The Circus

Massimo Martinini asked:


Hello my metal-heads, and welcome to the second edition of The Master’s Dojo!!! I hope everyone had and is having a great holiday season.

In today’s issue, we will discuss The “ECW Dilemma”. More specifically, how WWE needs to improve the ECW brand.

Back when World Wrestling Entertainment started this ECW revival, there were some stars. They were stars such as Sabu, the Big Show, Al Snow and one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, “the whole f’n show”, Rob Van Dam. Then even more stars came to ECW, like the late Chris Benoit, and the recently released Elijah Burke. During these times, we (or I did at least) saw promise for ECW…well, the WWE version of ECW. But now what do we have? People like Mark Henry, Matt Hardy and Finlay are the big stars. Actually, I take that back. There are 2 other stars that will mostly likely leave ECW as soon as possible, and their names are John Morrison and Evan Bourne.

Let’s start with John Morrison. It seems to me that everyone believes that John Morrison is most deserving or most wanted to have a singles title push. I am definitely part of that group. He isn’t necessarily my favorite superstar, but he is a good fighter, no doubt about it. As I said, he’ll probably be leaving ECW this summer at the WWE draft, going to either Smackdown or Raw. Either way, he should get a title shot immediately on his new brand, or if he stays with ECW (which I don’t think would be a very good idea for WWE), he should get his title push NOW. Another man who should receive a push (when he returns) is Evan “Air” Bourne.

This kid is going to be the next big thing. He’ll be bigger than Lesnar, bigger than most of the current talent employed by World Wrestling Entertainment. Viewers love to see high-flying risk takers perform, and that is exactly what Evan Bourne does; he performs. He brought back what I think is one of the best high-flying moves ever, the Shooting Star Press, which was definitely finisher of the year. Unfortunately though, since he is such a good wrestler and is so well liked, his tenure in ECW is not going to last much longer, I believe, and will probably be moved to Monday Night Raw. It’s a shame too, because he is the most extreme person left on ECW, since “The ECW Original” Tommy Dreamer has recently changed into the “ECW Original Jobber”.

Speaking of extreme, another thing that must change with ECW is that it is becoming less extreme. If they (they being WWE) want to please the fans, they need to add more Extreme Rules matches, more ladder matches, tables matches, anything that will put the Extreme back in Extreme Championship Wrestling. Talking about this really makes me miss the ECW Originals. These were guys like Sandman, Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Balls Mahoney and Tommy Dreamer before he started to job to the new stars. Now those were guys who knew how to be really extreme. But then, the ECW Original Stable of ECW started to disband, thus pretty much ending the extreme era with the exception of Dreamer, but I have already said why I don’t count him as extreme. So lacking anything extreme is a pretty big problem for Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Now, up to this point, all that I have been doing is saying what is wrong with ECW currently and what will go wrong in the future. But now, I would like to refocus this article on to what is good about ECW currently, and what should happen long term. Let’s start with the current champions. The ECW champ is Matt Hardy and the World Tag Champs are Miz & Morrison. I think that Matt could start a real feud, not one of these one or two time fights, but a full-fledged feud. What could work would be Hardy vs. the new kid, who is also getting a ton of hype, “The All American” Jack Swagger. Feuds interest the viewers, and WWE wants to create interest in their shows. If Hardy could turn heel for this rivalry, I would really enjoy it. Giving this talented new kid a start with the fans liking him (unlike Dolph “I will introduce myself until your ears bleed” Ziggler getting off on the wrong foot by beating up Santa Claus/Claas, but I digress) because it is good to get a following behind your stars, then put them in some interesting situations. Also, if Henry and Finlay keep feuding, I see promise.

Miz and Morrison also show great promise. Even though I don’t particularly like them, they make good champions. The problem is they defend the belts on Smackdown and Raw, and rarely if never on ECW. Another tag team (other than Finlay and Hornswoggle) on the brand would do a ton of good.

