malvina Abakarova. • There are 14 children traveling with their parents on this year’s tour.

Fun with Numbers

The tent we use today was made in Italy. It seats 1,600 people, and no seat is farther than 50 feet from the ring. It takes about 35 people and 8 hours to set up the tent. There are 98 side poles measuring 16 feet high that support the periphery (outside) of the tent. Where the performers and staff live is called the “village.” There are 58 trailers including homes for the cast and crew, the box office and concessions. The Big Apple Circus uses over 2000 feet of electrical cable to run power to every place that needs it.

5 FUN FACTS

Elements of the Circus

Circus gets its name from the ring, but it is also defined by the artistry within the ring. Circus is distinct (different) from theater, dance and other performing arts although it incorporates aspects of many of them. Circus presents a usually non-narrative sequence of variety acts showing the agility, grace and strength of both human and animal performers. The types of acts fall into distinct categories, though individual acts often include more than one category.

Circus Vocabulary

Acrobat: person who uses both gymnastics and dance in their act Act: a display of skill and dexterity by a person or group of people Aerial: an act performed in the air above the ring Aerial Strap: long straps suspended from the ceiling that the artist uses strength and momentum to climb and descend Applaud: what the audience does to show appreciation for the show Audience: the people watching Charivari: an opening act including many people, usually most of the company to perform a series of short acrobatic skills in rapid succession, “chari-vari” means noisy celebration Cigar Box: a box used for juggling, the shape of which is based on a box historically used to hold cigars Company: all of the performers together Costume: what the performer wears during the show Free-standing Ladder: a straight ladder with no support Hand to Hand: acrobatic act with two or more people using each other to balance and perform feats of great strength Juggling: manipulation of objects Ring Master: the person who guides us through the performance Ring Curb: the small edge around the ring Trapeze: a horizontal bar hanging by two ropes (usually high in the air) and free to swing Trampoline: a fabric sheet attached to springs which is used as a springboard in acrobatics

6 WOMEN IN CIRCUS

Circus women are a unique, strong, talented and accomplished group of people. The same can be said for many circus people, but women often have to overcome greater societal barriers to be a part of the circus. Historically, performing has been a male-dominated industry. But the circus has no place for sexism or racism, so the Big Apple Circus promotes inclusivity and diversity. Big Apple Circus is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of circus women past and present!

Annie Fratellini (1932-1997) Like many circus children, Annie was trained in acrobatics and other circus skills, and since her mother was a good musician, she was also given a musical education. As for her clowning skills, she just had to watch her large family’s comedy and clown acts to learn all the basics. She made her performing debut at Paris’s Cirque Medrano at age thirteen, entering the ring in a big, rolling globe on which she later balanced while playing the saxophone. As a clown, Annie Fratellini had a childish and rebellious character that was neither female nor male in appearance. When asked if her character was male or female, she always answered, “Clowns have no gender!” In 1975, she and her husband, Pierre Etaix, opened the École Nationale du Cirque along with the Nouveau Cirque de Paris, its high- end, traveling branch that directly inspired the Big Apple Circus you see today!

7 CLOWNS

Throughout history, there have been many The Big Apple Circus has two hilarious clowns, different types of clowns in different cultures. Adam Kuchler and Mark Gindick. Both have studied The court jesters in Europe were some of the first and practiced for many years to know exactly what clowns. Shakespeare’s plays have lots of clowns. to do to make us laugh. There is much more to a Jesters also entertained pharaohs in Egypt and clown than makeup and costume. Especially in this emperors in China. Jesters were playful and show, they are comedic characters throughout the could comment on policies made by the rulers circus that help us follow the storyline. without facing consequences. Their comments To become a clown, a person must study very were taken as jokes. Hence, they were able to turn hard. Both Adam and Mark went to school to serious matters into funny situations. Many Native become the funny people you see today. If you American cultures had clowns built into the fabric want to study to be a clown, there are several of their society, among them the Hopi, Iroquois, schools across the world. The two largest are the Winnebago, and Navajo. These clowns not only Clown Conservatory in San Francisco, California made situations funny, they were a big part of the and LeCoq school in Paris, France. There are also religious ritual systems in their respective cultures. workshops and classes available which can give you a taste of what it takes to make thousands of people laugh.

