Social Circus: Empowering Vulnerable Communities Through Play

Hanna Śmiałowska is a traveller who found the meaning of her life in helping people through circus and other arts. She was born in Poland but feels like a citizen of the world. After eight years of learning about social circus pedagogy in places including Hungary, Germany, Kenya, and México, she’s currently studying art therapy in Buenos Aires and leading multiple social circus projects with deep impact. We discuss her path from hitchhiking in Asia to discovering circus as a vehicle for connection and transformation, and how her nomadic years shaped both her art and her politics. Hanna shares stories from teaching circus in Kenya, launching a social circus initiative in Argentina called Mamboretá, and creating spaces where play, creativity, and community help people heal, feel listened to, and imagine new possibilities. We explore the magic of performance, the reality behind it, and the power of art to foster joy and solidarity in vulnerable communities. Support the project: patreon.com/TherapyfortheWorld Music credits: “Limit 70,” licensed by Kevin MacLeod “Meditation” by Jules Massenet, from the Library of Congress Jukebox

Episode Transcript

(00:21):
And I think this is like the essence, this is not life, right? There is all.
of the things of, of the falls and the drops and pain and sweat that is behind the, the scenes that the spectator doesn't see.
Yeah.
And, uh, and the outcome, the, the, the number, the, the show is like this, this bubble of perfectness, this bubble of, uh, something that seems unachievable. 6 00:02:12,617.11045777 --> 00:02:12,947.11045777 Hania. 7 00:02:12,947.11045777 --> 00:02:15,467.11045777 I'm so glad to have a time to sit with you today. 8 00:02:15,527.11045777 --> 00:02:20,267.11045777 Uh, and to, to talk a little bit about, about everything, about social circus and more. 9 00:02:20,567.11045777 --> 00:02:33,197.11045777 I want to start way back early, early on and ask you if there's any experience, person, place, something in your early life that you can point to, that you think helped shape the person you are today. 10 00:02:35,537.11045777 --> 00:02:36,437.11045777 I thank you then. 11 00:02:36,497.11045777 --> 00:02:40,247.11045777 It's, uh, it's really lovely to be able to, to have this chat today. 12 00:02:40,637.11045777 --> 00:02:41,477.11045777 Um. 13 00:02:42,587.11045777 --> 00:02:43,637.11045777 Yeah, of course. 14 00:02:43,637.11045777 --> 00:03:01,307.11045777 Um, I think the, the earliest, if I go with my memory to the, the, the earliest times, I think, all the travels that I did with, uh, my parents, I was very lucky that we were a family, that we have been visiting, uh, parts of the world. 15 00:03:02,237.11045777 --> 00:03:09,197.11045777 does, uh, it did open my mind a little bit and the curiosity about the world. 16 00:03:09,677.11045777 --> 00:03:18,677.11045777 Um, and then when I was a little bit older, I decided to, to make a big part of my life, uh, traveling the world. 17 00:03:19,367.11045777 --> 00:03:33,437.11045777 And, uh, especially my father was very supportive with this idea and I was super lucky that I didn't have, uh, parents that were trying to make me make their dream come true. 18 00:03:33,857.11045777 --> 00:03:37,547.11045777 Uh, just they let me to make my own dream come true. 19 00:03:37,757.11045777 --> 00:03:40,667.11045777 And maybe there was a little bit of lack with the fact that. 20 00:03:41,507.11045777 --> 00:03:44,417.11045777 Some dream of my father was to travel the world. 21 00:03:44,807.11045777 --> 00:03:47,177.11045777 So he was like, okay, hania, you go. 22 00:03:48,107.11045777 --> 00:04:00,827.11045777 Uh, and then when I was, when I started to travel when I was 20 years old, um, to travel by myself, um, there I saw much more of the world. 23 00:04:00,827.11045777 --> 00:04:06,437.11045777 And I actually, I think I understood how I really want to live. 24 00:04:06,437.11045777 --> 00:04:19,517.11045777 And, uh, you know, when you travel, there is so many things that you learn about yourself, um, and that you can find, um, new not only in you, but also outside. 25 00:04:19,517.11045777 --> 00:04:24,197.11045777 And this is also how I found the, the circus and the social circus. 26 00:04:24,197.11045777 --> 00:04:25,457.11045777 It was during the travels. 27 00:04:25,457.11045777 --> 00:04:34,487.11045777 I have never about it before, that, uh, this could be, that this is possible to, to do something like this. 28 00:04:35,537.11045777 --> 00:04:36,557.11045777 Um, yeah, that this. 29 00:04:38,272.11045777 --> 00:04:59,312.11045777 You said that traveling helped you understand how you wanted to live and how did you want to live? What was the answer that was sort of coming alive inside you around that question? Um, first of all, um, my first meetings with, uh, with the travelers communities, with the backpackers. 30 00:05:00,32.11045777 --> 00:05:26,402.11045777 also backpackers, circus people, which is a different kind of traveling community, showed me that, um, it is possible to disconnect at least get a little bit farther from, from the consumption is, and, uh, all the idea of you need to, uh, have a great success in your life because of your career. 31 00:05:26,822.11045777 --> 00:05:43,262.11045777 Um, I think first of all, the, my first thoughts about how I want to live was as far from the system as possible, which, uh, of course during the years, I also understood and with, uh, with getting a little bit older that it's not, first of all so easy. 32 00:05:44,402.11045777 --> 00:05:52,712.11045777 Uh, and second of all that, um, not fully, fully, fully possible. 33 00:05:53,642.11045777 --> 00:05:59,132.11045777 Um, but definitely it showed me that I do want to live with. 34 00:05:59,732.11045777 --> 00:06:10,322.11045777 Open eyes keep connecting, to others and keep on like learning about the, the other cultures and about the other people. 35 00:06:10,322.11045777 --> 00:06:17,762.11045777 And don't get stuck in my point of view on what the, the reality is. 36 00:06:17,762.11045777 --> 00:06:21,62.11045777 Because wherever you go in the world, the reality is completely different. 37 00:06:22,82.11045777 --> 00:06:35,582.11045777 of each person is very different, but I think traveling is showing you this, that it's precious to get to know the realities of others and question your all that. 38 00:06:37,152.11045777 --> 00:06:45,942.11045777 It's interesting that you call it traveling, and I see why you call it traveling, but to me, what, I guess the word that better describes what you do is you live around the world. 39 00:06:46,392.11045777 --> 00:06:57,222.11045777 Uh, traveling kind of implies a, a short-lived nature to the experience, but you've properly been living somewhere that's not your first home for many years. 40 00:06:59,242.11045777 --> 00:07:04,907.11045777 Uh, yeah, I, I think, uh, well now I live in Argentina for one year and a half. 41 00:07:05,897.11045777 --> 00:07:15,797.11045777 I have lived for, uh, more than one year in Mexico, but before, seriously, for more or less? Eight. 42 00:07:16,517.11045777 --> 00:07:17,897.11045777 Um, no. 43 00:07:17,897.11045777 --> 00:07:28,517.11045777 Now with this one year, it's eight, so like six, seven years I did leave, um, as, as a backpacker of having like. 44 00:07:29,792.11045777 --> 00:07:39,392.11045777 Five months in one country, four months in the other country, and like changing the place of living a lot and having to adapt, uh, a lot. 45 00:07:39,422.11045777 --> 00:08:00,572.11045777 This is actually my first experience of actually building life of Poland and not just being in the state of, yes, I'm enjoying this, I'm trying to find a job, I'm trying to make friendships, but always with the mindset of am leaving soon, now I'm not going anywhere. 46 00:08:00,572.11045777 --> 00:08:18,272.11045777 And I also see how many good, uh, opportunities it gives me because I can finally have the mindset of the head space to create something and to actually build something that can grow in, uh, with time. 47 00:08:19,337.11045777 --> 00:08:22,307.11045777 It's special, it's a special feeling to say I've arrived. 48 00:08:22,637.11045777 --> 00:08:22,907.11045777 Right. 49 00:08:23,57.11045777 --> 00:08:23,987.11045777 I'm, I'm, I'm here. 50 00:08:24,47.11045777 --> 00:08:25,337.11045777 I'm here for a little bit now. 51 00:08:25,967.11045777 --> 00:08:40,217.11045777 Where along this process did you start coming across the circus? Actually, uh, I'm very happy about it, but it was my first big, uh, travel that I did when I was 20. 52 00:08:40,667.11045777 --> 00:08:46,697.11045777 Uh, I went to, for a hitchhiking trip in Asia. 53 00:08:47,57.11045777 --> 00:08:57,437.11045777 Uh, and, uh, it was six months I started in China, uh, then, uh, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. 54 00:08:57,527.11045777 --> 00:09:09,167.11045777 And, uh, so when I was in Vietnam after many adventures splitting with the guy that I was traveling with, um. 55 00:09:09,497.11045777 --> 00:09:23,837.11045777 And trying to like find myself alone in such a different culture again, uh, the universe started to give me like signs and people that were guiding me there. 