With less than three weeks to go until the opening night of the Festival at 9pm on Thursday, October 18th, the cast of competing performers is almost complete. Amongst the Italians already announced – Nancy and Carlo Triberti, competing, and Vinicio Togni, the only guest star at this edition of the Festival – we can now announce the participation of three more Italian numbers: Los Saly Brothers, Elisabetta Bizzarro, and the Rastelli Clowns. This significant group of 5 Italian acts will be representing their country on an international level at the Festival, helping to contribute to the worldwide prestige of the Circus “made in Italy”. Also announced today, the participation in the competition of a pair of Russian clowns, The Kolganovs.
Real-life brothers and working partners in the ring, Los Saly Brothers present a “bolas” number. The bolas, from the Spanish words bola, or ball, are long leather thongs with balls attached to one end and a handle attached to the other. Historically, bolas were used for hunting and as weapons, being thrown as a sort of unattached lasso. Los Saly Brothers, who are Italian, reinterpret Argentinian folklore as “gauchos” with spectacular choreography as they whirl the bolas at high speed to the rhythm of their drums.
Numbers with big cats are a staple of the traditional Circus. Although this type of number is represented in circuses all over the world, it’s very rare that the trainer and performer in the ‘cage’ is a woman. Elizabetta Bizzarro, Italian and a member of one of Italy’s most renowned Circus families, presents an elegant number with four lions. The number of lions in this number is a deliberate choice of the performer, who likes to establish a more personal and intense rapport with each of her working companions. The resulting feel of the number comes from the exclusive use of the technique of “positive reinforcement” during all phases of training.
No Circus would be complete without the presence of clowns and, like any ordinary Circus, even an International Circus Festival needs the humour and laughs that only a good supply of clowns can supply! The Rastelli Clowns, from Italy, will be popping up in all of our shows, bringing joy and laughter to the whole audience but especially to a very special part of our audience: the children. So sit back and enjoy a few moments of carefree hilarity and remember: laugh like nobody is watching!
Just like every year, the presence of clowns within the rich tapestry of the Festival is a must, and along with the acrobats and jugglers they occupy a special place in Circus rings around the world. Kolganov Clowns, from Russia, will definitely guarantee the giggles of all the children present under the Big Top: these two brothers came to Italy from Russia with their bags packed full of fun and comedy, so if any of you adults want to get in touch with your inner child, this is the time, and this is the place!
