Photo by Circus Scandinavia 2006 (C).

Baldoni Christmas circus.

For the first time ever there is Christmas circus in Copenhagen. Many will say that is not the truth because every year, there is Christmas performances all over Denmark. Those performances are in my opinion not circus because it is not tented performances. Circus Baldoni presents a “real” circus with a tent, wagons and a normal performance. I’m sure there is a reader out there who claims that, this event has happened before but I can’t remember a “real” circus in Christmas time.

Baldoni has put up their tent in the middle of Copenhagen on a place called Trianglen, the same place the Danish circus Dannebrog uses when they visit the capital in Denmark.

Circus Baldoni is a small circus and have room for 600 people but in Denmark there are nice traditions for the smaller circus to put up very nice performances. Of cause it wouldn’t be fair to compare those kinds of performances with the big international circuses. Often we find a much better atmosphere in the small circuses than in the big ones. In my opinion it is two different kind of entertainment.

The head attraction in Baldoni Christmas circus is with no doubt the Chinese multi artists Gao Chen. Gao Chen has been in Baldoni in the 2005 summer season and last year they went to Sweden with Åge Skoghs circus Wictoria. Gao Chen are two couples of twins married to each other and that is almost an attraction that could stand alone. Anyway Gao Chen are just great artists and there isn’t that circus discipline they wouldn’t try. They have an absolute great great impression and the whole act is so well considered. Every move through the act is worked through and even their eyes are synchronized between the four artists. Gao Chen are smiling and they show an extremely positive expression in all their acts.

Gao Chen are in the ring – or stage because Baldoni use a round stage instead- to many times no doubt about that but they are absolute not boring. Gao Chen show a very nive Diablo act with a traditional lion dance included – very nice, A new tissue act with four people – nice and visual but still needs to be worked with, a double parterre act, an act there have absolute international top class. The last entree form the hands of Gao Chen is an antipode act also in a very high class.

A nice small story is chaining the whole performance together, a concept there has been normal in all Baldonis performances since the start in 2002.

 Also in the performance is one of the greatest Danish artists – Freddie Steckel with his funny table act. He has been around in many many Scandinavian circuses and always with a great success. Freddie has got himself a new partner and her name is Line Norklit. Line is normally an actor but she fits perfectly into Freddies act. Jevgenijs Tomilovs does two act – first a juggling act and secondly a Strabat act. The last witch is absolute the best of the acts as the James Bond figure.  Jevgenijs Tomilovs has been in Baldoni before and was seen in a strabat act in 2002 called Bro Brothers. The last years he has been a part of the Danish circus Charlie. The Baldonies as we could see in the Baldoni summer tour with a very nice illusion act. The Baldonis covers over the director couple Thessa Daniella and René Baldoni. Renés career in circus started as an illusionist and he was in many years a part of circus Arena.

 A very nice performance with great artists. Gao Chen is too much in the ring but they are very entertaining. Only a few weak points in the performance make this Christmas event a great experience. Maybe the performance is a little predicable but the reason for that opinion could be that I have seen to many performances. The tent was heated and the temperature was very nice. As usual there are very fair prices in Baldoni, witch makes it affordable for most families. There is a bar with bears, soft drinks and everything connected to a great day in circus.

Baldoni stays in Copenhagen into December 30^th.