56 00:09:23,927.11045777 --> 00:09:30,167.11045777 One time in, uh, Vietnam, I met a few guys from Belgium and Australia. 57 00:09:30,437.11045777 --> 00:09:32,237.11045777 They invited me to live with them. 58 00:09:32,237.11045777 --> 00:09:45,47.11045777 One of them was spinning poi, uh, and if someone doesn't know what is poi is this, uh, balls with fire or without fire that are on the chain and you spin them. 59 00:09:46,7.11045777 --> 00:09:48,467.11045777 Um, he showed me this. 60 00:09:48,797.11045777 --> 00:09:50,147.11045777 I had no idea what is that. 61 00:09:50,147.11045777 --> 00:09:58,157.11045777 He told me about the circus festival that is happening in Cambodia next week, my visa was finishing in Vietnam. 62 00:09:58,157.11045777 --> 00:10:00,827.11045777 So I was like, okay, I can also just go there. 63 00:10:01,127.11045777 --> 00:10:03,107.11045777 That can be the next plan that I will have. 64 00:10:03,557.11045777 --> 00:10:04,637.11045777 So I did that. 65 00:10:05,357.11045777 --> 00:10:29,717.11045777 many adventures and, uh, I got to this, uh, beautiful island in Cambodia and I, it felt like I'm entering a new world, like a magic universe with people throwing things, dancing with fire, doing acrobat, acrobatics on the beach, and everyone just being very hippie. 66 00:10:29,717.11045777 --> 00:10:31,517.11045777 Let's be very honest about that. 67 00:10:31,997.11045777 --> 00:10:49,697.11045777 Um, but just doing this in life and because I was in a moment of having no plan, having no idea in this moment for myself, it was like a gap year that I took after not getting to an acting school. 68 00:10:49,697.11045777 --> 00:11:01,997.11045777 I was like, okay, what now with my life? Uh, and I get so attached to the community and it my heart open so much. 69 00:11:02,417.11045777 --> 00:11:06,167.11045777 Because they were so loving and so helpful and so welcoming. 70 00:11:06,167.11045777 --> 00:11:09,917.11045777 It was the first time that in my life that I met like this. 71 00:11:10,307.11045777 --> 00:11:23,717.11045777 Also coming from quite cold country, which is Poland, um, that, uh, I just get super hooked, uh, on spinning the hoop and the dragon stuff. 72 00:11:23,717.11045777 --> 00:11:26,147.11045777 Uh, I just never stopped. 73 00:11:26,237.11045777 --> 00:11:44,267.11045777 I stayed in Cambodia for three months living with the community and I started to spin and I was like, okay, this will be my life Which was also a crazy idea, but as I say, I was so young and I was like, I am quite of a dreamer. 74 00:11:44,267.11045777 --> 00:11:53,957.11045777 So this made all made sense at this point, um, because I also saw a lot of people around me that were actually living like this. 75 00:11:55,127.11045777 --> 00:11:56,627.11045777 Uh, so I saw that it's possible. 76 00:11:57,587.11045777 --> 00:12:00,287.11045777 Um, and of course through the years. 77 00:12:01,37.11045777 --> 00:12:06,977.11045777 Um, all the idea of how I want to use circus in my life, have changed. 78 00:12:07,337.11045777 --> 00:12:23,717.11045777 In the beginning it was the, um, the idea of being a performer of making money by, um, making fire shows and, um, put all my energy there in like becoming better and better with the skills. 79 00:12:23,717.11045777 --> 00:12:36,857.11045777 And then I think keep, keep on keeping on traveling and keeping on meeting people and getting to know what else is there, uh, in the circus to, to use. 80 00:12:37,217.11045777 --> 00:12:47,747.11045777 Um, I started to understand that actually my path is not only this, that I can use it uh, differently and this is exactly what I'm doing now. 81 00:12:49,472.11045777 --> 00:12:50,462.11045777 This will be my life. 82 00:12:50,762.11045777 --> 00:12:52,502.11045777 You said it's a beautiful feeling. 83 00:12:53,57.11045777 --> 00:12:53,987.11045777 It's a beautiful feeling. 84 00:12:54,527.11045777 --> 00:12:57,467.11045777 Uh, I want us to talk a little bit about circus. 85 00:12:57,527.11045777 --> 00:13:21,857.11045777 I think you're, you're one of the people in my life who has expanded my understanding of what circus is because I think for most of us, circus represents that, you know, red and white tent that comes to town with a, like a, a poor lion who has been attached to the circus that, uh, is there by, by force, sort of like kidnapping animals and making them perform for people. 86 00:13:21,857.11045777 --> 00:13:24,947.11045777 And, um, you know, people dressed in weird outfits. 87 00:13:24,947.11045777 --> 00:13:30,977.11045777 That, but it's like, I think we have a, a certain cultural understanding of circus that, I don't think that's the circus you're talking about. 88 00:13:31,427.11045777 --> 00:13:32,27.11045777 Maybe it is. 89 00:13:32,27.11045777 --> 00:13:33,437.11045777 Maybe it includes it too. 90 00:13:33,797.11045777 --> 00:13:37,427.11045777 Uh, but I'd love if, if you could just, you know, explain what, what is circus. 91 00:13:37,982.11045777 --> 00:13:38,272.11045777 Yeah. 92 00:13:39,287.11045777 --> 00:13:53,417.11045777 Pleasure because as you say, there is a lot of misconceptions because then the history of circus goes really, really way back into the history of humanity. 93 00:13:53,777.11045777 --> 00:14:02,837.11045777 Um, but it have, uh, and changed and transformed, uh, to the reality that we are living now. 94 00:14:03,227.11045777 --> 00:14:15,677.11045777 Um, so just the fun fact that the first jugglers, you can see on the, uh, on the hier, hieroglyphics, uh, in Egypt. 95 00:14:16,247.11045777 --> 00:14:27,617.11045777 Uh, so it's as far, uh, far back that people have already learned how to do juggling, uh, and, and they understood this as a way of entertainment. 96 00:14:29,117.11045777 --> 00:14:36,677.11045777 and then the idea that you spoke about the Big Tens, is something that was created in, uh, in the United States. 97 00:14:37,97.11045777 --> 00:14:38,147.11045777 Um. 98 00:14:39,62.11045777 --> 00:14:42,242.11045777 Which was exactly connected with a huge animal abuse. 99 00:14:42,602.11045777 --> 00:14:52,352.11045777 Um, like all the animals that were being brought to, to, there were basically just being stolen from, um, from, from Africa. 100 00:14:53,642.11045777 --> 00:14:56,222.11045777 most of them 'cause it was the big, the big animals. 101 00:14:56,282.11045777 --> 00:15:16,952.11045777 And it was a great show and were really doing things that at the time were unimaginable for, for anyone, but also were being connected with a lot of abuse because there was this part of the circus that, uh, the, the freak stage. 102 00:15:17,282.11045777 --> 00:15:20,522.11045777 The freak show, right? So the freak show. 103 00:15:20,552.11045777 --> 00:15:35,792.11045777 Now maybe we, we connected with, uh, people eating glass or like throwing knives or like all this like tricks that are connected with doing something this almost hurting you. 104 00:15:36,152.11045777 --> 00:15:39,932.11045777 But these people have this ability of not feeling so much pain. 105 00:15:40,292.11045777 --> 00:15:44,222.11045777 So the freak show now it's this, or doing things that are a little bit gross. 106 00:15:45,122.11045777 --> 00:15:50,762.11045777 well, in the beginning the freak show was actually showing, uh, midgets. 107 00:15:50,762.11045777 --> 00:15:56,792.11045777 So showing people with huge, a obesity, people that were tattooed all over their bodies. 108 00:15:57,182.11045777 --> 00:16:10,772.11045777 Um, people with transformation, body transformation, deformations, uh, the, um, female with beards, right? Um. 109 00:16:11,807.11045777 --> 00:16:28,697.11045777 And it was basically, or also there was this part of having a, a African woman, in the freak show, right? Or, or a, or some indigenous, uh, people that were being captivated, maybe offered a better life. 110 00:16:28,697.11045777 --> 00:16:49,697.1104578 And they were traveling with the circus, uh, all, almost as in a, in a jail, right? Um, be shown as, uh, something crazy to see, right? And, uh, the huge money was being, uh, put in the old circuses and also made in the old circuses. 111 00:16:50,147.1104578 --> 00:17:00,197.1104578 It was also kind of, uh, of a way of escape for the people that, you know, this, there, there is the saying to run away with the circus. 112 00:17:00,437.1104578 --> 00:17:06,917.1104578 It kind of came with this, uh, the culture of the traveling circus in the United States when. 113 00:17:07,592.1104578 --> 00:17:08,792.1104578 The troop will come. 114 00:17:08,792.1104578 --> 00:17:14,942.1104578 They were the, the builders of, of the, of the big tent, were very needed. 115 00:17:15,932.1104578 --> 00:17:21,362.1104578 so there was a lot of people that were just like seeing the show and deciding, I have nothing to lose here. 116 00:17:21,812.1104578 --> 00:17:23,792.1104578 I, I will just go with them. 117 00:17:23,792.1104578 --> 00:17:24,662.1104578 They give me food. 118 00:17:24,662.1104578 --> 00:17:25,862.1104578 They give me some money. 