Bello Nock

Early life

Born in Sarasota, Florida, Demetrius Nock is a seventh-generation circus performer, an American of Swiss and Italian ancestry. A descendant of the family that founded Switzerland's Circus Nock in the 18th century, Nock began performing at age three, playing the baby on the burning house in Disney on Parade's "Dumbo's Circus". At six, Nock played Michael Darling in the touring version of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby. Bello first performed his family's trademark sway pole act at the age of 15. He performed with his family all around the world with the troupe known as the Nerveless Nocks.

Career

Bello was the featured artist in Mexico's Circo Atayde before joining New York's Big Apple Circus, where he became the star attraction in 2000. Bello completed three tours with the Big Apple Circus; the last being Bello and Friends. While with the Big Apple Circus, Bello also attended the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo, where he won five awards, including the Silver Clown (presented by Princess Stephanie of Monaco) and the Walt Disney Award for Creative Entertainment. In 2011, Bello won the Gold Clown.

In 2001, Nock joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as their headliner. Bello completed four tours with Ringling Bros., the last being Bellobration. Nock was the first person in Ringling's 140-year history to have a production named after him. Ringling Bros. producer Kenneth Feld said of Bello: "[He is] unlike anyone in the history of circus, a once in a lifetime performer..." In 2001, Time Magazine included Bello in their list of "America's Best Artists and Entertainers", calling him "America's Best Clown". Nock calls himself a comic daredevil. He is known for his foot-tall, natural red hair and his unique ability to make his audience laugh while performing daring and dangerous stunts. He is an athletic and acrobatic performer. In 2004, the Daily News said that Nock "might be the greatest athlete ever to set foot in the World's Most Famous Arena" (Madison Square Garden).

Nock also designs and builds all his own stunts and riggings. In March 2007, the New York Times presented a two-page, full-color feature on Nock's Double Wheel of Steel, which was a completely new, one-of-a-kind stunt performed for Ringling's Bellobration.

Bello performed live in approximately 500 shows for 5 million people a year while with Ringling Bros. He performed there for a total of eight years; often with three shows on Saturdays and Sundays; he had no understudy or stunt double. Nock performed everything from his 80 ft high sway poles, a motorcycle on a high wire, two different giant wheels of steel, motorcycle globe, a comedy high wire, bungee, trampolines, a diving board trampoline, leaps over elephants, quick-change magic, and multiple audience participation routines. In addition, Nock performed skywalks over the Reliant Stadium and American Airline Arena as promotional events. Nock also hung on a trapeze under a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty.

In November 2008, Bello left Ringling Brothers. He went to Europe to perform for several months and then came home to perform in the aptly titled Bello Comes Home with Circus Sarasota. In the fall of 2009, Nock walked a high wire over the Lincoln Center in New York City to announce his return the Big Apple Circus for their 32nd production, Bello Is Back!

The New York Times review of October 29, 2009 stated that '..."Bello Is Back!" feels so fresh.' and Time Out New York said that Bello's return to the Big Apple Circus "imbues the entire show with humor" and that "the circus feels fresher and funnier than it has in years." In 2009, Bello was the youngest person ever inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame.

In 2011, Bello performed at the Great Parade in front of the Chabad world headquarters in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn performing a stunt by jumping off the roof of a four-story tall building in front of an audience of over 20,500 people in addition to thousands watching live over the internet.

Bello was featured in the 2013 Edition of Guinness Book of World Records for a high wire walk across the entire length of a cruise ship at sea.

March 2013 the stage production "Bello Mania" made its theatrical debut at the New Victory Theater in NYC. The self-produced show was nominated for a prestigious Drama Desk Award. In November 2013, the "Rainbow Circus" presented at Universal Studios Japan was awarded IAAPA's Brass Ring Award for "Best Show". Nock provided all thrill acts, thrill performers and was the Creative Director.

YouTube video of Bello hanging from a helicopter by one foot ("man hangs by helicopter") has received over 4 million views. On December 5, 2013, Bello performed as a guest playing guitar with Cheap Trick in Sarasota, Florida at the Van Wezel P.A.H. to a standing ovation. In 2013, Bello toured with a circus group called Funambula from August to late September at The Beau Rivage Casino and resort in Biloxi, Mississippi.

On June 3, 2014, Bello announced he would attempt "The Ultimate" Stunt – 15 death-defying stunts in under 15 minutes. He made the announcement on Good Morning America, while balanced on a high wire above Times Square and then proceeded to set a world record by staying balanced on the wire for a full eight hours of media interviews. During the summer of 2014, Bello continued his training for The Ultimate. On June 6, 2014, he practiced the high wire walk element in a big way, with a wire walk across the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium – even stopping to take selfies and live tweet from his phone.

"The Ultimate" stunt was planned to take place at a later date in Las Vegas. In the stunt, Bello is planning to attempt 15 death-defying stunts in under 15 minutes.

On June 20, 2017, Bello appeared on America's Got Talent and performed his audition atop a 37-foot "swaypole", which ultimately led him into the judge cuts. For his performance during the judge cuts, Bello shot himself out of a cannon, over a helicopter, and onto a target, successfully completing the stunt. Bello was not able to make it to the final round of the competition and was eliminated. However, he was brought back the first week of the live shows as a wild card, performing on the Wheel of Death and once again did not advance.