Balancing act: The Cycle Circus from Vietnamese circus artists received great applause from audiences at the recent Circus Gala 2012 in HCM City. —VNP/VNS Photo

HA NOI (VNS)— Ha Noi's Central Circus will play host to a number of high jinks over the next week as the International Circus Festival 2012 kicks off today.

Co-organised by the culture ministry's Arts Performing Department and Viet Nam Stage Artists' Association, Viet Nam's fourth turn hosting the event is expected to be the biggest ever, featuring 185 circus artists from around the world.

Five circus troupes from Viet Nam will compete with their counterparts from Cambodia, Cuba, France, Greece, Hungary, Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, and the US.

The Viet Nam Circus Federation, and circus troupes from Ha Noi, HCM City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and the Viet Nam Circus Arts and Vaudeville Secondary School will showcase 15 performances, while their 10 international rivals will perform 18 in total, said Vu Ngoan Hop, head of the Viet Nam Circus Federation National Circus at a press conference on Tuesday.

Hop revealed the organising board expects to see novel, experimental and highly creative performances.

He said: "We hope that each festival offers Vietnamese circus artists the chance to learn from international artists. Also, we hope to introduce our typical and traditional circus arts to a wider audience."

"Furthermore, we expect international artists and audience will take a fair and respectful view of our circus, giving Vietnamese artists the confidence to perform.

"We have made certain achievements at international circus festivals. Nevertheless, we are short of finance and proper promotion strategies, which hamper us in making the art more popular than rival attractions."

"Most of our circus artists are young and talented so we feel quite confident ahead of this event," said a representative from the HCM City Circus Troupe, whose 24 artists will perform four shows.

Performances at the festival will include Russia's Juggler, Ukraine's Hulahoops, Cuba's Hand to hand, the US's Balance, Greek Rope skill, and Viet Nam's Motorcyle Acrobatics, Magic, and Dog Show.

Due to conclude on November 21, the organising board will present gold and silver medals, plus grand prizes to outstanding individuals and troupes.

The country previously hosted the 1997, 2004 and 2010 festivals. — VNS