GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Vita, an animal rights protection group in Russia, is putting the spotlight on Katya, a longtime star of the Big St Petersburg State Circus who is now being poorly treated in her retirement, according to an AP report that is being widely picked up by US media. The 36-year-old bear, who was cheered as she rode a bicycle around a ring during the 1980 Moscow Olympics, has reportedly not left the cage in her old touring bus for the past two years, and she “spends the long hours jumping up and down in her cage and trying to crack the rusty metal railings with her chipped and yellowed teeth”
Bears used in Russian circuses regularly make the news, sometimes for mistreatment, sometimes when things go wrong as in the 2009 incident where a bear on ice skates killed a circus manager, or when nature takes over, as in December 2010 when four bears on a circus tour went into hibernation.
This Friday the Bastions Park free circus performances come to an end.
The Spanish troupe Mumusic promises a fun-filled evening. The program is part of a year-long celebration of circus.
Last week, a Chilean wire-walker crossed without a net the rotunda at University Hospital in Geneva. Gonzalo Concha was 30 metres above ground! (see the video here).
Do not forget to dress warm and bring a blanket or a cushion to this outdoor performance.
Read all about the Year of the Circus in Geneva Living.
Location: Parc des Bastions, Geneva
Link out: http://www.mondeducirque.ch/fr/Mumusic_Circus.html
Date: 8 Oct 2010
Title: Children activities: Nock circus
Location: Nyon, Vaud
Link out: Click here
Description: For information on the circus call: +41 79 647 8280.
Start Date: 2010-05-15
End Date: 2010-05-17
Title: The Beijing circus stars: Li Ya the daughter of the emperor
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: A mise-en-scene with 50 artists, hundreds of costumes, and laser lights.
Date: 2010-02-19
The state of the AI en route to the mountains, glorious Jura snow
Weekend walk and circus special in Nyon, Swiss skiers and boarders
Jura (Crozet) Wednesday 20 January (image: S Curran)
Crozet with blue skies - Geneva in the fog below
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - It’s January, so expect a mix of Spring moments and sudden snow showers on the lakefront but pure winter goodness in the mountains this weekend.
Wednesday it snowed in Nyon and along the lakefront, throughout the week the Jura has thrived, as large amounts of the white stuff came down, and the Alps have had sunshine again after gloomy spells.
The road out of town
If you’re heading out of the Geneva area to the Swiss Alps be aware that this is the first weekend when the new A1 autoroute signaling system is open, adding a third lane in each direction between Morges and Lausanne. The system is very easy to follow and there have been no accidents since it was put in place Monday, but you do need to drive attentively, with other drivers sometimes surprised to find the system there. It operates only in the afternoons, until Monday 25 January when it goes into use full-time.
Weather forecast
Title: Christmas Circus
Location: Place Colonel Andéoud, Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: The traditional Christmas Circus for children of all ages. Spectacle at 15:00 Wednesdays and Saturdays, incudes dinner other days at 19:30. Check site for details and availability
Start Date: 2009-11-24
Start Time: 19:30
End Date: 2010-01-03
A group of llamas and goats from an Australian circus that were stolen from the pound where police put them has been the big news story in Ireland Friday and Saturday 2-3 October, although more than 50 percent of eligible voters did turn their attention to the referendum on the European Union long enough to vote. The votes are being counted at Dublin Castle Saturday morning with 516 accredited media organizations from around the world in attendance. Ireland is the only country to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Meanwhile, unaware perhaps of the key vote, a group of three goats and five llamas “ran wild” on the M50 motorway near Dublin Thursday noon after their gate at the Australian Circus Sydney, staying at Tallaght, was left open. Police took in the errant animals and put them in a pound, demanding €5,500 for their return. During the night hard-working thieves took the animals, reports the Irish Times: “The thieves traversed eight fields, opened up ditches and travelled two kilometres on foot to the shed where the animals were being kept.” The owner, who says he did not know where the animals were being kept by police, suspects animal rights activists. He says the tamed animals are worth at least €2,000 each, but are useless except to circuses.
Links to other sites: Irish votes live on Irish Times
Title: Helvetia circus in Vaud
Location: Various locations in Vaud for fun for children and adults.
Link out: Click here
Description: Clowns, jugglers and more from one of the most popular Swiss circus.
Start Date: 25 Aug 2009
End Date: 13 Sep 2009
Title: Knie, the Swiss National Circus
Location: Canton Geneva and Canton Vaud
Link out: Click here
Description: The Swiss National Circus, Knie will be bringing its new show to Geneva and Vaud.
Start Date: 28 Aug 2009
End Date: 18 Oct 2009
Title: Circus Starlight
Location: Vaud and Valais
Link out: Click here
Description: An international circus with performers from Switzerland, Canada, France, China and Mongolia.
Start Date: 24 Apr 2009
End Date: 30 May 2009
Title: Circus Starlight
Location: Geneva, Vaud, Valais, neighbouring France
Link out: Click here
Description: An international circus with performers from Switzerland, Canada, France, China and Mongolia.
Performances in the Lake Geneva area until 8 April.
Start Date: 07 Mar 2009
End Date: 08 Apr 2009
Title: Circus Phoenix using 3D and the arts, Geneva
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: Circus arts meet 3D a show like few for one night only in Geneva.
Date: 10 Feb 2009
Title: China national circus
Location: Evian, France
Link out: Click here
Description: Two days only.
Start Date: 16 Dec 2008
End Date: 17 Dec 2008
Title: Christmas circus
Location: Geneva
Link out: Click here
Description: At Plainpalais in Geneva.
Start Date: 22 Nov 2008
End Date: 04 Jan 2009
