Circus from behind the Wall A portfolio of the Palestinian Circus School (PCS)

Transcription

1 Palestinian Circus School Circus from behind the Wall A portfolio of the Palestinian Circus School (PCS) Birzeit / Palestine Telefax: Mob: info@palcircus.ps

2 Introduction P. 3 Our Artistic Team P. 5 Artistic Creations P. 8 Kol Saber! La Wein. where to? B-orders Dreams for Sale Circus Behind the Wall Overall Performances P. 19 Media Coverage P. 21 Designed by: Photography: Contact: Stephanie Gauger (PCS), Jessika Devlieghere (PCS), Aitor Eche, Khaled Jarrar, Leone Magliocchetti Lombi, Stefano Morelli, Federica Batistelli, Veronique Vercheval, Thomas Freteur, Max Hirzel, Palestinian Circus School Birzeit / Palestine Telefax: Mob: info@palcircus.ps 2

3 Palestinian Circus School 3 Introduction Who are we? The Palestinian Circus School (PCS) is a non profit, non governmental organization, which was established in 2006 and is registered with the Palestinian Authority since February It focuses on Circus education for the Palestinian Youth to strengthen them in order to face daily challenges as well as the development of Circus as a new performing art in Palestine as a mean to express oneself. Nowadays PCS grew solid in Birzeit. It offers a continuous Yearly Program of: Weekly classes in Hebron, Jenin, Al Fara a Refugee Camp and Birzeit for different levels with an average of 150 students Yearly Open Days with presentations of the students Summer Mobile Circus Tour with performances all over the Westbank (several times in cooperation with international circus partners) Summer Camps Different trainings for trainers and exchange programs to permanently build up capacities of the staff And it has produced several shows, which are performed locally and internationally: Circus Behind the Wall (2007) La Wein (2010) Dreams for Sale (2010) Kol Saber (2012) B-Orders (2014) VISION The Palestinian Circus School dreams of a society in which Palestinians engage in a dynamic cultural and artistic life that embraces creativity, freedom of expression and diversity as the main pillars for a just and inclusive society. MISSION By training Palestinian children and youth in circus arts, the Palestinian Circus School wants to develop a new art form in Palestine and strengthen the creative and physical potential of the Palestinians, seeking to engage and empower them to become constructive actors in society. By creating and performing circus productions, we want to instill hope among the population, promote the freedom of expression and raise local and international awareness about the many challenges of the Palestinian society.

4 Major Achievements: Two Members of PCS became the first Palestinian, male and female, professional Circus Artists (one graduated from Scuola de Cirko Vertigo, Italy and one from Centre National des Arts du Cirque, France), supported by PCS. One member became a professional Circus Art teacher with support of PCS (graduated from Ecole Nationale de Cirque Montreal, Canada). Production of B-Orders as the first professional Palestinian Circus Show by the only two professional Palestinian Circus Artists (under construction) Awareness of Circus Arts as a mean of expression and empowerment has been created and enhanced among the Palestinians. Professional Circus Tours, performed locally and abroad, reached an audience of about people in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Egypt and of more than people in Palestine. What do other people say about us? This week in Palestine, Circus & Grandma, March 2009 ( )Our Circus School in Palestine is different from any other Circus in the world, because it is not about how high you jump or how many balls you juggle with, it is about the challenges and burdens to do all that, it is about the reason that causes you to jump that high and reach somewhere beyond a checkpoint and higher than the Wall! ( ) Read more Majalla, A hidden treasure circus in Palestine gives many a reason to smile, August 2011 In the midst of military checkpoints, high concrete walls, menacing soldiers and loaded guns, Jerusalemborn Shadi Zmorrod and Belgian citizen, Jessika Devlieghere, had an idea: What if we brought circus to Palestine? No joke. In fact, five years on, and the Palestinian Circus School has not only gained immense popularity among many Palestinians, but it can take credit for producing a skilled and professional Palestinian circus that has performed all over Europe.( ) Read more Al.Arte.Magazine, The Palestinian Circus: creative acts between reality and hope, December 2012 Over the last weeks The Palestinian Circus School has been performing in Belgium in different locations offering a show around the theme Kol Saber! The travelling company of performers from Ramallah, Palestine differs from the traditions circus setting with animal acts. Hoever, classical circus acts, such as acrobatics and tightrope walking do form a part of their show. Albeit choreographed in a special way and embedded in a story. The young Palestinian people actually use the circus to tell their story to the world. ( ) Read more 4

