Circus

A preview of the PBS series, CIRCUS, which follows the Big Apple Circus on their annual year-long town-to-town tour. The preview includes behind-the-scenes footage and commentary from the filmmakers on the making of the series.

The Rodion Trio performs one of the most talked-about acts in the circus: the Russian barre. It's an elegant, classic circus performance that requires much technical skill and involves serious risk.

The circus world is a family affair and kids are as familiar a sight on the lot as trailers and tents. Some of the Big Apple kids (and adults) tell us what it's like to grow up in and around the ring.

Circus Historian and Curator of circopedia.org Dominique Jando has a great appreciation for the circus as an an honest, tangible art form. In this excerpt from an interview shot for the CIRCUS series, he explains that the circus showcases ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Watch a timelapse video of the Big Apple Circus tent going up.

The Big Apple Circus performer Sarah Schwarz doesn't just walk on the wire, she dances. It's an act requiring balance, concentration and grace. Watch Sarah in action and hear her describe what it feels like to perform her tightwire act.

Because of an unexpected change in the Play On! show's program, clown collaborators Barry Lubin and Mark Gindick were charged with developing a replacement act. The comedic duo dreamt up and performed a playful version of Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain" -- a dance sequence with a healthy dose of water spitting.

The Big Apple Circus' trio of clowns, Glen, Mark and Barry, are tasked with creating clown bits to be sprinkled throughout the show. It's a tough process and you're never sure what's funny until the moment of truth — when you're in front of an audience that's either laughing with you or just staring blankly at you.

In this excerpt from episode three, hear Nashville-based band The Features' version of New York, New York which they recorded for the series.

Some people run away with the circus as an escape from their tangled lives. Others yearn for adventure. Members of the Big Apple Circus cast and crew share their reasons for joining the circus life.

The Big Apple's guest director takes his work seriously -- but not himself. He talks about why he loves the circus.

Watch solo trapeze artist Regina Dobrovitskayas' perform her aerial acrobatics.

There are many notions and misperceptions about clowns, when in fact, they are characters with a depth beyond the makeup or wig they put on. Find out how Big Apple clowns Barry, Mark and Glen discovered their inner clown.

Jake and Marty LaSalle are one of the top juggling acts in the world. They talk about the time and dedication it took to develop their skills and what they are really thinking about while performing.

Big Apple Circus electrician Raul Lancheros, affectionately nicknamed "La Luz," used to fly trapeze before a career-ending injury forced him to find other means of work. As a teenager, La Luz ran away to join the circus, and hasn't seen his family since. After years of searching, La Luz finally locates his family and anxiously looks forward to a reunion that's 50 years in the making.

Get to know co-founders Paul Binder and Michael Christensen, as they take you down memory lane to the early days of their partnership, long before the Big Apple Circus ever existed, when they were just a pair of street jugglers.

The company talks about the town of Walden, New York, home base of the Big Apple Circus.

Big Apple co-founder "Mr. Paul" is both the leader of the troupe and one of its most recognizable personalities in the ring.

Circus clown Glen Heroy is starting his first season with the Big Apple Circus. He talks about realizing his dream of performing in the ring and how he tries to project his clown personal while performing.

Watch the puppies run the show in this frantic, hilarious act.