Three generations of Faltyny circus family perform

Three generations of Faltyny circus family perform

Most parents remember the day their child took their first step, said their first word or started their first day of school. 

But for father-of-three Emil Faltyny, 35, a rather different milestone stands out in his mind: the day his daughter Vanessa, then aged one, did the splits for the first time.

'I was trying to do a new trick in my ladder performance,' he explained to FEMAIL. 'My daughter was watching and she tried to do the same as me. She learned it in a week and I took three or four months to do it.'

Any father would have reason to be proud, but it was particularly special for Emil as he comes from a long line of circus performers. The feat of flexibility was the very first hint that his children might one day continue in the family business, w hich started in their homeland of the Czech republic more than a century ago.

Performance ready: The Falyny siblings, Emil, nine, Vanessa, ten, and Adriana, seven

Under the lights: The siblings perform a weekly juggling act using rings and balls

Ambitious: Eldest daughter Vanessa, 10, dreams of following in her mother's footsteps by becoming an aerial performer. For the moment, she practises with low-lever stunts, above

Now Emil is continuing the magic by performing alongside his father, Emil Sr, his son, Emil III, his daughters and wife as a family troupe who are considered 'circus royalty' by those in the know. 

They are currently touring the country with Planet Circus UK, dazzling audiences with their juggling, knife throwing and signature unicycle act, which sees all three generations in the ring together at the same time.

The family are featured in a new Channel 5 documentary Circus Kids, which follows the lives of circus children in the UK. 

Speaking to FEMAIL from Middlesbrough, where the big top is being erected this week, Emil and his children o pened up about what it is like to really raise a family in the circus - and how it is not all the freedom of the big top. 

Three generations: Vanessa with her father Emil Jr, right, and her grandfather Emil Sr, left

School 

'Today we have just one show but already we are back in a routine,' Emil said of their schedule. 'Waking up in the morning doing school, then we are setting up for the show, setting up my equipment... And then maybe an hour practice with the kids and then perform.'

In order to join their parents and grandparents in the circus, Emil's children, Vanessa, 10, Emil, nine, and Adriana, seven, must all continue with school work - their mother home schools them by following the Czech curriculum - and return to Prague twice a year to sit tests that check they are not falling behind their peers. 

Emil said: 'If they don't pass exams then they are not allowed to leave the country to work at the circus. So they have to work really, really hard like four or five hours a day, and then practice, and then obviously three hours for the show. So it's a really long day.'

On the move: The children must cope with constantly travelling and losing touch with friends

Rehearsal 

The 'practice' sessions are led by Emil, his parents, and his wife, Vlasta, who is also from a circus family. While it is important for the children to hone their skills, the practice sessions remain light-hearted and productive.

'With kids it's impossible to practise that much,' Emil said. 'We can see when we are pushing them and we can see when they are not enjoying it, when they are like "Oh, I am tired, I do not want to do it" then we are like "Okay, don't worry, you don't have to do it." Because otherwise they wouldn't enjoy doing what they are doing.' 

Emil and Vlasta are also open to their children pursuing the act of their choosing.  

The younger Emil, for example, has taken to the unicycle, while 10-year-old Vanessa is rather taken with aerial performance - her mother's specialty. Asked whether she ever finds it frightening to be suspended in the air, Vanessa said: 'No, no, I like high.'

Family business: Ten-year-old Vanessa, pictured, is determined to continue in the circus

Missing friends 

While the shortened school days, nightly shows and freedom to travel would no doubt sound exciting to many youngsters, even Emil admits there are downsides to raising your children in the circus, including the impact it has on relationships.

He said: 'The season lasts seven to 10 months and [the children] make friends whenever they come into a new circus to perform in... Whoever is around, who has kids, they make friends. 

Of course they miss them and they would like to spend more time with them but this is the way it is... We try to keep in contact as much as possible but everyone in showbusiness understands its the way it is 

'And after this season we have to say goodbye to each other and maybe see each other again or hoping to see each other in the future. That's why they have loads of friends but not for a long period of time, so they are more or less stuck together.'

It is even challenging to keep in contact with family. In the case of Emil's sister, this is even more difficult as she is married to an Italian clown and so finds herself following his tour dates around the world. 

Emil continued: 'So my parents get to see their grandchildren from my sister only a few times a year. Of course they miss them and they would like to spend more time with them but this is the way it is... We try to keep in contact as much as possi ble but everyone in showbusiness understands its the way it is.'

Spellbinding: The Faltyny children, right, are featured in C5 documentary Circus Kids

The future 

Once the children have completed their 'basic studies' at the age of 15, Emil insists they will be able to choose whatever path they want in life.

He said: 'We are giving them a chance to develop their imagination and their skills, their reflexes and stretch out the body because when you are young it is a lot easier to stretch. If they are older and they decide they want to be a performer they have a big step ahead than starting from scratch. We are used to this style of life. 

'I am the fifth generation from my father's side who has been travelling with the circus so we have it in our blood... And we are enjoying it so far. I hope they will as well. Of course, they can decide whatever they want when they are older.'

For now, the family is focusing on improving their joint unicycle act, and working on new acts for the children to perform together. 

He said: 'All of them perform a juggling act, which we have worked on since the beginning of the year. Now they can pass balls and rings. It is not so hard to learn to juggle but it is hard to learn how to work together... They get together and they practise together and they understand each other.'

Circus Kids airs at 9pm on July 6 on Channel 5

See The Faltyny’s Live at Planet Circus http://planetcircus.uk 

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