Founded in 1991 with very simple means, Circus Ethiopia is the founder
of the circus movement now spreading across the country. The circus was
originally established within a community center for Ethiopian
Jews who had left their homes and villages in the hope of a better life
in Israel. Hundreds of families came to the compound every day to work,
to pray and for their children to get an education until their day could
come to leave for the Promised Land. Already on a weekly basis many families
were flying out of the country as their application to enter the State
of Israel were accepted.
In this unlikely context the first juggling workshops happened. They
had been requested after a juggling and balancing performance performance
had created quite a stir at the Israel Embassy for a children's celebration.
With the massive interest expressed by the children of the community
to learn these simple skills ( having also so few opportunities to play)
auditions were held for the 200 children and youths wnating to participate.
Three criterias were devised: tell a joke, juggle 3 objects, and demonstrate
a physical ability. It took two days to audition until a group of 15 were
finally chosen. We started daily practices the same week. For the months
of December 1990 to May 1991 the idea was to learn. No other goal was in
anybody's mind let alone performing. At one point the diciplines we were
working on included juggling, tightrope walking, balancing, pyramid and
short skits. Things were slowly emerging in such a way that we had to perform
our acts; we were starting to have a small show.
A performance was planned for the end of May to the community. Unfortunatly
thewar was getting closer to Addis Ababa. Many foreigners had already been
evacuated. Addis was getting more and more disrupted by the approaching
war. We kept on with the rehearsals and the day of the show approached.
