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Everything began in a small way in 1991. Marc
La Chance, a Canadian teacher at the international school in Addis
Ababa, started things off. He organised a short circus program with children
for a celebration held by the EthiopianJewish community. At that time he
has no idea of what would come out of this. Most of Marc's group left shortly
after the first performance when a change of government in May 1991 prompted
the exodus of the Ethiopian Jews community (Falashas) to Israel.
But two months later, another project was born. Some children who had seen the first group rehearse asked to be given an opportunity! They juggled with stones and had the determination and energy to produce something big. Marc encouraged them in their training. A group of young sportsmen heard about the circus, this new and little known form of culture in Ethiopia. The Circus and the sportsmen merged and Circus Ethiopia was born! One of them, Aweke Emiru is now the Director of Circus in Ethiopia and the Director of Circus Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. |
Marc La ChanceBorn in Oxford, GB Graduate in education (McGill University, Montreal) Teacher at The International Community School in Addis Ababa from 1990 to 1995. |
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| "The children are the mainspring of the circus and maintain a surprising amount of constant energy. The school, friends and family gravitate toward their passion for the circus. An art that nourishes their soul, that gives a meaning to their lives... The show is a gift of the heart for everyone. The circus movement, because it is a real movement in society, is, in its history and its present development, a response to the needs and tastes of all those who participate in the show. The goal of the circus is to fascinate and to fill up with wonder." | |