Circus Sampler ran across two summer weekends of free, original contemporary circus, hip hop dance and music performances in the fountain courtyard at London’s Somerset House.  

Alongside participatory activities, there was large-scale work from 65 artists including hoola hooping acrobats, explosive hip hop dancers and incredible jugglers accompanied by live music.

We featured a premiere of Union Black from award-winning hip hop collective Far From The Norm, alongside twelve times Guinness World Record holder Marawa the Amazing and the Majorettes and the outstanding Gandini Juggling performing a brand new work, Cascade, within the 55 water jets of the courtyard fountain to the sound of live brass music from Circa Tsuïca.

Complementing the action outside, the East Wing Galleries hosts Circus Originals; short films, an exhibition and a new installation, Remember This!, from Rose English. All this to celebrate 250 years since Philip and Patty Astley pioneered circus in London.