Biographie

While the Bouglione family criss-crossed the world with its circus shows, Joseph, son of Emilien Bouglione (Maître Ecuyer, circus artist, administrator of Cirque d'Hiver SA) and his mother Christiane Bouglione (circus artist, director of Passion Cirque) regularly followed the family circus on tour during their school holidays.

At the age of 12, he was introduced to the various fundamental circus disciplines: juggling, acrobatics, horse riding, and music (piano and trumpet).

He entered the ring for the first time as a crew member, later appearing as an acrobat and presenting a dressage act with trained ponies. He was 16 years old when he created his own tightrope walking act, for which he became well known. He performed the act for the first time the day after his 16th birthday, first on the Bouglione family tours, then around the world, from circuses to touring cabarets, and notably for fifteen years at Circus Roncalli in Germany.

In 1984, he was received by Jack Lang, then Minister of Culture, and was recognised as Best French Circus Artist, receiving the Grand Prix National du Cirque. He participated in the World Circus Festival in Monte Carlo in 1985 and 1996.

In 1999, he took over Bouglione productions at Cirque d'Hiver in Paris with “Salto”, the first show for which he was artistic director. He took the challenge to demonstrate both his artistic creativity and his ability to manage a large team - not only to the public, but also to his peers.

It paid off! What followed were the Piste, Trapèze, and Le Cirque (celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Cirque d’Hiver) shows. In total, he put on around twenty shows at the Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione. These were followed by more than a hundred shows around the world, in China, India, the United States, the Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and beyond.

In 2003, he was named a Chevalier of the Ordre National du Mérite, by the president. And in 2019 he received the Circus Ambassador Prize from the World Circus Federation under the patronage of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.

Today, with his experience, his hyperactivity, and his thirst for creation and originality, Joseph has undoubtedly become a leading artistic director, responsible for staging, lighting and sound production, music and costume design, composition of the orchestra, and recruitment of artists.

France does award these distinctions