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A recent history of Catalan circus

On Friday the 28th of February, the Ateneu Popular in Nou Barris will host an evening with circus critic and instructor Jordi Jané

Catalan circus has always had close ties with its social environment and has never been indifferent to the changes taking place in society. Beginning towards the close of the 18th century with French equestrian trainer Jean Gadis Colman, in Reus, and Italian trapeze artists Frescara and Chiarini, Catalan circus evolved and increased greatly in popularity during the industrial revolution of the 19th century.

On Friday, the 28th of February, Jordi Jané will present a review of the history of Catalan circus from its very beginnings to the emergence of contemporary circus following the end of the Franco regime. The event will begin at 7.30 pm in the Ateneu Popular in the Nou Barris district of Barcelona, one of the most significant venues in the evolution of Catalan circus.

Long-time columnist Jordi Jané is one of the principal promoters of the cultural importance of this art form, an art form which is constantly adapting to aesthetic, economic and social changes without losing its essence, to wit, man versus the laws of nature. Swiss anthropologist Jean Ziegler defined circus as “the last vestige of ancient, ancestral, initiatory knowledge”.

The event has been organised by the Catalan language association CPNL (Consorci per la Normalització Lingüística), Espai Avinyó and the Barcelona City Council.

Publication date: Monday, 24 February 2014
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