The Night of Nights

In mid July, 6 of the teen students from Assirk Assaghir were casted to perform in a production called "The Night of Nights" put on by cooperation between Assirk Assaghir, Al-Hakawati Theater in Jerusalem, Le Teatre National Palestinien and La Compagnie La Barraca from France. The play was based on the tale of "A Thousand and One Nights" and was directed by Nabil Al-Azan. It included storytelling, music and circus arts such as acrobatics, aerial rope, contortion, stilts, fire juggling and poi. The show was produced in cooperation with the French Cultural Center and debuted in Nablus in the open-air theater at An-Najah University's new campus.

A Busy Summer!

Hello blog followers and circus supporters! We'd like to update you on our summer activities at Assirk Assaghir: The Nablus Circus School. Beginning on the first day of the students' summer holiday in early June, the center has been full of students and trainers improving skills, preparing performances and having fun. The group of children (ages 8-13) from the academic year were split into advanced and beginners groups, each having training 6 hours per week. The total number of children is more than 35 and their training focuses on acrobatics, juggling and diabolo as well as building confidence and team work skills. The children participate in many interactive games as a way to learn skills and have fun. Many of the teen students from both groups serve as assistant trainers in the children's training.

The teen girls group (a total of 12 girls) practices everyday during the summer months for 2 hours each day. Their training focuses on partner acrobatics, gymnastics, dance, rhythm, stilts and poi as well as bi-weekly clowning workshops. The group put together a show that they performed for children in the Child Culture Center in Nablus in mid July.

The teen boys group (15 in total) also practices everyday during the summer months for 4 hours each day. They have performed for Tomorrow's Youth Organization for more than 400 children from the 4 refugee camps in Nablus and from the old city, all disadvantaged areas stricken by overcrowding and poverty. Later that week they performed the same show for around 50 children in a summer camp hosted by The Red Crescent Society.

All groups will end their summer training with instruction in trapeze and tissue given by two visiting trainers from Spain. Overall, the summer months have been successful in that the circus is full of activities, the students are developing their skills and confidence while making long-lasting friendships and all students have been given a chance to show their skills to a part of the community in the form of performances. The Assirk Assaghir team plans to continue activities throughout Ramadan before students go back to school and return to their regular training schedule.