The Stage

Nelly Jane Benneweis

Published Tuesday 16 June 2009 at 11:00 by Don Stacey

One of the leading ladies of the Danish Circus world, Nelly Jane Benneweis will be remembered fondly in Manchester, where she was chosen in the winters of 1972/3 and 1973/4, to officiate as ringmistress for the annual Belle Vue International Circus at the Kings Hall there.

She became so popular with the ring attendants, they presented her with a silver-topped cane (a symbol of her authority, along with her black topper, red tail coat and fishnet stockings and thigh boots) as a farewell present.

Nelly Jane was born Annette Otto Jenson at Bronshoj, Copenhagen, Denmark on June 15, 1934, the daughter of a master cabinet-maker. After leaving school, she became a ballet dancer, making her debut at the Copenhagen variety house, Lorry. She toured in Denmark and Germany with various ballet companies and in variety theatres, and later worked with two male partners in a modern dance variety act.

She returned to the Lorry as commere in 1964 and there was discovered by Eli Benneweis, owner of Denmark’s famous Cirkus Benneweis, which today is Scandinavia’s oldest touring show, in its 122nd year.

Nelly Jane joined Cirkus Benneweis on April 2, 1971, and later worked for Sweden’s largest circus, Scott (in 1974) following her appearances in Manchester. She returned to Cirkus Benneweis in 1974, having earned the title of Lady of the Ring at the Belle Vue International Circus. She became not only the show’s charismatic and attractive ringmistress, but also undertook much of the administrative work of the Danish circus, and became its public relations figurehead as well. Until 1994, she was ringmistress at the show’s tenting unit, and from 1979 to 1982, hosted the company’s second show at the prestigious circus building in Copenhagen.

In April 9, 1977, Nelly Jane married Eli Benneweis’ younger brother Sonny, who was the show’s horse and elephant trainer. She nursed him through a fatal bout of cancer until he died in 1979.

Much respected in the international world of circus, Nelly Jane was invited by Prince Rainier on to the jury of circus experts at his 1990 International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo, and she was also a judge at the popular European Youth Circus festivals of Wiesbaden, Germany, in 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Nelly Jane died from cancer in a Copenhagen hospice, on Thursday, May 21, just short of her 75th birthday. She is survived by two stepsons, Kim and Miller.