Now, I was watching the 12/23/08 edition of ECW, the most of extreme of ECW this year or whatever it was called, hosted by the Slammy winning announce team of Striker and Grisham (Striker’s good, Grisham’s bad, but anyway). The funniest part was definitely the clip from last year, of Tazz throwing Styles into the tree, and Styles hurting his “Mahoneys” (if you don’t get that joke, you aren’t an ECW follower, but anyway). However, this was about the best of ECW, not the funniest. The show starts with the clip, Grisham being an idiot, and highlights from Chavo Guerrero beating CM Punk for the ECW title. That is a problem. Chavo is not a better wrestler than CM Punk, but Edge and Vickie and the rest of the clowns from La Familia were involved, meaning something sneaky was going to happen. Next they show the Money in the Bank Ladder Match…oh, what a match. That was truly extreme, but then again, what ladder match isn’t? Anyway, CM Punk winning that match was great. That match jumpstarted that guy’s career into near superstardom. Next, more from Wrestlemania XXIV, namely the ECW championship match between Kane and Chavo. Youtube that match, and just look at Chavo’s face when he sees Kane. Absolutely priceless. Guerrero was beaten so badly I couldn’t believe it. It quickest win in modern history for championship match…impressive, huh? Next up: Night of Champions, with Kane, Henry and Big Show competing against each other. I didn’t really agree with Henry winning, but whatever. This was followed by random highlights of Matt Hardy and Finlay. Some praising for Hardy, some Unforgiven highlights. The there is some video of Tribute to the Troops, which I think is a great thing for WWE Superstars and Divas to do. There wasn’t much left in the rest of the show. This is why I am saying ECW needs to improve. None of these were very extreme, with the exception of MITB, a couple of attacks on Chavo courtesy of CM Punk, and maybe a couple others. I kept waiting for some Extreme Rules Matches, but nothing. WWE, please improve the ECW brand.

Alright, now is when I’m going to answer questions that were asked in my last article, and as of 1:11 CST, only question was asked, which is not what I was expecting, but whatever.

Q: Do you think that Jeff Hardy is a good enough wrestler to compete with the Undertaker?

A: Yes, I definitely think so. Jeff Hardy is always going to have enough heart to fight, and that determination will take him a long way. Some years ago now, he had a Ladder Match with ‘taker, and even though he had been beaten to a pulp, he wanted to keep the match going, and it was a great match (even though it didn’t continue). If you haven’t seen it yet, YouTube it, it will amaze you. But anyway, I do think that Jeff Hardy is good enough to compete with the Undertaker.

Since we only had 1 question, I have a quick take on a comment from my last article left by “sick of the same old stuff”:

“taker has been in too many title reigns, its umaga’s turn”

Undertaker has so many title reigns because he is a legend. He deserves to have these title shots/reigns. When Umaga gets healthy and beats some quality opponents, then let’s talk.



MITCHEL

Andrew Regan asked:


Britain’s south-west is a popular destination for tourists hoping to enjoy some of Britain’s sunnier and sandier areas. From Devon and Cornwall to Torquay and Weston-Super-Mare, the south-west coast and its glories come in the form of long, golden beaches, epic coastlines, lush green farmlands and vibrant cosmopolitan cities. One of the most exciting of these cities in the south-west is Bristol - one of Britain’s liveliest cultural centres.

Bristol’s atmosphere is entrenched in history, while its status as one of the UK’s leading university towns lends it a fun, youthful feel. This means it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a fun getaway with your family, or if you want to visit a town with plenty of stylish bars and cultural highlights to entertain you and your friends.

Bristol’s theatre and performance art scene is one of the best in the UK, and people travelling to Bristol this April will find plenty to see on stage. This April sees one of the most exciting performance collaborations in recent years, in the form of ‘Sequins and Sawdust’, due to be held at Castle Park, Broadmead over five nights this Easter. A joint-effort between Bristol’s local circus company, Cirque Bijou, London-based Circus Space and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, ‘Sequins and Stardust’ is set to coincide with the launch of the full name for Bristol’s city-centre project for expansion, ‘Cabot Circus’.

