Being the general manager of the Palestinian Circus School, Zmorrod has to think strategically, and in this regard he is exploring how to take the circus to the Arab world, “and to do this we seek partnerships in Dubai or Abu Dhabi”. He says that “usually circus schools are financed by governments as part of the cultural upliftment which is way down the list of priorities here, and for us to obtain support for our professional programme, we require grants and donations. At present, 20 per cent of our yearly budget is self-generated.” “Though circus may sometimes be perceived as clowning, in reality, we have a strong pedagogical approach,” Zmorrod says. “We focus on the individual development of the student; self-expression through learning values, working in teams, strengthening the creativity and physical skills of youth, while working on various techniques that require concentration and perseverance.” Explaining the social dimension, Zmorrod says, “The circus is a part of the curriculum of a girls’ rehabilitation centre, which has 42 girls from various backgrounds. They have the classes on Wednesdays.” The Palestinian Circus School works closely with some of the leading schools in the world, such as LIDO Circus School from Toulouse, France, and the Scuola Dimitri Theatre in Switzerland, and by doing so, gains much for its talented students. “What makes us different is that we make use of theatre, music, dance, light and costume design to convey a story through circus skills,” Zmorrod explains. “In all our productions, the stories of our students are central. They decide on the content and the message they want to convey. All our productions reflect our unique surroundings. “Our staff and trainers are supported to go and study for professional circus programmes, and we invite international professionals to conduct workshops here in Palestine. In 2010, my brother Fadi pursued a two-year programme for a ‘Professional Training Course for Contemporary Artists’ at La Scuola Di Cirko Vertigo in Torino and since his return, he has co-directed two productions.” Zmorrod, who recently underwent a surgery on his spine but continued working from his hospital bed, is passionate about this venture. “The Palestinian Circus School is,” he says, “a seed whose fruit is from Palestinians to Palestinians, and not from foreigners anymore. It is an injection of hope and engagement for Palestine.” Rafique Gangat, author of “Ye Shall Bowl on Grass”, is based in occupied Jerusalem.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 02:59:24 +0000