Photo Essays :: Stories: Behind the Curtain

Zoppé, an Italian Family Circus, has been entertaining crowds around the world since 1842.  

Unlike most contemporary circuses which feature unrelated individual acts, performances of the Zoppé Family Circus tell a story, starring Nino the Clown and Tosca, the equestrian ballerina. Nino and Tosca's tale includes acrobatics, juggling, dogs, horses, audience participation, and even more clowns. With a cast that changes from city to city, the Zoppé troupe focuses on emotional connections with the audience and works to preserve the dying art of family circus. As Nino Zoppé explains, “To me, the word circus means family."