THE BALLOON MAN

Circus, Fireworks and Festivals à la Montréal

 

Photo: Montreal Tourism
Travel the World by Jennifer Merrick
from: washingtontimes.com
Friday, July 6, 2012 -
MONTREAL, July 6, 2012 – “What kind of circus is this, anyway,” says my nine-year-old, clutching the red plastic noses that were given to him at the door.
 He’s understandably confused. We told him we were taking him to a circus, but there’s not a big top, tight rope or flashy outfit in sight. Instead there’s a hip DJ, an exuberant crowd, and two teams of performers battling againstone another in a game of circus improv.
 It doesn’t take long before we are all cheering for our favorite team as they contort, juggle, and perform gravity-defying feats in an attempt to one-up each other in unrehearsed challenges and win over the voting crowd. Whenthe referee makes an unpopular call, the crowd boos their displeasure and tosses red plastic noses at him.
 “Oh! That’s what they’re for!” cries Justin and hurls them onto the stage with gusto.
 The performance was one of 80 events last year at the Montréal Complètement Cirque, one of the city’s newest festivals. It has quickly made a name for itself,  cementing Montreal’s reputation as a circus destination. It is, ofcourse, the birth place of the Cirque du Soleil and home of TOHU, the national circus school.
read more at:
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/donnes-world/2012/jul/6/Circus-Fireworks-Festivals-Montreal/