Living every day in the same house in the same suburb is ‘just boring’ for 16-year-old trapeze artist Tahlia Weber who has experienced the circus lifestyle her whole life.
A seventh generation circus performer, Tahlia travels for about 11 months of the year, moving every two to three weeks with her entire family who are part owners in The Great Moscow Circus.
“My dad used to do the Wheel of Death and my mum used to be an aerialist like me but they are both retired in the show now,” she said.
“My four-year-old brother Cruz is in the show and has been obsessed with motorbikes from the moment he could talk and my sister Tianni does the silks act.”
Tahlia joins the team of talented performers who are currently travelling the country as part of the 2017 to 2020 Australian tour.
The show features artists and performers from all around the world including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Colombia, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and New Zealand, as well as France where trial rider Loic Spencley originally resides.
Mr Spencley has been riding for the past 24 years, starting off on a small motorbike when he was just two years old.
“Back home I used to compete in a lot of trial competitions but here with the circus we mix freestyle and trial bike riding, which is pretty exciting,” he said.
“The act lasts about five to six minutes and although it seems like a short time, when you are by yourself in the ring there is a lot of pressure on you.”
Mr Spencley described the circus environment as one big family as the group stays together 24 hours a day, seven days a week staying close to each site at every performance around the country.
The Great Moscow Circus first visited Australia in 1965 and has returned every three to five years.
The circus will be showing in Armadale on the corner of Armadale and Abbey roads from October 25 to November 4.
