Children delighted as circus comes to town

Abu Dhabi: A man enthrals the audience by appearing to make his fellow performer levitate for more than a minute. Another couple perform death defying acrobatics, twisting and twirling with only their ankles attached to a support.

These and many other acts are part of the International Sarrasani Circus running in the capital's Khalifa Park over the next two weeks.

Organised by the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, the 110-year-old German circus kicked off on Thursday night in a large red tent that quickly filled up with families and children of all ages.

"I always enjoying going to circuses, and I am excited to be here for this one. For my youngest brother who is only two years old, this will be a completely new experience," Fatima Al Magboul, 12, told Gulf News as she waited for the show to begin.

Her father, Khalid, an Emirati oil field executive, had brought his four children along for the opening night.

"It's a nice way to start off the weekend," he said.

Joshua Fulton, a seven-year-old from Canada, said he was most looking forward to watching the trapeze artists.

A dazzling display of lights and music started off the show, followed by acrobatic clowns who jumped on a trampoline, a disappearing magic act and tap dancing artists who played with fire.

Later in the two-hour show, a young white tiger and a duck made an appearance, to the delight of the watching children. "I most loved the act in which the circus master made a performer levitate in the air," Reem Arafat, 14, said after the show.

"The gymnasts who performed feats up in the air were also very exciting, especially as there were no mats on the floor for their safety.

I can do back flips and simple acrobatics myself, but I would never dream of attempting such daring feats."