Why are people afraid of clowns?

Because clowns are an innocent and delightful part of the circus, they sparked the imagination of horror novelists like Steven King. People become afraid because they do not understand the difference between a made-up clown or story and a real clown. The fear of clowns is called coulrophobia, with the prefix “coulro” coming from the ancient Greek word for “one who goes on stilts”.

Discussion: What is a real clown? Can you name 10 things a person must do to practice the art of clowning? How can he/she learn to do this? Who are characters in film and television that have made you laugh? Are they clowns? Why or why not?

8 HORSES AND DOGS

Equestrianism (from the Latin word “equus” Jenny has performed with her troupe of horses which means horse) is the training, riding and and ponies all over the country. She started adding presentation of horses. In addition to trick riding, dogs and farm animals to her animal family as she early circuses presented entire dramas, battle became involved in rescue. Jenny and her animal reenactments and historical events on horseback. family spend their off-time at her beloved farm in In the 19th century, horses were the primary the Catskill Mountains. This is where her retired means of transportation in cities, so the general animals will spend the rest of their lives, enjoying public was far more familiar with them than most 100 acres of green fields, forest and even an apple people are today. Circus audiences appreciated orchard. the subtle nuances of horse training and riding. With the rising popularity of automobiles in the 20th century, fewer Americans had that level of equestrian sophistication, so horse acts took up a smaller and smaller percentage of the circus performance. They are still and will always be an important feature of the circus. Today’s horse acts can be generally divided into three categories, Trick riding, Dressage and Liberty. Trick riding features human acrobats on galloping horses, Dressage features displays of controlled, intricate horse footwork, and Liberty features untethered horses responding to spoken or gestured commands from a trainer who is not riding them. The Big Apple Circus features animal trainer Jenny Vidbel. She uses a combination of Dressage and Liberty in her performance. Most of her horses and dogs are rescues. Jenny is a third- generation animal trainer. She learned the art of animal communication from her grandfather, one of the greatest animal communicators of his time. Jenny grew up amongst a wide variety of animals, both domestic and exotic, but she found her true passion in the equine family. She trained her first pony when she was nine years old. His name was Frisky, and he was the first four-legged teacher she ever had. “He taught me patience, he taught me to open my mind to a horse’s point of view, and he taught me humility.” Frisky was the beginning of a wonderful adventure and career!

9 FUN FACTS

• Horses can sleep both lying down and standing up. • Horses can run shortly after birth. • Ponies are not baby horses. They are horses less than 14 hands (58 inches). • Horses have around 205 bones in their skeleton. • A horse’s teeth take up a larger amount of space in their head than their brain. • Horse hooves are made from the same protein that comprises human hair and fingernails. • Because horses’ eyes are on the side of their head, they are capable of seeing nearly 360 degrees at once.

10 CIRCUS OF THE SENSES Big Apple Circus Embraces Autism

What happens when we use different senses? Sometimes people don’t see with their eyes or Or we don’t like too much of any one sensation? hear with their ears. Their sense of touch gives them The Big Apple Circus has two special performances most of the information about the world around for people who use their senses in a non-typical them. They have interpreters who “speak” into their way. hands during the show. We have many items for them to touch before and after the performance. Sometimes people don’t see with their eyes. They are blind or have very low vision. We have Sometimes, too much sound or too many lights two people describing the show so that those is frightening for people. Sometimes, they need guests can “see” it with their ears. We also have a less sensory stimulation. The Big Apple Circus has touch session so they can “see” the show with their a show for those on the Autism spectrum which fingertips. reduces the light and sound. We also have a quiet area where they can go to relax if they are Sometimes, people do not hear with their ears. overwhelmed. Sometimes, they hear with their eyes. Deaf people have a language called sign language which is a We are each unique and wonderful in our own visual language. We have interpreters who use sign way. We want to bring the magic of circus to every language. person, however you use your senses!

