Two days ago we did our first show in Varanasi at Asha Deep Vidayashram (www.asha-deep.com) which translates loosely as Lamp of Hope School. The school is attended by kids of parents on very low incomes, Rickshaw Walhallas, Chai Walhallas etc, they pay a nominal fee to show willing for their child’s education. The school started in February 2004 and recently moved to a new location in a grand old building with a great view at the back of the river Ganges. PWB have been coming here on every project, so we have great expectations.
The show itself was very well received, perhaps because they have seen shows in the past or maybe the culture here…but it was fantastic to get applause for individual tricks which hasn’t really happened in the previous shows, with the effect that you end up thinking that the crowd isn’t enjoying themselves until the response at the end of the show. A lot of clowning in this show with a few of the PWB crew being under the weather. Lots of drops and missed timings but due to this an increase in improv and general silliness, nearly setting an electrical wire on fire and actually setting Mike on fire! (by his own doing).
So a really exciting show and crowd, with big smiles all round. We head off on cycle rickshaws for dinner which was an experience, as many things are in India and not straight forward…
Yesterday was the first day of teaching at the school, some members of the team had hired bikes for the short ride from Ganga Guest House to the school. The rest of us took a school bus rickshaw (You have to see them to believe them! GREAT!) with the kit. Unfortunately we hit gridlock India style and a cow, apparently a lorry had fallen into a hole. The roads in Varanasi are old, windy and all being re-done, very different from Viayawada. So our Rickshaw takes the back route. I feel a bit guilty sitting there as this guy pushes us over the rough terrain and jump out and help push all the way to the school. The upshot of this is that we arrive a little late. The kids are eager and ready to go so we begin.
Using skills learnt from Viayawada and having the confidence to know that whatever you do the kids will appreciate you just being there and having fun! Its great to work with both boys and girls however I must admit its mainly the boys who interact with me. There were a lot of kids and we did an open box idea with all the props as a re-introduction to circus. Very impressive skills were shown with a couple of the boys unicycling confidently! The contact time with these children will be much higher than at SKCV so we have high prospects and finish the session on a real high.
So a whole new project begins. There were times today when I thought back to the other boys and girls we have left behind in SKCV, now more names to learn, more characters but I know I will never forget my time and experiences with those kids…only add onto them here in Varanasi.
– Andy
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