What do you think about the Acts
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Permalink Reply by Liz Cooper on -
From what I've seen so far, the celebrities are relying on the abilities of the rigging crew more than anything else. I do commend them for having the guts to try things way beyond their comfort zones, but quite a few acts had very little of even the most basic technique. After two months of supposedly training every day, there should be something more there.
The crew operating the winches and the supporting performers are doing far more work to cover the weaknesses in technique and choreography. (Case in point, Rachel Hunter's cerceau act was not much more than sitting while spinning, although granted it does take some ability to not throw up afterwards!) And the web and flying silks acts were disappointing at best. The bungee act was quite well done though, lovely form throughout. Hats off to Weeman as well, he actually took some risks and did well.
My big worry about this show is that the public is not going to really understand how many years of work it takes to be a good performer. There's far more to circus arts than just looking hot in sequins and tights. And Ms. Aurelia, please do keep being strict with your feedback, you are right on target when you criticize the lack of choreography and technique!
I do hope the level of ability gets better over the next few weeks, but I'm not going to hold my breath. (I have to admit, watching So You Think You Can Dance is far more satisfying since the finalists have gone through a gruelling process and years of training and they have earned the right to be on stage.)
Grumble, grumble!
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Permalink Reply by Kristin Finley on -
I do agree with you in the fact that what they are doing and how it is formatted makes the average person think that these acts are very easy and simple. But we do that too when we perform flawlessly and make our acts look incredibly easy. On the ohter hand, the celebs have no background what so ever in anything remotley close to what they are doing. To make the show more intertesting and flow they have to use the wenches and rely on the crew and the trainers. And don't forget, they had to learn 5 different acts in those 2 months and most of them got injured.
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Permalink Reply by Massimo Bizzarro on -
WoW! Wee Man is leading the polls, according to the poll we have on the main page! He is beating out Stacey by 2%
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Permalink Reply by Penny Wilson Rodriguez on -
What these celebrities have learned in such a short time may not be perfection and the tricks not the most difficult. But after all they only had a short time to learn it in. Most of us have had a lifetime. I give them an E for effort. As for the web all I can say is Barbette is probably turning over in his grave.
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Permalink Reply by Noella Curiel on -
I don't know. I was kind of hoping that the judges would be actual circus people who know what to look for. I mean, those girls don't know how to stand or style, but luckily know how to at least point their toes.
I think that the performers need to learn how to climb, whether it be a web or a chiffon. I think the person who can learn to climb will be the person to win.
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Permalink Reply by VeeKay on -
I very much agree with you.
But they wanted the shock factor from Louie.
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Permalink Reply by Heidi Herriott on -
Hi,
I finally got to watch Celebrity Circus last night. Where to begin… Let me say up front that I did appreciate the talent of the professionals who worked in the acts. They were the best thing in the show. Also, I do appreciate the celebrities who we know worked hard and got banged up. That may be where my appreciation ends. Sorry to be so blunt but I thought this was disappointing.
We can start with the judges. Aurelia did a nice job as we would expect since she is a circus professional. I can’t say the same for the other choices. I am thinking of the other reality shows like Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), and American Idol. Both use judges who are related to the talent they are judging. Why did Celebrity Circus (CC) detour and use the other 2 judges? This is not a slight to the judges themselves. Certainly on DWTS the judges were not known in the general public and have become quite entertaining. I am thinking that the producers of CC decided they needed either names or entertainment value. Well, let’s face it, if you can’t find colorful characters in the circus world who could be entertaining judges, then I don’t know where else to look. That is what we do – entertainment value!!!
