Cirque du Soleil Benefit for Zip-Zap Circus School (focus on
HIV/AIDS): February 2006 (Tix on Sale Now!)
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Dear Friends,
Please read below about an exciting opportunity which the world-
famous "Cirque du Soleil" has offered to the Zip Zap Circus
School in Cape Town, S. Africa. Zip Zap uses circus as a social
tool to help youth in particular. One special focus is working
with children who are born HIV+, and are now receiving ARV
treatment.
Cirque du Soleil will perform their show, "Alegria", as a bene-
fit for Zip Zap, in London (February 1, 2006), and more info
about how to purchase tickets -- to help Zip Zap programs -- is
available at http://www.zip-zap.co.za
To purchase tickets directly, go to
http://tickets.royalalberthall.com/season/production.aspx?id=4046&src=t
the site for the Royal Albert Hall.
Please consider enjoying an unforgettable performance which will
also benefit an invaluable program for youth! All best wishes
and magical memories,
Janet Feldman
mailto:kaippg@earthlink.net )
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Zip Zap Circus School will be the beneficiary of the Cirque du
Soleil show, Alegria, on Feb 1, 2006, at the Royal Albert Hall
in London. Zip Zap is a circus school in Cape Town, mother city
of South Africa. The school doors are open to all youth regard-
less of background, culture, gender or financial status. The
school is free of charge to all students.
Using circus as a social tool, Zip Zap aims at bringing children
together in a safe and fun environment. Circus skills as well as
technical training (welding, rigging, prop building and repairs)
will help them embark on a path of sustainable living. But, more
importantly, life values such as team work, discipline, trust,
confidence and honesty will enable these children to become re-
sponsible adults.
The School started in 1992 and has performed more than 500 shows
in South Africa. They have also travelled to Denmark, Germany,
Italy, France and USA for various festivals. Zip Zap is very
proud to have performers currently working professionally in
Europe & on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
Even if producing professional circus artists is not the ulti-
mate goal of the project, this has become a reality as the youth
have embraced this opportunity, which has become a part of the
success of this upliftment program. Zip Zap has been running
various outreach programmes since 1994 with street children, ru-
ral children, and school children.
At the beginning of 2005, the focus of their outreach programme
is with children born HIV positive and receiving ARV treatment
at the Nolungile clinic in Khayelitsha, the biggest township of
Cape Town.
Should you wish to support this program by buying a ticket at 60
pounds for the benefit show, please book directly through the
Royal Albert Hall (tel. +44 (0)20 7838 3122) and mention that
you want a ticket for the Zip-Zap benefit show on February 1,
2006.