The Svensons

Equestrians

By Dominique Jando

Carlos Svenson was born in Gålve, Sweden. He learned horseback riding and acrobatics from his parents, Karl and Anna Greta Svenson, whose comic pas-de-deux on horseback was a favorite of many European circuses in the 1960s and '70s. When his parents retired, Carlos took over their act with Susanne Lind, who was an apprentice to the family. Susanne also doubled in her own solo act, a classic ballerina on horseback, which won her the Dame du Cirque award at the 1989 International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo. In addition to his comedy pas-de-deux, Carlos also developed other comedy acts, notably a parody of a "haute-école" dressage act. The Svensons have performed their acts all over Europe, notably at Circuses Roncalli and Krone in Germany and Circus Benneweis in Denmark, as well as on stage, in nightclubs, and on television. Susanne has been immortalized on a postage stamp printed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the circus in Sweden. Carlos and Susanne Svenson made their U.S. debut at the Big Apple Circus in 1990. They subsequently settled in the U.S. and have since performed in all major American circuses, including Circus Flora, both the Red and Blue units of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, and a return engagement at the Big Apple Circus that ran from 2001-03.

See Also

• Video: Carlos Svenson, Comedy High School Act, Big Apple Circus, "Dreams of a City", 2002.
• Video: Susanna Svenson, Ballerina on Horseback, Big Apple Circus, "Dreams of a City", 2002.