Bello Nock
Encyclopedia
Bello Nock usually known simply as "Bello", is a clown
performed by Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock. A performer for three years with the one-ring Big Apple Circus
early in his career, he later joined the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
, where in 2008 he starred in a tour named after him, Bellobration, the first time in the company's 137 years that a clown had been given that honor. As of 2010, he is again performing with the Big Apple Circus. Nock performs without the traditional whiteface clown makeup. His signature appearance is his foot-tall natural red hair, flashy tuxedo
or zoot suit
with bow-tie, white gloves and saddle shoes. He was named by Time as "America's Best Clown."
, Demetrius Nock is a seventh-generation circus performer, an American of Swiss and Italian ancestry. A descendant of the family that founded Switzerland's Circus Nock in the 18th century, Nock began performing at age 3, playing the baby on the burning house in Disney on Parade's "Dumbo's Circus". At 6, Nock played Michael Darling in the touring version of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby. Bello first performed his family's trademark sway pole act at the age of 15. He performed with his family all around the world with the troupe known as the Nerveless Nocks. Bello was the featured artist in Mexico's Circo Atayde before joining New York's Big Apple Circus, where he became the star attraction in 2000. Bello completed three tours with the Big Apple Circus; the last being Bello and Friends. While with the Big Apple Circus, Bello also attended the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
, where he won five awards, including the Silver Clown (presented by Princess Stephanie of Monaco) and the Walt Disney Award for Creative Entertainment. In 2001, Nock joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as their headliner.
Bello completed four tours with Ringling Bros; the last being Bellobration. Nock was the first person in Ringling's 140-year history to have a production named after him. Ringling Bros. producer Kenneth Feld said of Bello: "[He is] unlike anyone in the history of circus, a once in a lifetime performer..." In 2001, Time Magazine included Bello in their list of "America's Best Artists and Entertainers", calling him "America's Best Clown". Nock calls himself a comic daredevil. He is known for his foot-tall, natural red hair and his unique ability to make his audience laugh while performing daring and dangerous stunts. He is an athletic and acrobatic performer. In 2004, the Daily News said that Nock "might be the greatest athlete ever to set foot in the World's Most Famous Arena" (Madison Square Garden).
Nock also designs and build all his own stunts and riggings. In March 2007, The New York Times
presented a two-page, full-color feature on Nock's Double Wheel of Steel
, which was a completely new, one-of-a-kind stunt performed for Ringling's Bellobration.
Bello performed live in approximately 500 shows for 5 million people a year while with Ringling Bros. He performed there for a total of eight years; often with three shows on Saturdays and Sundays; he had no understudy or stunt double. Nock performed everything from his 80 ft. high sway poles, a motorcycle on a high wire, two different giant wheels of steel, motorcycle globe, a comedy high wire, bungee, trampolines, a diving board trampoline, leaps over elephants, quick change magic, and multiple audience participation routines. In addition, Nock performed skywalks over the Reliant Stadium and American Airline Arena as promotional events. Nock also hung on a trapeze under a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty
.
In November of 2008, Bello left Ringling Brothers. He went to Europe to perform for several months and then came home to perform in the aptly titled Bello Comes Home with Circus Sarasota. In the fall of 2009, Nock walked a high wire over the Lincoln Center in New York City to announce his return the Big Apple Circus for their 32nd production, Bello Is Back!
The New York Times review of October 29, 2009 stated that '..."Bello Is Back!" feels so fresh.' and Time Out New York said that Bello's return to the Big Apple Circus "imbues the entire show with humor" and that "the circus feels fresher and funnier than it has in years."
In 2011 Bello performed at the Great Parade in front of the Chabad
world headquarters in the Crown Heights
section of Brooklyn
performing a stunt by jumping off the roof of a four story tall building in front of an audience of over 20,500 people in addition to thousands watching live over the Internet.
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
performed by Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock. A performer for three years with the one-ring Big Apple Circus
Big Apple Circus
The Big Apple Circus is a circus that is based in New York City. Opened in 1977, it has become a tourist attraction as well. It has been highly influential towards the creation of Cirque du Soleil, tent-based circuses and smaller non-profit shows, such as Circus Flora.-The 1970s:The idea of...
early in his career, he later joined the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
, where in 2008 he starred in a tour named after him, Bellobration, the first time in the company's 137 years that a clown had been given that honor. As of 2010, he is again performing with the Big Apple Circus. Nock performs without the traditional whiteface clown makeup. His signature appearance is his foot-tall natural red hair, flashy tuxedo
Tuxedo
A tuxedo is a type of semi-formal dress for men.Tuxedo may also refer to:-Places:Canada* Tuxedo, Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city neighborhood** Tuxedo , a provincial electoral district in Manitoba...
or zoot suit
Zoot suit
A zoot suit is a suit with high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed, pegged trousers, and a long coat with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. This style of clothing was popularized by African Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Italian Americans during the late 1930s and the 1940s...
with bow-tie, white gloves and saddle shoes. He was named by Time as "America's Best Clown."
