O, to be Circus-Worthy!

My fellow mime's copine is a first year student at L'ENACR - L'Ecole Nationale des Arts du Cirque.  Thanks to this connection, I heard about the second year 'circus school' students' trimester show.  The students use their training to come up with their own personal performance piece.


It has been too long since I last stepped inside a circus tent.
And there is nothing quite like it.
I was elated before, during, and after the show.
Oh, how it made me want to 'run away and join the circus'... (Doesn't everybody want to do that?)
Of course, in order to run away and join the circus, you need the skills.  And it's not easy.  I played the role of Gasping Audience Member during this, because I was constantly amazed at the talent these second year students already have.
Take a look at all of these short clips (no, really, please, all of them)

I don't have good circus vocabulary, but here is a student twirling around in what seems to be a giant metal hula hoop - and it's beautiful.

This is a short section of a very smart, slap-stick filled scene involving a fight over a cup of tea.  They perfectly incorporated the objects, along with many roulades and portées.

I have absolutely no idea what this is called, but it is exquisite.

This 'balancoire' finale was epic.  The flip you see at the end is just an example of the many incredibly impressive jumps.  And most of the time, the men actually landed right back on the balancoire beam! Or flipped their way on over to the other side! Or switched places with another jumper mid-air!
I managed to survive this show, despite all of my gasping.