FUJIROCK EXPRESS '19

LIVE REPORTTHE PALACE OF WONDER7/28 SUN

CIRCUS ABYSSINIA

  • CIRCUS ABYSSINIA

Photo by fujirockers.org Text by fujirockers.org

Posted on 2019.7.31 15:55

Under a jet-black sky, between two huge yellow inflatable horn-like structures that reach about twelve meters into the sky, two metal beams reach up about half that height, with a cross beam connecting their summits. A number of small trampolines sit at their base, and three young men from Ethiopia perform acrobatics of synchronized bouncing, turning, and flipping, as a crowd of about a hundred spectators cheer and clap, to accompany the strains of their African backing tracks. Two of the acrobats then produce two sets of glow-in-the-dark bowling pins, and begin juggling solo, in tandem, and back and forth with each other. At one point they even balance the pins on their foreheads. To make the spectacle even more engaging, the acrobats double in number, then juggle both yellow and orange glow-in-the-dark bowling pins in formations together. Skipping ropes of different sizes then emerge, and the acrobats perform flips and tricks around – and over – the swirling ropes; adding members one by one, until they are seven. Once the spectacle reaches its climax, it all comes to a close when all members of the troupe join hands over their heads, and takes a collective bow.

TAGS
7/28 SUNTHE PALACE OF WONDER