Pairing some of the UK’s most talented performers alongside a team of professional actors, ‘Sequins and Stardust’ will feature a mix of spectacular live circus skills, street theatre, comedy and a magnificent six-piece live band. After leaving Bristol, the event will be on tour in London, where it is sure to sell out - so make sure you catch it in Bristol while you can!

Alternatively, if you’re travelling to Bristol with your family this April, make Funderworld - the UK’s only mobile theme park - an essential stop on your visit. Funderworld is a mobile entertainment village, which offers theme park rides, music and a children’s club; so whether you want to entertain your ten year old, or you’ve always enjoyed amusement park rides as an adult, Funderworld will appeal. And with a family picnic site as well, Funderworld is sure give your family pleasure when you’re in Bristol this Easter.

There are plenty of hotels in Bristol, so you won’t find it difficult to find accommodation in the city during your short break. What’s more, if you’ve got a place to stay in Bristol, you’ll find it easy to visit other nearby attractions in the south-west, including Dartmoor National Park, the nearby city of Bath and various other charming seaside towns in the south-west. So make sure you fit in Bristol and its surrounding area’s exciting attractions into your schedule this April - you’ll be able to enjoy all the gems the south-west has to offer!



JUSTIN

TomZart asked:


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POETS ARE THE BELL RINGERS of THE SOUL

Poets as a rule are high on adventure

Like wondering bards or prophets today.

Embracing hearts and minds with wisdom

Casting through verse their visions at play.

Poets have their dreams and their nightmares

Of love, life, death, faith and war.

They feel the pain and tragedy of others

Even those they’ve never met before.

They fan the flames of human compassion

With their stories of the failings of man.

Professing to follow a higher power

As they recruit whomever they can.

Poets are the bell ringers of the soul

As they depict the past, the present and beyond.

They sound their alarm of what lies ahead

As the missteps of man live on.

EDGAR ALLAN POE

One of America’s most famous writers

Was born in Boston, January of 1809.

Both his parents were failing actors

And his father was drunk most the time.

In 1810 Edgar’s dad disappeared

His mother died soon after.

A childless couple took him in

Raising him with love and laughter.

Edgar had a Negro nurse

Who brought him to her quarters.

There he listened to ghost stories

Far beyond earthly borders.

The strange tales he later wrote

May have come from her inspiration.

The words she used to describe death

Gave Poe his taste for sensation.

The Allans moved to England

Where Poe attended boarding schools.

There’s no doubt his time spent there

Sharpened his skills as tools.

Returning to Richman and back in school

He began to compose new verse.

Heavy debts forced him to leave college

As his life took a turn for the worse.

Poe caught a ride on a coal barge to Boston

Where he was unable to find employment.

A young printer agreed to publish his poems

Giving him hope and enjoyment.

Penniless, Poe enlisted in the army

And was accepted to West Point in 29.

Poe couldn’t stand not being a writer

Self-imposing his dismissal from The Line.

Afterward he became an editor and critic

And married his cousin who was thirteen.

Six years latter he discovered she was dying

Suffering once more the unforeseen.

He went through periods of insanity

Caused by grieving and functional fall.

He smoked opium and drank too much

Till at his doorstep death would call.

Edgar Allan Poe the master of verse

Still lives in our hearts today

Famous for The Raven and other great works

May his soul rest in peace we pray.

GOD’S POETS

The prize jewels of any nation

Are the philosophers of the heart.

How they think is universal

For it’s God who makes them so smart.

Most poets tell the truth of life

Though they may wrap it in beauty.

It’s their passion, not their purpose

To compose is but their duty.

Poets have no reason to lie

When the truth is always so clear.

All that others say and do

Is but food for the poet’s ear.

One merit of a poet’s work

Which most people can’t deny.

They say more and in fewer words

To illuminate you and I.

God sent his poets down to earth

With words of wisdom and of worth.