119 00:17:26,252.1104578 --> 00:17:28,562.1104578 Uh, I will be doing this. 120 00:17:29,552.1104578 --> 00:17:33,872.1104578 so the running away with circus was a little bit connected with this reality. 121 00:17:36,422.1104578 --> 00:17:37,82.1104578 and then. 122 00:17:37,517.1104578 --> 00:17:38,177.1104578 Slow. 123 00:17:38,297.1104578 --> 00:17:50,567.1104578 Well, slowly with, with the years it started to develop, uh, with, with the culture of entertainment and stuff, I'm really happy that the animals are not allowed anymore, uh, in the circuses. 124 00:17:50,687.1104578 --> 00:17:52,97.1104578 It's still in our heads. 125 00:17:52,97.1104578 --> 00:17:59,777.1104578 I work a lot with kids and they all, if I ask them about the circus, they always say that, uh, that it's animals there. 126 00:18:00,227.1104578 --> 00:18:02,897.1104578 But ho luckily, uh, there's not anymore. 127 00:18:03,377.1104578 --> 00:18:23,177.1104578 And what is circus now? I think you can really, uh, divide it in so many different areas, which is beautiful, um, that it grew so much and it's not only just for entertainment and making huge money, to the director of the, of the show. 128 00:18:24,557.1104578 --> 00:18:29,432.1104578 So now I think you could, uh, divide it into a. 129 00:18:30,392.1104578 --> 00:19:08,672.1104578 traditional circles, which is, there is still tents, there is still big groups like Du Sole this kind of shows that are really focused on making, uh, a performance that is, um, it's a huge and full production with, uh, special effects and really people having skills that are, um, that are almost, Ima unimaginable, unimaginable for, uh, for the regular, normal people, right. 130 00:19:08,672.1104578 --> 00:19:09,302.1104578 Watching it. 131 00:19:11,12.1104578 --> 00:19:22,712.1104578 but then you have, then you have the, the part of the circus that is, um, now called arts. 132 00:19:23,162.1104578 --> 00:19:25,742.1104578 This is all the other, uh. 133 00:19:26,642.1104578 --> 00:19:30,662.1104578 Parts of using objects to manipulate them and do tricks. 134 00:19:30,662.1104578 --> 00:19:45,242.1104578 You have the juggling with balls and clubs that we might be and hula hoops that we might be quite, uh, familiarized, uh, to, to, to see. 135 00:19:45,242.1104578 --> 00:19:48,212.1104578 But there is also poy, as I mentioned before. 136 00:19:48,212.1104578 --> 00:19:54,92.1104578 There is also rope darts, which is like a long string with a big weight at the end. 137 00:19:54,92.1104578 --> 00:19:56,432.1104578 And you also manipulate it with your body. 138 00:19:56,432.1104578 --> 00:19:57,872.1104578 There is contact stuff. 139 00:19:58,142.1104578 --> 00:20:02,132.1104578 There is a lot of dias, uh, Chinese plates. 140 00:20:02,792.1104578 --> 00:20:03,842.1104578 contact balls. 141 00:20:03,842.1104578 --> 00:20:04,832.1104578 The crystal balls. 142 00:20:05,102.1104578 --> 00:20:25,712.1104578 So there is a lot of toys, um, that are going into this idea of arts the main thing this, that, um, why, why is it called flow arts? It's, uh, because it, it's because. 143 00:20:26,987.1104578 --> 00:20:28,67.1104578 We understood. 144 00:20:28,727.1104578 --> 00:21:16,607.1104578 mean, we understood, I feel a part of the community, uh, that the state of flow is almost like being high, uh, naturally because it's the state of presence and using the, the ability of your brain to its fullest, and you are just flowing with the movement of your body, with the movement of the object and using everything that you have already learned with the, like, facility and, and freedom you're not, you know, you, it's a different between difference between your training a trick. 145 00:21:17,567.1104578 --> 00:21:19,937.1104578 Or you're training a movement and repeating it. 146 00:21:20,297.1104578 --> 00:21:28,397.1104578 And when you already are in the state of I can do whatever I want and this object will listen to me because I know it so well. 147 00:21:28,787.1104578 --> 00:21:39,377.1104578 And it's just this kind of state of mind when it's also very easy to connect to, uh, to others. 148 00:21:39,407.1104578 --> 00:21:53,57.1104578 It's also a state that you, it's being created when, when you play, you know, when you play, when children play, when we as adults play also, you get to the state of flow nothing else matters. 149 00:21:53,57.1104578 --> 00:21:54,707.1104578 You have to be very present. 150 00:21:55,67.1104578 --> 00:22:02,927.1104578 Only there are rules of the game that you follow and you just go fully into the game, into the play. 151 00:22:03,347.1104578 --> 00:22:05,927.1104578 Uh, and this is allowing you to. 152 00:22:06,962.1104578 --> 00:22:12,692.1104578 Relax to disconnect, uh, from the, the worries of everyday life. 153 00:22:12,752.1104578 --> 00:22:31,652.1104578 And, uh, it allows you to connect with others more easily because you are all in the same frequency that your brain is creating, right? Um, so that, that would be this, this part of, and you see these people from the flow community. 154 00:22:31,652.1104578 --> 00:22:38,672.1104578 These are the people that would be doing maybe the, the street shows, um, working on the traffic lights. 155 00:22:38,672.1104578 --> 00:22:43,682.1104578 That's also another part of the circus that now is happening in all over the world. 156 00:22:43,682.1104578 --> 00:22:48,332.1104578 You have people working on traffic lights, um, and uh. 157 00:22:50,147.1104578 --> 00:22:57,587.1104578 It is kind of a bubble, I would say the flow arts community that maybe not many people know actually about it, its existence. 158 00:22:58,67.1104578 --> 00:23:00,617.1104578 Uh, we have our own festivals. 159 00:23:00,707.1104578 --> 00:23:02,867.1104578 Uh, we travel the world. 160 00:23:03,257.1104578 --> 00:23:14,417.1104578 Um, but because do need to get very hooked with some toy, uh, if you don't allow yourself Yeah. 161 00:23:14,417.1104578 --> 00:23:31,877.1104578 As a person that have never tried circus before or any of the flow arts, if you don't allow yourself to try to, to um, get hooked with something, then it's not so easy to enter, you know? 'cause it's a quite small community. 162 00:23:32,537.1104578 --> 00:23:39,377.1104578 Um, and then you have the, you have this. 163 00:23:40,262.1104578 --> 00:23:42,722.1104578 Circus schools for professionals. 164 00:23:43,52.1104578 --> 00:24:01,262.1104578 You have circus schools for children, that are maybe more traditional with this idea of let's practice a lot of acrobatics in the aerial acrobatics, like silks trap and aerial hoops, and other things. 165 00:24:02,252.1104578 --> 00:24:04,502.1104578 that requires a lot of discipline. 166 00:24:04,502.1104578 --> 00:24:06,152.1104578 That requires a lot of strength. 167 00:24:06,152.1104578 --> 00:24:14,552.1104578 And, uh, that's also a part of circus that it can you this, this, this practice that can also be very useful in life. 168 00:24:15,302.1104578 --> 00:24:22,322.1104578 Um, and you have all the social circus, which is huge, uh, all over the world. 169 00:24:22,322.1104578 --> 00:24:36,122.1104578 And it's basically using the tools, the, the juggling or the acrobatics or the idea of a practice as. 170 00:24:38,192.1104578 --> 00:24:55,802.1104578 As a way to connect with vulnerable people and, giving them the opportunity to like, or try something different that they are not able to try ever their everyday life. 171 00:24:56,462.1104578 --> 00:25:04,682.1104578 create the colorful and fun space in the reality that is quite difficult most of the time. 172 00:25:05,102.1104578 --> 00:25:08,102.1104578 And also in many, many countries. 173 00:25:08,102.1104578 --> 00:25:29,162.1104578 The social circles, which we can develop, uh, afterwards a little bit, um, is also a way to show the, the people from the communities, from the groups that, that, uh, the social circles go to, um, there is a possibility of doing something different in life. 174 00:25:29,912.1104578 --> 00:25:34,382.1104578 Uh, it's many joining the circus, what would be that, that different possibility? yeah. 175 00:25:34,382.1104578 --> 00:25:36,62.1104578 So, um. 176 00:25:36,827.1104578 --> 00:25:41,657.1104578 Sometimes it's, first of all, circus opens your creativity. 177 00:25:42,317.1104578 --> 00:25:42,587.1104578 Yeah. 178 00:25:42,587.1104578 --> 00:25:51,437.1104578 It shows you, it, it, it may puts your brain into the state of, ah, okay, do something different. 179 00:25:51,437.1104578 --> 00:25:57,107.1104578 And it's just, just this idea of something different, uh, can already change your life. 180 00:25:57,137.1104578 --> 00:26:06,767.1104578 That you cannot, you don't have to just stay in the place that you were born, stay in the community uh, that you got born into. 181 00:26:07,697.1104578 --> 00:26:11,87.1104578 but joining the circus, as you said Yes, can be an option. 182 00:26:11,87.1104578 --> 00:26:18,437.1104578 And I have met a lot of people that, um, were growing up in favelas Yeah. 183 00:26:18,437.1104578 --> 00:26:22,787.1104578 In slum areas, uh, that have been growing up on the streets. 