Genís Matabosch, the soul of the Girona International Circ Elefant d’Or Festival, makes it even more difficult. This year, he will present 26 unprecedented numbers, never seen in Western Europe, with 70 artists from 20 countries.

As a novelty of the eleventh edition, the two juries are made up only of professional women from the circus world. “The woman has always been part of the circus world since her birth,” says Matabosch.

The festival begins tomorrow with two shows that share the 26 numbers, the blue show and the red show, which can be seen alternately until Monday. On Tuesday, March 7, the final gala will be held, in which the Elefant d’Or, based on Dalí’s design, will be awarded. All disciplines compete for the same prize.

The tent installed in the Camp de Mart de la Devesa, without pillars, has a capacity for 2,300 people and 30,000 spectators are expected. “The artists do not charge for acting, but they have all transportation and living expenses covered from the moment they leave their home, in China or Argentina,” explains Matabosch. “The reason is that the festival is a great showcase to open up their artistic careers.”

Three hundred people work on the entire infrastructure involved in a move like this, so that, apart from the public, who come from both Barcelona and the south of France, exhibitors from all over the world can witness the 26 numbers that have been selected throughout throughout the year

Matabosch, who is also the track manager, laments that festivals are no longer held in Russia and China, but the ones in Paris and Monte Carlo do continue, comparable to the Elefant d’Or in Girona.

Among the 26 numbers, the world premiere of the acrobatic tumbling by the Israelis Vertex stands out; the Chinese acrobatic troupe circles from Dezhou City, who have been able to travel despite pandemic limitations; the aerial ribbons with the strength of the hair and teeth of the Kazakh Duo Disar; or the flying trapeze of the Mexican lineage The Flying Caballero, who will execute the quadruple somersault.

You can also see the aerial fakirism of the Australian Flying Lucky Hell, who swallows a saber with leds with the circus in the dark, and the illusionism of the Russian Duo Wizzards, who want to break the Guinness record with more than 17 costume changes in 30 seconds. Even more difficult.

Catalan version, here