Hi everyone, I'm Bettina, I work with Sara, and you'll be hearing more from me about life in Dahab, yoga and meditation (from a beginner's perspective!), and anything else that seems blog-worthy from our lives here in Dahab.
All the time the expat people living here stress that Dahab is not only a small town in the sun by the sea but that it has a special magic, a strong, vibrant energy and beauty and spirituality that is rare. We are a world removed from big resorts like Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada. We are a small international community, connected, supportive, integrated with the locals and our lives are as interwoven as the threads of a bedouin bracelet. If you haven't seen the Dahab Happy Video this will help you to understand what I am talking about.
The Bonbonis of 2013
In this blog I want to introduce you to 'Circ Bonboni', one of the unique community projects that makes Dahab so magical for all of us, young and not-so-young. The circus is a multicultural project for the kids living in Dahab which was started 2005 by a group of Swiss women, one of them Regula Mahler Bashir who is still the head and heart of the circus team. Every year, a group of children comes together to create, train, rehearse and finally present their amazing, heart-warming shows to the Dahab community and guests. Each circus tells a story, each takes the audience on a journey into a magical world of music, laughter, tears, dance, acrobatics, song and sharing. And just when you think they have pulled off the ultimate show, the next year somehow manages to top the one before! Year after year.
But Bonboni is not simply a fantastic evening that brings all Dahabians together. For the kids it offers a vital opportunity to learn many skills that will support them as they grow and develop; team work, listening, creativity, discipline, body awareness, cultural awareness, and friendship. The adults/parents are equally challenged, lending their skills for advertising, marketing, costume making, make-up, stage design and building, choreography, sponsorship, networking…. As well as producing a DVD and professional photos as beautiful mementoes each year. Dahab is truly blessed with talent in all shapes and sizes!
Discover Your Depths has been involved over the years - from make-up to teaching the dance routines - and you can guarantee that Sara will be there with tears in her eyes every year as the kids sing, climb, juggle, swing, dance, bounce, tumble and fly their hearts out! And again, DYD will be sponsoring the circus to help ensure it remains a focal part of Dahab life. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without it.
Regula - the heart of the circus
This year it will be a smaller project with around 30 children (as opposed to the massive 90 we normally have!). They started rehearsing in November and this year's shows are scheduled for Friday the 19th and Saturday the 20th December at 6pm in Coralia/Ibis Styles.
Put a note in your calendar to not miss this special event, and come and join us to support the kids, parents and many, many hard-working volunteers who bring this magical show to life once more. We will see you there…