184 00:26:22,787.1104578 --> 00:26:33,197.1104578 And because at some point in their life, they met a person that came and showed them the circus, or they saw a juggler on the traffic lights. 185 00:26:33,527.1104578 --> 00:26:34,937.1104578 They got interested. 186 00:26:35,342.1104578 --> 00:26:41,762.1104578 They started to practice by themselves and now they are doing this and they are making money by being an artist. 187 00:26:43,862.1104578 --> 00:26:58,622.1104578 which maybe in any other way would be much more difficult, that they understood that it's possible, you know? I love hearing you speak about this because in a way you also flow very much while you talk about circus. 188 00:26:58,712.1104578 --> 00:27:02,942.1104578 It's almost like it, I think you were speaking about each of these toys or instruments. 189 00:27:02,942.1104578 --> 00:27:10,862.1104578 Its extensions of the body almost to which you like, exert you to which you transfer some of your anima, some of your spirit, and you move with it. 190 00:27:11,42.1104578 --> 00:27:17,282.1104578 But I feel like circus at this point, you've been moving with it for eight years and you speak about it in a really integrated way. 191 00:27:17,312.1104578 --> 00:27:19,112.1104578 It's, it's a pleasure to hear you speak about it. 192 00:27:19,532.1104578 --> 00:27:25,412.1104578 Uh, I I was, one word that was on my mind while hearing you is the word captivate, which I think. 193 00:27:26,297.1104578 --> 00:27:28,637.1104578 Speaks to many different parts of what you've been describing. 194 00:27:28,637.1104578 --> 00:27:35,447.1104578 First, the part of running away with the circus, that the circus would, first it would capture people and animals. 195 00:27:35,537.1104578 --> 00:27:36,17.1104578 Let's start there. 196 00:27:36,527.1104578 --> 00:27:40,277.1104578 Capture people and animals, but then also capture people who would start working with the circus. 197 00:27:40,637.1104578 --> 00:27:44,777.1104578 You were, I think, captured in a way, in Cambodia, in a, in a different way. 198 00:27:44,777.1104578 --> 00:27:46,367.1104578 Right? Captivated, which is different. 199 00:27:46,577.1104578 --> 00:27:48,977.1104578 You were captivated in, in Cambodia. 200 00:27:49,307.1104578 --> 00:27:55,487.1104578 Um, but then there's also the, the spectator who's captivated, uh, while watching, which we haven't talked about as much. 201 00:27:55,637.1104578 --> 00:28:13,517.1104578 Uh, why is it so fascinating for us to watch circus and watch these performances? Yeah, that's, that's really great that, uh, that you, you want to speak about this also? well, as from the beginning, I think there is. 202 00:28:14,372.1104578 --> 00:28:21,992.1104578 Uh, there is this feeling of I am watching something, first of all, that I have never maybe seen before. 203 00:28:22,142.1104578 --> 00:28:35,42.1104578 Right? Um, that that's how the big tents started to be so famous, um, because people just didn't have access to entertainment, um, in this way. 204 00:28:35,72.1104578 --> 00:29:05,132.1104578 So it's like you see people because the, okay, let's say like this, um, as a spectator, you just see the outcome of it, right? That we as performers, we try that it's perfect, that there is no drops, that we don't fall, that we smile well in the traditional circus, right? That it's a full smile, glitter and everything is brilliant. 205 00:29:06,302.1104578 --> 00:29:12,92.1104578 And I think this is like the essence, this is not life, right? There is all. 206 00:29:13,337.1104578 --> 00:29:22,67.1104578 of the things of, of the falls and the drops and pain and sweat that is behind the, the scenes that the spectator doesn't see. 207 00:29:23,117.1104578 --> 00:29:23,567.1104578 Yeah. 208 00:29:23,567.1104578 --> 00:29:39,197.1104578 And, uh, and the outcome, the, the, the number, the, the show is like this, this bubble of perfectness, this bubble of, uh, something that seems unachievable. 209 00:29:39,767.1104578 --> 00:29:53,357.1104578 And because of the colors, because of the, the music, because of the, the movement of the bodies and the toys, um, it creates like a very different world. 210 00:29:53,567.1104578 --> 00:29:55,277.1104578 It's something that you don't see on the street. 211 00:29:55,277.1104578 --> 00:29:59,777.1104578 So I think this is so captivating that, I'm watching something. 212 00:30:01,82.1104578 --> 00:30:07,112.1104578 Like from a fairytale, from a, from a movie, from, uh, from a different universe. 213 00:30:07,112.1104578 --> 00:30:18,212.1104578 Uh, and because maybe before now it's a little bit more that you can see a juggler on the street, but before it you couldn't. 214 00:30:18,902.1104578 --> 00:30:40,172.1104578 So you also would look at these people performing, being like, I'm seeing a superhuman, 'cause there is also this thing of, um, for many, many years, circus was presented as something unachievable for an regular human right. 215 00:30:41,252.1104578 --> 00:30:53,312.1104578 Um, because you do need to put a lot of time and a lot of, um, engagement and sacrifice also into becoming a really good circus performer. 216 00:30:53,702.1104578 --> 00:30:57,332.1104578 So can seem like it's not for everyone. 217 00:30:57,572.1104578 --> 00:30:57,932.1104578 Right. 218 00:30:59,687.1104578 --> 00:31:03,587.1104578 Uh, and I think a lot of the, the fame of the circus was built on this. 219 00:31:03,917.1104578 --> 00:31:05,117.1104578 It's not for everyone. 220 00:31:05,837.1104578 --> 00:31:07,457.1104578 could not do that, but I can. 221 00:31:07,787.1104578 --> 00:31:19,697.1104578 So, um, there is this, this feeling of, hopefully for some people watching it, it's like, it creates the feeling, oh, I would like to be able to do that. 222 00:31:20,507.1104578 --> 00:31:44,57.1104578 Uh, and I think again, the nail circus, which is the circus that is being created now, that all the movements in the change from the traditional circus, now it's, starting to be a little bit more human, to connect with the feelings, trying to connect with the spectator from this part of hali. 223 00:31:44,57.1104578 --> 00:31:45,197.1104578 And I'm also human. 224 00:31:45,467.1104578 --> 00:31:46,757.1104578 I also make mistakes. 225 00:31:48,647.1104578 --> 00:32:00,617.1104578 I also speak, I also have emotions, you know, like, Hopefully, uh, with time because it is a transformation that needs time. 226 00:32:02,687.1104578 --> 00:32:09,347.1104578 a spectator will leave the circus feeling like, wow, I can, could do that also. 227 00:32:09,437.1104578 --> 00:32:10,757.1104578 Maybe I can try one day. 228 00:32:11,717.1104578 --> 00:32:39,587.1104578 Um, and again, it's like, a little bit like, um, circus, traditional circus, um, and flowers also, it's very connected with this, uh, thing of, I'm, it's like watching sports in the, the Olympics, right? Uh, you see people doing things that you cannot imagine you doing. 229 00:32:40,247.1104578 --> 00:32:45,377.1104578 Um, I think this is the, the, the beautiful thing. 230 00:32:45,377.1104578 --> 00:32:46,637.1104578 And there is a lot of colors. 231 00:32:46,877.1104578 --> 00:32:47,987.1104578 You know, a lot of colors. 232 00:32:47,987.1104578 --> 00:32:48,917.1104578 The toys are colorful. 233 00:32:48,917.1104578 --> 00:32:52,637.1104578 The, the costumes are colorful, so everything is like. 234 00:32:53,732.1104578 --> 00:32:59,492.1104578 I think it's connected with something in our brain that is very to the shiny and colorful things. 235 00:33:00,242.1104578 --> 00:33:05,612.1104578 Uh, that's also a way why we get so captivated, captivated watching it. 236 00:33:06,452.1104578 --> 00:33:07,112.1104578 I'm considering. 237 00:33:08,807.1104578 --> 00:33:17,357.1104578 I'm considering the connection there with your mention of social circus, which is a really big part of what you do now, and I'd love us to, I'd love us to talk about that. 238 00:33:18,47.1104578 --> 00:33:26,777.1104578 The, it can seem almost offensive to suggest to the presence of colors and illusion and everything is great in places where that's not true. 239 00:33:27,107.1104578 --> 00:33:27,347.1104578 Right. 240 00:33:27,347.1104578 --> 00:33:39,857.1104578 I think there's, there's a contra, a juxtaposition that occurs in, in, in the placement of circus in places where joy is not obvious or easy to come by play is not easy to come by. 241 00:33:40,727.1104578 --> 00:33:42,167.1104578 I, I wanted to talk about social circus. 242 00:33:42,167.1104578 --> 00:33:56,157.1104578 How did you get to that? You know, when, in your exploration of the circus community, you went to Mexico to train for a while in that modality, how did you arrive at social circus and how did you, you know, why did you choose to go to Mexico too? Mm-hmm. 243 00:33:57,62.1104578 --> 00:33:59,342.1104578 Um, so. 244 00:34:00,692.1104578 --> 00:34:09,662.1104578 Uh, when I was, uh, when I was still traveling with this idea of being a performer, um, I was going to, to many of these festivals. 245 00:34:09,662.1104578 --> 00:34:15,182.1104578 There is an uh, which is like a European juggling convention. 