Shake! Comedy Festival, Berlin 2010

A group of 5 trainees and 2 trainers from Assirk Assaghir traveled to Berlin, Germany in July 2010 to participate in the Comedy Shake! circus festival. They partook in daily circus trainings focused on different kinds of clowning such as buffoon and pantomime as well as how to incorporate comedy into other circus acts. There were 8 groups from around Europe and the Middle East who worked and trained together. Each night the day's group performed short skits on an open stage and all groups performed a longer show at the end of the festival. Other activities included tours of Berlin, group meals and interactive games. It was the first time 2 of the trainees had traveled outside of Palestine and the experience was enriching for all. Assirk Assaghir looks forward to participating in opportunities like this in the future.

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.

Show in the Red Crescent Society

The Red Crescent Society (the Red Cross of the Middle East) in Nablus runs a school for handicap and deaf children. Assirk Assaghir performed a show for the students in May as a part of their clown training. The circus students were coached in how to perform for their audience and how to interact appropriately with them. The clowns did not speak in Arabic, as they often do, and instead used gestures and facial expressions in the performance. The performance was a success; after the show, none of the children wanted to go back to their classrooms, so they played music and the children danced with the performers. The teachers in the school appreciated a fun activity in which the students were encouraged to participate and given the chance to laugh out loud.

Hopital Clowning News

The public hospitals in Nablus have completed the transfer of the children's ward from Al-Watani to Rafedia hospital. The facilities are much better, although still in need of many improvements and more advanced equipment. A team of 3 clowns from Assirk Assaghir visited the new ward last week and spent a few hours playing with and cheering up the kids (and parents!). One woman said her daughter had been crying all morning and refused to take her medicine. After playing with the clowns she started laughing and forgot her pain. She later asked her mother to call the doctor because she was ready to take her medicine.

During the summer vacation, when many clown trainees are free, Assirk Assaghir will increase the frequency of visits like this to the hospitals.

Jamal Abdel Naser Show

For the occasion of the Political Prisoners Commemoration day in April, Assirk Assaghir performed for a crowd of more than 4,000 people in the Jamal Abdel Naser open-air theater. The festival was organized by the Medical Relief Society and included performances by Dabkah groups and local singers as well as speeches from the mayor of Nablus and other public figures.

Assirk Assaghir's performance included a trampoline act, acrobatics, juggling, dance, fire arts and, of course, clowning. Watch a montage of the show below:

Two Shows in the Child Culture Center in Nablus

The advanced teenage group performed 2 shows in the Child Culture Center in Nablus for school children in April. The shows included clown skits, juggling, acrobatics and diabolo. The shows were part of a program that organizes extracurricular activities for school children in Nablus. These shows gave the teenage circus students an opportunity to be on stage and especially to practice clowning and finding their own clown.