Christian Storm/Business Insider We met with the star performers of the Big Apple Circus to gain insights behind the curtain.
But for the performers - the ones who wow us with their daring feats and make us laugh with their slapstick humor - the circus is more than just a fleeting spectacle to see once a year. For them, the circus is a family, a career, and a way of life.
In mid-January, one of the most acclaimed circuses on earth, the $4, took down its tents at Manhattan's Lincoln Center, ending $4 run of shows. Before they headed off to do it all again in Bridgewater, New Jersey, we met with a few of the star performers to see what circus life is like behind the big top.