Behind the spotlight and beyond the applause, another story unfolds — one of ritual, intimacy, and life lived behind the red curtain.
Inside the Hidden World of the Circus In the very heart of Geneva, a circus tent rises, crowned with a sparkling star. Its glow catches my eye in the darkness of the night, instantly awakening my curiosity. Without hesitation, I move toward the entrance, where a long red carpet softens each step leading to the grand hall. The magic works immediately. In just a few seconds, I am transported back to childhood. Those few steps forward carry me years into the past.
The emotions I once felt in my hometown, at the age of five, during my very first encounter with the circus, suddenly return—intact. Impatient in my seat, I hold my breath. The orchestra strikes its first swing notes. Lights illuminate the ring, music rises, and the artists step into the spotlight, carrying us instantly into another time. I am filled with wonder; the emotions of the child I once was resurface without warning.
I am a fulfilled spectator, completely absorbed by the spectacle. But my natural curiosity—and my professional instinct—push me further. Because another show unfolds on the other side of the famous red curtain, the one that separates the artists from the audience. When the performance ends, the child I was gives way to the photographer I have become. I feel an irresistible need to meet the circus director and his entire team. Thirty minutes later, it happens. Introductions are made, permission is granted, and for the next several days, I will not leave their side.
I now stand behind the iconic red curtain, at the heart of the artists’ dressing rooms, where another spectacle reveals itself. They are all there: dancers, acrobats, the clown, the musicians. They come from all over the world, forming a beautiful blend of cultures, ages, and personalities. This great family of the Cirque de Nöel opens itself to me from the very first moments. I observe every detail of this new working environment: costumes, dressing-room light, faces, gestures, silences too. Here, time seems suspended. Nothing is left to chance, yet everything vibrates with life. Behind the red curtain, the circus is not performed: it is lived. This is where my work as a humanist photographer begins.
Mike Sommer is a Switzerland-based humanist photographer whose work explores beauty, emotion, and the unseen worlds behind artistic expression. Shaped by early experiences in music, fashion, and extensive travels across Asia, his photography combines technical precision with a sensitive, compassionate gaze, resulting in images rich in authenticity and emotional depth.
