Hovey Burgess

Since 1966, every student to study at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Acting program has studied circus techniques with Hovey Burgess.  He also taught in the Drama Division of The Juilliard School (1968-1972).  Hovey created, directed and performed with the Circo Dell'Arte (1969-1970), which included Cecil MacKinnon, Larry Pisoni, Judy Finelli, and Jim Jansen.  He taught at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College (1973-1975, 1995), and at the Ultimate Clown School (since 1999) with Dick Monday, Tiffany Riley, Larry Pisoni, and Mark Renfro.  His instructional book Circus Techniques (1976) is still in print.  Hovey choreographed and appeared in the motion picture Popeye (1980), starring Robin Williams, one of his former Juilliard students.  He is the recipient of the Red Skelton Award Gifted Mentor to Clown Theatre Artists (1991), the International Jugglers Association's Excellence in Education award (1997), and the Downtown Clown Golden Nose - Lifetime Achievement award (2009).  While Hovey is in high demand with many circuses around the world, his most enduring relationship continues with Circus Flora (since 1991).