5 Palestinian Circus School 5 Our Artistic Team Noor Abu al Rob, born in 1991, grew up in Jenin and there already got involved in sports as Taekwondo in childhood. In 2008 he discovered circus and was impressed. Therefore Noor became a member of PCS in After he finished school, Noor continued to train circus at PCS and fell in love with it, so when he was offered the opportunity to become a trainer at PCS in 2011 he took it. Noor participated in all trainings conducted by PCS and also took a one week training with Espace Catastrophe in Belgium in Every year he performs in the summer mobile circus school and also in the latest PCS productions Dreams for Sale (2011) and Kol Saber!(2012). As a trainer he is able to perform several circus disciplines, but is specialised in acrobatics and acrodance. Mohammad Abu Sakha, born 1991 in Jenin, joined the Circus school in 2008, one year before his final exam in school. Before he found Circus he had been busy involving himself in many changing activities as Taekwando, Scoccer or social work, but nothing was able to make him stay. It was only with Circus, that he has found the work, which he wants to continue. Mohammad joined PCS in 2011 as a trainer and has been participating in workshops on how to write scripts and on different circus disciplines (e.g. at LIDO/France). He performed in Italy in the Circomondo festival. Also he performs in the yearly summer mobile circus tours, which are set up by PCS as well as Dreams for Sale (2011) and Kol Saber! (2012). Mohammad Abu Sakha is specialised on tightrope and diabolo. Ahmad Abu Taleb was born in 1991 in the Northern Town Jenin and joined the Palestinian Circus School in 2008 as a student and continued after he passed his final school exam in He is deeply passionate about contemporary circus, that he decided to become professional with it. Therefore he joined the PCS Team as a trainer and performer in He participates in the trainings and exchange programs offered by PCS in order to perfect his skill. Also Ahmad performs in the mobile circus tours and in the shows Dreams for Sale (2011) and Kol Saber! (2012) as well as in many smaller PCS productions. Ahmed went to Italy to perform in Circomondo, a Social Circus Festival and he toured with Kol Saber! in Belgium. Ahmed is specialised on hat juggling and is currently enhancing his capacities on the trampoline. Mohammad Abu Taleb, born in 1991 in Jenin, like his brother Ahmad joined the Circus School as a student in By getting to know circus art closely he got infected by it and his passion grew over the years. He also wants to be professionally involved with circus and hence also became a trainer and performer at PCS in Mohammad participates in workshops and exchange programs offered by PCS and performs in the summer mobile circus tours as well as in the productions Dreams for Sale (2011) and Kol Saber! (2012). In 2013 he went to LIDO (France ) for training. Mohammad also toured with Kol Saber in Belgium. He knows several circus disciplines, but is specialized on the Chinese pole and is developing his acrobatic skills.

6 Shadi Zmorrod, born in 1979 in Jerusalem, is the founders of the Palestinian Circus School. He used to be an actor and theatre instructor, when he got to know circus in 2000 during a Norwegian workshop. The following years he spent taking part in several circus workshops and international circus gatherings. In 2005 he worked as an artistic director for the Jerusalem Circus an Israeli Circus School. There Shadi became very passionate about circus and dreamt about a Palestinian Circus School. In 2006 he and Jessika Devlieghere set up the first Circus Workshop in the Westbank. In February 2007 both founded PCS. Since then Shadi has been working as general director of the school as well as artistic director for PCS productions. Nayef O. Abdallah was born 1985 in Al Fara a Refugee Camp. He joined PCS in the beginning of the school and took a Training for Trainers in 2007 at it. To complete his skills he participated in many workshops with different Circus Schools as ESAC Belgium (2008), Goglerskolen Denmark (2008 and 2009), Jokes Circus Bremen Germany (2009), LIDO France (2011). In 2012 he went to study at the Ecole Nationale du Cirque Montreal (Canada) for one year in order to become a professional Circus Art teacher. Nayef graduated from it in At present he is the head trainer at PCS. He has performed in the PCS Mobile Circus Tours ( ) and the Shows Circus Behind the Walls ( ) and La Wein. Where to? (2010). He is specialized on Chinese Pole and Aerial Straps. Ashtar Muallem, from Jerusalem, started her artistic career during childhood. She took Drama courses and played in productions at the Ashar Theater in Ramallah. In 2003 she performed in the first Palestinian Musical produced by Edward Said Conservatory. In 2006 she joined the Palestinian Circus School and fell in love with the Arial Silk. In 2008 she took a a preparatory year at the Centre National des Artes du Cirque (France) and was selected for another 3 year education from which she successfully graduated. She performed in the Show Circus behind the Wall in 2007 with PCS, the CNAC graduation show and in the Show This is The End by David Bobée. At present she is on stage for Badke by Koen Augustijnen, Rosalba Torres Guerrero and Hildegard De Vuyst and a cooperation between Les Ballets C de la B, KVS and A.M. Qattan Foundation. With Fadi Zmorrod she creates the show B-orders, produced by PCS. Fadi Zmorrod, born 1981 in Jerusalem, was part of the establishing team of the Palestinian Circus School in He developed his artistic interests after he had finished university, first he tried out drawings and sculptures, but from 2006 on his love for the contemporary circus grew. At PCS he participated in several trainings, locally and internationally (e.g. CNAC (France), ESAC (Belgium), Clowns without Borders). After having trained with PCS and working as a trainer, Fadi joined the Vertigo Circus School (Italy) in 2010 for two years to become a professional Circus Artist. He performed in shows with PCS, Willy Good Company (France), Le Ballet C de la B (Belgium) and also performed and co-directed Kol Saber! (2012) with PCS. At present Fadi is on stage for Badke, a creation by Koen Augustijnen, Rosalba Torres Guerrero and Hildegard De Vuyst and a cooperation between Les Ballets C de la B, KVS and A.M. Qattan Foundation. He will also create and perform in B-orders. Above others Fadi is specialized on the Chinese pole and chair balance. 6

