Photo Essay | Friday, July 25, 2008

Clown Fumamgalli from Italy surveys the audience before the start of the show. The Big Apple Circus is celebrating its 30th season production this year.

WELCOME - Paul Binder &#8216;63 â€“ Founder and Artistic Director â€“ welcomes the audience and introduces the show.

PIAZZA PARTY - The opening act features the entire company and high above an artist on the trapeze.

FOOTLOSE AND FANCY-FREE - The Huesca Brothers from Ireland impress through flips and balance.

WEDDING RINGS - Yelena Larkin from Russia enchants the crowed with an exotic hula-hoop rountine.

HOW MUCH ARE THOSE DOGGIES IN MACY&#8217;S WINDOW? - Irina Markova from Russia, animal trainer since her teens, shows off her troop of amazing poodles.

A STROLL THROUGH THE PARK - One of Irina Markova&#8217;s trained poodles is dressed to impress as she is led around the ring by a cat.

JUMP FOR JOY - The Kovgar Troupe from Russia stun the audiance with their amazing jump-roping skills.

A HANDY PRESENT - Kris Kremo from Switzerland shows off his quick hands as he juggles and balances hats in center ring.

TOP HAT AFFAIR - Kris Kremo whirls top hats through the air, flipping them on and off his head in the blink of an eye.

LET THE PARTY BEGIN - Yasmin Smart from England presents the crowd-pleasing &#8220;Liberty&#8221; act with Arabian horses.

NICE TO MEET YOU - Audiance members get an upclose look at one of Yasmin Smarts trained Arabian horses.

CAN I HAVE THIS DANCE? Yasmin Smart&#8217;s Arabian horses leap to their hind legs with the flip of her wrist.

Grandma - Icon of Big Apple Circus (played by Barry Lubin and Matthew Pauli)

A THRILL A MINUTE - Grandma and replaces Big Apple Circus music condutor Carrie Harvey, enlisting Harvey under her direction.

GALA OPENING - Virgile Peyramaure from France, Andrey Mantchev from Bulgaria, Sarah Schwarz from Germany perform statuesque poses, wowing audience members.

LITTLE BEE, LITTLE BEE give me your honey&#8230;or water. Performers play a practical joke on a fellow member.

WIRED ADVENTURE - Cong Tian from China keeps his balance while swinging on a slack wire.

OVER THE TOP - Cong Tian stuns audience members flipping at high speed around a slack wire.

FIDDLER IN THE TENT - The Kovgar Troupe from Russia impresses with tremendously high jumps.

SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS - A member of the Kovgar Troupe flies through the air, landing on the shoulders of another member on stilts.

VIEW FROM ABOVE - The Kovgar Troupe impresses audience members with a three-person-tall human tower.

FINALE - The Big Apple Circus celebrates its 30th season production. As in past years, Hanover is its final location to perform.