GERMANY: Europe's largest African circus spectacle opens in Frankfurt

: Multimedia artist Andre Heller's "Africa! Africa!" circus spectacle with 120 artists, musicians and acrobats from different countries across Africa had its world premiere in Frankfurt on Wednesday night (December 14). Austrian-born Heller worked closely with African circus schools to bring the project to life and part of the show's proceeds will go to African cultural activities. "Africa! Africa!" is a colourful mix of dance and gymnastics, combining different types of music. "I really liked it," Miss Germany 2005 Asli Bayram told Reuters Television after the show. "It's very cultural, yet modern. There is rap and breakdance. I really enjoyed it." "What I really liked was that they mentioned in the beginning that not everything has to be perfect," said Roger Schlerf, one of some 2,000 guests who attended the 2-hour show. "You can see that and this is what makes it so lively. It's not so artificial and compared to a lot of things we know from Germany it's also very fast-paced." After the show, Andre Heller told reporters that "the Africans learned nothing from us but we learned something from them every day." The performance will also be shown in Hamburg, Munich, Berlin and Duesseldorf before going abroad. "Now let's see how the Germans, the French, the Spanish and the Americans who will get to see it react. But I have a very good feeling about it." Heller said. "You know, artists always say in front of cameras about their work that it will be successful and fantastic and that people should go and look at it. I'm not even saying that. I'm just saying that each night it gives me a dosage of high and sparkling energy. Maybe there are a few other million people who would like to join in in this type of energy effort," Heller said. Heller will also be in charge for the 2006 World Cup opening gala in Berlin on June 7 next year which will incorporate some 5,000 volunteers selected from more than 12,000 applicants. ENDS.

ITN Source | December 17, 2005

Tags:. .dance. .reuters. .should. .closely. .source