Today there is
spectacle! On Rio de
Janeiro, close to downtown,
under a great blue
canvas, a world
of colors is being put into motion.

This is where
brazilian National Circus School - NCS works, a
center that has
graduated on 2001 December plus a group of young new circus artists.

Vanessa and Mariana, young students of NCS

Kept by Ministry of the Education and Culture of Brazil, MEC, the School receives youngers on 14 years old. Since 1982, already 200 young pupils on its course had formed themselves as circus arts technicians. Over there they learn several techniques: acrobatics, malabares, trapeze, equilibrism and many others, in two turns, free and with a lunch for all. Good also it is that after all this play, great part of these pupils finishes the course of four years already with a job on sight. "On this graduation we will have people of the Le Cirque and of Cirque du Soleil, from France, attending the new presentations and knowing graduated", counts Vivian, relationship assistant of the School.

"Mozzarella" come into lights:
graduation on the National Circus School, Brazil

Rafael Senna, who is too the clown Muzzarela, is one of those that are being graduated on this new group of the NCS. He entered NCS 17 years old and now works on Le Cirque, one of the biggest Brazilian circus. "I´ve begun with theater. Later I came here, conducted by my older brother. When I came, he spoke that in the circus is necessary to have patience, perseverance. It was cool for me, because I was very unquiet..." he says. Rafael actually lives on a trailer of Le Cirque. "It was difficult, but today I think that will be difficult to come back living in a house....", he counts. Circus is dying? "No, circus art is very well. Circus only needs more divulgation". Rafael remembers too that beyond the traditional circus there are a lot of projects, using circus art, working on children education.

A complete art-work: equilibrium, humour and rythm

At his side, already almost on time for show, there are Vanessa, 19, and Mariana, 14, preparing themselves to act as stage helpers on graduation. Vanessa started on NCS six months ago, and studies dance too. Mariana entered circus school two years ago and is specialized in contorcionism. "Always I become a little nervous to present myself, but I love it", she comments.

To hold nerves, together to these youngers there are very experienced circus teachers, as Mr. Pirajá, 60 years working on circus. He counts that with five years of age he already worked with his father in the number of "Icarius", where the artist, lying, quickly balances and turns an object with the feet. "I was the object that my father turned over his feet....", he remembers, laughing. Mr. Pirajá is the fourth generation of Azevedo family, who worked decades in Brazil with their circus. With his five brothers, they journeyed over 30 years with their Piccadily Circus. "Later, we saw that we needed to continue the studies of our children, and decided to stop." But love to circus tradition was strong: his older son, has some years, come up him and said: "Father, here is my university certificate. But what I want it is to be a clown!".

Courage on trapeze!

According to Mr. Pirajá, work of the NCS is very important to maintain alive circus tradition. "It´s good to see these young ones dedicating themselves strongly, making their own clothes.... They dedicate themselves such as traditional circus people".

Wow! Sign is touching, and it´s hour of first numbers of pupils to enter in the stage. A clown comes entering in the picadeiro. It is Muzzarela, under the lights! Yes, for the young graduated of the National School of Circus, today and always there is spectacle, yes Sir!

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