HOMELESS

The circus, and in this case the social circus in particular, shows one time more that it can make people talk about it beside showing itself on the ring. During the last day of the ninth International Circus Festival of Budapest the circus was protagonist on the ring, but even point of interest in the conference titled The circus and its social function organized for the European project Homeless. The wandering of the circus, which founded a very good place during this festival atmosphere. Among the aim of the project the one to promote the international dialogue enhancing circus as opportunity of visibility on the themes linked to social marginalization on European ladder and with the conference in Budapest we can say it has been reached. Got together in the conference room in hotel Benczur there were circus operators coming from all Europe and more, being speakers, but even attentive and involved spectators, as Line Giasson, carting director for Cirque du Solei, and Guillaume Dufresnoy from Big Apple Circus, both engaged even with projects in the social area. Heading the speeches Alessandro Serena, professor of Circus History at Milan University, engaged in many fronts even in the area of social circus. His duty to introduce the subject, illustrating traditional circus as moving community, model of important values; the modern circus as attentive narration of sensitive topics; and social circus, in its facets, as concrete help to people or groups in trouble or as social “glue”. Social circus which was unquestioned protagonist of all conversations, seen and commented by teachers, coaches, esthetes, but even persons who wanted to give this genre the opportunity of showing itself on the scene. Leitmotiv among the speeches the great passion and involvement of all speakers for their experiences in social circus. In the words of every operators very perceptible their engagement and devotion. The first to illustrate his experience, Ruggero Sintoni, president of Accademia Perduta and creator of the Circus of the Peace in Bagnacavallo. With him, all the moments of this event which had as protagonist social circus, in an account accompanied by the beautiful photos of the five editions and full of anecdotes which brought to laugh. Then Felicity Simpson, from Circolombia, asking what is social circus and giving as good answer: “social” as filling the gaps and “circus” as building on competences, in a way offered to Columbian guys of artistic growth, but even personal growth towards a better life through a circus career. Then Jessica Hoffman from Circus Harmony, circus school for children of all ages and all social backgrounds in Saint Louis, USA, who accompanied her speech with the video of his children to show how social differences don’t have importance when you work in a group. Born in jail children, beside children coming from rich families together to create pyramids and acrobatic saults. Bogdan Zajac, Ocelot president, illustrated then the condition in Poland, country which lived communism where sport had and has good consideration despite circus, which is practiced, but which can’t be named. An engagement for Ocelot in training young acrobats coming from sport, brought on the stage as artists, overcoming all barriers, even physical ones like paralysis: as real artists thanks to Ocelot even guys on chair wheels. From Hungary then Szandra Szonday, circus esthete, in the account of evolutions of circus aesthetics towards the set-up of strong social themes; and Nora L. Ritok to illustrate the engagement of Real Pearl Education in the integration of Roma communities in the society through art. Last, but non as real, Daniel Romila in an involving speech toward the moments of his life which brought him from the street just to the stage and the circus ring as artist, but even teacher. The memories of a past life that move to tears, truly, for the circus that shows itself as an unachievable reality, that then comes true and that leaves his mark for a whole life. A conference rich and full of emotions to present social circus towards its different facets, but in every moment as a real way to be someone in the society.

From www.circo.it