Named after Richard Risley Carlisle (1814-1874), a Risley or the Risley Act is a balancing act which can be classified as based on hands, based on feet or based on 'other' (interesting).
Developed in the United States, this circus acrobalance occurs as the base person is placed on their back while supporting one or multiple flyers with hands, feet or other parts of their body; spinning said person or object with just their feet.
Acrobalance is an art form combining elements of adagio and hand balancing. In adagio the base may move between a variety of positions including lying on the floor, crouching, standing and kneeling. The flier may be balanced on the base's feet, hands, shoulders, knees, thighs, back or combination in a variety of positions and orientations. Horizontal. Vertical. Upside down. Adagio is performed in numerous disciplines such as ballet and pair skating.
Le Professeur Risley et Ses Deux fils Dans le Ballet Aerien
(Professor Risley and his two sons in an aerial ballet. Circa 1844)
The Marvells. Barnum & Bailey Circus. 1903.
Unknown. Juggling Table with Feet
Apolonia "Miss Loni" Van Voorden juggling The Cross
She also appeared in The Greatest Show on Earth movie as herself.
It is one thing to look at still photos and think 'wow, that is cool'. It is another thing to watch The Risley realtime, in person, and be shocked, awed, scared and utterly amazed.
Please enjoy The Martinez Brothers performing their award winning Risley Act at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival in January 2020. We saw them in person. Peaking from between our fingers as we were too terrified to watch. Unbelievable.
