For Christmas, traditions are obligatory. And going to the circus is one of them. But this spectacle is no longer limited to the emblematic tents. Now the circus, mixing tradition and modernity, tents and new formats, once again excites children of all ages. But not all the mountain is oregano. Marcel Barrera, a journalist specializing in circus, declares: “On a European level, the current moment is compared to the crisis of the seventies, which caused many companies to close. That is why the Monte Carlo Festival was created, to serve as the engine of the circus.” But after the pandemic, on a global scale some have been reborn, “like the North Americans Ringling and Big Apple, where the Catalan clown Oriolo works.”
In this crisis, tents are the ones that have suffered the most: “Many circuses have closed due to the ban on using animals and because it is difficult to find places in the cities.” But Barrera thinks that all is not lost: “As for Catalonia, it is a phenomenon in transformation and growth. There are many companies and projects, and it is spread throughout the territory, and that is good. There are small initiatives, but many young people opt for the circus as a professional outlet.”
The other side of the coin is “the lack of a circuit in Catalonia; through the Program. cat of the Generalitat there are halls that program circus, but it is a small percentage.” The current problem, according to Barrera, is that “the circus has not yet reached the theaters, which is a demand of the contemporary circus and of the young generations, who ask that theaters be opened to circuses.”
“The Generalitat designed a plan to promote the circus, which is now ending,” Barrera continues, “but another more ambitious plan is being negotiated, where there is talk of a circus festival in Barcelona with the shelter of the Mercat de les Flors, the possibility of a stable circus and that increases the budget allocation, which was 1.2 million. The sector is growing, but it does not have the tools to consolidate,” he concludes.
Next, we present some of the circus shows that can be seen these days. In l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, the VII edition of the Circ de Nadal arrives (until January 7), on the Feixa Llarga esplanade with an Industrial crossing. Bipol.art presents El viatge de Magui, by Leandro Mendoza, cía. Cíclicus, which combines the disciplines of the circus with a message of hope.
In Barcelona, ??the Ateneu Popular 9 Barris does not miss the annual call for the 28th edition of the Circ d’Hivern (until January 21). This year they premiere Glatir, which brings together circus acts combined with folkloric traditions, such as the Valencian fallas, the aurresku or the bigheads. The objective is to reflect on traditions in today’s society.
In Port Vell, the Raluy Historical Circus has been installed, which alternates the Raluy Legacy Circus every year with Valencia. And in Can Dragó, after touring half of Europe, is the Circus Universal, based in Catalonia. As is tradition, Universal presents holograms of the animals typical of circus acts. Barrera also recommends the Circ Pistolet project, from Terrassa, “which is the seed of a larger show, to create a large-format company in Catalonia.”
“There is a phenomenon in Girona, with Genís Matabosch, with a lot of merit, who is situated in another orbit,” explains Barrera, in reference to the International Circ Elefant d’Or Festival, which will be held in February. But to whet your appetite, now comes the 10th edition of the Circ de Nadal de Girona, with 25 international artists and a live orchestra.
The circus is also the hub of Tarragona’s Christmas Park, with activities and workshops, in the Fair and Congress Center, from December 27 to January 4.
After the holidays, more shows will arrive. Maria Palma Borràs, who was a synchronized swimmer, will premiere La veu submergida, at the Free Arts Center of the Brossa Foundation in Barcelona, ??from January 11 to 21. His project puts the circus in dialogue with the water, to reach the subconscious of the human being.
At the Borràs theater, the Australian company Circa Contemporary Circus will perform with the avant-garde music, choreography and acrobatics show Humans 2.0, from January 17 to 27. On February 2, in Mataró, another interesting proposal is presented, which is that of the Zavatta family’s Smile Circus, which has been established in Catalonia for some time. And on March 20, Cirque du Soleil returns with its renewed classic Alegría (see the interview with its president on the next page).