11 OUR SENSES How do we perceive the circus? The circus uses all of our senses.

Sight: Light enters our eyes. Sound: Sound waves travel Light travels in a straight through the ear canal to the line, bounces off objects and eardrum. The eardrum passes into our eyes through the pupil. the vibrations through the Depending on the amount of middle ear bones or ossicles into light, the iris changes the size of the inner ear. The inner ear is the pupil to let more or less light shaped like a snail and is called in. In the circus tent, we have the cochlea. Inside the cochlea, many lights. The different colored lights create there are thousands of tiny hair cells. different looks for each act. Each act has different These structures facilitate hearing so that people colors. Can you name them? Why do you think the can hear things like the circus’s live band. Each designer chose those colors? instrument makes a different sound. How many different sounds do you hear?

Taste: If you look at your tongue Touch: Our sense of touch is in the mirror, you can see it’s controlled by a huge covered in little bumps. Inside network of nerve endings of those bumps are taste buds. and touch receptors in the skin When you put something known as the somatosensory in your mouth, they send a system. This system is message to your brain to give responsible for all the sensations you information about whether we feel – cold, hot, smooth, the food is salty, sweet, sour, bitter or umami (a rough, pressure, tickle, itch, pain, vibrations, and meaty, savory taste). What is your favorite circus more. How many different things can you name food? Can you name a circus food that is sweet? that you touched at the circus? Salty? Sour? Bitter? Umami?

Smell: Your sense of smell—like your sense of taste—is part of your chemosensory system, or the chemical senses. Your ability to smell comes from specialized sensory cells called olfactory sensory neurons, which are found in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose. Each olfactory neuron has one odor receptor. How many different smells can you name?

12 CIRCUS SCIENCE

The acts you see in the circus require a lot of skill. The performers have practiced for years. The performers must master the science of their skill in order to accomplish these feats.

Teachers: The following descriptions include elements of the science curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade. As many concepts overlap and are taught with different depth at various grade levels, this study guide is organized by circus acts and concepts most clearly demonstrated within each. Please cull appropriate information for your age group.

Cigar Boxes

In the Cigar Box act, the performer, Adam Kuchler, attempts to stack 16 cigar boxes together. However, he does not stack them vertically, he stacks them sideways! So that all the cigar boxes do not fall to the floor, Adam uses friction to overcome gravity. On Earth, gravity makes everything fall at a rate of 32 feet per second. Every second that something falls, it will accelerate or fall faster by 32 feet per second. The first second the object will fall 32 feet. In the next second, it will fall 64 feet. In the third second, it will fall 96 feet. The object will continue to fall faster and faster until it reaches the point called terminal velocity. Terminal velocity is the point when things continue to fall, but they do not accelerate or continue to fall faster. Friction is the resistance to motion between objects that are touching. In order to stack 16 cigar boxes sideways, Adam uses the friction between the cigar boxes to prevent gravity from sending all the boxes crashing to the ground.

13 In the beautiful and daring strap act, two Desire of Flight performers, Valeriy Sychev and Ekaterina Stepanova, are lifted above the circus ring by two straps suspended from the top of the tent. While the performers hold the straps, they take a running start, are lifted into the air and fly around the ring in a circular motion. This motion is called curvilinear motion. As they fly in a circle, Valeriy holds onto a strap while also holding Ekaterina with his other hand or his feet! It appears that Ekaterina could fly off into the audience. However, they are helped by two forces, centripetal and centrifugal force. As they spin, the centripetal force pushes all the energy towards Valeriy who is at the center of the circle. Ekaterina, who is being spun, creates a centrifugal force, a force that wants to fly out. But because she is attached to Valeriy, she does not fly out. She transfers all of her spinning energy to him. That transfer creates a very strong center of gravity. The aerial strap act is a unique and mind- bogglingly beautiful circus experience.

