(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Back in Colombia Brendan was a welder.
Brendan (left) with Miguel (far right) and the Latino Circus team.- Amanda Fisher
Time was when running off to the circus was a legitimate escape for those wishing to flee a problem in their lives or more often than not boredom. The romantic notion of disappearing into the wilderness and learning to be a lion tamer strongman or trapeze artist has been a staple of fiction for centuries. It could be the unusual lifestyle the constant travelling or the lure of show business but a life on the road doing something dangerous could sound appealing to anyone who has to sit in front of a computer for forty hours a week.
It may not be exactly breaking free from the doldrums of office-based domesticity in his case but Dubai resident Brendan Francis made a leap of his own. Born in Somerset England and moving to Colombia at an early age must have been exciting in its own right but leaving South America for Dubai and joining a full-fledged circus troupe might have been the high-wire highlight.
“In nine months I’ve learnt how to juggle while balancing on a ball. No one uses the ball much so it has sort of become my thing” he said.
Back in Colombia Brendan was a welder. He came to the UAE at the turn of the year where he fell in with the Colombian crew that make up Latino Circus. You may have seen the performers if you attend any of the multitude of events during promotions including Dubai Summer Surprises or the Dubai Food Festival.
Latino Circus’ colourful and entertaining shows are the brainchild of the group’s founder Miguel Angel Polania Puertas. He assembled a team of acrobats from his native country to provide a different take on the run-of-the-mill live entertainment (poor comedians and even poorer children’s performers) normally booked to amuse/bemuse Dubai’s crowds.
“From the very beginning Latino Circus was supposed to be different” Miguel said. “To be Latino is unique. We have a reputation for moving well with dances like the salsa and rumba that everybody knows. And the term Circus is something everyone can enjoy. That is familiar. Together they are entertaining.”
This week marks a new chapter in Latino Circus’ history. Like Brendan you too can now learn the tricks of the trade as the performers have turned instructors and opened a circus school in Jumeirah. Located just behind the Safa Park Spinney’s Latino Circus has teamed up with established gymnastic school GymnastEx to provide an all-encompassing movement university they call the Al Safa Circus School.
“Children should start out learning to move at age two” Khaled Wagdy owner of GymnastEx said. “Here they can start with gymnastics and move on to circus or carry on with gymnastics to competition level or do both.
“There are career options with circus training.”
Latino Circus welcomes students of any age. Currently in its ‘soft opening’ stage Miguel told us that some of the parents who had previously sat on the sidelines while their children took part in gymnastics now join in with circus sessions to get fit and acquire new and interesting skills. Miguel’s own son aged four is also part of the group demonstrating the open door policy.
“I am jealous of my son” Miguel said. “I started at age 14. When he is 14 he is going to be at such a high level.”
Patrons will be in safe hands with the Latino Circus team and who knows where a lot of practice may take you Unicycling whilst juggling ten-pin bowling pins is quite a feat and may open a door to innumerable possibilities. For Brendan he believes his future may lie in graphic design but says this endeavour has been some of the best fun he has encountered.
“It’s great coming here every day and having the space to practice. I feel I have got better and the people here are good. It’s a great group.”
For more information on the circus school and how to join visit www.facebook.com/latinocircusdubai.
Skills you can learn at the school Acrobalance
Aerial Silk
Aerial Ring
Juggling
Walking Globe
Unicycle
Vertical Wall Dance
Trampolining
Theatre
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