Probably the highlight of our trip to Paris was the circus on Saturday evening. It's years since I last went to a circus, so it was a novel outing. The oldest circus in the world, founded in 1852, it took place in a purpose-built theatre that looked inside like a circus tent. There were dancers and acrobats, a live orchestra:
and numerous different acts: jugglers, knife throwers, trapeze artists, a clown comedian, contortionists and so on. There were no animals, except for one beautiful horse performing carefully choreographed dressage.
These three young women gymnasts, the Bello sisters, were amazing - though I was holding my breath so hard during the most amazing bits that I failed to take photos of those! At one point the girl on the bottom of the pile had her right leg over her shoulder, with the whole weight of the other two balanced on her right foot!! They must not only be strong but double-jointed too.
THE most incredible bit for me was another contortionist, Asia Perris, who did the splits and then, very gracefully, in one elegant and smooth movement, stood back up without using her hands to push or balance, just sheer leg muscle power - she just slid down and then up again as though it was the most natural thing in the world! đź‘€ Sadly, I didn't get a photo of her either, as I was mesmerised, though there's a YouTube video HERE in which she does this move several times. Her control was absolutely incredible... though I do wonder what her body will be like by the time she's 70!
Another jaw-dropping performance was Sara Nagyhegyi, who swung from a rope anchored only by her hair, tied in a tight bun!
I took a couple of videos, don't know if you can watch them...
The first one is Andrei Pogorelov on 'The Wheel of Death'. The second is The Empress Troupe of jugglers.
The full programme of acts is HERE.
The finale was an act that involved actual Parisian firefighters (Pompiers) in full uniform, with ladders and fire hoses that dispensed sparkly streams of light. Elite and fit gymnasts, they joined with some acrobats on the high ropes. Spectacular!
What a night! It was wonderful and I'm so glad we went.
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