That they might touch the souls of men

And bring them back to Him again.

A GOOD POEM

A good poem paints a picture

For both your heart and brain.

It doesn’t need a second chance

To make its meaning plain.

A good poem is like the flower

The lily or the rose.

God plants it in a poet’s brain

And there its beauty grows.

A good poem like a cardinal

Is pregnant with song

You can’t help but hear its message

As it sings what’s right or wrong.

A good poem helps us remember

What the joys of life are for

It makes us want to love someone

Till death comes knocking at our door.

POETRY

God has always had his poets

Who He watches with love from space.

But Satan has his poets too

Who try to lead us from our grace.

King Solomon was a poet

Who spoke of love, life, death and war.

That lips were like threads of scarlet

And that ******* were roses and more.

The wild birds sing and flowers bloom

As clouds form figures in the sky.

But only humans will write poems

That shall last long after they die.

The eldest sister of all arts

Which some have called the devils wine.

Poetry is but pure passion

To stimulate the heart and mind.

POET’S WIFE

My reciting seemed to delight her

Though for me it was love at first sight.

When she found out I was a poet

She asked, what kind do you write?

Love poems, mostly, I told her

While we walked alone in the park

Love’s fever became even warmer

As two shadows embraced in the dark

I’ll always remember when first we met

I whispered a poem in her ear.

Ever since then how happy I’ve been

And other women I’ve no need to be near.

They say that poets are divine

Though my wife would argue, that’s not true!

For, whenever I lose my direction

It’s she who tells me what to do.

Where the city ends and the suburbs begin

We’ve built our home beneath the sky.

We’ll raise our babies with truth and love

Till one or both of us die.

A verse a day, I always say

Helps keep lawyers from my door

For when I’m paid for what I write

My wife loves me a little more.

ALL POETS SERVE A MASTER

Most poets have a bit of Solomon

Shakespeare and Poe within.

Constantly eager to share their visions

Of love, life, joy and sin.

Some guzzle whiskey

Some sip wine

Some prefer cola

And feel just fine.

Some smoke pot

Or **** cigarettes

Some abuse drugs

With lifetime regrets.

Some attend church

And sing of God

While others make fun

And call them odd.

All have a purpose

Which drives them to compose.

All serve a master

Who by free will, they chose.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

I never write a poem

That doesn’t write itself.

I catch a buzz and come alive

Like a puppet off it’s shelf.

Hearing many voices

Whose words are never mine.

My pen becomes a painter’s brush

Forming visions on a line.

I seem to be a better person

When it’s time to sit down and write.

A higher power guides my hand

Sharing wisdom by day and night.

People born to create

Have no choice but to perform.

It’s the rush of sharing their gift

That elevates them from the norm.

What would our world become

Without intervention from above?

Angry beings in a revolving cage

With no sense of passion or love.

THE POWER of POETRY

Poetry is the lighthouse of life

Guiding the lost from a stormy sea.

Without it’s presence darkness prevails

Keeping us from all we can be.

Poems are used to convey passion

By poets of both good and evil mood.

Some are hateful others loving

Sharing thoughts to be consumed as food.

Verse can lead us to glory or doom

As we partake with others within.

Depicting our past, present and future

With words of man’s grace or sin.

People write poetry because they have no choice

Answering to the call of their gift.

Where some tend to pull their readers down

Others compose to give them a lift.

Always remember the power of poetry

Is used by both heaven and hell.

It’s up to us to choose our pleasure

As poetry remains alive and well.

WHISPERS of THE HEART

Poetry consumed is where wisdom begins

As we heed to the whispers of the heart.

It’s easy to blame others for our dismay

When from ignorance we refuse to part.

Verse is a beacon of hope in the darkness

To help us navigate the pitfalls of life.

Far more tend to write it, than read it

That’s why there’s endless conflict and strife.

I write poems to help fuel the light

By sharing what God has given me.

With stories of love, life, war and more

Where heroes pray on bended knee.