246 00:34:15,452.1104578 --> 00:34:19,112.1104578 It's the biggest European, uh, juggling convention. 247 00:34:20,222.1104578 --> 00:34:38,162.1104578 Um, and there you meet people, right? And I started to connect with people that started to tell me that this is what they do, that it's not only, uh, the performing part that you can go and play with the vulnerable. 248 00:34:38,567.1104578 --> 00:34:47,357.1104578 Communities with childrens that are living on streets with single mothers with in the refugee camps. 249 00:34:47,417.1104578 --> 00:34:50,897.1104578 So I just started to hear more and more about this. 250 00:34:51,197.1104578 --> 00:35:14,507.1104578 And I think also clowning was something that came even before that to connect a little bit more with the, the, the playfulness, with the fun, with being silly, with allowing the mistakes, you know? And when I started to, to open this part of myself through the clowning, which is another beautiful part of the circus that I didn't mention before. 251 00:35:14,957.1104578 --> 00:35:18,677.1104578 And it's, it's like inevitable. 252 00:35:18,737.1104578 --> 00:35:21,677.1104578 Like it ha it's, it's kind, it have always been there. 253 00:35:21,677.1104578 --> 00:35:25,337.1104578 And I hope it'll always be, um. 254 00:35:26,912.1104578 --> 00:35:39,92.1104578 So I start, I, I just get inspired by, by people, right? And, uh, so there is a lot of, uh, big organizations, um, that are working, uh, around the world. 255 00:35:40,52.1104578 --> 00:35:41,462.1104578 I started to hear about them. 256 00:35:41,462.1104578 --> 00:35:53,912.1104578 And I think just at some point, I really don't, cannot, um, recall a, a moment or anything like this, but I felt like, you know what? I actually want to do this. 257 00:35:54,362.1104578 --> 00:36:13,562.1104578 Like, I, I understood that I don't wanna spend life only the tricks to be a great performer and to just be on stages, because this is, well, this, this is the reality. 258 00:36:13,562.1104578 --> 00:36:18,992.1104578 If you really want to make your life from this, you need to do only this, um. 259 00:36:19,577.1104578 --> 00:36:29,867.1104578 If you really want to like, you know, sell yourself well, because most of the performers are, are freelancers and you have to be your own manager and everything. 260 00:36:30,617.1104578 --> 00:36:42,527.1104578 I was like, I don't really think it's connecting with my essence, you know? I did one day I just did a huge research of, of social circus that exist. 261 00:36:42,527.1104578 --> 00:36:49,397.1104578 I found some, I found some groups and uh, I found the training. 262 00:36:49,397.1104578 --> 00:36:52,217.1104578 The first one I did was with, uh, it's called Kate. 263 00:36:52,427.1104578 --> 00:36:54,857.1104578 And uh, did it in Budapest. 264 00:36:54,857.1104578 --> 00:36:59,897.1104578 It was like few, um, like 10 days or something like this. 265 00:37:02,672.1104578 --> 00:37:29,252.1104578 And there I understood where basically what do we learn in the training for such as circus? We, we learn how to, first of all, the, the different methods of teaching the, the tricks, um, for to approach a group of four years old, how to approach a group of teenagers, how to approach adults, how to approach people with disabilities. 266 00:37:29,252.1104578 --> 00:37:45,182.1104578 So basically the idea of social, social circus is to make all these things that I just said that are, that seem imaginable and unaccessible how to make it accessible and how to give everyone a chance, even to try. 267 00:37:45,512.1104578 --> 00:37:47,432.1104578 Even just to try, you know. 268 00:37:47,792.1104578 --> 00:38:00,122.1104578 Um, I did that and I started to give classes by myself when I was still in Poland, wherever I would travel, I would just like. 269 00:38:00,182.1104578 --> 00:38:06,962.1104578 I play more and more with children I would meet on the beaches, on the streets. 270 00:38:06,962.1104578 --> 00:38:16,952.1104578 And can see that when you walk around any place and you have your, my hula hoops with me, the children just like, it's a toy. 271 00:38:16,982.1104578 --> 00:38:18,2.1104578 You know, it's a toy. 272 00:38:18,302.1104578 --> 00:38:36,632.1104578 So for the children it's like, ah, can I try, can I try? Can you show me something? What is that? And if you allow yourself and you open yourself to, to ready to play whenever, then you can really create beautiful moments, beautiful tiny moments in your everyday life. 273 00:38:37,442.1104578 --> 00:38:50,492.1104578 So then, uh, I basically went to Mexico to, ah, I was before I was also in Germany, um, with ka and social circus. 274 00:38:50,492.1104578 --> 00:38:55,382.1104578 That is also a very big, uh, movement of social circus in Berlin. 275 00:38:55,802.1104578 --> 00:38:58,262.1104578 They do a great job also with, uh. 276 00:38:58,592.1104578 --> 00:39:07,142.1104578 With refugees and, um, and, uh, and the children from schools and poorer areas. 277 00:39:07,142.1104578 --> 00:39:16,22.1104578 Also, not only but but also, so I worked a little bit with them and I understood that yes, this is the way, let's keep on going. 278 00:39:16,622.1104578 --> 00:39:22,172.1104578 Then Corona came and, uh, oh, I'm losing my chronology. 279 00:39:22,517.1104578 --> 00:39:24,857.1104578 So much before I was in Kenya. 280 00:39:25,547.1104578 --> 00:39:33,197.1104578 So that was the thing I, when I did all the research, yes, when I did all the research, I found some, uh, organizations. 281 00:39:33,197.1104578 --> 00:39:35,537.1104578 One of them was Performers Without Borders. 282 00:39:36,167.1104578 --> 00:39:40,847.1104578 And uh, I tried one year, um, but I was such a beginner. 283 00:39:40,847.1104578 --> 00:39:43,187.1104578 I was like one year of, of doing circus. 284 00:39:43,577.1104578 --> 00:39:44,627.1104578 So I didn't get in. 285 00:39:44,927.1104578 --> 00:39:48,647.1104578 I tried the next year 'cause I, during the year I get better. 286 00:39:49,97.1104578 --> 00:39:53,507.1104578 They accepted me and I went to Kenya and it was 2020. 287 00:39:53,957.1104578 --> 00:40:09,17.1104578 Um, I went to Kenya for three months and we did a social circus project when we were teaching the, the acrobats from the Nairobi Circus School, how to juggle, how to use the different toys than just acrobatics. 288 00:40:09,377.1104578 --> 00:40:12,677.1104578 We were going to slum areas and to very poor schools. 289 00:40:13,457.1104578 --> 00:40:21,827.1104578 And there I got more, you know, it was like a process of years getting just more tools and more tools and more tools of, of teaching. 290 00:40:23,207.1104578 --> 00:40:36,197.1104578 Coordinating groups, uh, finding my own way of being the coordinator, finding my inner clown that would help me to run all of this. 291 00:40:36,827.1104578 --> 00:40:44,177.1104578 Um, Kenya was a huge experience with a, was always part of my dream to, to go to Africa. 292 00:40:44,507.1104578 --> 00:40:48,407.1104578 So it was, uh, was also a dream come true. 293 00:40:49,97.1104578 --> 00:40:56,717.1104578 Then I ended up on this small island, Ana island it's called in Kenya, where by myself. 294 00:40:56,807.1104578 --> 00:40:59,987.1104578 I connected with one organization. 295 00:41:00,827.1104578 --> 00:41:13,517.1104578 Um, and, uh, was teaching there in a school and giving some movement and circus activities with my five hoops, you know, seven hoops, for the group of orphans. 296 00:41:13,517.1104578 --> 00:41:15,497.1104578 Uh, and I was like. 297 00:41:16,52.1104578 --> 00:41:18,152.1104578 Yeah, this is giving me a lot of joy. 298 00:41:18,182.1104578 --> 00:41:20,432.1104578 Okay, let's go this way. 299 00:41:20,492.1104578 --> 00:41:32,642.1104578 You know? Um, and you can see, as you mentioned, that go to this, um, vulnerable places where as you said, joy is not obvious. 300 00:41:34,52.1104578 --> 00:42:00,632.1104578 And think it's such a precious, ability to have when you have dance, circus, any kind of art can create a magical world for anyone, even just for a moment, you know, art is a way of, uh, transforming and expressing the emotions that are like deeply hidden in us. 301 00:42:00,782.1104578 --> 00:42:13,563.1104578 So it might seem, you know, little but really an hour of playing safely of playing, uh, with someone that you. 302 00:42:14,537.1104578 --> 00:42:17,447.1104578 That gives you your, his full attention. 303 00:42:18,377.1104578 --> 00:42:21,347.1104578 just for you kid, I, you have my full attention. 304 00:42:21,347.1104578 --> 00:42:24,227.1104578 I will watch whatever you want to show me. 305 00:42:24,227.1104578 --> 00:42:29,117.1104578 I will clap and applaud any smallest achievement you make. 306 00:42:29,807.1104578 --> 00:42:49,727.1104578 This can really be very, very, um, not only satisfying, but like upbringing, uh, and, and self-esteem building this small creature or a big creature also because adults are, um, are a part of social circles too. 307 00:42:50,717.1104578 --> 00:42:56,837.1104578 Um, with this, with this project, I think I understood that. 308 00:42:57,317.1104578 --> 00:43:00,737.1104578 I think I understood the power of, uh. 309 00:43:01,517.1104578 --> 00:43:04,7.1104578 Of, of the social circus even more. 310 00:43:04,127.1104578 --> 00:43:07,337.1104578 And I basically had to flee Kenya because of Corona. 