Orlando Delman – Prime example of the great circus tradition of Mexico
By David Triana
The circus has a great history in Mexican culture and dates back to pre-Hispanic times, people admired exhibitions or rituals where human skill and agility were admired.
On January 4, 1809, the modern circus was born in Mexico City, 40 years after its beginning in England and 16 years after it began in the United States. Philip Lailson was the first to bring to Mexico his “Royal Riding Circus” with equestrian exercises similar to those performed in Europe.
In 1831, Mexico received the second foreign equestrian circus, under the direction of Charles G. Green. This circus stayed in Mexico for a season and performed in the Alameda bullring.
The circus was established as one of the most popular entertainments in the 19th century and in 1841 the first Mexican circus show was born, “The Olympic Circus” by José Soledad Aycardo, which lasted 25 years on stage. However, the European circus was the most attractive. One of the most emblematic American circus companies was the Beas Circus. This transported 300 artists by rail through our country, thanks to Pancho Villa’s gift to the owner of the circus in 1915, since the circus offered free entertainment to the revolutionaries.
One of these Mexican circuses is the Circo Delman, founded in 1984 in Mexico City by Mr. Oney del Manzano and Mrs. Aida Vázquez along with their 4 children, Lorena, Jorge, Roberto and Alberto.
The mission of the Delman Circus is to bring joy, magic and fun to all children and adults around the world. Performed throughout Mexico, Central and South America and tours more than 50 cities in the United States. The circus remains for several months in Houston, Texas, where they have a loyal and constant audience and in recent years, they have visited our Northwest Florida region including this past March 8 to 18.
The Mexican acrobat, tightrope walker and musician Orlando del Manzano Arguello, better known as the clown Orlando Delman, is a key part of the Circus, and is the grandson of its founders.
Orlando’s preparation began when he was a child, but he decided to work in other circuses such as Atayde, which was founded in 1888 and recognized worldwide. Also, he worked in the Hermanos Vázquez and Unión circuses, among others, in order to gain experience as an acrobat and juggler, while studying music, English, and creating fun routines with his clown character.
Orlando has lived in the United States since he was 18 years old and at present, he has the great responsibility of the main show being in charge of him. He decided to innovate the family company with balance and acrobatic performances in the acts of “Elastic Bed” and “Height Pendulum” and mainly, one of the most complicated disciplines in the circus world, as a musical clown.
“He played almost all the instruments, I tell jokes, I do a routine as a clown and I am also an acrobat and juggler, I am a different clown than usual, a clown who has fun at heights.”
Critics specialized in the United States named Circo Delmán as one of the most important.
“I am the third generation of clowns in my family, there is no one who does juggling acts like me, at heights, who speaks English because it is also a bilingual circus, the idea is that all types of audiences come, so we implemented that Outside of two languages, a universal circus, that opened more doors for us. My goal is to leave the name of my family and my country very high.”
Orlando points out that with the return of activities and the new normal, after the pandemic, his work has benefited more, his family’s business, Circus Delmán is sold out five times a week, both Hispanic and North American children They leave happy, they always look for a way to hug or take a photo with the cast, their astonishment can be seen on their faces in each of the acrobatic acts, which they enjoy the most.
The Delman circus, Orlando and all the cast and workers, are a great example of the great Mexican circus tradition and have managed to conquer the Anglo-Saxon market in the United States! Don’t miss it the next time you visit our region!
