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.).

Auguste

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

B

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)

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

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.

E

Entrée

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

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.

I

Icarist

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

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 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.)

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.