Duo Fusion In the hand to hand balancing act, husband and wife performers Virginia Tuells and Ihosvanys Perez use their amazing strength and flexibility to demonstrate seemingly impossible feats of balance. The audience might expect that the woman will balance on top of the man. However, many times during this act the man is balancing himself on top of the woman. Virginia is incredibly strong! They are able to accomplish these feats because their weight is not balanced. It is counterbalanced. Using counterbalance, Duo Fusion accomplishes what would be impossible if it were based on size and strength alone. Counterbalance occurs when two objects of unequal weight are balanced on a pivot point. Measuring scales have been used for thousands of years. They are a perfect example of counterbalance.

14 Free-Standing Ladder

In order to balance anything, we must find the center of gravity or the balance point. The balance point is the point where gravity pulls down equally on all sides of the object that we are trying to balance. However, in the free-standing ladder act, the performer, Emil Faltyny, is trying to balance himself on top of a ladder. Because he is on top of the ladder, his balance point is constantly changing. Therefore, Emil must constantly make small adjustments so that his weight is directly above the center of gravity of the ladder. Emil Faltyny is a master of balance.

Trampoline Wall

A trampoline looks like simple fun, but it is actually a complex display of the laws of physics. Jumping up and down is a classic example of the conservation of energy, from potential to kinetic. Furthermore, it verifies and illustrates each of Newton’s three laws of motion. Newton’s Laws of Motion The first law, which states that an object will continue its motion unless acted upon by an outside force, is illustrated by the fact that you don’t soar into the sky when you jump up and that you don’t fly through the bottom of the trampoline when you come down. Gravity and the springs of the trampoline keep you bouncing. Newton’s second law illustrates how your velocity changes with the basic equation of F = ma, or force equals mass multiplied by acceleration. This equation is used to find the equations for kinetic energy, where acceleration is simply gravity. Newton’s third law states then for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the springs are stretched they exert an equal and opposite force, compressing back into equilibrium and propelling you up in the air.

15 Horizontal Juggling

In the horizontal juggling act, the performer, The first pendulum was invented by the Victor Moiseev, juggles as many as nine red Chinese scientist Zhang Heng in the year 100 spheres. However, he does not throw the balls AD. It was used for detecting the direction of up in the air, he juggles them horizontally or earthquakes. In 1602, Galileo Galilei discovered sideways. These red spheres magically float the scientific properties of pendulums and used and spin through the air and return to Victor. them as a way to keep track of time. The effect is mesmerizing. What is even more A pendulum is a weight suspended from amazing is that each red sphere is attached to a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a nearly invisible fishing lines. Each sphere is a pendulum is displaced sideways from its separate pendulum. In order to juggle these resting equilibrium position, it is subject to spheres, Victor must know the exact timing of a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate the swing of each sphere. If Victor misjudges the it back toward the equilibrium position. When swing of just one sphere, they will collide and released, the restoring force acting on the their strings will become tangled. pendulum’s mass causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth. The time for one complete cycle, a left swing and a right swing, is called the period. The period depends on the length of the pendulum and the amplitude, the width of the pendulum’s swing.

