Glossary

A

Adagio

Acrobatic act, generally involving a man and a woman, presented in a slow or romantic mood.

Aerialist

Any acrobat working above the ring on aerial equipment such as trapeze, Roman Rings, Spanish web, etc.

Auguste

In a classic European clown team, the comic, red-nosed character, as opposed to the whiteface clownGeneric term for all clowns and augustes. '''Specific:''' In Europe, the elegant, whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team..

B

Big Top

The circus tent. America: The main tent of a traveling circus, where the show is performed. (French, Russian: Chapiteau)

C

Chapiteau

(French, Russian) A circus tent, or Big Top.

Clown

A clownGeneric term for all clowns and augustes. '''Specific:''' In Europe, the elegant, whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team.. In Europe: the whiteface character who plays the role of the straight man to the Auguste in a clown team.

E

Entrée

Clown piece with a dramatic structure, generally in the form of a short story or scene.

I

Icarist

Acrobat who juggle another acrobat with his feet. See Icarism, risley act.

R

Risley

Act performed by Icarists, in which one acrobat, lying on his back, juggles another acrobat with his feet. (Named after Richard Risley Carlisle, who developed this type of act.)