Highlights:
- Daniel Raffo is a fifth-generation circus performer who began presenting animals by the time he was 13 years-old.
- Daniel began performing as an acrobat, juggler, and a high-wire artist in his family’s circus.
- Daniel trains his four-legged partners for four years before they can join the act. The tigers slowly get acclimated to the upbeat music, the constantly changing lights, and the non-stop action.
Daniel Raffo
Tigers & Exotic Animals Trainer
Returning to amaze Children Of All Ages in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Barnum’s FUNundrum!SM is a Ringling Bros. audience favorite, Daniel Raffo along with his 11 feline cohorts including Siberian, Sumatra, and Bengal tigers.
A fifth-generation performer, Daniel’s deep respect and compassion for the animal kingdom began in his childhood. As a young boy, he tended to the animals living in his family’s safari park in Argentina. And Although Daniel began his career as an acrobat, juggler, and high-wire artist in his family’s circus, by the time he was 13 years-old he was presenting tigers, lions, horses, and elephants.
Daniel later moved to Mexico and spent four years refining his act in a variety of circuses. While presenting elephants with the famous Fuentes Gasca Circus, his intuitive talent and relationship with his fellow animal performers were spotted by the Ringling Bros. talent scouts who promptly invited Daniel to join the 126th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
Daniel’s performance was so mesmerizing that he was asked to return for the 128th Edition, where he displayed an electrifying exhibition with ten of his most colorful Bengal tigers. Daniel was once again invited back for the 138th Edition, OVER THE TOP, along with his wife Andrea, whom he met while performing with Ringling Bros., and their son Davian. To no one’s surprise Daniel wowed audiences yet again with his thrilling act.
“Everything we do together is based on trust, respect and positive reinforcement,” explains Daniel. I understand their feelings and work with those characteristics. The maneuvers the tigers perform are extensions of their natural abilities. Every day I learn something new, every hour, even every second, which is one of the things that I love most about doing what I do,” Daniel explains.
Most of Daniel’s four-legged partners train for four years before joining the act. Once circus rehearsals begin, Daniel gradually acclimates his fellow performers to the upbeat music, the constantly changing lights, and the non-stop action. Both he and the animals he shares the spotlight with obviously love to perform for the audiences. “It is one of the best moments for us. We have the opportunity to show people the beauty of these animals and the wonderful character that they have,” adds Daniel.
With three new additional tigers, audiences can expect a new and exciting act with a mixture of intricate routines. In addition to performing with the tigers for the celebratory Barnum’s FUNundrum!, Daniel along with fellow performers exhibit an ultimate liberty act that includes an elephant, lamas, ponies, and a dog. “I wanted to create an act that people would enjoy and build something that people can laugh and smile at,” Daniel explains.
When asked where Daniel draws his inspiration from, he replied, “My passion is my inspiration. I was born around animals. My father trained animals, it’s in my blood. It’s a pleasure, still after close to 30 years of doing this. I love it. I love to show people how to get along with animals and I strive to be the best that I can”.