7 Palestinian Circus School 7 Alaa Jayousi, born in 1981 in a Refugee Camp near Zarqa (Jordan), moved to Ramallah in 1996, where he finished school in At that time the intifada broke out, so he only started his studies in 2003 at the university of Jerusalem. He graduated successfully in political sciences in After his education he worked for the centre for political research in Ramallah, when at the end of 2011 he decided to become involved with art, because it can transport messages and make people understand. During the past years he already worked as a part time technician at festivals, so after he got to know Circus and realized what it can do for the Palestinian children, he joined the Circus school in 2012 and started by a 3 month workshop on technical safety and rigging at the CNAC in France. International instructors: Matthieu D. Ravel: graduated from CNAC, artist with C de la B, for rehearsal and creation of the ne show B-Orders, 2013/2014 Juliana Neves, : artist with Les Ballet C de la B, for rehearsal and creation of the new show B-Orders, 2013/2014 Arnaud Thomas: teacher at the Centre National des Arts de Cirque, workshop on trampoline and teeterboard, June 2012 and May 2013 Giovanna D Ettore: graduated from CNAC, now independent artist and regisseur, training in Theater, May 2013 Gaetan Leveque: artistic director of AOC, Trampoline and Teeterboard training,february2013 Nada Humsi: Artistic Associate at Multicultural Theatre (MT Space) workshop in theatre and mime, from July 20 to 28, 2012 Marion Colle: walking rope, from April 10 until April 22, 2012on Birta Bennasdttir: on acrobatics and pair acrobatics, between February 15 and March 29, 2012 Ana Jordão: assisting trainings and teaching pair acrobatics, January 11 until February 10, 2012 Andrea Shulte: Chinese Pole, from December 17, 2011 until January 5 Tomas Sokolowiczs: for 3 months as a trainer and assistant in the theatrical work for the show Dreams for Sale, September 2011 ISSUE01: Marion Collé (walking rope), Matthieu Gary (Chinese pole) and Vasil Tasevski (German wheel) for three weeks of cooperation, exchange and training, Septem ber 2011 Festiclown (Spain): several trainers in clowning and laughter therapy, 2011 Jack Jaxx: street performer, 3 months between January 10 and May 10, 2011 Krista Fatka trainings on aerial, acrobatics, body movement for 1 year, 2010 to 2011 International Educational Exchanges and Cooperations: Centre National des Artes de Cirque (France), Ecole Supérieure des Arts du Cirque (Belgium), LIDO (France), Scuola di Cirko Vertigo (Italy), Ecole Nationale du Cirque Montreal (Canada), Festiclown (Spain)

8 Artistic Creations We select the topics for our shows from our daily life experience. By this way we offer ideas or solutions to the audience, which are worth to consider. As the field of the contemporary circus is new to Palestine and us, we always try to cooperate with international artists, who help us to set up our show onto a high international quality level. Our artists are all Palestinians and deeply rooted in their society. Therefore they observe quite closely the daily Palestinian life, which is integrated into the production of the show. 8

