Circo dos Sonhos: Between Magic and Reality Under the Big Top
Stepping into Circo dos Sonhos, I feel like I’ve entered another world. The scent of popcorn lingers, the towering tent glows under the lights, and behind the curtain, performers prepare for a night of magic. But beyond the wonder of the show lies a different reality—one of relentless training, constant travel, and financial uncertainty. Life in the circus is a delicate balance between passion and survival, creativity and struggle. Through this series of photographs, I want to reveal both sides of this world—the breathtaking artistry and the quiet, unseen moments of dedication. Because in the end, the circus is more than a performance. It’s a way of life, a testament to resilience, and proof that dreams, no matter how challenging, are always worth chasing.
Stepping into Circo dos Sonhos in Brasilia, I feel like I’ve entered another world. The scent of popcorn lingers in the air, the massive red-and-yellow tent stretches toward the sky, and somewhere behind the curtain, performers are getting ready. This is where magic happens, where the impossible becomes real—if only for a night.
But what if this weren’t just a visit? What if this were my life? I imagine waking up as one of them—a circus artist, living and breathing the rhythm of the show. Mornings begin with rehearsals under the big top. Acrobats twist and flip through the air, trusting each other completely. Clowns fine-tune their routines, tweaking their timing until the laughter comes naturally. Musicians tune their instruments, setting the heartbeat of the performance. The sense of community is everything. In the circus, you don’t just work together—you live together, eat together, dream together. Every day is about pushing limits, perfecting skills, and trusting the person beside you. It’s exhausting, exhilarating, and deeply rewarding.
As a storyteller with a camera, I see more than the performance. I see the quiet moments backstage—the tightrope walker stretching before a big act, the clown adjusting their face paint in the mirror, the magician whispering last-minute encouragement to an assistant. These moments hold the same magic as the show itself.
But behind the wonder, there’s another story. The life of a circus performer is filled with uncertainty. The circus is an entire world on wheels, moving from city to city, setting up and tearing down, chasing the next audience. In Brazil, the exact number of circuses is hard to track, but many struggle to survive. Funding is scarce, and big cities are harder to reach. Fewer young people see the circus as a viable future. Salaries vary wildly. In countries like the U.S., a trapeze artist might earn $39,000 a year, but here in Brazil, it’s often much less. There are no guarantees—no safety net beyond the one they use in practice. Injuries happen, and access to healthcare isn’t always easy when you’re constantly on the move.
And yet, they stay. Not for money or stability, but for the art, the passion, the love of performance. Living as an artist is always a balance between imagination and reality. The circus is about wonder, but the business of running a circus is relentless—tickets to sell, tents to maintain, costumes to repair. Many performers take on extra jobs, handling logistics or managing promotions, stretching their creativity between survival and performance.
And still, when the lights dim and the crowd hushes, when the music swells and the show begins, it all becomes worth it. Through this series of photographs, I want you to see both sides of Circo dos Sonhos—the breathtaking artistry and the hard work behind it. The soaring dreams and the daily grind. The people who bring magic to life, even when the odds are stacked against them. Because in the end, the circus is more than a performance. It’s a way of life, a testament to passion, resilience, and the belief that dreams—no matter how difficult—are always worth chasing.