MASTERS of VERSE

Poetry is one of man’s oldest arts

Practiced long before words of print.

Every race had its masters of verse

In caves, huts, cabins or tent.

Stories in verse were handed down

From one generation to another.

The first told of love, war and more

And how to survive each other.

As man became more civilized

He could not help but wonder within.

Verse then took on a deeper meaning

With stories of faith, superstition and sin.

The act of reciting became in demand

As verse began to advance

Every tribe, city, town and village

Had someone who gave words romance.

Today’s poets are on the World Wide Web

Though many seem spiritually ill.

Thank heaven for all who still have God’s gift

To compose, teach, comfort and fulfill.

MY FAVORITE POET

My favorite poet is God above

Who gives Earth its rhythm and rhyme.

Not pied pipers of misguided souls

Who promote distrust, hatred and crime.

Poetry is nature serenading in song

The peaceful roar of the oceans waves.

The wind through the trees and over the hills

And the flowers in the fields by the graves.

The sound of rain as it waters the thirsty

The songs of children at play in the park.

The far off rumble of trains or thunder

As they pass through the night in the dark.

The joy of our babies first words and steps

The passion of life with its heroes and clowns.

The on going struggle to survive our sins

As we proliferate in hamlets and towns.

My favorite poet is our Father of love

Who was first to know us before birth.

His poetry prolongs every thing we love

As His deliverance gives life its worth.

THE POWER of WORDS

Words are the most powerful tools used by man

As hearts and souls reach for one another.

Sharing feelings of fear, wisdom and joy

Or our love for a significant other.

Where would we be without words

Which inspire, unite and motivate.

Songs, poems, stories, blogs, books

Wars, religion, love, lust and ****.

Jesus preached words to the multitudes

And nourish their hunger within.

The stories we tell portray our spirit

As examples of weakness, triumph or sin.

When we fail to control the rage of our thoughts

What is easy to say becomes hard to forgive.

Words are visions which portray our intent

The better we communicate, the better we live.

By Conservative Poet

Tom Zart

Most Published Poet

On The Web

TOM ZART’S RADIO POEMS

You can hear all of Tom Zart’s 330 poems

of love, war, faith and more 24-7 on web radio at

http://internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-TomZart.htm

Tom Zart ARCHIVES:

Global

Special

Operations

101

http://www.globalspecialoperations.com/tomzart2.html



JIMMIE

GetRinger asked:


Click Here to Download the Circus Ringtone by Britney Spears

Circus is the 6th studio album from the ever famous American pop singer Britney Spears. The album was released by the Jive Records company on September 15, 2008, which was released on December 02, 2008. The tracks from this album have quickly become a big hit on iTunes in the United States.

The first single by Britney Spears, “Womanizer”, became her 1st number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 charts since her debut ” Baby One More Time”, almost 10 years prior to that. The second single will be the title track “Circus”, it was announced the same day as the track listing and album cover on October 31, 2008.

 

Click Here to Download the Circus Ringtone by Britney Spears

 

The Circus ringtone has become one of the most popular tracks on iTunes and the hottest downloaded songs in the U.S.  Many of her songs have now reached the top 50 from this album. She is on her comeback path to regaining who she is as an artist and trying to be in the spotlight for making music as opposed to other troubles.

If you like this ring tone, you are able to download it using the link below. To get this new tone, simply enter your cell phone number and then continue with the instructions on your phone and webpage to get the tone. It’s a perfect choice and you can download it without using a credit card.

 

 

 







GONZALO

John Hostick asked:


[Brother John Hostick] know everybody would like to “make free money” each month online, but most people don’t know how to [make free money] online. So, even though they need more money, they have no money-making strategy.

The key to “make free money” online each month “Brother John Hostick” feel is to find a product that will earn you more money than you spend. This may sound obvious, but most Americans spend more money than they take in. And this is even in the good times.

[Brother John Hostick] notice the economy is worsening, the problem of debt is only going to get worse. And more Americans are going to get further away from their financial goals and dreams. How then can you [make free money], and more money each month?

