CIRCUS AND THEATRE FESTIVAL 2008

« backHow it all began...

The association "KE-JOS-THE-AT-ER" is an initiative of a group of young people passionated with circus arts and the motion theatre. It was created as a response for the need to become institionalized. Its goal was to promote the formula of the new circus in Poland. The initiative was taken up by several friends joined by their passion for circus, street performances and the whole variety of unconventional forms of expression. The founders of the association are cultural animators, pedagogues, but also various artists representing circus and theatre. We join jugglers, fire jugglers, stilt walkers, dancers, mimes, musicians and acrobats. Some of us live in one place, some keep travelling living the life of modern Gypsies, taking part in a wide range of theatrical and circus projects all around the world. Thanks to the travels we managed to establish numerous contacts and cooperation with artists from all over the world. We are improving by taking part in many courses and workshops and attending various circus and theatrical schools such as: Circus Ellebog-Amsterdam, Nou Barris-Barcelona, Carampa - Madryt, Academy of Theatre Practices Gardzienice (Akademia Praktyk Teatralnych Gardzienice ). During the five years of our activity we had the chance to organize numerous events of spectacular and educational character. Some of us undertook the work as managers and organizers, some have hit the road to entertain the international public. As a result of our work many people have taken up the cooperation with the Association "KE-JOS-THE-AT-ER" and have decided to take the responsibility for the joint actions. Among others such groups as "KLAN GRUS" and "KEJOS".

« backThe theatrical and circus group "KEJOS"

This is a group of circus artists and actors, that mainly works on circus performances and cabarets ("MDM", "ODLOT") but also on smaller units such as circus etudes. The members of the group are chiefly focused on individual work and original artistic projects.

« backPRESENT ACTIVITIES

The present activities of the association "KE-JOS-THE-AT-ER" are mainly concentrated on two fields:

Promotion of circus arts as an active and attractive way of working with one's body, focused improvement of skills but also of ways of creative thinking and acting.

We fulfil this theoretical assumption by:
* Annual organization of the festival -Middle European Circus and Theatre Meetings ( Srodkowoeuropejskie Spotkania Teatralno-Cyrkowe )
* Preparation of big shows and smaller performances
* Organization and participation in inner and outer workshops

Social and educational activity oriented on supporting and integration of local societies by the means of artistic activities

We fulfil this theoretical assumption by:
* Leading cyclic workshops for the children form youth club "Wroclaw-Ołbin"
* Realizing a summer project "The magic caravan"
* Leading workshops in various community centres
* Organizing workshops and meeting for all interested children

« backWhat is it all for ...

In the modern world circus is a place, where various kinds of art mix together. For us, the most fascinating is the fusion of circus and theatre. As a result of such a fusion is creation of 'unreal reality' and the creation of the heroes and space is shown as an oneiric experience. In such an environment all the impossible becomes suddenly possible. Crossing the traditional theatrical boundaries, that indicate the word as the main medium of communication, so called theatrical flourish. We offer a discipline being a mixture of various techniques and way of expression in motion. We do not concentrate on putting forward lofty ideas, but far more important for us is the created atmosphere and the possibility to move our audience to the world of imagination. We offer an alternative for a dull and banal popular culture by creating and presenting original and exciting artistic events to our public.

« backCIRCUS WITHOUT ANIMALS

We do believe, that the traditional circus in which the feats of animal trainers are shown it_s extremely cruel and non-human. All the animals, and especially those wild ones, belong to the nature. The special atmosphere and style of living, that are characteristic for circus _ constant changing of places, long distant trips, crowds and noise during the performances _ this should not and cannot be a natural and suitable place for any animals. We subsequently try to encourage everybody to boycott those circus troupes using animals in their performances. We support and offer work and pleasure without and pressure on the performers and the viewers. Through our activity we popularise a creative attitude towards life. We would like to spread the values and forms of the new circus, in which the most important are the personal achievements of the artists and not the enforced performances of animals.

« backMAJOR PROJECTS

Community centre The formula of the project is based on one of the projects of a Canadian circus "Cirque du Soleil" [www. cirquedusoleil.com]. Apart from their artistic activity, they lead a project called "Youth in Risk". The project is pointed at these young people, who are at risk of alcoholism, drug abuse and other social pathologies. The main point is to invite those people to open circus spaces in order to involve them into creative and exciting work led in the atmosphere of understanding, partnership and fun. The members of our association have taken part in the project "Youth in Risk" in Amsterdam.

