Life for the circus ring - Circus Knie

Jason Brügger: An Icarus with a pug
After Jason Brügger (24) won the SRF show "Switzerland's Greatest Talents" last year, he was already talking about his next big dream: the circus ring at Circus Knie. And sooner than he had hoped, this dream came true. "I was in the youth circus as a child, so it was always the greatest thing for me to visit Circus Knie," says the Basel native. "Now to be here in the ring myself is incredible." A lot of preparation is needed for his act on the straps: "I have to train every day, you can't stay fit for nine months from the show alone," he explains. "I warm up for an hour before the show, then there's one to two hours of training every day."

To balance out his circus life, Brügger got himself a pug shortly before the start of the tour: Bombo. "I can explore the various tour stops on a walk with him, which is cool!" Actually, he always wanted a Belgian shepherd, but "when you're on the road, you need a small dog. Otherwise you run out of space in the caravan".

His act at a height of over ten meters requires absolute concentration and body control. And the days are long, sleep can sometimes be in short supply, says the young artist: "Maybe a night out is still possible, just without a hangover!"

Housch-ma-Housch: The funny thread through the program
He is in the circus ring more often than anyone else: Housch-ma-Housch. This is the second time the comedian with Ukrainian roots has been engaged by Circus Knie, and the first time he has been the figurehead of the entire tour. "Back then, I was only there for ten days. Now I can experience the whole atmosphere much better," he enthuses. "There's a very pleasant atmosphere, everyone is very creative. I like that." As Housch-ma-Housch leads the entire program, he is in the circus ring more than any other artist. "That's why my days are very long," says the 45-year-old. Nevertheless, he is not stressed: "How do I relax? I'm not tense at all!"

Cesar Dias: The daddy is a real showman
Cesar Dias (33) is the showman of this year's program. He combines his comedy with elegance and relies on interaction with the audience. And the Portuguese singer can even win over the audience with his singing voice, even though a few things go wrong during his performance.

"The good thing is that I don't have to stay in shape and constantly train for my act," says Cesar. "So I have a lot more free time than other artists." He spends this time with his family: "They accompany me on the entire tour." His children Alice (9) and Melanie (7) are home-schooled and his mother Vera (37) is always there.

Circus with a wow effect
This year's Circus Knie program is all about amazement. The program title "Wooow!" runs through the entire show, with comedian Housch-ma-Housch using it as a recurring element. Animal acts are traditionally an integral part of the program: horses, ponies, camels and goats listen to the commands of the Knie family, and even six-year-old Chanel performs her first dressage acts. The program is rounded off with juggling, comedy, balance, acrobatics and roller-skating acts.

CIRCUS KNIE - "Wooow!"
various event dates
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