The circus came by, and made a stop at Tantolunden on Södermalm. The Brazil Jack circus, started by Carl Rhodin have been touring around Sweden since 1899. But this new version of the circus is a bit younger. Started in 1982 by Trolle Rhodin, grandson of Carl. I haven't been to the circus since childhood, and without the "wild" animals it probably looks a bit different today.
The oldest circus in Sweden stopped by for a show in Västerhaninge yesterday. Circus Brazil Jack was started by Carl Max Alexander Rhodin, better known under the name Brazil Jack. Back in the 1880s he watched Wild west Shows and decided to make something similar. The circus that tour the country today are operated by relatives to Brazil Jack.
Two brief visits to Haninge this week. The circus was in Västerhaninge yesterday, I hid behind a few tulips, but was unable to spot any scary clowns. On Monday I was sitting in front of the computer when I heard someone call my name from downstairs. It turned out to be Leif Hagen from Eagan. You might remember him from Eagan Daily Photo. He had been in Sweden for a few days and was very happy with his stay. We talked for a bit and took each others portrait.
Heading home on Saturday I had to stop at the soccer pitch in Tungelsta. There was a circus in town. Cirkus Wictoria, one of only five circus groups that still tour around the country was preparing a show. My eyes were drawn to the group of camels that were resting near the big circus tent. I think that these animals belong to a woman called Jessica Bengtsson. She comes from a big circus family. I didn't see the show. When my family still owned the greenhouses at Bergdalen we were sometimes asked if it would be OK if the circus elephants could rest on a big grassy area that we owned.
Following up on yesterdays post, here is a look at the very short-lived artwork that was The Hanging Gardens of Haninge. You had to be there to see it, as it is gone now. Luckily for you I was there with my camera. It took the performance group Zirkus Loko-Motiv a little over an hour to create the weird construction. Passers by were asked to participate by handing over any object they could live with out in return for a diploma. I had read about the happening in the paper so I had one such object with me. During the happening I walked around snapping left and right while chatting with the performers. And I was interviewed and photographed by a journalist from the Cultural Centre those photo will appear online next week. On the second photo you can see the cradle and acrobalance artist Katarina Rosen. She's not a member of the group, but got in contact with them when they bought her old camper which is now a mobile work shop, you can see it on the third photo. Katarina actually lives in a camper at the Circus village in Alby (remember the circus people from a while back), together with 14 artists from seven different countries. She's currently looking to set up the camper at another location and I suggested Trollsta in Sorunda where another theatre group is based. The third and next wonder will take place next month in Skärholmen. When all seven wonders have been created there will be a big happening in Stockholm where all seven wonders will be represented. To see all the photos from this event check out the slideshow.
The performance group Zirkus Loko-Motiv was in Handen on Friday for an unusual happening. During one hour The Hanging Gardens of Haninge were set up in front of the cultural centre on Poseidon's square. Anyone who wanted could contribute with any type of item to be used in the short-lived artwork. In return they got a diploma. I gave them a kitschy figure that I bought at a yard sale earlier this year. My flickr friend Jim handed over a keyboard and an old meat grinder! Two musicians played some interesting music while the hanging gardens took form in the strong wind. The performance is part of a project called The Seven Wonders of Stockholm. This was the second wonder. On the first photo you can see one of the founders of the performance group, the actress Ylva Törnlund striking a pose for the photographer. I was also welcomed to the happening by Roland Haeberlein. He is an artist and a sculptor and really knows how to dress sharply. On the third and last photo you can see two happy young girls holding up their diplomas. Guess who got the first diploma of the day? More photos from the happening tomorrow.
Surprisingly all the politicians left the scene in a hurry when suddenly a bunch of nearly naked young men took to the same stage. Dressed in white underwear and with gigantic white balls on their heads their sudden appearance made most of the crowd a little uneasy, especially when they walked off the stage to mingle with the now somewhat nervously laughing crowd. The second photo shows Robot Man. His real name in Mikael. He was a big hit with the kids (and everyone else). He has attended the Cirkus Cirkör school and has been working as an artist for a few years. More info about the Robot Man on his website. On the last photo you see what can only be described as a very tall American. He spoke American English and walked around asking people for money. Must be some American tradition! All in all just another day on the motorway...
The students and artists from Circus Cirkör put on a great show during their performance on Saturday. I'm not that familiar with all the terms, but on the first photo we see five girls in an amazing aerial hoop act. As I took this photo they had formed a V high up in the air. On the second photo one girl (there were two of them in this number), is using the smooth rope, an act where the artist works from a vertically hanging rope.
This is Moa. I met her on Saturday when she was performing with her fellow circus students and other circus performers during the opening ceremony for the new motorway that I told you about in yesterdays post. Moa is attending the three year program at the Cirkus Cirkör secondary school. Cirkus Cirkör is a contemporary circus group that was formed in Stockholm in 1995 by Tilde Björfors. The next step in Moa's education could be three years at the University College of Dance in Stockholm, or a similar school in France. After that all the world could be her stage. We talked a little about how the school works, and it's very different from when I was her age, we didn't have circus schools in Sweden back then. On the second photo you can see Moa in the very cool bathtub bike sitting next to a young girl who must have been very excited by meeting these circus people.
The Wictoria Circus is back in Tungelsta again. I could see and hear the trucks from my bedroom window when they arrived last night. The particular circus act on this photo is called How to find any unprotected wireless networks while going for a walk. It can be performed one-handed, without any protection. Shot these photos on an early morning walk. The rest of the circus crew were busy raising the big tent. Wictoria tours the northern part of Europe every year. These days horses are pretty much the only animals allowed on a circus. Years ago when they had elephants the circus asked us (my father to be exact), if it was ok to set up a fence on our land and have the animals there for the day which we allowed them to.
For all I know, this could be Kielo the Clown wearing his chapeau clack. What I do know is that Circus Wiktoria are on the road again. Last night they performed their show in Västerhaninge.
The circus arrives to Brandbergen in Handen. I don't know for sure, but it could be a German circus. No sign of the big tent yet. Before riding the merry-go-round you have to pick your favorite babe. The carousel belongs to Circus Fantasia and hasent yet been unloaded from the truck so you still have time to pick your fave!
As I'm writing this I can hear the music from the circus orchestra, the applauds and the laughter from the audience watching the Cirkus Wikoria show that started 50 minutes ago, outside my window. Cirkus Wictoria (Swedish spelling), are touring the country as they do every summer and they always put up their big blue tent on the Tungelsta School gravel pitch, 50 meters from where I sit. A big hit with the many kids here! I haven't seen the show but my neighbour saw it a few years ago with some friends visiting from Poland. They liked and after the show they realised that many of the performers where from Poland so they stayed on and chatted to the circus people. A couple of years before that the circus kept some of their animals on our land ( a big open field).
