Sara Houcke, born in 1977 and the daughter of Sacha Houcke,


has carved her own remarkable path in the circus world as a celebrated animal tamer, often referred to as “The Tiger Whisperer.” Raised in a family with a deep circus heritage, Sara began her career at a young age, performing as a child clown and later as a gymnastics performer. Her professional journey began in Germany, where she initially worked with animals before joining the Ringling Bros. and  herself as a talented zebra and tiger trainer, earning recognition for her gentle and innovative approach with the animals, which contrasted with traditional methods. Sara’s unique training techniques, characterized by positive reinforcement and quiet commands, earned her widespread acclaim and media attention. Her work with tigers, featuring hand-feeding and non-traditional performance elements, elevated her to top billing at Ringling Bros., a status not seen since the days of Gunther Gebel-Williams. The impact of her work was also recognized through the naming of an elephant, born in April 2002, after her at the Ringling Bros. Center for Elephant Conservation. After leaving Ringling Bros., Sara continued her career with the Grand Cirque de Saint Petersburg, where she has been a key performer and caretaker of the circus’s animal menagerie. Together, Sacha and Sara Houcke represent a remarkable legacy


in the circus world, combining traditional circus skills with innovative approaches to animal training. The Houcke family’s enduring impact on circus performance and animal care continues to be celebrated  8. THE ENIS TOGNI FAMILY represents six generations of Italy’s   for horses, the Enis Togni Family has enthralled throngs of circusgoers throughout Europe, Great Britain, and the United States. Their unique “Togni style” showmanship and exemplary productions have set the highest performance standards for more than 70 years.  family’s “American Circus” performers headlined by Flavio Togni who presented horses, elephants, and a baby rhinoceros. The Enis  Togni Family believes that honors bestowed on any member of the


 including aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. 9. MOIRA ORFEI   hailed from Italy’s most famous circus family and could rival any Italian music or movie legend in fame. She was the only circus owner


who successfully used posters featuring only her headshot and  widespread popularity and the high quality of her circus. In 1969, Moira and Walter launched Circo sul Ghiaccio (“Circus on Ice”), an elaborate show featuring both a circus ring and a skating rink, with intricate set changes and an international cast of stars.


Moira’s legendary elephant presentations and Walter’s expertise as a  expanded their productions in the 1980s, securing exclusive rights to Italian tours of the Moscow Circus and Holiday on Ice. Their shows made Moira immensely popular across Mediterranean countries. Moira remained a beloved cultural icon, appearing in TV shows


and even inspiring a novel. She passed away in her sleep on November  


attended by thousands and marked by a hearse drawn by white Lipizzaners.


10. MR. HENK van der MEIJDEN, born in The Hague, the Netherlands, 


role as president of Stardust Circus International. Van der Meijden 


State Circus with star clown Oleg Popov at the Ahoy-Hall in Rotterdam. This debut marked the beginning of numerous successful circus productions throughout the Netherlands and Europe,  industry. Van der Meijden’s notable achievements include founding and sustaining the Wereldkerstcircus at the Royal Theatre Carré in  venues for circus artists worldwide. Additionally, he established the Weltweihnachtscircus in Stuttgart in 1993, now recognized as the largest Christmas circus in Germany. His collaborations with the Great Chinese State Circus and various other international productions have introduced high-quality circus performances to millions of Europeans, elevating the art form to be on par with other performing arts like ballet and theatre. Henk van der Meijden’s extensive list of honors includes the


2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Musical Awards Gala in the Netherlands, the 2014 Oscar Carré Trophy, and the 2022 Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. 11. FRANCO DRAGONE,  Italy, was an iconic theatre director known for his innovative  turn in the 1980s when he moved to Montreal, Canada, where he began a transformative collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, a then-nascent  directed many of Cirque du Soleil’s most acclaimed productions, including “Nouvelle Expérience,” “Saltimbanco,” and “Mystère.” His unique blend of theatre, dance, and circus arts, combined with his visionary use of aquatic stages, revolutionized the world of contemporary circus and brought Cirque du Soleil international   In 2000, Dragone parted ways with Cirque du Soleil to establish


his own company, the Franco Dragone Entertainment Group, later known simply as Dragone. Based in La Louvière, the company quickly became renowned for its large-scale, imaginative productions. One of Dragone’s most notable projects was “A New Day…,” a Las Vegas residency show featuring Céline Dion, which became the  included “Le Rêve” at Wynn Las Vegas and “The House of Dancing Water” in Macau, which showcased Dragone’s signature aquatic  theatre experiences. Throughout his illustrious career, Franco Dragone’s contributions


to the arts were widely recognized. He received numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Antwerp in 2012 for his innovative approach to theatre. His legacy endures through the breathtaking spectacles he created and the millions of people worldwide who were captivated by his visionary artistry. Dragone passed away on September 30, 2022, in Cairo, Egypt, leaving behind a transformative legacy in the world of live entertainment.


Editor’s Note: Winners were announced as ShowTime was going


to press. Top 3 are: Elvin Bale, The Vazquez Family, and Franco Dragone. Complete list of winners available in the News section of oaba.org


O OABA ShowTime Magazine • JUNE 2024 19 ABA ShowTime Magazine • OCTOBER 2024


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