BIG RETURN OF THE CIRCUS FESTIVAL OF TOMORROW

The Festival du Cirque de Demain was back for a 42nd edition under the marquee of Cirque Phoenix, lawn of Reuilly in Paris (75012).

From January 27 to 29, 2023, young circus talents from all over the world, aged under 25, were on the bill at the Festival International du Cirque de Demain. This competition brought together before a jury, 24 numbers divided into 2 programs. The award show took place on Sunday January 29 at 3 p.m. Juggling, contortion, acrobatics were on the agenda. With France, 20 countries participated including China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Brazil or even Mexico, the Netherlands, the United States .

France presented 4 acts: Antoine Boissereau in aerial fabric, Quentin Signori in aerial straps, Arthur Cadre in contortion dance and the Footstyle company in freestyle football. The other countries have offered juggling, Chinese pole, flying trapeze or diabolos acts.

History of the International Circus Festival

In 1977, Isabelle and Dominique Mauclair, circus enthusiasts, created for the first time an event where young artists could present their art in front of an international jury, a novelty compared to the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo. The first edition bears the name “Bourse Louis Merlin”. The Festival is then subsidized by the State, the Region, the City, the SACEM and the rights derived from television (the 42nd festival, show A was broadcast in streaming on Arte Concert on January 28 at 8:30 p.m.) Directed by Alain Mr. Pacherie, also director of Cirque Phoenix, the Festival du Cirque de Demain is now a benchmark in his field.

Each year, 24 winners are chosen from numerous spontaneous applications for the 4 world pieces, on the occasion of various festivals and other shows. Candidates are selected by a jury according to a rating based on technical and artistic criteria and the relationship with the public.

The Festival has welcomed animals for several years as well as young trainers. First installed under the big top of the Cirque National Alexis Gruss, it finally took up residence at the Cirque d’Hiver. The first Trainers’ Competition of the Festival du Cirque de Demain was founded by Michel Bruneau in 1991. Today, the dressage numbers have disappeared to make way for human creativity. We note that few clowns are present because there are few training centers.

The show features classic numbers performed by artists who have received small compensation. For a weekend, Paris becomes the international capital of circus arts, whether for a first visit or a stage in the careers of other artists. Most disciplines are chosen by students in schools or by self-taught artists. There is also a small presence of large troops since the collapse of the USSR, China and Cuba being exceptions.

Awards of the 42nd Festival

Tomorrow’s Circus Festival includes 2 programs (A and B) spread over 2 days. The winners were unveiled on Sunday January 29 from 3 p.m., after 4 days of competition. Calixte de Nigremont was the master of ceremonies and the orchestra, conducted by François Morel, accompanied the numbers, like a completely constituted writing element for the show. Music has always marked the circus, we now see musicians on the ring.

GRAND PRIZE
LA TANGENTE DU BRAS TENDU, France-Flying trapeze. Submitted by Zazie.
President of the Republic Award
THE TANGEANT OF THE EXTENDED ARM. Awarded by Laurent Roturier Regional Director of Cultural Affairs for Île-de-France.
GOLD MEDAL
HNG THEAN LEONG – diabolo, Malaysia. Presentation by Kamel Ouali.
TROUPE KOLFE – Icarian Games and Bascule, Ethiopia. Presented by Philippe Bas.
SILVER MEDAL
POLINA MAKAROVA – Contortion, Mexico. Handed over by Warren Zavatta.
QUENTIN SIGNORI – Aerial straps. Presentation by Kamel Ouali.
BRONZE MEDAL
GUSTAVO & NÉRÉE – Fixed trapeze, Spain.
TITOS TSAI – Handling swords, Taiwan (China).
GEMINI DUO – Pendulum mast, Ukraine.
MA-MAO COMPAGNIE – Hand to hand, Brazil.
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
DUO UN DEUX UN – Rope & Hair suspension, Brazil.
HEAD-TO-HEAD TRIO – Acrobatic lifts, Netherlands/Germany.
INNOVATION AWARD
Cie NICANOR DE ELIA – Juggling, France/Argentina Brazil/Spain/Italy
PRIZE OF THE CITY OF PARIS
AGUSTIN RODRIGUEZ BELTRAM – Aerial Straps, Mexico.
ROXANA KÛWEN – Juggling, Germany/Iran.
AUDIENCE AWARD
TROUPE KOLFE – Icarian games and seesaw.
PRICE OF THE MOULIN ROUGE
MA-MAO COMPAGNIE – Hand to hand, Brazil.
PRIZE OF THE Cie THE 7 FINGERS OF THE MAIN
MA-MAO COMPAGNIE – Hand to hand, Brazil.
IMAGINE CIRCUS AWARD
GUSTAVE 1 NÉRÉE – Fixed trapeze, Spain.
CIRCUS PHOENIX PRIZE
ANDY JORDAN – Juggling, Austria.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL TROPHY
TITOS TSAI – Sword handling, Taiwan (China).
DRAGON TROPHY
ARTHUR CADRE – Dance-Contortion, France.
CAPITAL PRIZE BUDAPEST CIRCUS/BUDAPEST CIRCUS FESTIVAL
ANTOINE BOISSEREAU – Aerial fabric, France.
ANNIE FRATELLINI TROPHY
MA-MAO COMPAGNIE – Hand to hand, Brazil.
MONGOLIAN CONTORTION ASSOCIATION TROPHY
POLINA MAKAROVA – Balances, Mexico.
PRIZE TALK CIRCUS
LA TANGENTE DU ARM TENDU – Flying trapeze, France.
ALTITUDE COMPANY TROPHY
QUENTIN SIGNORI – Aerial straps, France.
CIRCUS CLUB PRIZE
LA TANGENTE DU ARM TENDU – Flying trapeze, France.
BRITTANY CIRCUS TROPHY
ANTOINE BOISSEREAU – Aerial fabric, France.

The other participants of the Festival:

Carlo Cerato, Juggling Italy.
PENG CHAN, diabolo Taiwan (China).
FOOT STYLE, Free Football France.
EMMANUEL GARCIA NEROX, Straps and pendular mast Mexico.
Yevgeny Kurkin, Chinese Pole United States.
PEI-PEI Spine antipodism.

The guests :
CIE SORALINO;
Eccentrics; Italy/France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5jY-Rx2_E8

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VERONIQUE YANG

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