Louisa Raluy: “The Raluy Circus is like a journey through time”

Expressions like bread and circuses or this has turned into a circus carry a negative connotation to a spectacle that back in the 20s-30s experienced a significant social boom, when people would dress up to see the shows and the circus rivaled in popularity with opera and theater. Far from that derogatory view, the circus is currently enjoying a second golden age thanks to companies like Circo Raluy Legacy, which now in its fifth generation preserves the spirit and essence of that early 20th-century circus, the kind we can now only see in movies like The Greatest Showman.

It was back in the 1930s when Luis Raluy began his career in this small world as a human cannonball and acrobatics expert, working for other companies, until in the mid-1960s he set up his own circus with which he traveled through Asia and Africa, maintaining the hallmark of authenticity, with retro carriages rescued from various parts of the world and restored that have managed to survive to this day. Since then, his descendants have followed in his footsteps, always innovating but always preserving the purity of the original idea. With a big top and all. Measuring 30 meters in diameter and 12 meters in height to be exact. The only major substantial change has been the use of animals, which ceased in 2010.

Thus, after gaining worldwide popular recognition, they would eventually receive institutional acclaim, with awards such as the National Circus Prize or the Creu de Sant Jordi, among other honors. And with that magical formula, they have reached our days, making true the words of Charles Chaplin: 'A day without laughter is a day wasted.' Currently, we can see them at the port of Barcelona, where they have demonstrated achieving the most difficult feat yet. 'And the best, if possible,' they add, with a show called #themagicformula, a performance that combines fun, excitement, and fascination.

To get to know a little better this world of illusion, full of joy and excitement, we spoke with Louisa Raluy, a member of the Raluy dynasty. Granddaughter, daughter, and mother of artists, she feels the circus as her own, as she has spent her entire life in it. She explained this to us before one of the shows that the company offers in the city until March 3rd. So if you haven't seen them in action yet, come in, come in and see...

What is the essence of the Raluy Legacy Circus?

It's a circus that has survived over time. An original circus from the 1920s-1930s. All the carriages are antique from that era and are essentially restored and preserved. Nowadays, it stands out from the rest because modern circuses do not have those features. It's like a journey back in time. It has survived 100 years of history. If a person wanted to see a circus with these characteristics, nowadays they could only see it in movies or books. Circo Raluy offers the chance to see a circus from that time just as it was. As if time had not passed.

What do you think are the commitments and challenges faced by the 5th generation Raluy?

Technically, we have three simultaneous generations in the company: our parents, who are the third, we who are the fourth, and our children who are the fifth. All together, we face quite complicated challenges because we are in an era where everything moves at a dizzying pace. Communication and new technologies are such that it's very difficult to keep people entertained because if it's not with a TV screen, mobile phone, or tablet, they don't concentrate on anything else. The challenge is much more difficult than in the past, when things were more real and more authentic.

Even so, we managed to have a loyal audience of all ages. Mostly adults, because we say it's a show for adults that no child should miss. As such, it's a performance that keeps adults on the edge of their seats for two hours, having a good time and forgetting their problems. And also the children, who are a generation that never stops, but we manage to capture their attention. It's a challenge we've met and we're very satisfied with that.

At what age do your earliest memories of the circus date back to?

Since I was born. We've always been in the circus all our lives. My grandparents, my parents, us, and the children. For me, it's a way of life. I can't conceive a sedentary life or always being in one place. It's like today you wake up in Barcelona, tomorrow in Valencia, another day in Costa Rica... I've always opened the door of my caravan and dawned in different places around the world. That's why, for me, it's an honor, a pleasure, and also to do the work we love, which is performing in front of an audience. It's a life of sacrifice, that's clear. You have to rehearse a lot, but for the five minutes you go out into the ring and they applaud you, the truth is that it's worth it.

What is the reason behind the name of the new show “The Magic Formula”?

It's a tribute to my father (Luis Raluy). He is a mathematician and physicist and has created his own mathematical formulas. People often ask us how we manage to achieve this total balance where everyone, adults and children alike, have a good time, and how we make people feel transported. They ask us what the formula for success is. It also comes from there. The Magic Formula is a title we have chosen by combining various concepts. It is also related to magic shows, illusions, and disappearances, which are part of the show and enhance that overall idea.

From the beginnings of the circus to the present day, is there any show that has endured over time due to its success?

No, that changes. Every two years the show changes and we do a new production that lasts two years and we try to innovate. There are classic performances that we revisit from time to time but in general everything evolves.

How long will you be in Barcelona?

Until March 3rd, we will be at Port Vell, and then we will continue touring Catalonia until next Christmas when we will be in Valencia.