Get Out of Debt…

“Brother John Hostick” believes the first step in making more money is to stop wasting the money that you currently earn. That means you must draw the line on debt. Sit down with a financial counselor, if possible, to go over your situation. You need to set up a monthly spending plan, in which you put the credit cards aside. Stop digging yourself a deeper hole. No more debt.

If you’re so deep into debt that you can’t even breathe, [Brother John Hostick] feels you may need help. Talk with a credit counseling agency or contact your creditors directly to work out a modified payment plan. But you must stop debt spending now.

“Brother John Hostick” Ideas To [Make Free Money]…

The second thing to do is write down your financial goals. What is it that you need the extra money for? Be specific. Write the reasons down. Then visualize them. And keep that vision right in front of you at all times. Start working toward that vision.

Once you’ve clearly identified your financial goals, it’s time to push forward. How can you increase your monthly income? Here are some ideas to “make free money”, to help you get started:

1.Telecommute, car pool, and/or look for ways to save money on gas.

2. Offer to mow lawns, rake leaves, and/or shovel snow for those living in your neighborhood (and in the surrounding neighborhoods - time permitting).

Distribute flyers to advertise your services.

3. Offer to baby sit, elder sit, or house sit for your neighborhood. Distribute flyers to advertise your availability.

4. Contact your local newspaper to see if they pay for freelance reporting. Offer to cover local events, such as sporting events, for a fee.

5. Offer to your friends, neighbors, fellow church-goers, etc. your services in auctioning stuff they want to sell on eBay. Some people are still unsure about how to sell things online and are uncomfortable with auction sites like eBay. You can step in, offer to do it for them, for a portion of the profits.

6.Bake cookies and/or pastries and sell at area office buildings.

7. Start a community online newsletter. You’ll need to spend some money and invest some time up-front, but once you get 1,000 or more subscribers in your neighorhood or residential area, you could then sell advertising to local businesses. And an email newsletter is cheap to produce. You just need a good autoresponder service.

8. Start your own Internet-based information marketing business.

9. Are you willing or able to become a clown, balloon artist, juggler, or performer? If so, you could entertain at kids’ birthday parties, church events, etc. or offer your services as a birthday delivery person.

10. Can you teach? If you know something that other people want to know, then maybe you could teach at a local community college or offer public seminars - or even teleconferences.

The above ideas on how to [make free money] should get you started toward making extra monthly cash. Some of them should help you make money fast. The more money you make, the faster you can get out of debt, build up your savings, and reach your financial goals. I Brother John Hostick hope this article on how to make free money was very helpful and useful, good luck in 2009 and God Bless You.

Learn How you can make some 100% free money here

time4thecash Dot Info

Best Regards,

Brother John Hostick

Skype Me: brotherjohn5

Google Me Now: Brother John Hostick



HORACE

Joshua Uebergang asked:


Men, you can no longer can club a woman across the head and drag her to your cave. If you want a relationship with a woman, there’s some advice you need to follow. When you follow this help, you’ll have women walking into your cave at their will.

As hard as it to believe sometimes being a man, women are humans. They make up half of the world’s population. And what is it that all humans want in relationships? We all want to feel great. Women especially love being around men who make them feel great. I’m talking at an emotional, not physical, level.

When a woman is talking with her friends, if you made her feel great, she will brag about you. “Well, what did you talk about?” her friends ask. “I don’t know. I just felt great!” she replies. If you make people feel great, they don’t have to remember what you did, what you said, or how you said it. They will remember how you make them feel.

What’s some relationship advice to make women feel great? Contrary to what most communication experts teach, I don’t advise men to compliment a woman unless you’re clearly in a relationship with her. Giving compliments subtracts from your power, something women wish their man had more of.

One of the best ways to make a woman feel great is to be funny. You don’t want to be a clown, because women don’t go to the circus for a relationship, but humor is a universally attractive quality. The type of humor I recommend you develop is cocky and funny. It gently teases. One example is saying, “Stop looking at me like a piece of meat”, with a sly smile.

