Difference between revisions of "Equestrian Gymnastics"

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The term [[Equestrian Gymnastics]] ,  has been  used in three ways in South Africa: as the name for an activity or performance form, and as a collective name for a set of circus acts (most often referred to as an [[Equestrian Circus]]), and as the name of a specific circus company.  
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The term '''equestrian gymnastics''' actually refers to a form of sport and/or entertainment, and is also used as the name of a company or an act.  
  
= [[Equestrian Gymnastics]] as a sport =
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== The name for a specific kind of activity==
  
More commonly referred today as '''Equestrian Vaulting'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_vaulting], is a (competitive or non-competitive) activity  often described as "gymnastics and dance on horseback". As a competitive sport it is open to both men and women, and is one of ten equestrian disciplines recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (Fédération Équestre Internationale).
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Broadly speaking, the term [[Equestrian Gymnastics]] can refer to a specialized sport, more commonly referred today as '''Equestrian Vaulting'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_vaulting]; or it can refer to a specific [[Performance|performance]] form, most often referred to as the [[Equestrian Circus]].  
  
= [[Equestrian Gymnastics]] as a [[Performance|performance]] form =
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'''(For this usage, see  [[Equestrian Circus]] and [[Hippodrama]].)'''
  
However, vaulting also has a long history as an [[Equestrian Act]] used in [[Circus|circuses]], hence as a descriptor for a set of such acts, and its origins stretch back at least two-thousand years, with its circus roots most probably lying in the ancient Roman games, where '''acrobats'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrobatics] usually displayed their skills on cantering horses.
 
  
According to ''The Great Soviet Encyclopedia'' (1979), the [[Equestrian Circus]] thus "constitutes the oldest form of circus art, in which most of the acts involve performing horses and displays of horsemanship. The equestrian circus originated in horse festivals, equestrian competitions, and riding schools and was the main type of circus in the 18th and 19th centuries. The traditional circus ring, 13-14 m in diameter, came from the equestrian circus."[http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Equestrian+Circus]
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A number of such presentations were given in Cape Town, especially in the mid-nineteenth century, when they were poipular in Europa, the USA and England. See for example the [[Italian Circus]] of messrs [[Signor Dalle Case]] and [[Signor Severo]], and the visiting circus company specifically referred to as the [[Equestrian Gymnastics]] (see below).
  
Some international examples include ''The Royal Australian Equestrian Circus'' (185), ''Hughes' Great Mammoth Equestrian Circus'',
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== The name of a [[Circus|circus]] troupe/company ==
  
= The [[Hippodrama]] =
 
 
A very specialized 19th century version of this is what is known as the [[Hippodrama]], or "horse drama", is a genre of theatrical show,  in which circus horsemanship displays are combined with with popular melodrama theatre, with texts written specifically for the genre.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippodrama] They were usually performed in specially constructed venues referred to as [[Hippodrome|Hippodromes]].
 
 
= [[Equestrian Gymnastics]], as the name of a [[Circus|circus]] troupe/company =
 
 
 
  
 
In the South African context, [[Equestrian Gymnastics]], first occurs, both as a descriptor for a set of [[Performance|performances]] and as the name of a French [[Circus|circus]] troupe which visited Cape Town in late 1850 (October-December) under the auspices of the governor Sir Harry Smith, and featured [[Hippodrama|Hippodramas]] as part of its repertoire (i.e. shows which featured pantomime-performances and dramatised equestrian displays . In advertisements the presentations were referred to as "[[Equestrian Gymnastics]]". [[Temple Hauptfleisch|Hauptfleisch]] (1997, p. 28)[http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85401]  has pointed out that that some of these performances are clearly related to equestrian style models familiar at the time in England and the United States (e.g. the "military re-enactment" or the "Wild West Show").  
 
In the South African context, [[Equestrian Gymnastics]], first occurs, both as a descriptor for a set of [[Performance|performances]] and as the name of a French [[Circus|circus]] troupe which visited Cape Town in late 1850 (October-December) under the auspices of the governor Sir Harry Smith, and featured [[Hippodrama|Hippodramas]] as part of its repertoire (i.e. shows which featured pantomime-performances and dramatised equestrian displays . In advertisements the presentations were referred to as "[[Equestrian Gymnastics]]". [[Temple Hauptfleisch|Hauptfleisch]] (1997, p. 28)[http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85401]  has pointed out that that some of these performances are clearly related to equestrian style models familiar at the time in England and the United States (e.g. the "military re-enactment" or the "Wild West Show").  
  
