A Brief History of a 4,000 year Art Form: Acrobatics
From the times of the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks, through the times of the Romans, the development of East Asian Traditions and to the eventual birth of the modern day circus in England and the United States of America, circus acrobatics has been constantly developing and evolving to stay relevant and to continue to inspire many audiences throughout the generations. For more than 4,000 years, circus acrobats have been a part of history as is shown in hieroglyphics, mosaics, history books, movies, and throughout the cultural generations of families and countries from around the world. As is true throughout it’s existence, acrobatics is something that brings happiness, anxiety, elation, and hope to the audiences that watch the amazing feats that only a few would ever perform throughout the history of this art form. But where did acrobatics begin to develop and what is the road that would be traveled by those that would not only develop, but pass down to new generations and new cultures. As you will read, as the world develops, so does this unique art form and sport, circus acrobatics.
During the developing years of acrobatics, performers would build their forms and styles based on the cultures of their societies. Inside the developing forms were rites of passage, standing in society, and fame. In Greece, the Minoans would utilize their acrobatic skills in rites of passage rituals such as when practitioners would flip over or handspring off of charging bulls. This is actually depicted in art found from this ancient society. And in Egypt, favored acrobatic performers would find themselves honored guests of the Pharaohs. In both societies acrobats would reach fame and fortune, but only if they remained pleasing to the eye of the rulers of those civilizations. Eventually, this rising art form would begin to migrate throughout the world.
Family members from these ancient societies would begin to travel towards other parts of the known world bringing with them the skills and knowledge of acrobatics. One such stop, Rome. This is where acrobatics would enter its most tumultuous stage of existence. Acrobats were entertainment for the crowds that attended gladiatorial events. Jugglers, tight rope walkers, and acrobats that specialize in ground productions, were brought in to keep the blood-thirsty masses at bay so that the next events could be prepared. Unfortunately, the blood-lust of the crowds would win out at times and these acrobats would literally become food for the fodder. Gladiators, lions and tigers, and whatever else was held in the confines of the Colosseum, would be unleashed on the acrobats to please the masses and the rulers. This practice would last for a few hundred years, but eventually acrobats made it out of Rome and would take their stylings farther west and farther east.
Migrating east would be a crucial piece to acrobatics. The development of acrobatics and those practitioners within countries like China, Japan, and Russia, would go on to be a huge part of what this art form is today. These countries would take the stylings of Egypt and Greece and utilize their own cultures and traditions to implement their own brand of acrobatics. As an example, Chinese Acrobats have increased their skills and kept true to their traditions throughout thousands of years. This can still be seen by the Troupes that travel the world today and by the Chinese performers throughout many of the circuses in the world. As they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
During the 18th Century, the next evolution of the acrobatic world would take place. A man by the name of Philip Astley would usher in this new style. From England, he was a former Sergeant Major of the Calvary and regarded as one of the best horsemen around. After his exit from the military, Astley would become a trick-rider and star in his own shows. Although a master performer, Astley recognized that his shows needed more, something to entertain the crowds between events; enter acrobats. Much like the Romans did, Astley would incorporate jugglers, tight-rope walkers, acrobats of all backgrounds to entertain the crowds. But in Astley’s case, no one was killed for entertainment. This form would evolve and form a new era in acrobatics: The Modern Circus.
The migration of acrobatics would continue to take place. Inevitably, it would make its way to a newly formed country fresh off its own evolution of sorts, The United States of America. A pupil of Astley, John Bill Rickets, would bring the modern circus to this new country in 1793 and perform it in front of the Father of our Country, George Washington. On a side note, you have to wonder how Rickets mentor, Astley, felt about this since Astley was in the English military during the time of the American Revolution. Interesting. Regardless, the performance was an instant hit and as for the modern circus, it would take America by storm.
Circuses would become huge in America, but a problem would plague them. Travel to outlying areas would prove difficult and the country that was made up of small towns and vast sea of land, would miss out on the circus world, that is, until the development of the railroad and men like P.T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey who were men of vision in the circus world. Seeing the opportunity that was before them, these men would start to make use of the railroads to get their Big Top Shows to the masses of an ever-expanding nation. This would give birth to the American Style, Three-Ring Traveling Circus which would be the mark of all traveling circuses around the world for years to come. As for Barnum, he had one more idea that revolutionized and would define, for better or worse, American Circuses for many generations to come: The Side Show Freaks.
While the circuses in America were starting to lose their way and American audiences were bored with the same old story, acrobatic troupes in Asia were honing their skills. With their incredibly, daring feats and traditions, acrobats from Asian countries were taking over the world of circus acrobatics. Chinese and Soviet (Russian) Troupes began touring the world and derived much interest because of their styles that included stories that mixed with traditions. This was a very entertaining form of acrobatics that the public had more desire for. Still, American Three Ring Circuses would not make the adjustments and continued to struggle throughout the 20th century. What the American Circuses needed was a fresh start, a revolution of sorts. And this revolution would begin in 1984 with a small Troupe just outside of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
In a place called Quebec City, Quebec, a small troupe would bring a fresh change to the circus world. The troupe that would change the world: Cirque du Soleil. With a grant from the Canadian Government, Cirque would go on to revolutionize the circus world! They would return to old traditions and mix them with new age flair by creating characters, stylistic costumes, emotionally driven music, and storylines to entertain the masses. This newest evolution has been so well-received that Cirque du Soleil has grown to become the standard to which all acrobats and circuses are judged.
Throughout the 4,000+ years of the existence of acrobatics, there has been many highs and lows. But in the end of it all, it has survived because it continued to expand and evolve. With the growth of Cirque du Soleil and the continued growth of Asian Troupes, the interest in the circus arts and acrobatics is at an all-time high and shows no sign of letting up. And maybe one day, just one day, we will all run away and join the circus.
Huntington Sarebos