Another piece of relationship advice men need to take to have better relationships with women is to stop giving advice. It’s advice to stop giving advice.

As men, we feel compelled to solve problems. We fix cars. Repair homes. Recover lost data from computers. And even gives each other advice on careers, dating, and other areas.

It may surprise you that when a woman talks to you about a problem, she isn’t after you to solve it. When we apply our problem-solving mindset to relationships with women, they become dejected. They wonder why their man just won’t listen. A woman doesn’t share her problems to have them solved - she only wants empathy and understanding. We all want to be understood.

The cure to the advice-giving syndrome is to emphatically listen. The active listening skills I encourage you to use in your relationships is not one of silence as you bite your tongue and resist giving advice. Focus on your partner, reflect her words and feeling, and enter her reality. It can be uncomfortable, but she will thank you for it.

Men, follow this free relationship advice and you will develop good relationships with women. Unless you want the police arresting you, put that club away and follow these lessons.



VERN

Shaun Parker asked:


The circus has entertained people for centuries. Its origins lie in Roman times, where animals and theatre were used to entertain the populous. Following the demise of the Roman Empire however, there was a lack of circus type entertainment in Europe. The animal rich antics were taken up again by various travelling performers and gypsies throughout Europe, whilst the development of an acrobatic based circus was already well underway in China.

Traditionally, various circuses would focus on a main theme, such as trained animals, slapstick clowns or acrobats and daredevils. As the circus became a less popular form of entertainment, Circus troupes decided that they would have to merge to survive, bringing a new type of eclectic experience to draw in the audience. Drawing upon influences from entertainment around the world, a new breed of entertainment was formed, taking on stylized and choreographed theatrical tones.

In contemporary terms, the circus is a mix of acrobatic entertainment such as trapeze artists, animal entertainment using trained horses and bizarre entertainment, focussing on the skills of sword swallowers and fire eaters. This type of entertainment can be linked back to the curiosity of the side shows and freak shows that used to travel with a main circus troupe. Animals within the circus though are becoming increasingly rare. The modern day circus, once an arena for the exotic, is no longer about tamed lions and elephants that beg like a dog. The reasons for this are from allegations of animal cruelty in the keeping and training of such animals. The effect on public opinion was massive, and after a terrible tragedy involving a runaway elephant that had mauled it’s keeper, the public no longer approved of animal inclusion in their circus entertainment.

Instead, entertainment that involved acrobatics and dangerous events became the taste of the day. Jousting on motorbikes with chainsaws had the power to deliver as much of an adrenalin rush and as ringmaster putting his head into a lions mouth. The power to shock has always been a winning formula, but so have theatrics and traditional skills that can be found throughout the history of the circus. A modern day entertainment troupe is likely to be presenting a performance with a story, as can be seen in the modern day marvel of the Cirque Du Soleil, which translates as Circus of the Sun.

The troupe found it’s beginnings in Canada in the early 1980s with a show that was such a huge success, the founders decided to tour. The abolition of a traditional ring and the decision to not have animals in the performances gained this circus incarnation a reputation for being a truly modern incarnation. Drawing upon traditional circus skills and acts from across the world enable Cirque Du Soleil to translate complex stories through performance. The lack of curtains draws the audience in to the story, and creates a paradigm unbeatable in a traditional theatre or circus.

This type of event has a huge following from lovers of cabaret and the theatre; performing arts and traditional circus. The productions are suitable for family entertainment and are hugely popular in the corporate entertainment industry. With such spectacular and entertaining shows that tour the world and with a practising troupe numbering over three thousand, there is a wealth of talent and entertainment at their disposal. Aerial acrobatics combined with stunning set design, great lighting and fabulous costumes provide a setting that you’ll remember for a lifetime. There is no doubt that this is one troupe that will bring back the essence of top quality entertainment.



RICKY