Hanover Christmas Circus

He certainly aims high, and even his carefully calculated descent becomes a highlight. Chinese artist Li Dazhi has taken the ancient tradition of chair-stacking to a whole new—and very high—level. Not only does he manage to meticulously stack up to 10 heavy wooden chairs to a height of up to ten meters, but—no! After each additional chair on his way to circus heaven, he performs handstands of the highest difficulty, juggling while in a headstand, block “drops” performed even with one arm, rotating towers… And thanks to Li’s great skill, everything remains perfectly balanced without a single wobble. Later, hanging upside down, the high-stacker dismantles his work of art layer by layer—Sisyphus would surely have taken great delight in this task. Li Dazhi is a member of the Dezhou Acrobatic Troupe. The Dezhou City Acrobatic Troupe has already won many awards for its high-caliber artistry.

She is the uncrowned queen of club juggling. When Elena Drogaleva strides into the ring alongside her “gentlemen,” there’s no need to ask about self-confidence or poise—Elena is clearly the one calling the shots here! A bit like Marlene Dietrich, the Russian juggling legend embodies the cool, aloof diva, passing the 18 clubs to her three assistants, which she handles with the utmost perfection in an ever-changing array of tricks. Elena and her partners have been honored with, among other awards, the silver medal at the 25th Festival of the Arts in Pyongyang, North Korea; the silver prize at the International Circus Festival in Massy, France; and the Silver Elephant at the 7th International Festival of Circus Arts in Moscow. The artist was born in Moscow and enrolled at the State College of Circus and Variety Arts (the famous “Moscow Circus School”). There, she specialized in juggling and graduated as part of the innovative juggling troupe Carnaval. She later launched her solo career and—together with “Her Gentlemen”—performs to great acclaim all over the world.

The Balkanski family is a household name in Germany, having performed for many years at Circus Krone. Their acts on the swinging board and in the wheel of death enjoyed a worldwide reputation. At the International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo, their swinging board act was awarded the industry’s highest honor, the silver “Clown.” They have long since established their own highly respected circus in their native Bulgaria, where they also train young performers. Among their already celebrated young talents are the three “Skating Balkanski.” Tiziano, Mary, and Nataly Balkanski were awarded silver in the junior category at the Monte Carlo Festival and are set to make Hannover’s audience dizzy with their spectacular, sizzling roller-skating performance.

A wonderful whirlwind, a physical artist, a powerhouse. There are many ways to describe Maria Terenteva. Her routine on the aerial silks has a touch of magic—and certainly a great deal of passion. Always reaching toward the sun: aerial acrobatics certainly helps her get a few meters closer. With her performance “Look at the Sun,” the Russian aerial artist certainly shone brightly when she won gold at the 2025 Circus Festival in the Kazakh capital of Almaty. Incidentally, her sensual dialogue with the elements between heaven and earth came about quite “casually” during a tour. For her experiment during rehearsals, the gifted acrobat incorporated, among other things, the music that can still be heard in this act today. It’s very unique, very folkloric, and guaranteed to give you goosebumps. What’s extremely important to the artist is that with her fiery dance in the air, she not only whirls toward the sun but also strikes a chord deep in the hearts of the audience.

Frédéric René Schulz, also known as “Jidinis,” enchants audiences with his magic troupe—live around the world or on countless international TV shows. The French illusionist is always good for a surprise. Whether it’s a sharp saw coming dangerously close to him or, as if by magic, one beautiful woman after another appearing and disappearing… His career path is also somewhat surprising, since Frédéric actually studied law! However, the world of magic ultimately proved more alluring than legal statutes, so he went on to study at Annie Fratellini’s famous school for performers in Paris and won numerous awards at the renowned Cirque de Demain festival. German television audiences may remember him from his appearance on the show “Stars in der Manege.” It’s not just the award-winning tricks that have to be perfect in Jidini’s Magic. The overall presentation is a matter close to the heart of Frédéric, a fashion enthusiast and perfectionist.

And here’s another one taking to the skies… Thanks to him, the Hannover Christmas Circus is ready for takeoff: Daniel Golla from Kassel has turned his hobby into a career. For over 20 years, this airhead from Hesse has been taking off—with lightning-fast model airplanes, whose show he has been continuously refining ever since. Together with his flight attendant and wife, Anna, he takes the audience on a one-of-a-kind journey around the world. The sleek machines perform loops, dance, and burst with energy like a ballerina. Clapping along and marveling are as natural on these high-flying adventures as tomato juice with Tabasco used to be on the way to Mallorca. By the way, this “Gyro Gearloose of the circus skies” has built many of his buzzing props himself. Above the clouds and in the circus sky, freedom knows no bounds…

Having fun… is as much a part of the circus as the air we breathe. This time, the two cheerful souls from Aga-Boom will be spreading good cheer in Hanover. With their poetic and delightfully naive antics, the American masked clowns Aga-Boom could easily carry an entire show on their own. But they’ve also performed as stars of Cirque du Soleil. Aga-Boom isn’t just the stage name of the duo—Dimitri Bogatirev (Aga) and Iryna Ivanytska (Boom)—but also stands for theater, physical comedy, and the art of the circus. Rooted in a unique European theatrical style and the universal language of clowning, Aga-Boom breaks down language and cultural barriers through the art of slapstick, the humor of physical comedy, and the carefree enthusiasm of childhood. Aga-Boom is an interactive spectacle that transports the audience to the other side of the funhouse mirror with whimsical madness and unbridled laughter. This burst of pure family fun for children and adults alike is bursting with energy. The ensemble includes several comedians, but Aga and Boom will be coming to Hanover in person.

