The only things that you need to join school are big muscles and strength. Otherwise, you are out, says Tabu Odak, one of the six Kenyan performers who are a part of this circus for the third consecutive year. Recalling the “special” school days back at home where they teach students how to do all sorts of acrobatics, Tabu fondly plays with his burgeoning muscles. “When you do well there, you are a winner. The government there helps you by giving you a special paper to get your passport easily,” he explains. But his friend, fellow human pyramid performer and pole climber, Juma Mike, adds, “But our passport is only for six months, we have to go back, apply again and come back to perform next year.”Just as they animatedly finish complaining about how they can’t tolerate the mosquitoes here, Russian juggler Anya joins in. She doesn’t speak much, but admits that staying away from home, despite the fact that her husband, the hunter, travels with her and the circus, is difficult. Pradeep Kumar, who has been the manager of the circus for over 25 years, admits that the special attractions of the circus this year are the foreign performers. “I know most of the languages necessary here, so it is easy for me to communicate with them,” says Pradeep. “But mostly, the performers speak with each other through gestures and communicate through body language. It is something you get used to.”While on the subject of speaking, have Tabu and Juma learnt any Tamil yet? “Thoda thoda (Hindi for Konjum Konjum)!” they shamelessly grin .
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