{"id":1782006,"date":"2026-02-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1782006"},"modified":"2026-02-20T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:00:00","slug":"inside-the-havana-school-for-cuban-circus-performers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1782006","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Havana School for Cuban Circus Performers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of circus performers, one juggling, in a primary colored Cuban hall\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of Constanze Han, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Inside the Havana School for Cuban Circus Performers<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-20T10:17:02-06:00\">February 20, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2Finside-the-havana-school-for-cuban-circus-performers%2F&amp;title=Inside%20the%20Havana%20School%20for%20Cuban%20Circus%20Performers\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-pinterest has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2Finside-the-havana-school-for-cuban-circus-performers%2F&amp;description=Inside%20the%20Havana%20School%20for%20Cuban%20Circus%20Performers&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F01%2Fhan-8-960x720.jpg\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-P7ty8XIj\" data-rl_title data-rl_caption title><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tPin\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#506f2325323a3533246d193e23393435756260243835756260183126313e317562600333383f3f3c756260363f22756260132532313e756260133922332523756260003522363f223d35222376313d206b323f34296d193e23393435756260243835756260183126313e317562600333383f3f3c756260363f22756260132532313e756260133922332523756260003522363f223d35222375626075156275686075696475626038242420237563117562167562162727277e243839233923333f3c3f2323313c7e333f3d756216626062667562166062756216393e233934357d2438357d383126313e317d2333383f3f3c7d363f227d332532313e7d3339223325237d203522363f223d352223756216\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"468184\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While balancing atop a precarious stack of bolsters and tables, a young juggler sends four bright balls up into the air. A fellow performer stands on the floor nearby, observing the skillful toss against the backdrop of a wall-mounted tent in bright, primary colors.<\/p>\n<p>Veiled in a warm glow, the photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/constanzehan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Constanze Han<\/a> offers a rare glimpse into a practice session at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/escuelanacdecirco\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Escuela Nacional de Circo<\/a>, Havana\u2019s center for circus performance. \u201cFounded after the Cuban Revolution, the school was part of a broader effort to make professional arts education accessible to young people across the island,\u201d Han shares. \u201cWith Soviet support in the late 1970s, it blended technical rigor with Cuban creativity and style, shaping a distinct circus tradition that continues today.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-5.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of two topless performers with glittery blue belts peering around a corner\" class=\"wp-image-468190\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Circuses have an enduring role in Cuban culture, one that began in the 16th century \u201cas a family-run, traveling tradition, especially in the countryside,\u201d the photographer adds. Combined with Soviet styles following the revolution, the circus became a distinctive blend of \u201crumba, Cuban folklore, and Afro-Cuban influences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Han has worked on several projects in Cuba in the past few years, often in collaboration with her friend Karla Batte. While staying in Havana for a residency at <a href=\"https:\/\/impulsemagazine.com\/symposium\/interview-casa-cache\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Casa Cache<\/a>, a connection from an earlier project that centered around the iconic <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/tentativelists\/6743\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tropicana Nightclub<\/a> introduced Han to the school.<\/p>\n<p>During a week-long visit, she created <em>Circus of a Revolution<\/em>, which documents a group of ambitious, dedicated artists and offers a timely glimpse of youth culture in a country that has been experiencing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/global-development\/2026\/jan\/10\/cuba-regime-polycrisis-collapse-exodus-economy-migration-us-sanctions-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a mass exodus<\/a> of its youngest generations. Cuba lost nearly 20 percent of its population between 2022 and 2023 alone, and one in four residents is currently over age 60.<\/p>\n<p>Han notes that amid the country\u2019s dire economic situation, <em>Circus of a Revolution<\/em> provides an alternate look at the people defining its cultural output. Whether a posed portrait or candid snapshot, the photos echo the intimacy and focus of the performers, while capturing the beauty of creative expression and how it flourishes amid enormous difficulties. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-4.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of circus performers in a primary colored Cuban hall\" class=\"wp-image-468189\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cBecause a lot of the equipment is older and manually operated, performers rely heavily on discipline, teamwork, and each other. This creates a strong sense of community, camaraderie, and mutual support within the practice,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>Han\u2019s work has taken her around the world, from Tegucigalpa to Taipei, where she\u2019s photographed often unseen communities and ways of life. Find more on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/constanzehan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-1.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of two dancers wearing green holding a pose\" class=\"wp-image-468186\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-2.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of circus performers in a primary colored Cuban hall\" class=\"wp-image-468187\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-3.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of two circus performers posing for the camera with their legs in the air\" class=\"wp-image-468188\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-6.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of a circus performer in a white and gold gown\" class=\"wp-image-468191\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-7.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of circus performers in a primary colored Cuban hall\" class=\"wp-image-468192\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-468184\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2667\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/han-9.jpg\" alt=\"a photo by Constanze Han of circus performers in a primary colored Cuban hall\" class=\"wp-image-468194\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/02\/aunia-kahn-mixed-media-portraits\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All images courtesy of Constanze Han, shared with permission Inside the Havana School for Cuban Circus Performers February 20, 2026 Photography Grace Ebert Share Pin Email Bookmark While balancing atop a precarious stack of bolsters and tables, a young juggler sends four bright balls up into the air. A fellow performer stands on the floor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1782006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1782006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1782006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1782006\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1782006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1782006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1782006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}