Conceived and founded by Paul Binder to be a leading presenter of live family entertainment and a not-for-profit performing arts institution, our nation-wide performances and community programs have made our 34-year history far-reaching and full.

It all began in Kent, England, in 1974, when American entertainers Paul Binder and Big Apple Circus co-founder Michael Christensen became juggling partners and took to the street corners of Europe.

Their comedic juggling act was a hit, and they soon found themselves on the stage of the presitigous Nouveau Cirque de Paris. They returned home to America in 1976 with a vision: to entertain and improve the lives of millions. One year later, they found a site for the first tent-raising in Battery Park, New York, and went on to create the award-winning, not-for-profit Big Apple Circus.