9 Palestinian Circus School 9 B-Orders (2014) About the show: In the wombs of our mothers we are all made up from the same elements, blood, flesh and air. Arriving into our families and into our societies we start developing our character and becoming who we are. As we grow we lose our innocence and our fun to play, we become dominant and dominated. We start walking on lines drawn for us without understanding why or even questioning. If those lines no longer exist, we unconsciously return to walk on them. We are put in moulds fabricated through the accumulation of history according to our gender, religion, and nationality Repetition and pressure lead us to go against the normal, we leave our home aiming to start something new. But do we ever get rid of our memories, education and preconceived ideas? By & with A Production of: Artistic Support Technician Light designer: Music, Montage and Composition Disciplines used: Duration Ashtar Muallem Fadi Zmorrod The Palestinian Circus School Juliana Neves, Mathieu D. Ravel Alaa Jayousi Ralf Nonn Rami Washaha Chinese pole, aerial silk, acrobatics & dance 50 min.

10 We have to find our own way. Social expectations are expected to be fulfilled. Should we break up the predefined frame of society, of our memories and of our education? 10

11 Palestinian Circus School 11 Kol Saber! (2013) About the Show: The Arabic word Saber has two meanings: the sweet fruit of the cactus or patience, and the word Kol is the imperative form of the verb eat. Spotlights of different realities of the street life, jackets that dance for life, they diverge, converge, fight, cohabit with each others in a tensed context, until a mysterious jacket falls down from the sky, and changes all the rules of the game. A controlling power is segregating, polluting, manipulating, tapping on a barrel and saying: Kol Saber!, and all we do is to eat this Saber. Kol Saber! portrays the contradicted life between the bitter reality imposed by the controlling power and the sweet and colorful dream of bereaved sea. Co-Directed by: Artists: Costumes: Technician: With cooperation of: Photos by: Duration: Shadi Zmorrod Fadi Zmorrod Ahmad AbuTaleb, Fadi Zmorrod, Mohammed AbuSakha, Mohammed AbuTaleb, Noor AbuRob Fadila Aalouchi Ala a Jayousi Nayef Othman, Ivan Prado Gianna Gruenig Lucia Ahmad 50 minutes Funded by:

12 Begging for food. Domination! Depending on each other. Using others for success. 12 Possibilities to change the rules of the game occur.

13 Palestinian Circus School 13 Dreams for Sale (2010) About the show: The performance portrays the real experience of the Palestinian Circus School s four advanced students. The show is a journey through the opposing demands they face, namely their circus dreams and their financial, real life responsibilities. Neither the society nor the families accept their desire to dedicate their lives to circus arts. In spite of this, the students are determined to change their reality and to pursue their dreams. The performance conveys this experience in a simple way: comedy and tragedy scenes happening between a small shop owner in Jenin and his clients, who come looking for their dreams in the shop. Dreams we discover to be circus materials that the students use to make circus numbers. Performed by: Direction by: Costumes and décor by: Photos by: Ahmed Abu Taleb, Mohamed Abu Taleb, Mohamed Abu Sakha, Noor Abu Al Rob Jack Jaxx, Severine Bellini, Krista Fatka, Nayef Othman, Rami Arda Milan Szypura

14 The dream to become a fire juggler. The dream to master the diabolo perfectly. To fulfill the dream of Balance and Harmony. The dream to juggle to overcome the borders. Cooperation can make successful. 14

15 Palestinian Circus School 15 La Wein. Where to? (2010) About the show: Should we proceed in achieving our dreams? Or, should we run away from our reality the nightmare? Is it hard to change the obligatory restrictions that surround us? A struggle between power and domination on one side and the pressure that is forced on the other side, a mix between reality and fantasy, spontaneous reactions and others deliberate, all crash together and create a struggle for survival. Where to?!! Was an experimental work of the trainers of the Palestinian Circus School: Fadi Zmorrod, Nayef Othman and Mays Hajjaj. Scenario and direction by Artistic direction Costume Design Music Light Design Public relations Photos & Design the group Shadi Zmorrod Rami Arda Benjamin Payen, Carlos Mascolo, Maddalena Pastorelli, Nicolas Dobson Atallah Tarazi Jessika Devlieghere Khaled Jarrar

