Clown Wisdom: What Elders Teach Us That You Can’t Find Online
- Dan Rudolph
- Jun 13
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 14
Written by Dan Rudolph
In a time of rapid technological acceleration and cultural fragmentation, one of the most vital and most endangered human practices is the transmission of knowledge between generations.
Futurist Zak Stein warns that the collapse of intergenerational transmission is an existential threat, which is being exacerbated by the rise of learning that is happening with AI instead of humans. When we trade deep growth for fast data, we risk losing our moral and cultural compass.
Clowning is a practice that is alive and well, thriving in some places, and uniquely rooted in lineage, where learning from elders is not just valued, but essential to passing on the spirit, wisdom and history of the art form.
Clowning: A Living Lineage of Wisdom
One of the things that struck me almost immediately in my clowning journey was the respect for Clown elders and lineage.
One of my first in-person clown workshops was with Avner “the Eccentric” Eisenberg at the Celebration Barn. We were a small group, about 12 participants. Over breaks, conversation at meals, and other informal spaces I admired the mutual connections that people meeting for the first time shared. The shared respect for teachers. Different teachers that various people studied with and/or revered. I felt a living sense of history, community, and deep respect for teachers and teachings.
Avner himself is an elder in the movement hailed as one of the greatest clowns of all time. Through his teaching he was not only transmitting his incredible skill and experience, but also something deeper: his presence, his humanity, and his wisdom.
Clowning, like many arts, is a lineage practice where intergenerational transmission is central. In many clown traditions—whether theatrical, ritual, or humanitarian—there’s a clear and sacred structure of elders, mentors, and initiates. This art form doesn’t just teach technique; it transmits spirit, a nuanced way of seeing, being, relating, and healing in the world.
Clowning is one of the few remaining disciplines where apprenticeship is still alive, and where learning is rooted in relationship and history.
Honoring Clown Elders
Our online conference, CLOWNVERGENCE 2025, was partly envisioned as a space to center and presence the voices of clown elders, these are artists who’ve spent decades devoted to this path, and who carry living lineages within them.
Below are a few videos featuring some of the elders in the movement. Obviously there are many more that are not mentioned here, feel free to shout out elders that have inspired you on your Clown journey in the comments!
Hilary Chaplain is a renowned physical comedienne and clown performer celebrated for her inventive solo and ensemble works that blend clowning, movement, puppetry, and physical theatre. She has toured internationally with her award-winning solo show A Life in Her Day, directed by Avner Eisenberg, and has performed in variety shows worldwide.
Jef Johnson is a visionary clown, theatrical philosopher, director, and educator known internationally for his pioneering work on clown presence and poetic logic, whose influence spans from performing with Cirque du Soleil and Slava’s Snowshow to founding Jef Johnson’s Clown Lab and inspiring countless artists through his workshops, writings, and the transformative practice of the state of clown.
Angela de Castro is one of the most loved women clowns and is founding director of the Why Not Institute, teaching signature workshops such as ‘How To Be a Stupid’. She is a leading theatre practitioner, actor, teacher, director and speaker. Her performances and methodology have been well recognised in the UK and abroad, awarding her, among a few, a Lawrence Olivier Award (UK), the Golden Nose Award (Spain), the Nesta Dreamtime Fellowship, an Arts Foundation Fellowship and an International Fellowship by Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for her contribution on the art of clowning.
Danise Payne’s clowning career began unexpectedly after a chance encounter led her to audition for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. What started as a lighthearted adventure turned into a 25-year journey with major circuses, including The L.A. Circus, George Coronas Circus, and the all-Black UniverSoul Big Top Circus. She made history as the first African American woman clown to perform in a European circus with Gerry Cottle’s Circus in England. Featured on Entertainment Tonight, NBC’s Today Show, and in Ebony magazine, she became a visible role model in the Black community. Since the 1980s, she has inspired youth and adults through workshops and speaking engagements. Payne is also a member of several circus and writing organizations.
John Towsen is an acclaimed American clown, physical comedian, educator, and author. He began performing at age seven on The Red Skelton Show and later appeared alongside stars like Sid Caesar and Julie Andrews. Towsen earned a Ph.D. in Drama from NYU and authored Clowns (1976), a key text on the history of clowning. He has taught at institutions like Juilliard and mentored actors such as Laura Linney. Towsen co-founded the NYC Physical Comedy Lab and directs The (Very) Physical Comedy Institute. He continues to teach globally and runs the blog All Fall Down, celebrating the art of physical comedy.
A Call to Remember
In this age of acceleration, we need to slow down and come together. We need to honour and study with elders, not just for their techniques, but for their presence, both in online and in-person spaces.
The future of clowning, and human culture, depends not just on innovation, but on remembering, respecting, and learning from what came before.
At Clown Spirit Village, we’ve created a space where this living lineage can continue to thrive — where you can learn directly from master clowns and wisdom-keepers whose decades of devotion have shaped the art form.
In our growing archive of masterclasses, you’ll find teachings from elders like Hilary Chaplain, Moshe Cohen, Jef Johnson, Angela de Castro, and more.
Each session is not just a class — it’s an invitation into a relationship with a teacher, a lineage, and a way of being. Whether you’re new to clowning or deepening a long-held practice, these masterclasses offer a chance to root yourself in the living tradition of clown, and to remember that we grow not just through learning techniques, but through receiving transmission — through presence, spirit, and story.
Much respect and much love to the elders, students and tradition!
Who are the Clown elders that have supported you in paving your path?? Uplift them in the comments below ... : )
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