Circus Lingo

Object Details

Collection Creator: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

See more items in: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival; Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival / Series 2: Circus Arts / Audio

Identifier: CFCH.SFF.2017, Item SFF2017_0629_Circus_Arts_Circus_Science_0002

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.

Collection Rights: Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.

Scope and Contents: Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton (presenter); Karen Bell (presenter); Circus Arts Conservatory (presenter) Did you know that circus performers and crew members have their own way of communicating with each other? From "Aba-daba" (any dessert served in the cookhouse) to "ballyhoo" (the spiel shouted out in front of the sideshow to attract an audience), learn about the language of the circus.

Collection Restrictions: Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.