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye and the audience in the palm of his hand… that’s Pepe Jardim. Yet the Brazilian takes his profession very seriously: “I believe being a clown is a noble craft and a responsibility—not only toward young people and children, but also toward the elderly and adults.” He has now perfected this art, and Hanover will love him for it. And he loves the many possibilities that comedy offers him, but above all, he loves the audience. He doesn’t make a big deal out of it—his art of making people laugh gets by largely without words. Yet this cheerful mime turns out to be a skilled juggler of countless little boxes as well as a conductor of the Regensburg carillon. Peterson Luiz “Pepe” Jardim represents the second generation of a family of performers. He attended the Academia Brasileira de Circo before making his debut in the U.S. Tours have taken the multi-award-winning artist throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe.

Last year, a dozen of the gifted acrobats from the renowned Dezhou City Troupe performed at the Hannover Christmas Circus. This time, they’ll be joined by other colleagues. The eight virtuosos will delight audiences at the Christmas Circus with their ingenious umbrella balancing acts and, in a sense, take the lead in the current Grand Prix of the Artists. Umbrellas play a central role in this unique hand-to-hand performance by the exceptional acrobats from the Middle Kingdom. Not only are highly complex lifting and balancing exercises showcased here; the integration of varying numbers of paper umbrellas above the imaginary lotus pond—catapulted into the air in increasingly difficult variations and safely caught again—is simply spectacular, yet so romantic and graceful!

At 29 years old, she has had so many chapters in her multifaceted career that it’s hard to list them all: Angela “Angie” McIlroy-Wagar, who has roots in Canada and Ireland, is a versatile aerial acrobat and variety artist whose unique style on the aerial hoop transcends the boundaries of this art form while simultaneously celebrating classical beauty, impeccable lines, and technical precision. She blends complex aerial acrobatics with great flexibility and kitschy theatricality. As a graduate of the renowned École Nationale de Cirque in Montreal, Angie has wowed audiences in North America, Australia, and Europe and has collaborated with major companies such as Cirque du Soleil. She appears on television and in films not only as an aerialist but also as an actress and stuntwoman. Her award-winning, modern aerial hoop act “Stardust” is a glittering tribute to the iconically extravagant rock stars of the 1970s and ’80s. Let’s rock Hannover!

They’re just real kids at heart—which might explain their stage name… Yo-yo experts Naoto Okada and Shu Takada are truly exceptional talents. The multiple yo-yo world champions have a style all their own: friendly, highly precise, elegant, and understated—whether playing with one or two hands. Naoto and Shu seem to have a magical connection with their yo-yos. Their tricks captivate audiences with precise timing and breakneck speed. Naoto and Shu have known each other since childhood and adolescence. Over the course of their respective careers, they have won an impressive total of eight world championship titles between them. They have also been honored with prestigious awards: Naoto at the “Newcomer Show” and Shu at “Young Stage.” In 2022, they achieved success as Toy Toy Toy. With their innovative performance, they won the silver medal at the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in 2025.   They are also among the few yo-yo artists worldwide who have mastered the complex diabolo-yo-yo technique. They perform with classic yo-yos, yo-yos connected by loose strings, and even yo-yos on extra-long strings. Good luck!

She is this year’s Voice of Weihnachtscircus: Sarah Laminger, a native of Austria, studied acting and singing at the Vienna Conservatory and at the renowned William Esper Studio in New York. Since successfully completing both programs, she has been performing on stages across Europe for many years. Sarah works as a singer and actress on theater stages—but she is also a highly sought-after artist as a vocalist in the pop, rock, and jazz genres. In addition to her solo project, she sings in many different groups, ranging from gala bands and party bands to a jazz trio and an a cappella ensemble. As a singer-songwriter, Sarah also writes her own music and released her debut album, “My Own Kind of Beautiful,” in 2021. At the Christmas Circus in Hanover, she will not only sing live but also serve as the emcee for the various artistic performances.

Da capo for this dance extravaganza! For the second time, the sextet will get the Christmas Circus up and running. Whether it’s rumba, salsa, or cha-cha-cha, this half-dozen has music in their blood—and in their legs. Amid breathtaking acrobatic feats between heaven and earth, the six dancers from South America invite you to enjoy spirited formation dancing in all its facets. In ever-changing, magnificent costumes, they celebrate the fine art of expressive dance steps with the finest sense of rhythm and superb body control. If this rhythm makes you want to join in from the audience: Tapping your feet is allowed! – This dance tableau, quite unusual for a circus show, was once again created by Zaida Liazeed, a former performer based in the region. She has already provided the Hannover Christmas Circus with several program highlights.