Running away with circus

I feel like if 4 months ago I have disappeared and teleported to completely different planet!

Where was I?

What have I been doing?

What sucked me in so much that I've forgotten about my prior life?

The answer is simply in a single word CIRCUS.

I was locked down in my small apartment during quarantine time, getting a bit depressed already with the heaviness of loneliness and lack of purpose, having nightmares about being unable to travel. Suddenly, I received an e-mail saying "We would like you to join our team called Circus Space Pirates that is going to spread circus in public spaces of Berlin". My reaction was a mixture of amazement, excitement and disbelief. After two months of sitting at home I got an opportunity to finally start doing some meaningful actions again! I decided to leave Poland as soon as it was possible and literally RUN AWAY WITH CIRCUS. That decision led to an ongoing adventure of social circus work, blending into fast life in Berlin, becoming part of a new community and learning a lot about myself and human relations.

Before I even noticed I became part of a

volunteering group in Cabuwazi Social Circus that is now my new international family. The summer months we spent on organising events on the streets and in educational centers during which children and their parents could taste a little bit of juggling, hooping, spinning poi or staff and being surrounded with smiley people encouraging them to play, dance and simply enjoy life at this unique moments. We gathered thousands of smiles and hopefuly we awakened in some children the desire to practice circus more often :D

Circus Space Pirates team on a Spielstrasse action

The job of a street entertainer is quite peculiar. It requires even more energy than organised circus events where children are coming especialy to take part in your workshops or to see your show. In public space, where colorful toys are an unexpected possibility to play, we as Pirates have to face an enormous amount of flying objects, running small humans of all ages, shouts and inconsistancy of the crowd. Sometimes you find a todler left by his parents, eating your juggling ball, being completely cowered with face paint. Sometimes you get sucked for an hour into simple game of children throwing rings on your arm. All that is at the end just beautiful, because of the uniqueness of the circus atmosphere. 

During dozens of activities that we run this summer I rediscovered the power of throwing and catching, how it can become the best game ever for you and your child, for a group of children, for adults too. The street actions reminded me how easy it is to make people smile, laugh and feel satisfied with themselves.

These sunny months of colorful chaos helped me to write a recipe for creating a playfull connection:

1. pick a friend or two

2. choose any object/toy/instrument

3. check how you can interact using your toys, GET CREATIVE

4. keep smiling and laugh at the failure

5. challenge each other

This is highly recommended to try at home, in the park, on the street. Remember - you can play everywhere! 

Here are linkt to our websites, check it to know more! : https://cabuwazi.de/ Circus Space Pirates fb