On to the show… While I am not a staunch traditionalist, I would like to see Fatone in a more traditional, or at least colorful ringmaster regalia. I will say the set is very nice. As I have heard from some other circus folks, there are few names if any that I recognize on the support and training team. I will admit that I am out of touch with the California circus scene, but certainly not out of touch with the circus scene in the USA. Having served as the American Circus industry spokesperson for a few years, I would like to think I have a pretty good knowledge base about the industry. When they introduced the trainers last night, I heard a lot of Cirque Soliel. I am thinking that Cirque might consider doing their own reality show, but I thought this one was called Celebrity Circus, not Celebrity Cirque. Again, not a slight to Cirque, just disappointed in this show overall. There are SO many circus professionals in our business here in America that have trained talent, can put together solid routines with the individual’s skill in mind, and come up with some creative, entertaining acts and a well paced show. Not surprisingly with the Cirque based training team, there is a lot of aerial stuff. Ironically, the basic aerial number, web, was the most disappointing. Rachel Hunter remarked last night that the trainers were “making this up as they go”. I had been thinking the exact thing while watching the out takes of the training sessions. They did not seem to be relying on tried and proven routines and such to pull this off. I was thinking that the trainers were not individuals who had created acts themselves, but had been trained for other productions. The exceptions were the 2 or 3 performers who did choreograph and perform with the celebs and pulled it off. Again, there are SO many acts that could be taught in the time frame, and many without serious injury yet great entertainment value. Sword balancing, rolling globe, plate spinning, knockabout, cradle, animal acts and so much more. While I appreciate creativity in our industry, the circus CAN be performed without a single silk and still be entertaining! Also, I feel that almost all the performers could benefit from some ‘showgirl’ training – how to style and present an act. The old “not what you do but how you do it” that counts.
When I first heard about this show and then saw the casting call for judges on Circuspace, I was hopeful that they were going to turn to the tried and true circus professionals to pull this off. I don’t think that is the case and as a result in think the product is less than stellar. If the circus professionals in the American Circus, who have spent lifetimes and generations in their trade can’t provide entertainment value, then I don’t know who can. Makes me appreciate Circus of the Stars, where active professionals of the American circus trained celebrities to do their acts. Maybe if the powers that be behind this production had trusted the show to more of the tried and true professionals, the “show would go on”! And yes, we should all be appreciative of a good web girl!!!
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Permalink Reply by Maritza Atayde on -
You are completed rigth , first is not a truly hart involte in the protjet and if we talk about Cirque this is a factory and not a family bussiness to continue with our beliave.
Even Aurelia who is been train to be a circus performer and we know that she know the bussiness, she is a cold and do not have a hart like circus people had , she is not proud in what we see specially when do not come from circus school.
Circus schools are good as a hobbie but their harts is not totally in there ,because they do not have the natural circus felling.
I am sick of the Solei idea just because they are finishing with the tradicion of the circus families,yes they make us be better in technic and in cleaning our acts ,but the circus base is in the family and Solei do not have it,all the artist are dispossable like the pampers ,and is very sad.
And the worse of that is that every show in the wordl is falling for the Solei fashion and a lot of the greatest circus families are
been replace by the great retired gymnastisc from every other country.
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Permalink Reply by AURELIA CATS on -
Dear Maritza ,
the fact that i may look cold on TV has nothing to do with my training in a Circus School as you say but with the fact that live audience and performing is what i love and TV is a new thing for me, just like for you Circus is my life and even so i wasn't born in the circus i give it all my heart and all my life.The Circus School i was in was from Annie Fratellini , and believe me when she was alive her school had a life and a heart just like in a circus during a season , if you know this school , you know that we were under a circus tent with the caravans under the peripherique in Paris and the teachers were only circus Artists like Enzo Cardona , Renzo larible, Davis Bogino, Manolo desantos and many more....
I'm working on the cold part on TV , i need to relax and i'm slowly getting there , i agree with you on this but please do not say that my heart is not like a Circus person i feel insulted as it is my life and i love it dearly.
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Permalink Reply by Darlene Ava Williams on -
Totally agree with you Heidi! I have been in California for 15 years. I only know one or two of the "trainer" on this show.
I have no idea who they are....most likely ex cirque performers.
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Permalink Reply by Tracey DeGirolamo (Bannister) on -
I have to say that i agree with everything Heidi has written, I couldn't have written it better.And yes with all the beautiful costume designers out there, someone should try to help them out with their wardrobe a little!
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Permalink Reply by Nicole & Stephane on -
I liked the show last night! Stacey did a good job! But a big applause for Rachael Hunter. She did an awesome job!!! Alot better than the first show! Wee man did a great job also. Yeah, he messed up but he did what every performer knows how to do....keep the crowd going and TRY it again. The great motto "The show must go on" And he did great! I do agree that the other 2 judges should be circus. There are many well known names if the show was going for names the general public know.
I was very happy to see Blu go. I don't know who will be next. Maybe Chris Knight. He did very good at the clown gag. Or even Janet Evans. She barely did any poses herself. It was all things she could do with the guy wrapped in the chiffon. I'll have to tune in next week.
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