Behind the big top: What you don’t see at the Royal Canadian International Circus

Before the spotlight hits the ring, before the audience takes their seats, before a single drum roll sounds — a small city springs to life in the parking lot of CrossIron Mills.

“We closed on Monday in Vancouver, moved over the Coquihalla, and we’re set up and ready to go for a show,” says Joseph Dominic Bauer, longtime ringmaster of the Royal Canadian International Circus. “I don’t know many shows that could ever pull that off… especially the size of it.”

This isn’t your average tent. It holds 2,700 people — and it’s not staked into the ground.

“We can’t drive any stakes in this property,” Bauer explains. “So it has to be all done with concrete blocks; that’s a whole three-quarters of a day of measuring.”

While crowds show up for the spectacle, few get to see the choreography behind the curtain.

“I always said we should show a whole movie from the moment we pull on the lot… what really goes into that first blackout and drum roll,” says Bauer. “Maybe one day we’ll do that.”

As of Friday afternoon, hours before another opening night, the artists have moved in to perfect their moves in the newly built but familiar ring.

“The artists are in training a bit… trying out the riggings, making sure they’re perfectly level,” he says. “Curtains being moved around a little bit.”

The circus is about to roar to life — with aerialists, acrobats, daredevils, and edge-of-your-seat stunts. One of this year’s new acts? Giovanni from Colombia.

“He’s balancing on a cylinder — but then he elevates all the way up to the top of the big top,” Bauer says. “Like a crazy pirate.”

There’s also a brand-new double wheel act, a globe of death packed with four motorcycles (“I say little prayers every time they get in there,” Bauer admits), and a surprise twist inside the globe that’s not to be missed.

“You don’t need to buy a whole seat at the Royal Canadian Circus — because you’re only going to be using the edge,” Bauer grins.

After Calgary, the circus continues its Canadian tour with a stop in Edmonton next, before heading east. It’s a legacy act that’s “older than baseball,” Bauer notes.

“Put the phone down and just enjoy. We’ve got something for everybody.”

The Royal Canadian Circus is at Crossiron Mills until June 1. Tickets at royalcanadiancircus.ca