16 CIRCUS SCIENCE Flying Trapeze

In the flying trapeze act, the flying and create a force that will cause the pendulum Tunizianis swing through the air on a bar to move faster and swing higher. The flyer will that is tied to two long ropes. The ropes swing back and forth, each time going faster are suspended from the top of the tent. and higher. When he is moving fast and high These suspended ropes and bar create enough, he will let go of the bar, but he will a pendulum. A pendulum is a swing. not fall. He will not fall because his speed and The pendulum as it swings creates an momentum will carry him up in the air. oscillating or side to side motion. He will continue to fly upward until he To begin the act, the flyer takes hold slows down. During this flight, the “flyer” will do of the bar and leaps off the platform. The acrobatic tricks. Ammed can flip four times! See force of his leap creates the speed that if you can count them. He has to spin incredibly will move him forward through the air. As fast. Then he will begin to fall because of gravity. he swings across the ring, the pendulum He will not hit the ground because on the other will reach its apex, its highest point, then it side of the ring the catcher has been swinging on will swing back in the opposite direction. his pendulum. Just as the flyer is falling towards When the pendulum reaches the other the net, the catcher will grab hold of his hands, side, the flyer will kick his legs forward catch him, and then swing him back to the bar that he let go of just moments before. The flying trapeze act is one of the most exciting, difficult, and scientifically complex of all circus acts.

17 CIRCUS SCIENCE Vocabulary

Acceleration: To increase speed or velocity. Apex: the top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point. Balance: When the downward pull of gravity is equal on all sides of an object, so it does not fall. Center of Gravity: The point of an object where gravity can pull equally on all sides. All of the weight seems to be centered on that point. Centrifugal Force: from the Latin “fleeing the center,” something that is not attached to the spinning object will fly off in a straight line. Something that is attached, will move in a circle around the center. Centripetal Force: from the Latin “seeking the center,” any force which causes an object to move in a circular motion. That motion creates a pull toward the center of the spinning object. Equilibrium: a state in which opposing forces are balanced. The equilibrium position in a pendulum is the point where a suspended object hangs and does not move. Force: A push or pull on an object. Friction: The resistance to motion between objects that touch. This is what causes a moving object to slow down or stop. Gravity: The invisible force that pulls everything on or near the surface of the Earth. Gravity pulls everything down at a rate of 32 feet per second. Gravity is much stronger on Earth than it is on the moon. Inertia: The resistance to change in motion. An object at rest wants to stay at rest unless some force moves it. A moving object will continue to move unless some force stops it. Kinetic Energy: Energy in motion. Matter: Any object or anything that takes up space and has weight. Momentum: the quantity of motion of a moving body measured as a product of its mass and velocity. Motion: A change of position wherein an object comes closer or moves further away from another object. Pendulum: an object suspended from a fixed support so that it swings freely back and forth under the influence of gravity. Physics: The study of matter, energy, motion, and force. Physicist: A scientist who specialized in physics. Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton are considered the greatest physicists of all time. Pivot Point: The fixed point from which a suspended object hangs. Potential Energy: Energy that is stored up. Speed: How fast something moves through space. Terminal Velocity: the constant speed that a freely falling object eventually reaches when the resistance of the medium through which it is falling prevents further acceleration. Types of Motion: Linear: straight line Curvilinear: along a curved path Rolling: round, like a bicycle wheel Oscillating: side to side Slow Motion: moving very slowly Velocity: The rate of speed with which something happens.

18 WORD SEARCH

19 WORD SEARCH

Try to find 20 circus words!

20 RECOMMENDED CIRCUS READING

Big Apple Circus, Peter Angelo Simon American Circus: An Illustrated History, John Culhane Two Hundred Years of the American Circus, Tom Ogden The Fabulous Showman, Irving Wallace Be a Clown: Techniques from a Real Clown, Ron Burgess

For Younger Students: Moses Goes to the Circus, Isaac Millman If I Ran the Circus, Dr. Seuss Starring Mirette and Bellini, Emily Arnold McCull The Circus Alphabet, Linda Bronson Circus Family Dog, Andrew Clements, Sue Truesdell (Illustrator) Circus Fun, Margaret Hillert Circus Train, Joseph A. Smith Emeline at the Circus, Marjorie Priceman, Clifford at the Circus, Norman Bridwell Peter Spier’s Circus!, Peter Spier Tenggren (Illustrator), Pippi Goes to the Circus, Astrid Lindgren

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