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| Circus related terms |
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Four similar terms are often confused
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Circus arts refers to a body of performing arts featured in, derived from, or inspired by circus productions.
There are two main genres of circus arts: traditional, often referred to as "Old Circus Arts" and contemporary, sometime called "new circus arts". Below is a table comparing several distinct aspects of traditional and contemporary circus arts.
| Traditional Circus Arts | Contemporary Circus Arts | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Performance Venues | Touring Big Top Circus, Arena Circus | Theatrical Production, Circus Theatre |
| Typically Performed By | Circus Families | Conservatory Trained Artists |
| Typical Acts | Animals, Clowning, Flying Trapeze, Wire Walking | Acrobalance, Aerial Acrobatics, Physical Comedy |
| Typical Staging Format | circular seating around three or more rings | Auditorium seating in front of proscenium stage |
| Typical Production Format | Series of spectacle style acts presided over by a master of ceremony | Series of theatrical style acts tied together by a central narrative or theme |
| Typical Music and Sound | Live band, recorded sound effects | Recorded score and sound effects, sometimes with live accompaniment |