311 00:43:08,57.1104578 --> 00:43:10,757.1104578 Um, I could not, uh, stay there. 312 00:43:11,87.1104578 --> 00:43:18,917.1104578 And, uh, when Corona kept on going, I was in Berlin, it was starting to be winter, which is very sad in Europe. 313 00:43:19,277.1104578 --> 00:43:20,927.1104578 So I was like, I am living. 314 00:43:22,67.1104578 --> 00:43:31,487.1104578 I was still in the traveling mode back then and I went to Mexico because Mexico was open and you didn't have to have a vaccine or test or nothing. 315 00:43:32,147.1104578 --> 00:43:37,937.1104578 So I went to Mexico and there, uh, I found the matching weapon organization. 316 00:43:38,897.1104578 --> 00:43:42,347.1104578 I did the like, uh, two months formation with them. 317 00:43:43,427.1104578 --> 00:43:54,287.1104578 And, uh, it's, it was in incredible, you know, to see also a Latin version of approach when, uh, of the approach to social circus. 318 00:43:54,692.1104578 --> 00:43:57,92.1104578 Which is very different from the European one. 319 00:43:57,812.1104578 --> 00:44:05,882.1104578 European social circus, um, very much, we have a social school, we have all the equipment. 320 00:44:05,912.1104578 --> 00:44:10,562.1104578 We bring children to our circus tent or to our circus school. 321 00:44:11,42.1104578 --> 00:44:18,32.1104578 We have a lot of equipment that we can bring to the refugee camps or to the refugee centers. 322 00:44:19,112.1104578 --> 00:44:24,932.1104578 So it's very like abundant, you know, um, which is amazing. 323 00:44:25,772.1104578 --> 00:44:34,412.1104578 And then, and also for the, in Kenya I was with, with the European organization, so we also were bringing that. 324 00:44:36,662.1104578 --> 00:44:46,982.1104578 and then in, in Mexico, the approach social circus was, let's play with nothing. 325 00:44:47,792.1104578 --> 00:44:51,752.1104578 Let's try to create toys from anything that we find. 326 00:44:52,457.1104578 --> 00:44:58,157.1104578 course, great if we get to get the c uh, circus equipment, but we don't have to. 327 00:44:58,967.1104578 --> 00:45:16,67.1104578 there I learned a lot of games, a lot of, uh, uh, a lot of like very community and group and coordination based activities, which I think is something that in Latin America is very present. 328 00:45:16,67.1104578 --> 00:45:26,537.1104578 Like there is much less individualism in the, the society, maybe still. 329 00:45:27,257.1104578 --> 00:45:31,607.1104578 Well, of course there is some, but people are living together still. 330 00:45:31,937.1104578 --> 00:45:37,427.1104578 Uh, so in the vulnerable communities there is even more of that, you know. 331 00:45:38,297.1104578 --> 00:45:44,417.1104578 Um, so I got a lot, a lot of tools there in Mexico. 332 00:45:44,777.1104578 --> 00:45:51,737.1104578 Also got in touch with, uh, som Mayan communities and that was, uh, another. 333 00:45:52,367.1104578 --> 00:45:59,297.1104578 Um, another way of seeing very different vulnerable reality. 334 00:46:00,77.1104578 --> 00:46:15,167.1104578 know, like this is also beautiful about the circus the clowning that it can, opens you doors to places that maybe you would never end up in just by being a tourist. 335 00:46:15,197.1104578 --> 00:46:25,997.1104578 I also have to, like I, I know that by being a European, I am very blonde and with my blue eyes. 336 00:46:25,997.1104578 --> 00:46:41,297.1104578 And so when I go to, to countries of different culture, um, and I would not be doing circus probably, I would never be able to so easily meet the, these communities that I met because. 337 00:46:42,137.1104578 --> 00:46:49,637.1104578 Maybe I would be seen just as a tourist with a lot of money, or they would not trust me so much. 338 00:46:50,117.1104578 --> 00:46:56,687.1104578 Or maybe which happens also, unfortunately, you know, they would try to take advantage of me in some way. 339 00:46:58,487.1104578 --> 00:47:11,267.1104578 and because I have all the toys in my red nose of a clown, really up in places that would, could also be very dangerous for me if I didn't have this. 340 00:47:11,957.1104578 --> 00:47:36,407.1104578 But it's very not, not that someone hurts a clown, for example, you know, uh, um, here in Argentina, I I end up in, in Buenos Aires, we went with my clowning group to, to vi we got lost ino, which is quite a heavy, heavy part. 341 00:47:36,407.1104578 --> 00:47:36,467.1104578 Um. 342 00:47:38,297.1104578 --> 00:47:53,87.1104578 Of of Bueno Aires little happened because we were dressed up as clowns, you know? Um, you do bring smile wherever you are and the feeling of, of playfulness you go with circus. 343 00:47:53,87.1104578 --> 00:47:56,147.1104578 And I think this is the, the, the beauty of it all. 344 00:47:57,197.1104578 --> 00:48:00,902.1104578 Um, I hope I answered your question very widely, but. 345 00:48:01,517.1104578 --> 00:48:07,157.1104578 It's a, it's a, it's truly a pleasure to hear you speak, uh, in general and about this. 346 00:48:07,547.1104578 --> 00:48:09,227.1104578 I, there's just such. 347 00:48:10,472.1104578 --> 00:48:14,72.1104578 Sincere and connectedness to, to your story in you. 348 00:48:14,102.1104578 --> 00:48:18,2.1104578 It's, it, I'm enjoying listening, so yes, you answered my question entirely. 349 00:48:18,752.1104578 --> 00:48:29,432.1104578 I'm, I'm, I, I kept, I keep coming back to something we were saying earlier about what exactly it is that's being offered to, to folks in who benefit from social circus. 350 00:48:29,702.1104578 --> 00:48:34,682.1104578 Uh, you know, we talked about offering them opportunities, was a word that, that you used earlier. 351 00:48:34,742.1104578 --> 00:48:54,842.1104578 And I butted in, I butted in there and I said, well, do you mean like to join the, the circus as the opportunity? And you said certainly they could, but primarily and above all what is being offered is that opportunity to, to, to be attended, to, to be listened to, to have your inner clown, um, enabled right. 352 00:48:54,842.1104578 --> 00:48:57,992.1104578 To, to play, to, to, to see joy. 353 00:48:58,22.1104578 --> 00:49:02,132.1104578 I I think that is what, what you guys are offering, right in, in those moments. 354 00:49:02,807.1104578 --> 00:49:04,427.1104578 Yes, yes, definitely. 355 00:49:04,517.1104578 --> 00:49:04,907.1104578 Yes. 356 00:49:04,967.1104578 --> 00:49:05,777.1104578 To see joy. 357 00:49:05,807.1104578 --> 00:49:07,787.1104578 That's, that's really, really great. 358 00:49:07,817.1104578 --> 00:49:21,47.1104578 What, what you just said because, um, think, uh, when we, when social circus, uh, groups come, they really, really try, like we do put a character on us. 359 00:49:21,47.1104578 --> 00:49:34,787.1104578 We don't come usually as like, regular people just do, ah, hey guys, you wanna play? Nah, you do have to be, uh, very, um. 360 00:49:35,927.1104578 --> 00:49:42,32.1104578 Attention And in Spanish, how would you say it in English? Attention grabbing. 361 00:49:42,737.1104578 --> 00:49:43,907.1104578 Yes, exactly. 362 00:49:43,907.1104578 --> 00:49:45,677.1104578 Attention grabbing, grabbing. 363 00:49:45,767.1104578 --> 00:50:00,737.1104578 Um, have to like these kids that kids, or, or, or adults also that maybe because of the fact that they don't, they live in such, uh, in hard conditions, they don't trust so much. 364 00:50:00,917.1104578 --> 00:50:03,797.1104578 And you are a stranger, you are a person. 365 00:50:03,827.1104578 --> 00:50:04,67.1104578 Yeah. 366 00:50:04,67.1104578 --> 00:50:11,807.1104578 Many times this is people from different countries traveling, uh, to do social circus, uh, work in, in difficult conditions. 367 00:50:11,807.1104578 --> 00:50:21,677.1104578 So, uh, you need to create the, the, the character that will be you to play with them. 368 00:50:21,677.1104578 --> 00:50:25,757.1104578 That you just kind of cannot say no to them. 369 00:50:25,967.1104578 --> 00:50:26,837.1104578 Uh, right. 370 00:50:27,287.1104578 --> 00:50:32,87.1104578 Um, and yes, we do try to be excessively happy. 371 00:50:32,822.1104578 --> 00:50:45,242.1104578 Um, because I think it's, it's allowing to the ones that we work with to feel the same, to feel like, ah, okay, it's possible. 372 00:50:45,572.1104578 --> 00:50:48,212.1104578 He is so happy and so joyful and he's jumping. 373 00:50:48,212.1104578 --> 00:50:49,622.1104578 When something works, I can do that. 374 00:50:49,622.1104578 --> 00:50:56,762.1104578 Also, you know, because especially if you work with kids, they are a mirror and a sponge to everything that's happening around. 375 00:50:56,762.1104578 --> 00:51:21,302.1104578 So if they don't see adults around laughing a lot and the joy from the smallest things, and maybe sometimes they are being called out for being too loud or too, too, uh, too expressive, too, too much, you know, with their childhood ness. 376 00:51:21,302.1104578 --> 00:51:28,562.1104578 Uh, c childness, this, the essence, the joy is, and playfulness is the essence of a, of a kid. 377 00:51:29,447.1104578 --> 00:51:35,957.1104578 They are being called out because you shouldn't be do that, or it's not the place or blah la la all this stuff. 