"The magic caravan" GALLERY

This is an annual summer project for children from small towns and villages. We have been organizing this project of the last five years giving the kids around Poland the opportunity to participate in music, caecus and art workshops. Each session, which last for three days, finishes with a joint performance of the instructors and participants.

The project is chiefly aimed at:
Enrichment and development of personal features and spreading of culture among kids from small towns and villages
Discovering hidden talents and sensitising kids to various forms of art
Showing kids and their parents alternative ways of spending their spare time
Integration of local community
Building the basis of being tolerant and respective to new ideas by showing and encouraging to participate in the new and unknown

Circus - theatre festival: Middle European Circus and Theatre Meeting - "Srodkowoeuropejskie Spotkania Teatralno-Cyrkowe" GALLERY

This is an event, which combines the main fields of our activity as an association. Each year the members of the association and people, who cooperate with us, create an artistic space, which is open for everybody to meet. For few days artists, art animators and those fascinated with circus and theatre are invited to participate and lead workshops. Apart from those,who already have begun their adventure with art, we always try to encourage the local communities. During the recent editions of the festival we have cooperated with the kind from the district Workflow- Olin. The have been actively taking part in the preparation of the festival village and than taken part in the workshops. Last year we invited the kids from the community centre "Neuo Drom" from Wroclaw _ Brochów (Stowarzyszenia Dzieci i Rodziców Romskich).

« backARTISTIC ACTIVITY

A circus - theatrical performance "MDM" ( GALLERY ) was prepared by the association "KE-JOS-THE-AT-ER". It combines circus and theatrical forms and is performed in a convention of a cabaret. There are lots of exciting, thrilling and amusing moments based on playing with contact glass balls, diabolo and club juggling, pantomime, acrobatic, clown gags and many more...
The performance can be shown wherever there are proper conditions. As an association we have at our disposal:
* Stage scenery sets
* Music
* Transport

The performance can take place in the circus tent, which belongs to the association "KE-JOS-THE-AT-ER" or on a stage prepared by the organizer.

A circus - theatrical etude "The thieves" This is a 14 minutes long performance containing juggling, acrobatic and pantomime forms all joined into a funny story about two thieves sneaking up to the stage and trying to brake into a safe. This simple story gives the opportunity and pretext for playing with juggling and acrobatic. This etude can be shown on a stage as well as in the street.

Fire show - in preparation.

« backWORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS GALLERY

Such workshops can be an alternative way of creative activity. We offer innovative methods of bodywork and development of skills. During the workshops the participants discover their hidden talents, learn how to work in a group, how to make decisions as a group and how not to be afraid to take responsibility for oneself and the others. They discover new ways of expressing their feelings and emotions in the atmosphere of cooperation and fun. We offer workshops in the following fields of circus and theatrical arts:
*Acrobatic
*Pantomime and clowning
*Juggling
*Stilts
*Rope
*Trapeze

« backTENTS FOR RENT ---Tents Gallery---

The association "KE-JOS-THE-AT-ER" is in possession of circus tents, which can be rented.
Circus tent is perfect for organizing outdoors events such as theatrical festivals or performances, cabarets, banquets and others.
Parameters of the tent:
* Surface: 75,5 sqm
*Girth: 32m
*Width: 8m
*Length: 12m
*Hight in the highest point: 5,5m
*High in the lowest point: 2,5 m
*The surface of the stage: 4x4m
*Capable of holding 150 people
Additional parts:
*Lights
*>Heating
*A generating set
*We can additionally offer transport.

Circus tent is perfect for organizing outdoors events such as theatrical festivals or performances, cabarets, banquets and others.

Parameters of the tent:
*Surface: 170sqm
*Girth: 47m
*Width: 12m
*Length: 18m
*Hight in the highest point: 6m
*High in the lowest point: 3,2m
*The surface of the ground necessary for putting the tent: 18x 24m
*Capable of holding 300 people

Additional parts:
*Lights
*Heating
*A generating set

We can additionally offer transport.

« backContact:

How it all began? / "KEJOS" / PRESENT ACTIVITIES / What is it all for? / CIRCUS WITHOUT ANIMALS / major projects / ARTISTIC ACTIVITY / workshops / TENTS / Contact / GALLERY / Festival archives / EQUIPMENT