PERFORMANCE RIDING

Astley's Amphitheatre

Philip Astley stages the first modern circus on the 9^th January 1768 in London, England. The word "circus" acquired a new sense in the late 18th century, as a circular arena for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances. Several aspects of the modern circus tradition can be traced back to shows created by British equestrian Philip Astley, whose troupe brought trick horse-riding into a ring, though Astley referred to it as the Circle. Astley's first performance is said to have been held on 9^th January 1768. Later, to suit equestrian acts moving from one circus to another, the diameter of the circus ring was set at 42 ft (13 m), which is the size of ring needed for horses to circle comfortably at full gallop. When Astley added tumblers, tightrope-walkers, jugglers, performing dogs, and a clown to fill time between his own demonstrations, he created the first modern circus. Astley never called his performances a 'circus'; that title was thought up by Charles Dibdin, who in partnership with Astley's rival Charles Hughes, opened the Royal Circus on 4 November 1782, a short distance from Astley’s Amphitheatre of Equestrian Arts' in Lambeth, London.

Another circus of sorts occurred on the 9^th January 2007 when the original iPhone (iPhone 1 or iPhone 2G) a smartphone designed and marketed by Apple Inc. was announced. It is the first generation of iPhone.