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 an aerial equipment such as trapeze, Roman Rings, Spanish web, etc.

Aerial Perch

An aerial apparatus, generally a hanging perch, from where the performers hang with the help of hand or ankle loops. (French: Bambou - Russian: Bambuk)

Aerial Straps

Pair of fabric(See: Tissu) or leather straps used as an apparatus for an aerial strap actAerial act performed hanging from a pair of fabric or leather straps. (See Aerial Straps.).

Attraction

(Russian) A circus act that can occupy up to the entire second half of a circus performance.

Auguste

In a classic European clown team, the comic, red-nosed character, as opposed to the elegant, whiteface Clown.

B

Balagan

(Russian) A fairground booth or theater.

Ballerina on Horseback

Acrobatic and dance figures performed by an equestrienneA female equestrian, or horse trainer, horse presenter, or acrobat on horseback., often wearing a tutu, standing on the back of a horse.

Bambou

(French - Russian: Bambuk) Aerial apparatus, generally a hanging perch, from where the performers hang with the help of hand or ankle loops. See also: Aerial perch.

Barrel-Jumping

Act in which an acrobat jumps from inside a barrel to inside another barrel, often placed at different levels.

Big Top

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

Bolleadora

A traditional Gaucho weapon made of two weights attached at both end of a cord, used by Argentinean Bolleadora Dancers.

C

Cage Act

Act performed in a cage, such as lion or tiger acts.

Carpet Clown

(English) An Auguste performing short pieces between the acts during prop changes or equipment rigging. See also: Reprise Auguste.

Catcher

In an acrobatic or a flying actAny aerial act in which an acrobat is propelled in the air from one point to another., the person whose role is to catch acrobats that have been propelled in the air.

Chapiteau

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

Clown

Generic 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.

Clown Alley

(American) In an American circus, the clowns' dressing room (or tent), and by extension, the clown ensemble of a circus.

Cradle

Piece of apparatus (generally aerial) composed of two horizontal parallel bars in which a catcherIn an acrobatic or a flying act, the person whose role is to catch acrobats that have been propelled in the air. locks his legs to be in position of catching a flyerAn acrobat that is propelled in the air, either in a flying act, or in an acrobatic act (i.e. teeterboard)..

E

Entrée

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

Equestrienne

A female equestrian, or horse trainer, horse presenter, or acrobat on horseback.

F

Flyer

An acrobat that is propelled in the air, either in a flying actAny aerial act in which an acrobat is propelled in the air from one point to another., or in an acrobatic act (i.e. teeterboardA seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air.).

Flying Act

Any aerial act in which an acrobat is propelled in the air from one point to another.

Flying Trapeze

Aerial act in which an acrobat is propelled from a trapeze to a catcherIn an acrobatic or a flying act, the person whose role is to catch acrobats that have been propelled in the air., or to another trapeze.

H

Hand-to-Hand

An acrobatic act in which one or more acrobats do hand-balancing in the hands of an under-standerIn an acrobatic act, the person who is at the base, supporting other acrobats (for example, the base of a human pyramid). Also known as the "bottom Man" (or "Bottom Woman")..

High Wire

A tight, heavy metallic cable placed high above the ground, on which wire walkers do crossings and various acrobatic exercises. Not to be confused with a tight wireA tight, light metallic cable, placed between two platforms not very far from the ground, on which a wire dancer perform dance steps, and acrobatic exercises such as somersaults. (Also: Low Wire).

I

Icarism

(French: Jeux Icariens) Act performed by Icarists, in which one acrobat, lying on his back, juggles another acrobat with his feet. (Also: Risley Act)

Icarist

Acrobat who juggle another acrobat with his feet. See Icarism, Risley Act.

L

Low Wire

A tight, light metallic cable, placed between two platforms not very far from the ground, on which a wire dancer perform dance steps, and acrobatic exercises such as somersaults. (Also: Tight Wire)

Q

Quarterpole

A support pole placed midway between the main poles and the sidewallThe canvas wall at the periphery of a circus tent. of a circus tent.

R

Reprise

(French) Short piece performed by clowns between acts during prop changes or equipment rigging. (See also: Carpet Clown)

Risley Act

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.)

Russian Barre

Flexible pole, held horizontally by two catchers, or under-standers, with which they propelled a flyerAn acrobat that is propelled in the air, either in a flying act, or in an acrobatic act (i.e. teeterboard). in acrobatic figures from and to the Barre.

S

Strap Act

Aerial act performed hanging from a pair of fabric(See: Tissu) or leather straps. See Aerial Straps.

Sidewall

The canvas wall at the periphery of a circus tent.

T

Teeterboard

A seesaw made of wood, or fiberglass poles tied together, which is used to propel acrobats in the air.

Tight Wire

A tight, light metallic cable, placed between two platforms not very far from the ground, on which a wire dancer perform dance steps, and acrobatic exercises such as somersaults. (Also: Low Wire)

U

Under-Stander

In an acrobatic act, the person who is at the base, supporting other acrobats (for example, the base of a human pyramid).