378 00:51:36,857.1104578 --> 00:51:47,657.1104578 Then all the sessions is being a little bit like put in a box that uh, with the play it can, explode again. 379 00:51:48,107.1104578 --> 00:51:50,102.1104578 Uh, many You need to do is open it. 380 00:51:50,192.1104578 --> 00:51:50,907.1104578 All you need to do is open it. 381 00:51:51,437.1104578 --> 00:51:52,157.1104578 exactly. 382 00:51:52,157.1104578 --> 00:52:01,97.1104578 Give it a space to, to to be expressed Many times also the space of social, social, social circus place. 383 00:52:01,97.1104578 --> 00:52:05,897.1104578 It's, it's not only about, okay, I'm gonna go and I'm going to teach them how to juggle. 384 00:52:05,927.1104578 --> 00:52:06,287.1104578 Right. 385 00:52:07,277.1104578 --> 00:52:21,857.1104578 It's about also like making songs and dances and playing music so that they can actually be very, very loud. 386 00:52:21,917.1104578 --> 00:52:26,207.1104578 That they can scream, that they can like jump and dance and. 387 00:52:27,527.1104578 --> 00:52:46,847.1104578 And just do the, recharge, no, not recharge, discharge, uh, lose and, and, and, le live out all the tension that is being created, uh, in everyday life, which everyone should be doing. 388 00:52:46,877.1104578 --> 00:52:57,137.1104578 But it's a little bit easier to offer it to kids because they are still open to, you know, youth opportunity when you give it to them to the fullest. 389 00:52:58,122.1104578 --> 00:53:02,902.1104578 Before you have to go, I'd love to talk about the specific project that you're working on now. 390 00:53:02,902.1104578 --> 00:53:06,262.1104578 I, I feel like you have a thousand projects, but maybe. 391 00:53:06,262.1104578 --> 00:53:10,587.1104578 You can build a landscape of the projects you're currently working on, especially mata. 392 00:53:12,227.1104578 --> 00:53:12,827.1104578 Yes. 393 00:53:12,977.1104578 --> 00:53:14,57.1104578 Thank you very much. 394 00:53:14,147.1104578 --> 00:53:21,647.1104578 Uh, with pleasure because it's, uh, I feel it's like my and our small baby. 395 00:53:22,7.1104578 --> 00:53:41,327.1104578 Um, after so many years of, of, of traveling and working with other organizations and uh, different methods of, uh, of, of the work, of the social circus work, I, uh, being here in Argentina now, I felt like, okay, I am, I am ready. 396 00:53:41,327.1104578 --> 00:53:45,167.1104578 I think I am ready to finally start something mine. 397 00:53:47,507.1104578 --> 00:54:07,997.1104578 and, uh, so Maita is one part of the, of the social circus work that I am doing as a branch of the It's an organization that, uh, was started four years ago or five years ago by my friend as a, who is Argentinian. 398 00:54:08,27.1104578 --> 00:54:15,887.1104578 And it started as a, um, music school the kids and adults, but the. 399 00:54:16,937.1104578 --> 00:54:34,67.1104578 Um, the is to bring art as a, as a tool for social change, right? Um, and they have been doing some, some, uh, activities in the poor, uh, vulnerable areas before. 400 00:54:34,757.1104578 --> 00:54:48,407.1104578 now, uh, me and my, my friend, uh, Mika, who is Argentinian also, we were offered by Via Mambo to start this social social project. 401 00:54:49,97.1104578 --> 00:55:09,77.1104578 Um, so what we do is that for the last four months, for now, we have been going to, to the, uh, plaza the module, which is one of the biggest squares in, in Buenos Aires, where there is, um, es like food sharing. 402 00:55:09,287.1104578 --> 00:55:11,357.1104578 Um, sharing, uh. 403 00:55:13,607.1104578 --> 00:55:18,677.1104578 Events happening and there is a lot of them in all the Argentina. 404 00:55:18,947.1104578 --> 00:55:23,87.1104578 So there is one on Plaza Deja organized by red. 405 00:55:23,957.1104578 --> 00:55:27,287.1104578 every day, which is also an amazing job that they are doing. 406 00:55:27,437.1104578 --> 00:55:29,777.1104578 Big, big respect for them. 407 00:55:29,837.1104578 --> 00:55:38,627.1104578 They have been doing this for 13 years and we are going there, uh, each Friday and we go with a group of volunteers. 408 00:55:39,77.1104578 --> 00:55:46,757.1104578 We bring our toys we bring the colorful and safe space for the kids that are coming with their families. 409 00:55:47,147.1104578 --> 00:55:56,477.1104578 These are mostly, uh, from all with families with very little resources or children that, that are living with their families on the streets. 410 00:55:56,957.1104578 --> 00:56:08,27.1104578 Um, so we are coming there and we already get to the point of their four months to that. 411 00:56:08,27.1104578 --> 00:56:09,737.1104578 These kids, they understand. 412 00:56:10,412.1104578 --> 00:56:12,242.1104578 That this is a space for them. 413 00:56:12,602.1104578 --> 00:56:20,662.1104578 So we have, uh, we have our, um, lunas, our, Blanket. 414 00:56:20,882.1104578 --> 00:56:25,22.1104578 that we, yes, we, we put blankets on the, on the grass. 415 00:56:25,322.1104578 --> 00:56:34,82.1104578 We put lights, we put colorful, um, bandar bands, garlands, uh, to create the space a little bit. 416 00:56:34,82.1104578 --> 00:56:47,72.1104578 We built, uh, a fake fire space that is like a place of, of, uh, meeting in the beginning and at the end of the session, which is really beautiful. 417 00:56:47,282.1104578 --> 00:56:52,352.1104578 And we come there for two to three hours, which is quite a long time. 418 00:56:52,442.1104578 --> 00:56:56,12.1104578 But this is how much the kids are there to. 419 00:56:57,92.1104578 --> 00:57:08,552.1104578 Not only play the social circus games and to learn, teach them how to h hoop and, uh, teach them how to do Chinese plates, but also through the display. 420 00:57:08,822.1104578 --> 00:57:33,842.1104578 We really wanted them to, in this, um, conditions to give them a little bit of, of, of breath they don't have to, you know, be all the time attentive if something is, is going to happen to them, um, where they don't have to, it's, it maybe will be very strong, what I will say. 421 00:57:33,842.1104578 --> 00:57:43,562.1104578 But it is true that in the condition of, of the crisis, of, of homelessness, there is a lot of drug addiction. 422 00:57:43,562.1104578 --> 00:57:45,572.1104578 There is a lot of alcohol addiction. 423 00:57:45,572.1104578 --> 00:57:51,542.1104578 There is a lot of, um, very, very violent, uh. 424 00:57:53,387.1104578 --> 00:57:59,117.1104578 Behavior that these kids have to deal with, that they are just next to it. 425 00:57:59,477.1104578 --> 00:58:06,647.1104578 Um, and I think it's super important to give them the space that they are not around. 426 00:58:06,647.1104578 --> 00:58:17,897.1104578 It just even for this few hours, you know, that they don't have to deal with another drunk man that is passing by and wanting something from them. 427 00:58:17,897.1104578 --> 00:58:30,527.1104578 And they, it's another very heavy thing to say, but they don't have to see their parents dragging themselves, you know, is happening unfortunately. 428 00:58:31,607.1104578 --> 00:58:47,267.1104578 Um, where they are far from the parents or the friends of the parents that want to them by giving them a slap, you know? Um, this is unfortunately the, the, the reality that these kids are give, are living. 429 00:58:47,267.1104578 --> 00:58:51,287.1104578 And, um, again, it's not a lot. 430 00:58:52,262.1104578 --> 00:58:59,12.1104578 time a week, but you can really feel it is meaningful for them. 431 00:58:59,12.1104578 --> 00:59:19,52.1104578 Like whenever we are going, and we are like getting to the square, they, they come running to us and they scream our names and they want to help us bring all the equipment and they wanna, uh, like they feel that it's their space already. 432 00:59:19,472.1104578 --> 00:59:42,782.1104578 It's really beautiful that, uh, they do care, know, and it's also something that to care for the space, to want it to be, let's say, clean organized, to, to understand that, ah, this is ours also, you know, like this is our space, this, this feeling of belonging. 433 00:59:43,442.1104578 --> 00:59:44,312.1104578 Um. 434 00:59:44,747.1104578 --> 00:59:51,797.1104578 For, for children that are living in situations that maybe don't, they don't have it so much or it's very unstable. 435 00:59:52,967.1104578 --> 01:00:03,317.1104578 I think it also gives big, uh, a big self-esteem boost, you know? Um, It's an alternative space. 436 01:00:03,437.1104578 --> 01:00:03,977.1104578 yes. 437 01:00:04,307.1104578 --> 01:00:05,147.1104578 Exactly. 438 01:00:05,267.1104578 --> 01:00:05,897.1104578 Exactly. 439 01:00:05,897.1104578 --> 01:00:09,287.1104578 It's an alternative space that they can use as they want. 440 01:00:09,737.1104578 --> 01:00:19,67.1104578 And we also try to give them the, the freedom to, to, you know, we, it's not that we go, come and we are like, ah, today we'll do only this. 441 01:00:19,397.1104578 --> 01:00:24,437.1104578 You know, it's, it's a place where we allow them to offer the games. 