Biography
Born in Sarasota, FloridaSarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, Demetrius Nock is a seventh-generation circus performer, an American of Swiss and Italian ancestry. A descendant of the family that founded Switzerland's Circus Nock in the 18th century, Nock began performing at age 3, playing the baby on the burning house in Disney on Parade's "Dumbo's Circus". At 6, Nock played Michael Darling in the touring version of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby. Bello first performed his family's trademark sway pole act at the age of 15. He performed with his family all around the world with the troupe known as the Nerveless Nocks. Bello was the featured artist in Mexico's Circo Atayde before joining New York's Big Apple Circus, where he became the star attraction in 2000. Bello completed three tours with the Big Apple Circus; the last being Bello and Friends. While with the Big Apple Circus, Bello also attended the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
The International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, known as Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo in French, is an annual festival held since 1974 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The festival includes the awarding of the Clown d'Or award as well as awards for other circus skills...
, where he won five awards, including the Silver Clown (presented by Princess Stephanie of Monaco) and the Walt Disney Award for Creative Entertainment. In 2001, Nock joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as their headliner.
Bello completed four tours with Ringling Bros; the last being Bellobration. Nock was the first person in Ringling's 140-year history to have a production named after him. Ringling Bros. producer Kenneth Feld said of Bello: "[He is] unlike anyone in the history of circus, a once in a lifetime performer..." In 2001, Time Magazine included Bello in their list of "America's Best Artists and Entertainers", calling him "America's Best Clown". Nock calls himself a comic daredevil. He is known for his foot-tall, natural red hair and his unique ability to make his audience laugh while performing daring and dangerous stunts. He is an athletic and acrobatic performer. In 2004, the Daily News said that Nock "might be the greatest athlete ever to set foot in the World's Most Famous Arena" (Madison Square Garden).
Nock also designs and build all his own stunts and riggings. In March 2007, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
presented a two-page, full-color feature on Nock's Double Wheel of Steel
Wheel of death (Space wheel)
The Wheel of Death, in the context of acrobatic circus arts, is a large rotating apparatus on which performers carry out synchronized acrobatic skills. The "wheel" is actually a large space frame beam with hooped tracks at either end, within which the performers can stand. As the performers run...
, which was a completely new, one-of-a-kind stunt performed for Ringling's Bellobration.
Bello performed live in approximately 500 shows for 5 million people a year while with Ringling Bros. He performed there for a total of eight years; often with three shows on Saturdays and Sundays; he had no understudy or stunt double. Nock performed everything from his 80 ft. high sway poles, a motorcycle on a high wire, two different giant wheels of steel, motorcycle globe, a comedy high wire, bungee, trampolines, a diving board trampoline, leaps over elephants, quick change magic, and multiple audience participation routines. In addition, Nock performed skywalks over the Reliant Stadium and American Airline Arena as promotional events. Nock also hung on a trapeze under a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
.
In November of 2008, Bello left Ringling Brothers. He went to Europe to perform for several months and then came home to perform in the aptly titled Bello Comes Home with Circus Sarasota. In the fall of 2009, Nock walked a high wire over the Lincoln Center in New York City to announce his return the Big Apple Circus for their 32nd production, Bello Is Back!
The New York Times review of October 29, 2009 stated that '..."Bello Is Back!" feels so fresh.' and Time Out New York said that Bello's return to the Big Apple Circus "imbues the entire show with humor" and that "the circus feels fresher and funnier than it has in years."
In 2011 Bello performed at the Great Parade in front of the Chabad
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
world headquarters in the Crown Heights
Crown Heights
Crown Heights can refer to:* Crown Heights, Brooklyn* Crown Heights, New York, a hamlet on the west side of the Town of Poughkeepsie* Crown Heights , a 2004 television film...
section of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
performing a stunt by jumping off the roof of a four story tall building in front of an audience of over 20,500 people in addition to thousands watching live over the Internet.