Committed: The eighth generation of the Knie family.
The Swiss National Circus surprises anew every year. And this year is particularly special: with artists from 17 countries, including world record holders and a 15-year-old on her way to becoming a legend, as well as lots of fun. In addition, a high-tech light installation transforms the circus ring into another universe. From May 8 and until June 7 in Zurich on Sechseläutenplatz. Later in Basel, Solothurn, Bern and other cities.
When the 23-year-old Belgian climbs the aerial straps, the audience holds its breath. Dance is his foundation, acrobatics his vehicle. The result is one of the most touching acts Circus Knie has presented in years. The man the program simply calls the "flying angel" receives a standing ovation.
Two people, all in gold: they are 45 and 50 years old, train daily and eat calorie-optimized food. Evening after evening, they hang from the straps under the dome without any safety devices. Ambra Faggioni and Yves Nicols are the "Golden Dream" duo. A brilliant performance, in the truest sense of the word.
She was three years old when she first stood in the circus ring. This season, she is performing a high school act for the first time. It is the same act that her mother Géraldine performed many years ago. Chanel Marie Knie is 15, and grandfather Fredy Knie, the great horse trainer of the house, is full of praise: "She is an excellent horse trainer." Her mentor adds that she has a strong character, as he goes on to say: "When she sets her mind to something, she sometimes puts her head through the wall."
Valeriia Davydenko's handstand routine only lasts a few minutes on stage. But she holds the Guinness World Record for the longest handstand, which lasted over an hour. On stage, the Ukrainian doesn't allow herself a single break, balancing on one arm in a glittering costume for minutes on end. Power, presented in an elegant manner.
Nine motorcyclists and a female rider from South America race at up to 70 km/h in a six-meter-wide steel sphere - and it opens up in the middle of the performance. Simply incredible.
Kaya Yanar is now also taking part in the evening performances in Zurich, as we reported back in January. That alone is an argument for a visit to the Knie. The other jokesters also bring tears of laughter: Omar Matías Álvarez, known as Matute, grew up in the circus in Chile and was already in the limelight at the age of five. He works with sounds, gestures and precise observation of people. With great intuition, he selects his sparring partners from the audience and turns them into stars in the circus ring. And ventriloquist Willer Nocolodi not only lends his voice to his cheeky puppet Joselito, but also lets people from the audience "have their say". Delicious!
The Knie family is fully involved. Eight-year-old Maycol junior greets the audience right at the beginning like an accomplished ringmaster, followed by Ivan Frédéric with his white Arabians and, as already mentioned, the young Chanel with her horses. Three siblings, eighth generation, fully committed. The legend continues.