As a performer on the organ, and particularly the harpsichord, Williams went to the Netherlands to study with Gustav Leonhardt, one of the most significant leaders of the historical performance movement and, once again, utterly individual.
A procession during the forum appeared scripted to describe this city's populist legacy, with a crowd of people marching in the hot sun in penitence for their sins, a group of political dignitaries on a shaded platform and a historical sketch by performers of this frontier region, which was a battleground for centuries between Portugal and Spain.
By placing the performers in historical context, Ms. Streb hopes to defuse any questions that might distract her spectators.
Successive floats and performers represent historical difficulties, like men demolishing casks with sledgehammers representing Prohibition, and red-flag waving and beret-wearing actors depicting Cuban revolutionaries.
Given the enormous popularity of circus at this year's festival, it's convenient to assume that the appeal of death-defying acts like Drummond's may lie in ghoulish anticipation of being present at the scene of an historical accident – but the performers themselves disagree.
How do you see what is happening now in New York nightlife today as building on a historical legacy of artists, performers, musicians and personalities over the past decades?
As an online fine art photography gallery specializing in pop culture subjects, our team at Rock Paper Photo is constantly hunting to unearth that rare or unseen work that captures the essence of an iconic performer or historical moment.
The soundtrack and its performers reflect this historical sprawl with 16 country, bluegrass and blues songs taken for the most part from the 30's and earlier.
Mascots posed with tourists for pictures; performers wearing elaborate historical costumes acted as statues; there were street buskers, toy hawkers, traditional travelling performers, men carrying exotic snakes, reggae bands, pickpockets and a Dutch-style bicycle rental service.
Like performers in a historical drama, the so-called Rickshaw Boys of modern-day Durban, South Africa, use personal adornment as an affirmation of identity that transcends their humble status, as well as a lure to attract customers.
