THE BALLOON MAN

Roll up! Roll up! The circus comes to this Middle East town

 

CirCairo 2012.
On Thursday 4 October, the International Circus Festival (CirCairo) launched its Cairo festivities with a public event in Abdeen Square in front of Cairo's old ruling point, Abdeen Palace.
The large space was transformed into a festive, colourful setting with an array of vivid light bulbs hanging down, some even visible from a distance as one approaches the square. CirCairo volunteers and staff stood at the gate in their red t-shirts welcoming families and young people into the event with a smile.
The atmosphere, full of joy and dance, was almost intoxicating. Before the performances commenced, typical Egyptian circus music filled the quarter, children ran around playing, jumping and dancing, spreading a positive energy among the crowd. A particularly heart warming scene was an old man dancing with a group of children, with more and more joining his 'troupe' by the minute. Photographers gathered to capture the joy.
With up to two thousand people present, the crowd presented a melting pot of ages, cultures and social classes. The setting of the event, being public and in a square associated with arts, meant that people felt comfortable letting go of the social barriers that divide them. In addition, it seems that many Egyptians have a soft spot for the circus.
Basma El-Husseiny, Director of Al-Mawred Al-Thaqafy (The Culture Resource), a group which is organising the event, took to the stage introducing the performances to come, and the concept of the festival.
"We apologise for the delay," El-Husseiny said, explaining that they had been having problems for two days with the Ministry of Interior who refused to give them the permits they were promised in July. "But this is God's land, and it belongs to us, not the officials," she added.
"The street is ours and Abdeen Square is the space for arts and culture," El-Husseiny said referring to the 'El-Fan Midan' (Art is a Square) monthly public events that are organised there.
 read more---http://www.albawaba.com/entertainment/circairo-cairo-445420