Assirk Assaghir recently completed its newest project, called: “Dancing Colors” - the creation and production of a circus performance that takes traditional circus arts and combines them with new-age lighting effects of black light and glow techniques. In this story of one man's dreams, creatures appear and disappear as they play with lights, music and rhythm. Dreams seem like reality and the surreal comes to life in this unique blend of light, color and movement. The project was performed in multiple locations around the West Bank by Palestinian youth for diverse audiences.

This project was a learning experience with a successful outcome. The show was performed 7 times in 4 locations for more than 2,000 people from diverse backgrounds and ages. The performing team, youth ranging in age from 14 to 30 years old, used their previous experience in circus techniques, but were also trained in performing arts, stage presence and set management. This project expanded their knowledge of and experience with theater performance in all its aspects and gave them the chance, most for the first time, to participate in a theater performance. The presentation of “Dancing Colors” for such a large, diverse group of people around the West Bank promoted Assirk Assaghir’s current programs and inspired possibilities for cooperation between other artists, civil society organizations and community leaders.

This project was funded by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and implemented in cooperation with the French Culture Center, An-Najah National University, the Freedom Theater, Al-Harra Theater and Der Latin.

Village Workshops - Spring 2012

Assirk Assaghir has taken their activities to rural areas during the spring of 2012 in the Circus for Change / Mobile Circus project in cooperation with the Consulate General of France and the Danish Center for Culture and Development. Assirk Assaghir facilitated workshops for more than 180 children in Bardala, Kardala and Ein Al-Beida villages in Tubas district, and Aqraba village in the Nablus village. Workshops will be conducted in Qaryut village in the southern Nablus district in May.

Bardala, Kardala and Ein Al-Beida are some of the most isolated villages in the West Bank located near the Jordan River and the border to Israel from the North in the Tubas district. They are surrounded by Area C, which is mostly Israeli military outposts and Israeli settlements. The inhabitants suffer from the inability to expand, frequent checkpoints that cut off their access to other town centers and, in general, their isolation from larger urban areas. Ein Al Beida, Bardala and Kardala are farming communities with almost half of their populations under the age of 15.

Assirk Assaghir trainers took a chance when traveling to these villages, because there is a checkpoint on the way, through which only residents of one of these three villages is allowed. The trainers explained that they are from Nablus and are coming to do circus in the villages. The Israeli soldiers manning the checkpoint found this amusing and different, so they let the group through. Other visitors and humanitarian workers have not been so lucky, keeping these villages extremely isolated. Upon arrival in the village, there were large groups of children and teens waiting to see what this circus was all about. Many of them had dressed up for the occasion, showing how special it is for visitors to come to their village. Although the numbers of children were much higher than a usual workshop for Assirk Assaghir, no children were turned away and all got to try a hand stand, juggling balls, unicycles and diabolos, as well as the many fun games that come with circus workshops. These workshops reminded the Assirk Assaghir team how fragmented the West Bank has become because of the multiple checkpoints and zoning and permit system, making some villages much more isolated and disadvantaged than others, despite their proximity.

Curious boys watch as Assirk Assaghir trainers unload equipment.

Children watch an acrobatics demonstration during one of the workshops.

The whole group...

January 2012 Shows

Assirk Assaghir performed for groups of children and teens during their winter vacation from school as part of our partner centers' vacation program. Shows included juggling, acrobatic, diabolo and clowning numbers and took place in Al-Faraa refugee camp, the Child Culture Center in Nablus and Arameh and Mithloun villages in Jenin. If you're interested in having a show at your center or location, contact us to set it up.

Jenin Project

Assirk Assaghir is now extending its activities even further to the Jenin district in a new project with the Danish Center for Culture and Development. The project was kicked off with shows in Araneh and Mithloun villages and continued with workshops for children in Araneh and Seerees villages. This project provides a good opportunity for children in villages even more remote than the Nablus district to participate in circus and fun. This project will run until March 2012.

Winter Activities

Hello friends and supporters! We'd like to take this chance to update you about the circus activities and fun we've been having this winter. 4months of workshops were facilitated in the fall for children in Sawwiya and Awerta villages and for teen girls and boys in Askar refugee camp. Children from Sawwiya and Askar were given the chance to visit the Nablus Circus School to train and see our facilities. After participating in trainings in neighborhood centers near their homes, it was a special experience for them to walk through the tent-like entry way into the training hall with brightly colored walls lined with unicycles, stilts, boxes of juggling balls, clubs and diablolos. Watching them run around trying out different things and playing together reminds us of the importance of the circus space, and of continuing the effort to bring children from disadvantaged areas to the circus school to play.
During the winter vacation from school, the circus was filled with teens and children practicing their skills, learning new tricks and working together. A small group of teens continues to work on the 'Dancing Colors' black light show which will be performed around the West Bank in late February.

To find a wealth of photos of Assirk Assaghir's work, visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/#!/Nablus.Circus.School

News

The busy summer months have quieted down and the Nablus Circus School has settled into it's academic year routine, but the work has not slowed! September marks the beginning of the 2nd phase of the Circus for Change / Mobile Circus project, which is now co-funded by both the Danish Center for Culture and Development and the Social Development Fund of the French Consulate. In the coming months, trainers will organize workshops in Awerta, Iraq Burin, Yanoun and Sawiya villages, all places where Assirk Assaghir performed in July. In addition, workshops will begin in Askar refugee camp for teen boys and girls.

In other news, Assirk Assaghir will begin a new project called "Dancing Colors" which will be the creation, production and touring of a black-light/glow show. Special effects and mezmorizing acts can be created using black light and glow-in-the-dark materials, something that is completely new in Palestine. This show will be created in the coming months and will be toured during the winter break between semesters. This project is made possible by the Arab Fund for Culture and Development, based in Beirut.