Among the acts included in their [[Performance|performances]] were ''[[Admiral Lord Nelson, or The Life of a Sailor]]'', ''[[The Ballad of the Villagers]]'', ''[[The Jolly Miller]]'', ''[[The Golden Dream]]'', ''[[Fra Diovolo, or The Banditti of the Anrouzes]]'', ''[[The Shipwrecked Sailor]]'', ''[[Par a Par, a Gar a Nous, or Harlequin Protected by the Magician]]'', ''[[The Miser, or Happiness found in Gold]]'' and ''[[The Kafir War, or The Burnt Farm]]''.
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Among the acts included in their [[Performance|performances]] were ''[[Admiral Lord Nelson, or The Life of a Sailor]]'', ''[[The Ballad of the Villagers]]'', ''[[The Jolly Miller]]'', ''[[The Golden Dream]]'', ''[[Fra Diovolo, or The Banditti of the Abrouzes]]'', ''[[The Shipwrecked Sailor]]'', ''[[Par a Par, a Gar a Nous, or Harlequin Protected by the Magician]]'', ''[[The Miser, or Happiness found in Gold]]'' and ''[[The Kafir War, or The Burnt Farm]]''.
  
 
[TH, JH]
 
[TH, JH]
  
= Sources =
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== Sources ==
  
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_vaulting
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_vaulting
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http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Equestrian+Circus
 
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Equestrian+Circus
  
[[F.C.L. Bosman]], 1928[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: pp. 439-440.
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[[F.C.L. Bosman]]. 1928. ''Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika'', Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: [[J.H. de Bussy]]. [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/bosm012dram01_01/]: pp. 439-440.
  
[[Temple Hauptfleisch]], 1997[http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85401]: pp. 27-28.
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[[Temple Hauptfleisch]]. 1997. ''Theatre and Society in South Africa: Reflections in a Fractured Mirror''. Pretoria: Van Schaik[http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85401]: pp. 27-28.
  
 
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to the [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
= Return to =
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== Return to ==
  
 
Return to [[The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries]]  
 
Return to [[The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries]]  
  
 
Return to [[South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
 
Return to [[South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
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Latest revision as of 06:00, 28 February 2017

The term equestrian gymnastics actually refers to a form of sport and/or entertainment, and is also used as the name of a company or an act.

The name for a specific kind of activity

Broadly speaking, the term Equestrian Gymnastics can refer to a specialized sport, more commonly referred today as Equestrian Vaulting[1]; or it can refer to a specific performance form, most often referred to as the Equestrian Circus.

(For this usage, see Equestrian Circus and Hippodrama.)


A number of such presentations were given in Cape Town, especially in the mid-nineteenth century, when they were poipular in Europa, the USA and England. See for example the Italian Circus of messrs Signor Dalle Case and Signor Severo, and the visiting circus company specifically referred to as the Equestrian Gymnastics (see below).

The name of a circus troupe/company

In the South African context, Equestrian Gymnastics, first occurs, both as a descriptor for a set of performances and as the name of a French circus troupe which visited Cape Town in late 1850 (October-December) under the auspices of the governor Sir Harry Smith, and featured Hippodramas as part of its repertoire (i.e. shows which featured pantomime-performances and dramatised equestrian displays . In advertisements the presentations were referred to as "Equestrian Gymnastics". Hauptfleisch (1997, p. 28)[2] has pointed out that that some of these performances are clearly related to equestrian style models familiar at the time in England and the United States (e.g. the "military re-enactment" or the "Wild West Show").

Among the acts included in their performances were Admiral Lord Nelson, or The Life of a Sailor, The Ballad of the Villagers, The Jolly Miller, The Golden Dream, Fra Diovolo, or The Banditti of the Abrouzes, The Shipwrecked Sailor, Par a Par, a Gar a Nous, or Harlequin Protected by the Magician, The Miser, or Happiness found in Gold and The Kafir War, or The Burnt Farm.

[TH, JH]

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_vaulting

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Equestrian+Circus

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [3]: pp. 439-440.

Temple Hauptfleisch. 1997. Theatre and Society in South Africa: Reflections in a Fractured Mirror. Pretoria: Van Schaik[4]: pp. 27-28.

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