Even before the performance began, the grounds had been transformed into a little circus world. The social services staff had adorned the trees with colorful silk scarves and decorated the trunks with bright neon ribbons. A large, colorful parachute—which is normally used during exercise classes at the senior residence—was quickly stretched over the hut. Using simple means, this created a very special backdrop that was somewhat reminiscent of a colorful circus tent.
Circus HallyGally had put together a varied program for the residents. The circus has been touring with a mobile program for many years and visits retirement homes, among other places, to bring classic circus arts directly to people who cannot easily attend a circus. The program includes acrobatics, comedy, juggling, and animal acts, among other things.
At the retirement home, Clown Lullu in particular provided plenty of entertainment and had the audience laughing time and again. A knife thrower added excitement by demonstrating his skills not only with knives but also with axes. The jugglers also impressed the audience. In addition to classic juggling props such as balls, rings, and clubs, one of the performers presented a particularly unusual act: Five chairs were stacked on top of one another and wedged together so that he could balance them on his chin and perform in front of the amazed residents.
Finally, an alpaca and a dog—which the circus had also brought along—provided an animal-themed highlight. After the performance, the residents had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the two animal guests and even pet them.
“We’re very happy that we were able to bring so much joy to our residents with this special afternoon,” says facility director Eilert Kuhlmann. “The combination of music, humor, acrobatics, and the animals in particular created many wonderful moments and made everyone’s eyes light up.”
The visit from Circus HallyGally demonstrated once again that special experiences don’t always have to involve big outings. Sometimes, a little circus magic right on your doorstep is all it takes to make for an unforgettable afternoon.