advertisement When it comes to the family business, Harry Dubsky doesn’t clown around — despite coming from a long line of circus entertainers. “I was born into it,” he says. “When kids would want to run away with the circus, I would want to run away from the circus. That’s just a joke, really. I’m seven generations [of circus performers] on my father’s side, five on my mother’s.”Growing up, Dubsky, 48, spent his time taking care of the family pets, which were the leopards and panthers his parents trained. Today, Dubsky works as managing director for Circus America, INC., a company that promotes the Piccadilly Circus show. This fall, Circus America premiered Circus Fusion, which combines the classic look and feel of the American circus found in Piccadilly with the European performance-based styles made popular by Cirque du Soleil. The show features a range of stunts from acrobats launched from a catapult to tricks by the Ukraine Olympic High Bar Team and boasts entertainment from clowns to ballerinas.Animals such as elephants and camels are also a part of the show. Circus goers who arrive early are welcome to attend a petting zoo with elephants, camels and ponies. Before setting up at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds from Friday through Monday, Dubsky spoke with The Gazette about life under the big top.A&E: How long have you been with the company?Dubsky: I’ve been with the company off and on for the last 10 years. I was just brought in just last month because Circus Fusion is on its grand tour. It just opened about three weeks ago and it opened in Greenville, S.C., on the fifth of October. It’s a brand-new, beautiful, tented circus. It’s a European one-ring-style circus 50 meters in diameter with a beautiful seating system where everybody is in the circus in the round. Nobody is, say, more than 50 feet from the action. It’s really up-close and personal you could say, unlike the big arena shows where people are hundreds and hundreds of feet away. A&E: You mentioned you have been with working with circuses since you were a child. How have you seen the face of the industry change?Dubsky: Since the advent of videogames and movies and stuff, it has shrunk quite a bit, but Cirque du Soleil has brought a prominence back to the circus business. It’s similar to the way that in Europe, circuses are viewed [as] not just for the children. In the U.S., they’re viewed more for children. Cirque du Soleil was one of those forerunners that brought it back to the grownups, too, so we’re starting to see a resurgence of circuses of quality such as Circus Fusion. Here you’re in a tent in a nice setting with nice theatrical lighting and basically brought into the new age. So shows like that are starting to pop up again and people are starting to go to them.A&E: How does this show stand out from other circuses?Dubsky: The art of the show itself. To be able to stay multiple days in one location. Circus Fusion is anywhere from three to seven days in a town instead of traveling one-day stands. To have a very nice setup with theatrical type lighting, to sort of make a statement that the circus is here in town this week and stay throughout the week and let the business grow throughout the entire week, to show off our product. It’s all about the art of the circus in Circus Fusion, instead of traveling to the next town and setting up there and selling lots of popcorn and cotton candy. Don’t get me wrong, we sell popcorn and cotton candy, but we do want to show off this show.A&E: What do you mean when you say “nuclear thrills” in the promotional materials?Dubsky: It just means it’s high-powered with different confetti canons and music and lighting. There’s no nuclear products inside the show, of course. It just means it’s high energy and lots of flashes and lights and sparks and spangles, so to speak. A little flashy circus fusion, so it’s blending the arts of traditional circus and nouveau circus, which is how the name “Circus Fusion” came about.A&E: What is nouveau circus?Dubsky: Nouveau circus would be a Cirque du Soleil-type circus and I’m sure you’ve heard of them. They’re primarily acrobats and no animals.A&E: What kinds of animals are featured in this show?Dubsky: Elephants and camels, those are the main animals. Then we have some very interesting motorcycle hi-jinks. There is an unbelievable juggler who is supposed to be outstanding and some superb acrobatics.A&E: How much does it take to move this show around?Dubsky: I believe the show travels on eight semis, that would be the show equipment itself, and a crew of 30 people set it up and tear it down. That doesn’t include the performers or the marketing team that is out in front of the circus doing promotional things.Circus Fusion runs Friday through Monday at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. Tickets range from $28 to $38. For a schedule, call o 888-781-4253 or visit circusfusion.com.