16 There is always a choice in Life. Balance in life is hard work. Life can be full of unexpected obstacles. 16

17 Palestinian Circus School 17 Circus Behind the Wall (2007) About the show: The ides of the show is taken from the real life of the Palestinians, who are separated from their water, their land, their past and their loved ones by the segregation wall. We see sisters being separated; we see love ones not able to reach each other, any longer. All circus means in reach are being used to overcome the barriers : juggling balls, a trapeze, stilts. We see acrobats, a clown or jugglers to dance the life. The wall does not discourage them to live, to communicate, to move, to dream and to fight for a free land. Circus behind the wall reflects the strong believe, that one day the wall will fall. Scenario, Artistic Direction: Shadi Zmorrod Costume Design, Music, and Light Design: Palestinian Circus School Photos & Design: Veronique Vercheval

18 Using the aerial to look behind the wall. Working together to overcome the wall. Children also play behind the wall. Together we can break the wall down. 18

19 Palestinian Circus School 19 Overall Performances Kol Saber: In December 2012 Kol Saber! was performed 8 time in Belgium in major cities, where it reached at total audience of 3150 people. After that the Show toured in Palestine in January 2013 in Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron and Jerusalem, where it reached an audience of 1700 people. Dreams for Sale: In February 2011, 7 of our students from Jenin started working on a new production called Dreams for Sale with a Dutch street artist Jack Jaxx. Several other trainers joined in later to further develop the show. Finally 4 of them pursued their dream and started to perform the show all around Palestine. The show was presented for the first time during the school s Open day on May in Birzeit. Between May 2011 and April 2012, the team hit the road and performed the show 46 times in different West Bank cities, villages, refugee camps and Bedouin settlements, reaching a total audience of people. The finale of Dreams for Sale was performed in February 2012 at Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque in Ramallah. The evening was attended by more than 500 people. The overloaded theatre warmly received the show. La Wein It was the second production of the Palestinian Circus School, a contemporary circus show for youth and adults that respond to the desire of the PCS to engage in a profound dialogue with other arts, like dance, music and theatre. A first try out was presented in Bethlehem in Dar Alnadwa on May With a public rather surprised but at the same time impressed with the performance. The official premiere was presented in Al Kasaba Theatre in Ramallah, on June 12 and , where a great feedback was received from the public. In 2010 a total of 18 shows were performed: 9 times Circus Behind the wall 6 times the Mobile Circus 3 times La Wein A total audience of average people enjoyed our shows locally and abroad.

20 Circus Behind the Wall: 2007 The school was invited to go to France in April to perform its show Circus Behind the Wall organized by the Palestinian collective of Fresnes and the French Consulate General in Jerusalem. It was performed 2 times, for a total audience of 400 people When Ramallah Municipality celebrated its 100th birthday, PCS was invited to perform in the Cultural Palace Ramallah. The show was a great success with more than 800 people showing up for the show 2009 In March 2009, we headed for the second time with a team of trainers and students to Belgium for a series of performances in the framework of the Asseoir l Espoir operation of PAC and to participate at the two yearly renowned international circus festival: La Piste aux Espoirs. Circus behind the Wall was performed 5 times in Belgium, reaching an audience of 1600 persons. The same year a team of the PCS traveled abroad again to Bremen/Gemany for a workshop and to participate at the festival Bridges for Youth with a performance of Circus Behind the Wall. In Palestine PCS performed the show at the Freedom Theatre in Jenin, in the framework of their first Theatre Festival for children and youth. It was a great success. The average 200 kids and youth of the refugee camp went collectively out of their heads. The same year our second performance was in Ramallah at the Cultural Palace, before a sold out theatre, reaching 800 people. The entire show in Ramallah was registered by the Palestinian National TV and has been broadcasted already on two occasions, reaching other thousands of people Between July 13 and August 10 a team of 12 members of the Circus School traveled to Europe to perform Circus Behind the Wall, twice in Italy and 5 times in France. The show was performed for a total audience of average 3500 people. Shows in Italy took place in Senegalia, where we were invited by the Municipality; and in Torino, participating in the festival Sul Filo del Circo organized by the Scuola di Cirko Vertigo. Shows in France were organized in the LIDO (Centre des arts de Cirque) in the framework of the Municipality Cooperation between Ramallah and Toulouse. The team of the PCS was received by the Municipality and was hosted there for almost a week. The show was performed twice for a sold out LIDO circus tent! 20

21 Palestinian Circus School 21 Media Coverage

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