Circus Academy May Be Set Up At Danga Bay, Johor. Can Our Politicians Join?

A circus academy where Malaysians can learn the necessary skills to succeed as performing artistes, may be set up at Danga Bay.

"With the expertise of the Royal London Circus' management team and in line with Danga Bay's vision of turning the area into an entertainment hub, we believe a circus academy is the right way forward. "We are in serious discussion with the owner of the Royal London Circus on how best to go ahead with the idea," said Kamarul Ariffin Suleiman, a director of Danga Bay, Wednesday.

"I am sure there are many young Malaysians who are interested in becoming circus performers."And a circus academy is the perfect answer. They can learn to become trapeze artistes, animal trainers, clowns, acrobats and dancers.

The Royal London Circus which has been in business for 22 years, is a Malaysian outfit, owned and managed by Paul Lee.

**** I know that there are many older people, mainly men who would make excellent clowns. They have an innate ability to make people laugh at their antics and even when they are serious we cannot be deceived, for a clown by any other name, however 'Honourable,' is still a clown. Whether they close one eye or both, speak nonsense or not, threaten or browbeat others, their buffoonery stands out prominently.

There are also those who'll make first class trapeze artistes and have demonstrated great agility swinging with ease from one party to another, twisting and turning facts with practised frequency and effortlessly hanging on to the feet of one leader while preparing to cling to the hands of another in a split second.

Then there are the animal trainers whom some refer to as boss or ketua who keep these political animals in their place. They are consummate trainers who know their animals very well and keep them on a tight leash all the time, lest they decide to turn tail and run off to another circus. They are also masters at detecting the ungrateful ones who may bite the hand that feeds them and are responsible for putting the dangerous and over-ambitious ones to pasture.

And how can we forget the acrobats who change their viewpoint on short notice in response to the circumstances? This highly talented circus mainstay is a survivor and is used to falling down and determinedly get up and perform. Failure is not a setback for this backbone of every circus in the world.

Now the question may arise, why when we are very fortunate to have so much high-value, homegrown circus material do we need a circus academy? We have the stars here as well the finest trainers in the region. Lucky indeed are we Malaysians! Don't you agree?

**** The original Bernama report here.