eighty Years Young: Circus Legend Gianni Rossi Returns to the Ring
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A remarkable story of resilience and enduring passion is unfolding in Ravenna, Italy, as Gianni Rossi, an octogenarian circus performer, steps back into the spotlight with Circo Dylan. Rossi, a veteran of the big top with a career spanning generations, embodies the spirit of a nomadic life dedicated to the art of entertainment.
A Life Among ‘Those Who travel’
Rossi eloquently describes the circus community as “those who travel,” a distinctive group bound by a shared lifestyle and profession. For Rossi, the circus isn’t merely a profession; it’s a birthright. “I didn’t choose it, I was born in it,” he explains, tracing his family’s involvement in the circus back to the early 19th century. His son and nieces continue the legacy, currently performing with the M. Orfei circus. He began performing at the astonishing age of five, mastering handstands on chairs, a testament to the early training common within circus families.
From Acrobatics to Clowning: A Storied Career
Rossi’s early career focused on verticalism, a daring acrobatic feat he excelled at. He pioneered a one-armed hydraulic piston act,ascending to heights of 4.5 to 5 meters while balancing multiple objects. “I was one of the good ones, so they say,” he humbly recounts, remembering his debut of the trick in 1968 at the American Circus, a massive spectacle boasting 100 horses and 25 elephants.
His career took him across the globe, from prestigious italian circuses like Orlando Orfei to international stages with his own ‘Circus of France’ from the 1980s to 2011. He even found himself in Tunisia shortly before the outbreak of the Arab Spring and in Libya during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. The COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt halt to his travels in 2020, leading him to temporarily settle near Ravenna.
A Return to the Ring with Circo Dylan
After a period of rest, Rossi was drawn back to the performance arena by friends at Circo Dylan.He now performs as Augusto, the main clown, delighting audiences in Ravenna. Initially hesitant, fearing a poor turnout, he was quickly reassured by the eager response from the local community. “The first day,I didn’t come: I was afraid that they would do a ‘white’,” he admitted,using circus jargon for an empty house. “And rather there were a lot of people.” Performances are scheduled for January 24th, 25th, and upcoming dates in early Febuary.
Reflections on a Changing Art Form
Rossi observes that the circus has evolved, becoming more technological over time. However, he laments that the scale of performances has diminished. “It has become more technological,but it can no longer afford to make those numbers there,because they need 2000 people in the public. Today they are not there.”
His career also included working with animals, specifically tigers. He emphasizes the importance of respect and understanding in animal training,advocating for a nurturing approach over coercion. “Never think of training a tiger with beatings, it doesn’t work. you have to raise them,” he asserts, highlighting the intuitive connection required for such a dangerous undertaking.
A Disagreement with Fellini and the Essence of the Clown
The celebrated filmmaker Federico Fellini was a known admirer of the circus, but Rossi expresses a dissenting opinion regarding Fellini’s film, The Clowns. While acknowledging a “kernel of truth,” he felt the film presented an overly melancholic portrayal of the clown archetype.He believes the true essence of the clown lies in joy and camaraderie, recalling fond memories of performing alongside his brother, a skilled White Face clown.
At eighty years old, Gianni Rossi continues to embody the magic and dedication that define a life in the circus, proving that the show, indeed, must go on.