442 01:00:24,437.1104578 --> 01:00:44,267.1104578 We allow them to offer the dynamics and to make changes in what we are doing so that it's their, um, will and their And what happens at the end of those events? You said that you guys sit around the fire in quotes. 443 01:00:44,537.1104578 --> 01:00:57,77.1104578 What? What goes on during those moments? So, uh, after we finish, so basically we, we do the activity, uh, long as there is food being given, the, the kids eat. 444 01:00:57,77.1104578 --> 01:01:06,917.1104578 And that's also a beautiful thing that before they have been like going to eat with their parents or, and now they are just bringing food and eating with us. 445 01:01:07,367.1104578 --> 01:01:10,487.1104578 And this is our space to, to eat together also. 446 01:01:11,87.1104578 --> 01:01:21,947.1104578 Um, and afterwards, uh, after we clean, we sit around the fire and we have this moment to, to thank each other for playing. 447 01:01:22,37.1104578 --> 01:01:30,527.1104578 We have this moment to, um, look each other in the eyes and, uh, we have this small, small ritual. 448 01:01:30,527.1104578 --> 01:01:32,777.1104578 Let's say that we connect our hands. 449 01:01:33,77.1104578 --> 01:01:40,607.1104578 Each one is putting one hand to the middle of the circle, and we create like this big sun with our hands. 450 01:01:40,637.1104578 --> 01:01:42,347.1104578 We close the hands. 451 01:01:42,347.1104578 --> 01:01:55,217.1104578 So there is this like big spiral of the hands created and we send the full energy and gratitude to the universe, you know? and it's really lovely. 452 01:01:55,427.1104578 --> 01:02:06,467.1104578 And it's, uh, and it's, it's like, it's, it's a bonding experience for them also, uh, where everyone is equal and there is a place for everyone also in the circle. 453 01:02:07,217.1104578 --> 01:02:24,137.1104578 Um, that's the power of the circle, you know? And, uh, and the, the fire also has this, um, symbolism of, of, um, something warm, of something that is pleasant to be in. 454 01:02:24,197.1104578 --> 01:02:28,607.1104578 That's why we decided to have uh, with us. 455 01:02:29,717.1104578 --> 01:02:30,107.1104578 Yeah. 456 01:02:31,42.1104578 --> 01:02:32,192.1104578 It's a beautiful activity. 457 01:02:32,462.1104578 --> 01:02:33,152.1104578 You're gonna cry. 458 01:02:33,212.1104578 --> 01:02:40,713.1104578 is, I wonder how people can learn more about the project or support it. 459 01:02:42,812.1104578 --> 01:02:44,72.1104578 uh, yes, of course. 460 01:02:44,132.1104578 --> 01:03:00,842.1104578 So, uh, well, think the, the social media that, uh, is the most developed in this moment is the, the Instagram, uh, which is can mabo uh, dot o ar. 461 01:03:01,562.1104578 --> 01:03:05,552.1104578 Um, there they can find the, the materials from the sessions. 462 01:03:05,582.1104578 --> 01:03:14,822.1104578 And, uh, there is also a link tree where, where they can get to know more about the school itself, but also about the project. 463 01:03:14,942.1104578 --> 01:03:23,252.1104578 And also, um, the same name as the, as the Instagram page. 464 01:03:23,312.1104578 --> 01:03:28,82.1104578 Uh, is the website also, so ke.org 465 01:03:28,82.1104578 --> 01:03:28,592.1104578 dot r. 466 01:03:29,702.1104578 --> 01:03:34,502.1104578 Um, ar um, is the website that shows you all of the projects. 467 01:03:34,592.1104578 --> 01:03:37,742.1104578 Uh, and so this is where you can read about it. 468 01:03:38,132.1104578 --> 01:03:49,262.1104578 And because we are starting and because we are, um, individual, uh, organization, we, we are working donation based. 469 01:03:49,622.1104578 --> 01:04:09,782.1104578 So there is an option also to, to donate if you feel like you can, uh, donate monthly, which is super helpful because it gives us this, uh, freedom to plan activities for the future because we will know that we will have enough for. 470 01:04:10,217.1104578 --> 01:04:24,827.1104578 To get the materials to, to get the materials that are maybe simple, but you use them, you know, all the time for, for the drawing and, uh, manual activities, but also the, the circus toys that are being used. 471 01:04:24,827.1104578 --> 01:04:28,487.1104578 And there is more and more, uh, children that are coming. 472 01:04:28,487.1104578 --> 01:04:35,27.1104578 So we do need more, uh, tools to be able to offer, uh, the activities to more kids. 473 01:04:35,87.1104578 --> 01:04:53,867.1104578 Um, we are now also going to, uh, to an orphanage, which is a very different, uh, different surrounding and conditions to work at because it's teenager boys, which is a challenging place to be at. 474 01:04:54,617.1104578 --> 01:04:59,987.1104578 Uh, we are there for one month also going every sun Saturday. 475 01:05:00,77.1104578 --> 01:05:02,597.1104578 So my weekends are full social circus. 476 01:05:03,77.1104578 --> 01:05:03,977.1104578 Um. 477 01:05:04,952.1104578 --> 01:05:09,182.1104578 it's, it's working like circus is getting to them a lot. 478 01:05:09,782.1104578 --> 01:05:34,922.1104578 Um, so yeah, to be able to sustain these two, uh, projects and hopefully in future, that's our goal, that we would like to have more equipment and, uh, a van or, or at least a car for the beginning to be able during the week to visit more places and hopefully in some time, hopefully next year, let's see how it goes. 479 01:05:35,402.1104578 --> 01:05:42,752.1104578 Um, we would be able to actually do a round trip around Argentina and that's some point Latin America. 480 01:05:43,232.1104578 --> 01:05:51,452.1104578 And, uh, bring this, this joy and the, the activities, this safe, safe, colorful, and magic, uh, space. 481 01:05:52,532.1104578 --> 01:05:54,752.1104578 To more and more and more kids. 482 01:05:56,342.1104578 --> 01:06:03,122.1104578 on the Instagram, there is everything on the website and the, the donation is quite clear. 483 01:06:03,122.1104578 --> 01:06:08,912.1104578 The process of donation, if you are from Argentina, you can donate through Mercado Pago. 484 01:06:08,912.1104578 --> 01:06:11,672.1104578 If you are from outside, you can donate through PayPal. 485 01:06:12,32.1104578 --> 01:06:14,312.1104578 So it's quite accessible. 486 01:06:14,312.1104578 --> 01:06:24,512.1104578 Um, and to, to say that it's really, really helpful, uh, for us, uh, to project bigger. 487 01:06:24,632.1104578 --> 01:06:25,22.1104578 Right. 488 01:06:25,502.1104578 --> 01:06:31,232.1104578 Um, and, yeah, let's hope that it'll grow. 489 01:06:31,292.1104578 --> 01:06:33,782.1104578 We have a lot of, uh, a lot. 490 01:06:37,757.1104578 --> 01:06:53,57.1104578 Visionary, visionary ideas, uh, that just needs time to, to develop and grow and, uh, root themselves also, uh, in us and with the kids. 491 01:06:53,447.1104578 --> 01:06:54,857.1104578 Um, yeah. 492 01:06:56,332.1104578 --> 01:06:59,647.1104578 I feel like you have a, a wind carrying you force. 493 01:06:59,977.1104578 --> 01:07:01,717.1104578 You have had that for a while. 494 01:07:01,747.1104578 --> 01:07:02,257.1104578 You shared. 495 01:07:02,317.1104578 --> 01:07:09,127.1104578 That with others, and I have faith that that wind will keep pushing you in the direction that you're projecting. 496 01:07:09,427.1104578 --> 01:07:20,257.1104578 I want to thank you deeply that you are precisely the type of person and the type of feeling I was hoping to have while speaking to someone on this show, on this series. 497 01:07:20,557.1104578 --> 01:07:25,897.1104578 Um, and so thank you for the work you do and the person you are and the way you make me. 498 01:07:25,897.1104578 --> 01:07:28,57.1104578 The people around you feel as well. 499 01:07:29,92.1104578 --> 01:07:30,82.1104578 I thank you, Dan. 500 01:07:30,82.1104578 --> 01:07:34,102.1104578 That's really, really beautiful to hear that I, I appreciate. 501 01:07:34,102.1104578 --> 01:07:39,652.1104578 And, uh, is also one of the, the things that motivate me to, to keep on going. 502 01:07:39,712.1104578 --> 01:07:58,192.1104578 You know, a feedback is always, uh, beautiful And like, even in the moments of, uh, of a little bit like, okay, is it actually, you know, is it actually working what I'm doing? Um, uh, it's very helpful to to to hear that back. 503 01:07:58,192.1104578 --> 01:07:59,662.1104578 So thank you so, so much. 504 01:07:59,662.1104578 --> 01:08:09,862.1104578 And let's, let's keep, uh, let's keep, let's let the wind keep on blowing and I hope, um, it'll come from many different places. 505 01:08:11,302.1104578 --> 01:08:12,357.1104578 Thank you so much for the talk. 506 01:08:13,172.1104578 --> 01:08:14,252.1104578 It was a pleasure for me. 507 01:08:19,700.5844331 --> 01:08:20,750.5844331 Thanks for being here. 508 01:08:21,320.5844331 --> 01:08:28,850.5844331 If this conversation resonated with you, consider reviewing therapy for the world or sharing the link with someone who might appreciate it. 509 01:08:29,510.5844331 --> 01:08:32,960.5844331 Until next time, speak with care and listen deeply.